How Bad Is it to Feed My Dog What I Eat?

Feeding your dog people food is not the best source of nutrition, but some types of food are acceptable. It is important to know which types of food are okay and which ones are potentially toxic. Even foods that seem harmless can be toxic to your dog. Furthermore, foods that are not toxic may still cause digestive problems. Knowing what foods to look out for will help prevent problems from occurring.

  1. Toxic Foods

    • Many seemingly harmless foods are quite toxic to dogs. Avocados contain a component called persin that causes heart, tissue and lung damage in dogs. Another type of fruit - raisins and grapes - have the potential to cause kidney failure. Onions, garlic and chives can destroy red blood cells and lead to anemia and breathing problems, according the ASPCA. An ingredient in chocolate, called theobromine, causes rapid heartbeat that can lead to death. Nuts such as macadamias and walnuts cause a wide range of health problems such as vomiting, paralysis, kidney failure and death.

    Unhealthy Foods

    • Foods that are unhealthy for people are often unhealthy for dogs too. Over-consumption of salt causes excessive thirst, frequent urination and sometimes sodium ion poisoning. Raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella, which causes vomiting and diarrhea when they infect the gastrointestinal tract. Fatty meat and dairy products like chicken skin, ground beef, hot dogs, cheese and ice cream can lead to obesity, heart disease and sometimes pancreatitis, according to Today.com.

    Hard To Digest Foods

    • Some foods cause digestive problems in dogs. Milk often causes diarrhea and stomach upset because dogs do not produce enough of the lactase enzyme necessary to break down the lactose in the milk, according to the ASPCA. Bakers yeast used in raw bread dough may cause painful gas bubbles in your dog's digestive tract and lead to flatulence. Furthermore, dogs can develop food allergies and food intolerances just like people. An intolerance or allergy may not be discovered until your dog eats that particular food.

    Acceptable Foods

    • Some foods are considered acceptable for your dog to eat as long as these foods don't account for more than 5 to 10 percent of your dog's daily calories. These foods include lean meat like steak or chicken as well as vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, green beans and zucchini. Fruits like apple slices, watermelon, banana and orange slices are also acceptable as are starchy foods like rice, past and baked bread.