Should I Feed My Dog...

Scraps From The Kitchen?

We can all be susceptible to our furry friend’s puppy dog eyes willing us to give them a treat from our plate, but you must resist the temptation as most dog illnesses are induced by incorrect feeding. Giving your dog scraps will also encourage him to scrounge, which will really get on your nerves when you’re cooking the sunday roast.

A Beagle eating scraps from the table

Left Over Food Can Make Your Dog Ill

Avoid giving your dog left over food and avoid giving him processed food that is made for humans. Dogs can become very ill when given something that they struggle to digest. It is also very difficult to know if some foods contain substances that are toxic to dogs, for example sweets that contain xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is highly poisonous to dogs.

Dog Bones?

Have you ever wondered why wild wolves have beautiful clean teeth? They chew on great big raw animal bones with cartilage and soft tissue still attached.

A white wolf with an animal carcass

Dogs absolutely love a big juicy bone, but it is vital that you consider your dog’s health when rewarding him. Your local pet shop is the best place to buy a tasty dog bone. Try to choose a bone that is bigger than your dog’s jaw and doesn’t break. It might take him a few hours to finish eating it but he will enjoy every minute.

A black Labrador eating a big raw bone in the garden

Always supervise your dog when he is eating a bone as there is always the risk of choking, even with bones that are labeled as being "safe".

Dog Bones That Are Safe But Are Only Meant For Chewing

Uncooked large marrow bones will not break in your dog’s mouth - they are meant only for chewing. They don’t actually offer any nutritional benefits, but they do provide your dog with mental stimulation and incredible oral care. Your local pet shop should sell great big delicious beef bones that will keep your dog busy for hours. They may also sell tasty hip bones or even rib cages.

A dog chewing a large beef bone

Dog Bones That Are Safe For Your Dog To Eat And Swallow

If you want something extra nutritional for you dog to eat, look for a raw, hollow, lightweight poultry bone - usually chicken or turkey. Your local pet store should sell these kind of snacks, and they are super cheap and incredibly tasty. Dogs particularly love turkey necks and chicken wings.

A great big safe bone for chewing and eating

Dangerous Dog Bones

Never give your dog bones that are small enough to choke on, or cooked bones that can easily splinter. Cooked bones can cause lots of damage to your dog’s mouth - broken teeth, bleeding gums and a cut tongue. The broken bits can also get stuck in your dog’s throat, stomach and intestines causing horrible injuries.

Eggs?

Yes! Eggs are highly nutritious for dogs. If you give your dog an egg every so often you will soon notice an obvious improvement in the shine of his coat, but make sure you put it in his bowl otherwise you’ll end up with a big sticky mess on your kitchen floor.

Assorted chicken eggs

Raw Eggs or Cooked Eggs?

Some people say that you shouldn’t feed your dog raw eggs because of the risk of salmonella, but salmonella is very rare in dogs and unless the eggs are cracked when you buy them or collect them, they should be fine. If you are considering giving your dog an egg, give him the shell as well. He’ll love crunching it up to find the nutritious gooey reward inside. Alternatively, you can always crack an egg on top of your dog’s food.

Fish?

Yes - fish is a really good source of protein and omega 3. Omega 3 is believed to improve brain development so you never know, your dog may show a higher level of intelligence with a bit of fish in his diet. It is however, really important that you remove the bones.

A golden Labrador eating a deboned fish

Remove The Bones

Some people recommend feeding dogs whole raw fish as part of their raw diet, but to ensure that your dog doesn’t get injured we recommend cooking the fish and removing the bones. Fish bones have the risk of harming your dog’s mouth or digestive system.

Cook The Fish Before Feeding It To Your Dog

Cooking fish before feeding it to your dog is also really important. Although some people decide to feed their dogs whole raw fish, we recommend that you cook the fish to kill any harmful parasites. Some fish, particularly salmon can contain parasites that are extremely harmful to dogs.

Grain / Cereal / Rice?

You will often see that commercial dog foods contain a variety of grains, cereals and rice. A dog that is fed solely on a grain based dog food diet (i.e almost all average priced dry dog food) may show signs of being unhealthy. A dog needs more than this. Feed your dog eggs and various meats so that he can thrive and grow strong. Read our section on a Raw Meat Diet to help you incorporate more protein and less cereal into your dog’s meals.

Two Great Danes feeding from the same bowl

You might notice that a dog on a grain based diet eats rather a lot. You might also notice that a large percentage of it comes out the other end. This is because the nutritional value is so low and it passes right through.

Boiled Chicken And Rice For An Upset Stomach

Puppies are particularly at risk to upset tummies, but a dog at any age can become ill. A bland food that is easy on the stomach is often the best remedy in this case and most vets will recommend a few meals of boiled chicken and rice.

If when returning back to feeding your dog his normal food you notice consistent symptoms like diarrhoea, constipation, itchy skin and ear inflammation then you may wish to consult your vet on whether your dog could be allergic to the food you are using.