Giving table scraps to your dog: good or bad idea?

The dog is a greedy animal that never refuses to share his master’s meal. Moreover, many people have got into the habit of giving their table scraps to their dog, in order not to waste food. However, this is a very bad idea because the leftovers left on the plates are not good for the animal’s health, some are even toxic.

Table scraps: inadequate for the dog’s nutritional balance

The dog’s digestive system is not designed to digest food intended for humans because it is, depending on the case:

Too salty and/or spicy,

Too sweet,

High in fat,

Rich in lactose

Often too high in calories, our food is not suitable for dogs. It also does not meet the nutritional needs of his body and therefore cannot contribute to maintaining the good health of the animal. An inappropriate diet can lead to all kinds of health problems: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, kidney failure….
On the contrary, you should make sure to give your little companion high-quality food for puppies or adult dogs every day, which also includes small treats.

Table scraps: dangerous because they are toxic for the dog

Many foods intended for humans are dangerous for dogs. Their toxicity is such, in many cases, that it can lead to the death of the animal. It is important to resist this bad habit which consists in giving the remains of plates to your dog. Here are the drinks and foods to be absolutely banned with, for some of them, the serious consequences they entail.

Alcohol: damage to the nervous system, loss of balance, drowsiness, breathing difficulties, paralysis, coma, circulatory failure, death,

Cow’s milk due to the lactose it contains: digestive disorders such as vomiting and diarrhea,

Tea and coffee: intestinal disorders, fatal heart problems,

Sodas of all kinds: constipation, diabetes,

Chocolate: intense thirst, vomiting, tremors, agitation, heart problems, coma, death,

Candy: cavities, diabetes,

Raw, green or sprouted potatoes: digestive disorders, nervous problems,

Raw bread and pie dough: respiratory problems and digestive obstruction that can be fatal,

Foods from the Alliaceae family such as leeks, garlic, shallots, onions, chives: anemia, death of the dog,

Macadamia nut, nutmeg, cashew nut: depression, high fever, vomiting,

Avocado: respiratory problems, cardiovascular problems, digestive problems,

Dried grapes and freshly harvested grapes: digestive problems, acute renal failure,

Pits and seeds: intestinal obstruction, cyanogen glycoside poisoning,

The small friable bones, pointed …: injuries in the mouth, choking, perforation of the esophagus or intestinal wall. Note that you can give your dog a large raw marrow bone from time to time, but you must remain vigilant.

The following products should not be included in your dog’s diet either:

Salt and salty foods,

Raw egg white in large quantities,

Yeast,

Pastries,

Pastries,

Apricot,

Plum,

The cherry,

The mushrooms,

Pear.

If in doubt, do not hesitate to ask your veterinarian.

Giving table scraps to your dog: a bad educational habit

In addition to being dangerous in many cases for your dog, giving him leftovers is strongly discouraged from an educational point of view. You must give it up from a young age so that he learns to control his greed and the desire to beg for a bite here and a bite there. There is nothing more unpleasant than to have a dog that asks for food while you are eating. This very bad habit may not bother some owners, but it can be quite unbearable for the guests.

If the habit is already well established, it is necessary to break the habit. To do this, you must adopt indifference when he asks for food during meals, even if ignoring him is not easy when he implores his master with his eyes while licking his lips. No need to feel guilty. The best idea is to incorporate vegetable waste without sauce into the compost and to throw away the others.

Master/dog: establish a hierarchy

You should get into the habit of not letting your dog eat in the same room as his owners. Each dog has his own space. It is also important to feed your dog at the same time every day.

The dog must be able to forget about the human meals: either he spends this time outside, or he stays in his basket located in another room. But in order to make sure that your dog behaves well in society, you must never give in to his whims. This is important so that he doesn’t feel like the dominant one in his foster family.
The dog eats either a good hour before his masters, but ideally he should eat exclusively after. However, this is not a reason to give him the leftovers because, as we have seen, many foods are not suitable for him and some are dangerous for him.

Let’s start from the principle that the dog is not the table trash of his breeders and that he must receive daily a food that is strictly reserved for him, which can be prepared at home (household food) but on the exclusive advice of the veterinarian in order not to make any mistake, both in terms of cooking and food balance. A food prepared by the owner with excellent quality raw food is much better for the animal’s health than low quality and unbalanced food.