You want your dog to eat healthy and nutritious food, which is why complete and balanced commercial dog foods are the perfect choice. But sometimes those puppy-dog eyes tug at your heartstrings and you want to toss your furry friend a tidbit of human food. Knowing what human foods dogs can eat safely is key, because you don’t want to give your dog something that is toxic to dogs or unhealthy for them.
So we’ve collated a selection of popular human foods dogs can eat, probably shouldn’t eat and definitely can’t eat. Remember that human foods should be considered a treat and account for no more than 10 percent of your dog’s total calorie allotment for the day. Ask your veterinarian if you’re not sure how many calories your dog should be eating daily. It’s also a good idea to check with your vet before changing up your dog’s diet, including feeding your dog human food.
What Human Food Is Good for Dogs?
The answer to this question is similar to “What foods are good for people?” If it’s healthy for humans (and not toxic to dogs) then it’s probably healthy for dogs. And vice versa.
If we’re talking about healthy human foods for dogs, then most fruits and vegetables make this list for sure. There are some caveats: some fruits and vegetables are toxic to dogs or need to be prepared in a certain way to prevent digestive issues or choking hazards. We’ll go over those soon.
Dogs can eat cooked lean meat, chicken and turkey (no fat trimmings), as well as cooked eggs and cheese (in moderation). Due to its typically high fat content, ham fits the same category as hot dogs — only occasionally and in small amounts. Otherwise it might result in an upset stomach or diarrhea.
If it’s movie night, feel free to share your popcorn with your dog, as long as it’s plain (no butter or salt) and has been air popped. Peanut butter is a popular treat for dogs — just make sure you check the ingredients list for xylitol since this artificial sweetener is toxic to dogs.
What Fruits Can Dogs Eat?
Fruits are a good option for a healthy treat for your dog. Just remember that even though fruit is healthy, you should still stick to the rule of feeding no more than 10 percent of your dog’s calorie intake. While fruits have health benefits for dogs, too much fruit can cause an upset digestive system, particularly if your dog eats fruit that’s high in fiber.
Fruits that are safe for dogs to eat:
- Apples – no seeds since they contain small amounts of cyanide.
- Bananas – peeled.
- Cranberries – plain with the stem removed.
- Cucumber – most dogs can eat the skin.
- Pineapple – just the fleshy part.
- Tomatoes – ripe only. Green tomatoes can cause an upset digestive tract.
- Watermelon – cut the fleshy part into small chunks. No seeds or rind. Feed in moderation due to the sugar content.
Fruits that are not safe for dogs to eat:
- Any fruit that has large pits still in the fruit due to the choking hazard.
- Currants – toxic to dogs.
- Grapes – toxic to dogs and choking hazard.
- Raisins – toxic to dogs.
What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?
Like fruits, most vegetables are safe for dogs to eat. Dogs love to crunch on raw vegetables like carrots and green beans — just make sure they’re cut up into bite-sized pieces.
Vegetables that are safe for dogs to eat:
- Carrots – raw or cooked is fine. If raw, cut into small pieces.
- Corn – removed from the cob without seasonings.
- Green beans – cooked or raw.
- Potatoes – peeled and cooked without seasonings.
- Pumpkin – peeled and cooked without seasonings.
- Sweet potato – peeled and cooked without seasonings.
Vegetables that are not safe for dogs to eat due to their toxicity to dogs include:
What Human Food Can Puppies Eat?
If you have a puppy, you can follow the same guidelines as for adult dogs; you just need to be more conscious of choking hazards. Make sure you cut up the human food into puppy-sized pieces and if the food is particularly hard, it’s best to avoid it completely.
Other Human Food Dogs Should Avoid
You should avoid feeding your dog uncooked or undercooked meat because it could be contaminated with viruses, bacteria like Salmonella or Campylobacter, or parasites like roundworm or tapeworm. In some dogs, particularly senior, pregnant or immunosuppressed dogs or puppies, these microbes and parasites can cause illness. When you feed raw meat to dogs, it also puts people at risk of developing food-borne illnesses. If the uncooked meat is contaminated with microbes or parasites, there is a risk that they could be passed to people who touch contaminated surfaces (e.g., food bowls), clean up feces or have direct contact with their dog. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend feeding raw pet food or treats to dogs and cats.
Cooked bones should also be on the no-no list for dogs. Cooked bones can splinter and puncture parts of their digestive tract or cause a blockage that requires surgery. Like raw meat, you should also be careful about feeding raw bones: they could be contaminated with bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Products with a high sugar content should also be avoided as regular snacking on them could lead to weight gain.
What Can I Feed My Dog Instead of Dog Food?
Talk to your veterinarian before choosing to feed your dog something other than commercial dog food as their main diet. Dogs need a healthy balanced diet just like we do. In other words, they need their food to provide the protein, essential amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals they need in the correct amount. Feeding them a homemade recipe may not provide the right nutrients in the right amounts for your dog’s life stage.
“Complete and balanced” is the phrase used by pet food companies to indicate that a dog food provides total nutrition for a specific life stage. A “complete” diet, according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), is one that contains all of the currently known essential nutrients (except water) at levels adequate to meet a dog’s daily needs.
Dog food also has to be balanced to avoid nutrient deficiencies that can occur even though the diet appears to contain all essential nutrients. A “balanced” food provides nutrients in the correct ratios so that optimal absorption of all nutrients occurs.
Can Dogs Eat Human Food?
Yes, dogs can eat some human foods as an occasional treat, but they can’t eat all human foods. Do some research before handing over that tidbit and make sure it is safe for your dog to eat. Dogs have fewer taste buds than humans, so they may or may not like the human foods you offer as a treat.
And always check with your vet before making changes to your dog’s diet — for example, if your dog is a picky eater and you want to try something new.
