What and what not to feed your pooch.

Most of us like to give our dogs a little of what we eat from time to time, especially when they look at you with those big puppy eyes! This is fine in moderation and there are lots of foods that actually benefit your dog, however there are some foods you really should avoid giving your dog or leaving it in reach of doggy tongues. Here's a small list of both and why you should or shouldn't feed the foods to your dog.

Do

• Unsalted peanut butter - This is a good source of protein for dogs and contains heart healthy fats. I like to put it in Zeek's Kong with some banana and kibble. It's a great treat, especially frozen in the hot summer months.
• Baby carrots - These are great for teeth as well as being high in fibre and low in fat. 
• Salmon - Great for the coat and immune system. I like to give Zeek salmon and scrambled eggs as a dinner treat as scrambled eggs are a good source of protein.
• Some fruits - I give Zeek most fruits but first making sure he won't be eating the pits or inedible leaves. Apples are good for cleaning teeth. Bananas and strawberries are good to put in Kongs. 
• Yoghurt - It's great for the digestive system and again is a good source of protein. Be careful not to get one full of additives though. I also like to put yoghurt in Zeek's Kong with some strawberries. He loves it as a frozen treat! He also loves to lick the pot out after we have finished with the yoghurt. Trouble is he now sits there with his eyes fixed on the pot waiting for your to finish and leaning forward with every mouthful. 

Don't!

• Raisins & grapes - They are toxic for dogs and can actually cause renal failure in dogs, raisins more so than grapes. 
• Chocolate & caffeine - It is toxic for the heart and the nervous system. Giving your dog these can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Take it from me, if your dog just so happens to drink half of your coffee you left on your side it is likely to bark for three hours non stop.
• Any sugary foods -  These foods basically do to your dog what it does to us. It can lead to obesity, tooth decay and the onset of diabetes. 
• Fruits that have pits - These pits can obstruct the digestive system. They also contain cyanide which is poisonous to both us and dogs. 
• Macedamia nuts - These nuts can actually be fatal for dogs. They're poisonous and can cause increased heart rate, vomiting, muscle tremors, weakness of the hind legs and a temperature.

Most of these things can only be a problem if they are being fed to the dog often. However things like pits can cause problems straight away so it's good to have an emergency vet number ready for these situations. 

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below.

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Thanks for reading. Bye for now.