Feeding Human Food to Dogs?

     The basic rule of thumb has always been leave human food to humans and dog food to dogs. This rule may hold truth, but it is not entirely accurate. True, there are foods that you should never feed a dog under any circumstances.

These toxic foods include:

• Grapes/Raisins - Can lead to kidney failure
• Candy/Chocolate - The many chemicals can lead to life-threatening ailments
• Nuts - Macadamia nuts specifically can be fatal
• Xylitol - Sweetner found in gum that can cause liver damage

     I am not saying that if your dog eats one of these harmful foods it will have internal damage. Many factors contribute on how well a dog reacts to a particular food. Size, weight, as well as age are all factors to be considered. If you have a toy breed, be cautious. Simba (this little guy) accidentally ate some cheese and became constipated. I had to go to the vet and get laxatives for him. It was awful for us both.

He refuses to sleep on the floor

     Anyway, what food then is safe to be fed to your dog? Many fruits and vegetables are extremely healthy, but the problem is most dogs do not care for their taste. From my experience, try feeding your dog sliced cucumbers. Most dogs eat them and they make a nutritious snack. Simba is also fond of the occasional pear. Try to avoid citrus fruits such as oranges, limes, and lemons, as they can cause upset stomachs. Try offering your dog other fruits and vegetables to see what it likes. If you have any other foods, post them in the comments!