Foods That You Can And Can't Give To Your Dog

Before I get started on this topic, let me paint you a picture: It’s Thanksgiving dinner. You’re at home with your family, excited to show off your nauseatingly cute new puppy. Everyone’s oohing and ahhing over Fido, and your sister’s in the corner bitterly crying jealous tears. Warm fire crackles in the fireplace.

As you settle down at the dinner table to enjoy your victorious Thanksgiving dinner, a small paw eagerly pats your leg, and a wet nose excitedly sniffs your hands. You look down, and it’s already too late. Fido hits you with his big old puppy eyes and you know that momentarily, you’ll be sliding off pieces of your dinner down to your eager beaver waiting at your feet.

BUT SHOULD YOU?

We all know that chocolate is bad for your dog, but what else is? Is your mom’s Thanksgiving turkey okay to give Fido? What about your Uncle Richard’s family famous beer sausages? Oh my god, what about Grandma Phyllis’s insanely good carrot cake??

Relax. That’s what I’m here for.

I know it can be confusing to know what’s safe and what’s not to give Fido, so here’s a simple straightforward list of what is and isn’t safe.

Before I continue, I must stress that this is only my opinion (informed opinions), and while it is safe for most dogs, make sure to consult your veterinarian in case of any allergies or medical conditions.

Before we get into the details, here is an awesome infographic showing you what your dog can and can’t eat.

So can Dogs eat bananas? YES!

There is a common misconception that dogs can’t eat bananas, but in fact bananas are perfectly safe for consumption as long as they are given in moderation.

Bananas have so many great nutrition benefits for your dog. They are high in vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and vitamin B.

So the next time you think about giving your dog a banana, don’t hesitate!

Most Commonly Searched Foods for Fido

Aight so now we can get into the fun foods. The yummy non-veggies and fruits. The ones most of us would have literally no idea about giving to Fido. Now I’m sure all of ya’ll have heard that chocolate isn’t safe for dogs, but what else isn’t?

Never fear people. I am here, Jesus H Christ, dog owner. (Please don’t tell my Sunday school teacher I referred to myself as Jesus. I was just kidding!)

Eggs

Perfectly acceptable snack food for your pup!
Served them boiled or fried.
- Though if fried, try to avoid using cooking oils to fry them.

Cheese

Very safe, and very often used!
- True story time: At the last animal hospital I worked at, if we had sick patients that refused to eat their meds, and we didn’t want to stress them out by pilling them ourselves, we’d hide the pills in the pieces of cheese. Worked like a charm!
However, some dogs may be lactose intolerant, so watch for signs like diarrhea.

Peanuts

You’d be nuts not to give them peanuts
Just kidding. They are safe, but high in fat! So use sparingly

Almonds

I’m gonna go ahead and give a lukewarm so-so on this one
While almonds are not toxic, they can cause digestive upset

Popcorn

Why not enjoy a mutual bag of popcorn with Fido while watching Netflix??
Popcorn is safe, but make sure that no unpopped kernels are digested
- Also, the unflavored or less salted popcorn would be ideal

Milk

Think and treat milk the same as cheese
Yes, it is safe, but those who happen to be lactose intolerant, will probably get the squirts

Peanut Butter

HAHAHAHAHAHAaa
Oh wait, sorry.. lol
Of course peanut butter is safe! A pup’s love for peanut butter is only rivaled by their love for us
HOWEVER: Make sure to avoid the sugarless peanut butter, as they use a sugar replacer called xylitol, which is highly toxic

Bread

Its sliced variant is the cornerstone of great inventions by mankind, of course it can be enjoyed by mans best friend
Just make sure to avoid overfeeding it

Corn

I know it’s technically a vegetable, but it’s been placed here due to.. technicalities
Corn as its individual kernels, fine for Fido.
The cob? A big no no.

Shrimp

Hell yes. Classy dogs love them some seafood
Shrimp is fine for Fido, just avoid giving too much of it

Honey

Honey, you’d bee crazy not to!
Perfectly safe. Can even help with allergies! As always, avoid giving too much

Pork

Safe. But do make sure the meat is fully cooked
While it is safe, it is highly fatty so can lead to health issues

Rice

Delicious safe. It’d be a… rice change to their diet. Hahaa, god I’m funny
Rice is safe and a good bland diet to use when their tummy’s are upset

Tuna

Acceptable for Fido in both its cooked and raw form
I’m not sure who’d be feeding their pup sushi though?

Turkey

Ha, a throwback to my initialThanksgivingg dinner set up
Turkey itself is fine for Fido. However, the seasoned up version we enjoy dripping in fatty gravy, is no good for Fido.

Yogurt

Good for both Fido and his digestive system!
Just make sure to avoid overfeeding, and highly sugary ones

10 Fruits for Fido

If we want Fido to be healthy, we want to make sure he’s getting all his fruits and veggies right? Here are the most common fruits you can give your pup!

