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The foods from your table: friend or foe?
Toxic foods for dogs: long list (see article).
Safe foods for dogs: also long, less known.
Knowing
what you can share allows you to:
- Reward safely.
- Vary the diet.
- Save on commercial snacks.
- Use your kitchen as a "source of healthy snacks."
Here are 7 "human" foods safe for dogs.
Food 1: Boiled chicken
The classic:
- Lean.
- High protein.
- Digestible.
How to give it:
- Without skin, without bones, without seasonings.
- Boiled or steamed.
- Cut into small pieces.
Quantity:
- Small dog (10 kg): 20-50 g.
- Medium dog: 50-100 g.
- Large dog: 100-200 g.
Frequency: 2-3 times a week.
Use:
- Training reward.
- Topping on kibble.
- Light meal (post-illness).
Cost: 5-8 €/kg.
Food 2: Boiled white rice
The "bland diet":
- Light carbohydrate.
- Suitable for gentle digestion.
How to give it:
- Without salt, without seasonings.
- Boiled.
Quantity:
- 30-50% of temporary meal.
- Combined with chicken.
Use:
- Acute diarrhea: bland diet.
- Convalescing dog.
- Dog with a sensitive stomach.
Cost: 2-3 €/kg.
Food 3: Carrots
Versatile:
- Raw or cooked.
- Beta-carotene, fiber.
- Low calorie.
How to give them:
- Raw: great for teeth (crunchiness).
- Cooked: more digestible.
- Without seasonings.
Quantity:
- 1-2 small carrots per day (medium dog).
- A few pieces per day (small dog).
Use:
- Healthy snack.
- Natural "dental chew".
- Filler for weight loss diet.
Cost: 1-2 €/kg.
Food 4: Apples
What you need:
- Without seeds (cyanide).
- Without core.
Benefits:
- Vitamin C.
- Fiber.
- Hydrating.
Quantity:
- Small dog: 1/4 apple.
- Medium dog: 1/2 apple.
- Large dog: 1 apple.
Frequency: 2-3 times a week.
Cost: 1-3 €/kg.
Food 5: Natural yogurt
Without sugars:
- Natural probiotics.
- Calcium.
Important:
- Without sugar.
- Without sweeteners (xylitol is lethal).
- Without added fruit.
Quantity:
- 1-2 tablespoons per day (medium dog).
- 1 teaspoon (small).
Frequency: 2-3 times a week.
Lactose intolerant dog:
Use:
- Mixed with kibble.
- Treats.
- Supports digestion.
Cost: 2-3 €/kg.
Food 6: Cooked pumpkin
Excellent for:
- Digestion (soluble fiber).
- Diarrhea or constipation.
- Hydration.
How to give it:
- Natural pumpkin.
- Boiled or baked (without seasonings).
- Without sugar, salt, spices.
Never canned "spice pumpkin pie" (contains spices).
Quantity:
- 1-2 tablespoons per day (medium dog).
- 1 teaspoon (small).
Cost: 1-3 €/kg.
Food 7: Cooked eggs
Complete proteins:
- Essential amino acids.
- Vitamins.
How to give them:
- Boiled or scrambled.
- Without butter, oil, salt.
Quantity:
- 1 egg per week (medium dog).
- 1/2 egg (small).
- 2 eggs per week (large).
Never raw eggs:
- Avidin (inhibits biotin).
- Salmonella.
Cost: 3-5 €/dozen.
The safe "bonuses"
Banana
Safe, rich in potassium.
Few pieces:
- High in sugars.
- 1-2 slices per day.
Blueberries
Antioxidants.
Safe:
- 5-10 blueberries per day.
Watermelon
Summer, hydrating:
- Without seeds, without rind.
- 1-2 cubes.
Pears
Safe:
- Without seeds, core.
- A few pieces.
Cantaloupe
Hydrating:
How to incorporate into meals
Topping scheme
Basic kibble:
- 1 tablespoon of cooked chicken.
- Or yogurt.
- Or pumpkin.
Benefits:
- Increases palatability.
- Diet variation.
Snack scheme
Between meals:
- 1-2 carrots.
- 1-2 slices of apple.
- 1 teaspoon of yogurt.
Bland diet scheme
Dog with digestive problems:
- Boiled chicken + white rice.
- 50% chicken + 50% rice.
The "human" foods to AVOID (remember)
- ❌ Chocolate.
- ❌ Onion, garlic.
- ❌ Grapes, raisins.
- ❌ Avocado.
- ❌ Xylitol.
- ❌ Alcohol.
- ❌ Caffeine.
- ❌ Macadamia nuts.
- ❌ Salty foods.
- ❌ Cooked bones.
See dedicated article.
The quantities
10% rule
"Human" food + snacks:
- Max 10% of daily calories.
Example for a 25 kg dog:
- Requirement: ~1,000 kcal/day.
- Max snacks: 100 kcal.
- = 1-2 slices of chicken + 1 carrot + 1 tablespoon of yogurt.
Never a replacement
Main meal:
- Always balanced commercial food.
- "Human" foods = supplementation.
Special situations
Allergic dog
Exclusion diet:
- Check with veterinarian.
- No "free experiments".
Diabetic dog
Controlled food:
- No unauthorized snacks.
- Check with doctor.
Puppies
Safe foods:
- Few.
- Main food: puppy kibble.
Elderly
Soft foods:
- Rice, pumpkin, boiled chicken.
Typical stories
Positive story:
- Dog receives 1 tablespoon of yogurt + 1 carrot daily.
- Excellent health, stable weight.
"Negative" story:
- Dog eats all table scraps.
- Salt, seasonings.
- Overweight, problems.
Lesson:
- Safe human food = few specific items.
- Never "table scraps".
Myths to debunk
Myth 1: "Dogs can eat everything like humans".
False: specific toxins.
Myth 2: "Human food is better than kibble".
False: balanced commercial food.
Myth 3: "Only commercial food is 'real'".
False: safe supplementation is okay.
Myth 4: "Milk is fine".
False: widespread intolerance.
The truth
The
7 safe foods:
- Boiled chicken.
- White rice.
- Carrots.
- Apples (without seeds).
- Natural yogurt.
- Cooked pumpkin.
- Cooked eggs.
Plus bonuses: banana, blueberries, watermelon, pears.
Quantity: max 10% of calories.
Use:
- Variation.
- Treat.
- Bland diet.
- Saving on commercial snacks.
Cost: minimal, from your kitchen.
And remember: your
home kitchen can be a source of
healthy snacks for your dog.
Never table scraps. Always simple and safe foods.
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