4 Reasons Why You Should Not Feed Your Dog Table Scraps

You know that weakness you feel when you’re eating and your dog looks at you with those eyes—it is so hard not to share your meal with them. But those adorable, irresistible, “feed me”, puppy-dog eyes can get them into trouble and break your bank account with one innocent snack. There are many reasons why dogs should not eat the same foods as humans. Plus, every dog is different. Some may have a stomach of steel, while others vomit after just one bite of scraps. 

1. They may have allergies. 

Your pet can always potentially have an allergic reaction to table scraps. “People” food has some weird seasoning and unidentified ingredients in many of the premade, packaged foods on the market. You do not want to take a risk by feeding them something that may poison them or give them hives or other more severe allergic reactions.

2. Pancreatitis is serious.

Pancreatitis is when the pancreas becomes inflamed, and it is more common in dogs than in cats. Symptoms may include: hunched back, vomiting, pain or distention of the abdomen, diarrhea, loss of appetite, dehydration, weakness/lethargy, or fever. At an emergency vet clinic, you could spend upwards of $2,000-4,000 to get your dog back to baseline. Avoid high-fat foods like meat trimmings, dairy products, oil, fried foods, and nuts.

3. Decreased impulse control, increased begging behaviors.

You may think to yourself, “Well, giving my dog a small piece won’t matter.” But, once your dog knows that it is okay for them to eat these foods, they will not think twice before eating an entire plate that’s been left out for a minute. Impulse control is an extremely important skill for a dog to learn, especially to prevent a foreign body case. When you throw your dog a piece of food or let them lick your plate, you are telling them what’s mine, is yours. Next time you drop a piece of chocolate or onion by accident, you won’t stand a chance beating them to the punch.

4. Calories add up.

An overweight pet is not a healthy pet. Pets that receive kibble and food scraps are more likely to be overweight or obese. Obesity may lead to diseases like diabetes, pancreatitis, or heart disease. The best thing you can do for your pet is to feed AAFCO certified foods in amounts recommended on the packaging by weight.  A healthy diet and exercise are both important in keeping your pet healthy.

Here is just a small list of unsafe foods that require emergency intervention. Please call our team at Evolution Veterinary Specialists in Lakewood, Colorado: (720)510-7707 if you believe your pet has ingested the following:

  • Chocolate         
  • Coffee         
  • Raisins/Grapes     
  • Garlic   
  • Onions       
  • Alcohol 
  • Gum (or anything containing the sweetener xylitol)
  • Yeast-containing dough
  • Macadamia nuts