Feeding your dog table scraps can not only breed bad behaviors but is also harmful to your dog's health. Human foods are not properly balanced to meet a dog's nutritional requirements, and feeding large amounts of fat, sugar or refined carbohydrates can cause health problems such as pancreatitis, gastrointestinal upset and obesity.
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Behavioral Issues
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Letting dogs have people food will encourage begging. Giving a dog a nibble off your plate will encourage begging behavior. It may also encourage thievery--making your dog a nuisance any time there is food available.
Poor Nutrition
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Human foods do not offer the proper balance of nutrition for a dog. Dogs that regularly receive table scraps will have less room and interest in eating dog food, which will make him less able to fight off disease and can cause premature organ system failure.
Obesity
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Obese dogs will have coronary issues, among other things. Human foods have higher calorie densities than dog foods, allowing him to consume many more calories than he needs--promoting obesity. Dogs that are obese will have coronary issues, joint problems and will experience shorter life spans than dogs that are at a healthy weight.
Digestive Upset
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Diets rich in inappropriate foods cause digestive upset in most dogs. The most common symptom is diarrhea, though vomiting has also been attributed. This can cause dehydration and painful stomach cramping for the dog.
Alternatives
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High-quality dog treats are preferred to treats from owner's plates and will promote a healthier, happier dog in the long run. These treats are commercially available and are relatively cheap. Treats with liver in them are great, biscuit-type treats are good for maintaining healthy teeth and rawhide is perfect when they want to chew.
Warnings
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Exercise moderation when giving your dog treats. Too many can cause your dog to gain weight and affect your dog's meals. Also, never give your dog chocolate, bones that splinter easily, or foods that are greasy or high in fat.
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