Foods You Can Share With Your Dog
You enjoy a variety of foods—and so does your dog! There’s nothing wrong with giving your dog fresh, wholesome snacks. Just be careful not to go overboard with high-fat, high-calorie foods between meals, which might make your canine companion pack on the extra pounds. Stick with healthy treats that are as nutritious as they are delicious. Here are some dog-friendly foods that you and your best buddy can both enjoy:
Vegetables
Veggies can supply your dog with essential vitamins and fiber.
Grated or Puréed
- Bell peppers
- Carrots
- Celery
- Corn (cut off the cob)
- Cucumbers
- Lettuce
- Zucchini
Steamed
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Butternut squash
- Cauliflower
- Green beans
- Spinach and other leafy greens
- Winter squash
Pasta and Rice
Feel free to share your pasta or rice with your pup. Just make sure that it is thoroughly cooked and preferably whole-grain. No rich sauces, but tomato sauce is fine and a great source of vitamin C.
Dog-Approved Ice Pops
On a hot day, you can make popsicles for your dog! Just freeze puréed veggies or applesauce in an ice-cube tray. You can also mix peanut butter with ripe bananas and a little water, drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto cookie sheets, and freeze them.
Bread and Pretzels
A photo posted by Shug The Bordoodle (@shug_the_bordoodle) on
Little pieces (not too much) of whole-wheat bread are actually good for your dog’s gut. But never give your pup raw bread dough, as it can cause serious or even life-threatening stomach issues. You can also give your dog a piece of your pretzel, but make sure it’s unsalted.
Fruit
Except for grapes and raisins, most fruit is OK for your dog, including these types:
- Apples (without the seeds)
- Bananas
- Blueberries and other berries
- Cantaloupe
- Oranges
- Watermelon
Sweet Potato Jerky
Thanks @cwhitley816 for making #sweetpotatojerky! #beagledad
A photo posted by Noëlle Giuliana (@noelledoesyoga) on
You can make this at home as a treat for your dog: Clean and slice sweet-potato skins into ½-inch strips. Place the strips on parchment-lined cookie sheets, and bake at 225°F for 3 to 4 hours. Or better yet, pop them into a dehydrator.
Popcorn
Eye-poppin’ popcorn eh? G don’t like it. He loves it. ? #dogsofinstagram #furryfriday #popcorndog
A photo posted by Marja Victoria Ambubuyog (@marjavictoria) on
As long as it’s unsalted and unbuttered, this can be a fine snack for dogs.
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Make sure you keep an eye on your pup after offering a snack. Dogs who show signs of stomach upset after eating a new food should be taken to the vet right away. They could be sensitive or allergic to that particular food, and obviously you’ll want to avoid it in the future.
Now that you know which foods are safe for your dog, make sure you also know which ones aren’t!
