A Guide to the Snacks You Can Safely Share With Your Dog
- Piece of Cake Staff
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
Written by Ridley Kozman
My dog's main diet is kibble. But when I see her sad bowl of just plain, boring, brown kibble, I can’t help but feel sorry for her. Fortunately, she also gets some love from the people in her life who do toss her some real food every now and again.
My bernedoodle lets you know that she is interested in what you are eating with a couple of techniques. The first is the stare. You literally can feel her eyes staring at you. The concentration level is next level. I am not even sure if she blinks. The other technique is the shuffle. Our dog adjusts her position ever so slightly so she makes noise but not too much, just enough to let you know that she is still there and she is hungry.
If you have a dog, the chances are high that you have had this experience and encountered these begging strategies. You are eating something yummy, and then your beloved dog is making you feel very guilty for not sharing. The stare plus the shuffle equals guilt for me. Dogs are experts at softening and lowering their eyes to actually solicit sympathy.
But here’s the catch: while you may have been told in kindergarten that "sharing is caring," that is not always the case when it comes to tearing off a bit of your snack for your pup. There are human foods that are in fact toxic to dogs and others that, in small amounts, can be quite healthy for them. So, care before you share by following this simple guide on what is okay and what is not when it comes to food and dogs.
Dog-Safe Foods (generally speaking and in small amounts):
As an occasional treat or addition to the food bowl, plain and cooked-through meats like chicken, turkey, and lean beef are safe foods. But make sure that there is no seasoning or bones and the meat is fully cooked. These meats are a great source of protein and pack a flavor punch when added to a bowl of boring, brown kibble.
The dog-friendly fruit list is identical to my favorite fruit list. Apples, blueberries, bananas, and watermelon are all good in little doses for dogs. Just remember no seeds and no rinds. Fruit is sweet and refreshing and can even help cool down your dog on a hot summer’s day. My dog likes blueberries and can catch them quite successfully when tossed her way from the breakfast table!
Moving from fruit to veggies, dogs can eat carrots, cucumbers, green beans, and pumpkin (cooked) as long as it is washed and plain. My dog loves pumpkin purée, and I love her orange face after she eats it.
Dogs can also be given rice, pasta, and oatmeal, but again, as long as these carbohydrates have nothing added to them like butter, salt, or spices. My friend’s dog loves cheese and definitely enjoys a cube of cheddar or marble, but some dogs are lactose intolerant, so watch for this.
My dog definitely does not have a peanut allergy. We have dog biscuits for her that are peanut-butter flavor, but if your dog ever consumes human peanut butter, make sure it doesn’t have Xylitol in it (see below).
Unsafe Foods
You should never, ever give your dog chocolate – even tiny bits can be toxic to them due to theobromine. It is found in cacao beans, where chocolate comes from.
Grapes and raisins can cause kidney damage or failure in dogs, so do not share these! Remember how much I stressed during the safe food portion that everything must be unseasoned. Well, this is because onions and garlic are not good for dogs and can be toxic even in small doses.
Dogs drink water, and that’s it. Do not let your dog have anything with caffeine such as coffee, tea, and energy drinks. Artificial sweeteners like Xylitol found in sugar-free gum, some candy, and even store-bought baked goods are also harmful to dogs.
When in Doubt, Don’t Share
While those sweet eyes and that strong stare coupled with the shuffle might make you feel like you need to share your snack, dogs don’t actually require our food to live. They are quite fine with dog food.
You should always ask and consult your veterinarian before you share with your pup as well. Some human foods are safe for dogs in small amounts and in simple forms. Others can be seriously dangerous even in tiny, trace amounts.
I am going to end there and go get a snack for myself. There is a very good chance that I will be joined by an earnest bernedoodle and also a good chance that I am about to share some of my apple.
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