You cooked a nice meal, you set up the table, and start enjoying your food – only to see your dog eagerly waiting for his piece.
Just one look in your dog’s eyes and you immediately become weak. But no matter how hard it is to resist not feeding your dog with human food, we are all guilty of doing it sometimes.
Smaller quantities might not do a lot of damage (if any) but doing it often might not be so harmless.
Every breed is different and while some dog breeds can handle most of the human food, some breeds hardly can handle any.
Research is important and if you are here – that means you are doing good research!
Therefore, keep on reading as down below, you will learn everything you need to know about feeding your dog with human food!
Is Human Food Better for Dogs than Dog Food?
In most situations, human food can actually be better than dog food. But we have all heard that it is not okay to feed dogs human food most of the time, right?
Why is that?
It is not all about the food, but it is mostly all about the habit. If you do research specifically for your dog and you know exactly what food works, the best for your dog’s breed – you will be fine.
However, keep in mind that human food is better, but that is not always the case. This applies to most cases, so that is where the importance of research comes from.
So, research and watch out for the habit of giving into your dog’s eyes whenever he is craving your food!
Is it Okay to Feed Your Dog Human Food?
So human food is not that bad, right? Can you just go and feed it to your dog?
You can, but here is what I recommend instead.
Research your dog’s breed but be aware of the sources you are using to find the information. Upon doing your research, you can create a list of the food that is most suitable for your dog.
Then, when you are making lunch – it is good to think of your dog upfront. Are you going to treat him with human food on certain days?
Do shopping if you need to so you have enough food, and also know what exactly and how much your dog will be getting.
This will help you be prepared and know exactly how much food your dog is getting – but also what type of food.
Just like you would regulate your own diet, you must do it for your dog as well.
Can Dogs Get Sick from Eating Human Food?
Even before you feed your dog with human food – you must understand that dogs and humans have a different metabolism.
This means that most of the food that is safe for humans might not be safe for dogs. In fact, some food can be toxic or even deadly.
Yet, on the other hand, there is plenty of food that is 100% safe for the dog.
So, the long answer short is yes, dogs can get sick from eating human food. But not all food so again, proper research is crucial.
And if you are going to feed your dog human food – please do not make it be a spur of a moment, but first back it up with research.
Also, when you are doing your own research – do not do general research for dogs. Instead, try to do in-depth research for your dog’s breed so you have the most accurate information you can get.
Is Home Cooked Food Bad for Your Dog?
If you did any research before finding this post, you would know that there is food that is suitable for dogs as long as it is perfectly cooked.
But can cooked food still be bad for your dog?
The long answer short is yes, home-cooked food can be bad for your dog. Why?
Most of the time, dog nutrition can be tricky, and it is hard to keep up. Cooking food for your dog can be beneficial in many ways.
Some of the biggest benefits are the ability to fully control your dog’s diet, preparing balanced meals, and even building bonds with your dog.
Sometimes, cooking food for your dog might not make sense as there is pre-prepared food from whole ingredients available for purchase.
On the other hand, it can definitely help manage your diet (depending on the type of food and your dog’s breed).
So, if you decide to cook your dog’s food, here are some mistakes you should avoid:
- Using unhealthy/unsafe ingredients
- Not doing in-depth research
- Relying on multiple diets instead of creating one balanced diet
You should also strictly follow recipes but also understand the dietary changes if you plan on cooking all meals for your dog.
When creating a well-balanced diet, other than the food, you should also consider other factors such as your dog’s eating history, weight, and health.
If you are struggling to create a perfect diet for your dog – it is highly recommended to get in touch with a licensed veterinary nutritionist if you are ever in doubt.
Would You be Able to Replace Dog Food With Human Food?
Technically, you can replace dog food with human food. However, this does not mean you can stop buying dog food and replace it with human food without thinking twice about it.
Replacing your dog’s food with human food will require you to do your own research or even visit your local veterinarian nutrition to help you out with information.
Every dog breed is different, and their metabolism is different than a human’s so this is something to keep in mind.
The next thing you should do is create a list of ingredients your dog can definitely eat without having any reactions or harm.
From there, you will have to create a balanced diet plan for your dog. This is super important if you are thinking of switching your dog’s food for human food.
Even when you are sure of the ingredients your dog can eat – it is still important to create a well-balanced diet.
Dogs have nutritional needs (just like humans) and if they are not met, over time, this can lead to series of issues.
Not only it can lead to diseases, but it can also be fatal if diseases are malnutrition or obesity.
So, while you are definitely able to replace your dog’s food with human food – you should do it very carefully.
Planning is your best friend and never hesitate to get down with your local veterinarian nutrition to create a custom plan for your dog.
You just need to get it right once and then follow it for the rest of the time!
What is the Best Human Food You Can Feed Your Dog?
There is a list of foods and ingredients that are in the least risky category which is going to be suitable for most dogs.
Even though I will post the list of the most common food you might feed your dog – here is something to keep in mind.
You should do in-depth research for your dog’s breed, and you should decide whether you will occasionally feed your dog with human food as a treat or if you create a diet plan that will replace the dog food in whole.
With that in consideration, here is a list of food that is easy to digest for most dog breeds:
- Low-fat Greek yogurt (plain)
- Mild cheese
- Cooked, white, or sweet potato
- Cooked egg
- Cooked lean meat
- Cooked or raw fresh vegetables
The more natural ingredients are – the better. However, some dogs might not digest certain ingredients well so you must keep a diary when you start feeding your dog with human food.
This will help you understand your dog’s metabolism but also learn your dog’s most liked and least liked food.
Conclusion
It is definitely okay to feed your dog human food – but do not do it in the spur of a moment. Instead, it should be planned.
Know that some food can harm your dog, and even be potentially deadly is a huge risk to take so you should approach this carefully.
You can even change your dog’s diet from dog food to human food by creating a well-balanced diet for your dog breed and sticking to it by cooking food on a daily basis.
If you are already cooking for yourself – this might not be an issue, but if you decide on this change, you will not be able to miss a day!
However, if you are occasionally going to treat your dog with human food, fruit and vegetables are the best choices – but still do your own research!
Do you think about changing your dog’s diet to human food? Did you ever try feeding your dog human food?
Every dog is different, so I would love to hear back from you with your thoughts, experience, or questions – so do not hesitate to leave comments below!
All the best,
Barbara
Founder/Creator: Love A Rescue Dog 🐶
“Saving one animal won’t change the world, but for that one animal, the world changes forever”