Apples

A fun crunchy healthy snack!
Great source of vitamin C and vitamin A
Tip: remove the core and seeds before hand

Bananas

Easy to store, easy to serve
However, very high in sugar, so maybe a rare treat

Watermelon

Delicious, hydrating summer snack
Excellent source of lycopene!
Good for vitamins A, B, and C

Blueberries

Fun to give and have them push around with their lil’ snoots!
Helps prevents cancer and heart diseases

Pears

Make sure to always serve in… pairs! Hahaha just kidding
Can strengthen Fido’s intestinal lining

Oranges

Be wary of serving size! While full grown large dogs can handle a whole orange, it’s best to start off the pup with a slice or two
Best served without the rinds

Mango

Fun fact: if you give Fido a mango, he’ll tango with you! (if this happens, let me know ASAP)
Mangoes are jam packed with vitamins A, B, C, and E

Peaches

Make sure to remove the pit!
Serve in slices. Great source of yummy fiber

Raspberries

Both the fruit AND the kisses are acceptable for the pup
The fruit version is low in sugar, high in fiber and vitamins

Pineapples

Perfectly safe for Fido, as long as you didn’t grab Spongebob’s house
Great for fiber, vitamins, minerals, and healthy enzymes

5 Fruits NOT for Fido

As delicious and healthy as most fruits are for us, there are some that aren’t all that well for your pup. So to prevent any accidental fata fruiting, here are the top 10 fruits to avoid giving to your Fido.

Grapes

Any variant of this fruit should be avoided, this includes raisins
Regardless of dog size and amount consumed, can lead to kidney failure

Cherries

Technically the fruit itself is safe
BUT the pit and plant is highly toxic, so avoid it to be safe

Currants

Very similar properties as grapes
Even in small amounts can lead to kidney failure

Apricots

Treat similarly to cherries
Every other part of the plant and the pit is highly toxic

Persimmons

Seeds of persimmons are highly dangerous
If ingested, can lead to enteritis of the intestines.

10 Vegetables for Fido

Now that we’ve got sweet fruits covered, here are some greens that Fido can enjoy.

Broccoli

Best served as a sparing treat!
High in fiber, vitamin C, and low in fat

Carrots

Crunchy, colorful, and fun to use as a training tool
Low calories, and the crunch is good for dental health!

Potato

Safe and yummy, BUT better if served cooked/boiled
If given raw, can lead to an upset stomach

Sweet Potato

Also should be served cooked and peeled
Avoid any of its delicious variants, like sweet potato pie or casseroles

Cucumbers

Have very few calories, serves as a energy reboot
High in micronutrients and biotin

Pumpkins

High in fiber, low in calories
Healthy source for beta-carotene

Celery

Similar in characteristics to cucumbers
As a added bonus, also helps keep their breath fresh!

Green Beans

Low calorie, high in fiber, very filling snack
Rich in vitamins A, C, and K

Spinach

Can be given in safe moderate amounts!
Just avoid giving in anything past moderate amounts

Lettuce

A fun, wet, crunchy snack for Fido!
However, lettuce has little to no nutritional value. More of a fun texture for your puppy to enjoy

5 Vegetables NOT for Fido

As I did with the fruits section, let me provide you with a short list of vegetables to avoid. I’ll keep this a bit shorter, as it’s best to try and remember more of what is okay to give your little pup pup, than try and remember a whole bunch of what to avoid.

Tomatoes

Despite it being delicious on pizza, it’s quite toxic to lil’ Fido
Can cause gastrointestinal upset if digested

Rhubarb

While we can enjoy it as a yummy pie, not so much for our 4 legged buddy
Can cause calcium depletion

Garlic

Despite some saying it is beneficial, can be dangerous for pups
If ingested, can cause heart and respiratory issues

Raw potatoes

As mentioned in the Safe Vegetables list, potatoes MUST be cooked before giving to your pup
If consumed raw, can lead to heart failure and vomiting

Avocado

Okay, I know this one’s controversial! I know we love it as a healthy super food for us. BUT. Not for the pups I’m afraid
Avocado has a toxin that when consumed, can cause diarrhea and vomiting

Final Thoughts

Who would have thought that giving your pup some vegetables and fruits could be so confusing, am I right? I mean, based on what our parents told us, eating all veggies and fruits were supposed to be good for us. Such liars. But we’re better than that. We’ll be better parents to our Fido than our parents ever were for us (sorry mom..)

Anyways. I know I just threw a bunch of lists at you, and there’s a whole mix of vegetables and fruits rolling around in your head. But for the sake of your pup, keep it simple. It’s best if you learn the perks of a handful of vegetables and fruits that you and your pup like, and stick to it.

Before you leave though, I think it’s important that you keep a few of these rules in mind to keep things on track:

Always wash all vegetables and fruit
Peel the fruits. Avoid the skins
REMOVE THE PITS/SEEDS
Serve vegetables as is. No variants!
1. Such as potato pies, rhubarb pie, etc
Did I mention, REMOVE THE PITS/SEEDS?
Last and most importantly: Don’t overuse. These foods should be kept and used as special treats of special occasions.

I hope you enjoyed this article and I hope it gave you some good insights on what your dog can eat and can’t eat. If you enjoyed this article please share it with your friends and don’t forget to subscribe to our dog owner’s newsletter!