Why You Shouldn't Give Your Dog Table Scraps

It happens to all of us. While we are sitting at the table eating our dinner, we can't help but notice our four-legged friend sitting under the table. With their tail wagging and head cocked just so, they might as well be screaming "Gimme Gimme Gimme!". We know what the dog wants. The dog wants some of our dinner. Couldn't hurt to give the dog a couple of bites, right?

In reality, there shouldn't be any table scraps in a dog's diet. A dog's dietary needs simply are not like those of a human. Obviously, both humans and dogs do technically eat some of the same foods, but giving your dog table scraps is one of the greatest errors you can make in regards to your dog's health. A dog's diet simply does not need all the additional goodies that our meals consist of.

Obesity isn't just a problem for people, it can be a problem for dogs too. When a dog's diet is made up of mainly table scraps, there is a good chance that dog will have difficulty keeping a healthy weight. Just being a couple pounds over weight could have a negative affect on a dog's life, both in quality and longevity.

If your dog doesn't happen to be a picky eater, it is probably tempting to treat your dog as four-legged garbage disposal, but it's really a bad idea. Your dog's diet should never consist of certain types of people foods because they can hurt your dog. An example of this would be grapes, which can cause dangerous problems for dogs, sometimes even death. Popcorn and chicken bones can also be problematic for dogs. Allowing large amounts of chocolate can also cause serious health issues when part of a dog's diet.

There are some situations when a snack from the kitchen might be okay, but not in excess. Speak with your vet about what snacks would be healthy for your dog's diet. If you can't stop feeding your dog table scraps, alot of vets advocate that you give your dog pieces of carrot or ice cubes to eat.

Therefore, the next time you catch your dog staring longingly at your plate of food, don't cave in and give them a piece of that chicken leg. Rather, throw your beloved pet an ice cube or a baby carrot or two to chew on. This will not only leave your dog happy, but will give you the knowledge that you are providing a good quality diet for your dog.