You might think that the list of human foods that dogs can eat would be quite short. After all, there are many human foods that your pup should certainly avoid for their health.
But, you might be surprised that many of your own favourite snacks are also fine for your pupper (in moderation of course!) And if you’re looking for a quick reference sheet for which foods are a-okay for dogs, keep this one saved for future reference.
Berries for dogs: go or no-go?
#1: Broccoli
Full of calcium, riboflavins, dietary fibre and plenty of vitamins, broccoli offers a range of benefits for your dog. And you can serve it to your furry friend as a crunchy treat or mixed in with their meal.
Don’t go overboard, though! Dogs who eat more than a small handful of broccoli per day can experience some stomach upset.
#2: Bananas
Portable, delicious and a healthy source of potassium and other vitamins and minerals, bananas are a family-favourite snack. But, are they one of the human foods that dogs can eat? Yes!
As long as you don’t overdo it—bananas are high in sugars—your pup can enjoy a bite of your banana.
#3: Popcorn
Sure, there may not be any dietary benefit to feeding your dog popcorn. But if you’re on the couch snuggled up for a movie night with your pup, you might be tempted to toss them a few kernels.
As it turns out, popcorn isn’t toxic for dogs. You might even whip up a special small batch of salt-free and oil-free popcorn that is healthier for your dog. Just make sure that they enjoy one kernel at a time; a snout full of popcorn can be a choking hazard.
#4: Squash
Members of the squash family, such as pumpkin, butternut squash and zucchini, are all a safe and healthy addition to your dog’s diet.
In fact, some vets recommend giving your dog pumpkin when they have an upset stomach, as this nutritious gourd is easily digested and full of potassium. Remember that walking is another important component to regulating your dog’s digestive system, and a dedicated Dog Walker can help you give Fido consistent exercise!
Squash should always be served to dogs after being thoroughly cooked without any added ingredients like oil, salt, or other seasonings.
#5: Carrots
Another crunchy treat on the list, carrots are a wonderful example of human foods that dogs can eat, too. They’re low in sugar and packed with antioxidants like carotenoids.
Something to keep in mind is that our puppers aren’t great chewers. Make sure to cut carrots into bite-sized pieces or opt for dog food with carrots blended in.
#6: Seedless Watermelon
There are a number of reasons why we should be sharing our favourite summer snack with Fido. For one, watermelon is over 90% water! That makes this snack hydrating and cooling for the hottest summer days.
And, watermelon is filled with beneficial vitamins, like Vitamin A, B and C.
You might notice that we listed seedless watermelons, specifically. That’s because seeds, as well as watermelon rinds, can cause digestive blockages and bloating. Unless you want to pick out the seeds one by one before giving your pup a bite, stick with seedless watermelons.
#7: Berries
Most berries that humans enjoy, including strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries, are also safe for our canine companions. And in addition to a range of vitamins and minerals, strawberries also include a certain enzyme that serves as a natural teeth-cleaner for dogs.
The only drawback of berries is that they’re so delicious, it’s easy to eat too many. And overdoing it with berries can lead to stomach upset and diarrhoea. Keep in mind, also, that cherries don’t fall into this category! Cherries are not a safe treat for dogs.
We would also warn that once your pup gets a taste of berries that you take special care in areas with wild blackberries, which grow like weeds in certain parts of Australia. These berry thickets are sometimes sprayed with chemicals that pose a risk to doggos.
#8: Peanut Butter
All-natural, xylitol-free peanut butter is a doggy favourite! You can use it to make homemade dog treats, add a bit to your dog’s food bowl, or even hide your dog’s medications in a dollop of tasty peanut butter.
Peanuts offer up healthy fats and protein, making them a great source of energy for active dogs or dogs in training. And peanut butter is high in Vitamins B and E.
One thing that we’ll note is that it’s quite easy to go overboard with peanut butter, especially since dogs are so wild about it. Keep it in moderation for a healthy pup!
And, while peanut butter and nutella may be a winning combo for humans, nutella should never be fed to dogs. This similar nut paste is made with cocoa that can be toxic to dogs, and the high levels of sugar make it unhealthy for our pups.
#9: Sweet Potato
Like squash, sweet potatoes are not only a good source of vitamins and minerals, but they’re also great for doggy digestion. Sweet potatoes are loaded with Vitamins A, B, and C and offer up enough dietary fibre to regulate your dog’s digestive system.
Sweet potatoes should always be cooked before being given to dogs, so we would suggest baking them into tasty treats or blending them into your dog’s food.
#10: Spinach
Filled with iron, potassium, Vitamins B, C, K, E, and plenty of carotenoids, spinach is one of the best human foods that dogs can eat.
This leafy green offers plenty of dietary fibre but it’s not as difficult to digest as some other veggies like kale. And spinach is so nutrient-dense that your pup can reap health benefits without eating too much.
#11: Rice
Along with squash and sweet potatoes, rice is often recommended for dogs suffering from stomach upset. White rice is easy to digest and helps to counter diarrhoea and other digestive problems. And, it’s a source of iron and protein, which can help your pup build back strength when they’re not feeling well.
#12: High quality proteins
This is an obvious one, right? But the fact is, high-quality, human grade proteins like chicken, beef, kangaroo, and fish are also excellent foods for our dogs.
Each protein source for dogs offers its own list of benefits. Beef is high in protein and iron. Chicken is lower in saturated fat while also being a formidable source of protein. And, in many ways, kangaroo meat, which is lean and offers Omegas 3 and 6, is one of the best options for our pups.
Now, that doesn’t mean that your furry friend should gobble down a plate of your Sunday roast. Common meat seasonings like onion and garlic are not safe for dogs; they should only be eating non-seasoned sources of protein.
What’s your favourite of the human foods that dogs can eat?
With your reference list of human foods that dogs can eat, you can find out which healthy treat your dog will love. Always remember that while these human foods are safe for dogs, they should always be eaten in moderation.
And if you’re not sure how to incorporate healthy ingredients to your dog’s diet, leave it to the pros! Mad Paws Dinner Bowl is perfectly balanced so that your dog can enjoy the right mix of veggies and high-quality protein.
Which one of these human foods that dogs can eat is your pupper’s favourite?
