Occasionally, you’ll look at the sad, wet slop your beloved dog eats and you’ll immediately want to throw them a bone (i.e. human food that doesn’t look like a regurgitated casserole).
But, before I get into some fun little tidbits about what dogs can eat, I think it’s wise (and necessary to avoid being sued) to preface the article with a list of foods that dogs can’t consume, as found on the RSPCA website.
Do not ever feed the following substances as they are toxic to dogs (note this is not a complete list): alcohol, onions, onion powder, garlic, chocolate, coffee or caffeine products, mouldy or spoiled foods or compost, avocado, bread dough, yeast dough, grapes, raisins, sultanas (including in Christmas cakes etc), currants, nuts (including macadamia nuts), fruit stones or ‘pits’ (e.g. mango seeds, apricot stones, avocado stones), mushrooms, and fruit seeds. Also, never feed the following as these can be dangerous for dogs: corncobs, green unripe tomatoes, cooked bones, small pieces of raw bone, fatty trimmings/fatty foods, salt and roughly-cut vegetables.
Read the list. Study it. Memorise it. Tell your neighbours. Call your Mum. Ask her how she’s doing. She misses you.
Now that the legalities have been ticked off, let’s get into it.
1. Chobani Yoghurt
Before you motor down to the supermarket to buy 60 litres of strawberry-flavoured yoghurt, just pump the brakes for a hot sec.
A small spoonful of yoghurt combined with your pup’s daily diet is beneficial to them as long as it’s not gonna induce a sugar high.
Plain Chobani 0.5% fat yoghurt is where it’s at. It’s got calcium, probiotics, protein and no artificial crap.
(P.s. further proof that dogs absolutely froth yoghurt HERE.)
2. A Virgin Eggs Benedict
A virgin eggs benedict, otherwise known as a standard boiled egg (got ‘iiiiiim), is perfectly fine for your wee dog to slobber on.
Everyone knows (cooked) eggs are nutritious, delicious and a great tool to use if you want to throw something at an adversary, and the same goes for dogs, too.
But, as is the case with every type of food on this list, moderation is key. Give them a teeny, tiny amount.
3. Fish
Got a date night coming up? Feast on some salmon with your significant animal, as a treat.
But there are a few things to watch out for:
- Bones
- Raw fish
Ah okay, so there are only two main things to watch out for. To err on the side of caution, prepare your fish in a manner that requires the least amount of oil/butter/fat.
If salmon’s not your dog’s cuppa tea, you can also try tuna, whitefish, cod and whiting.
4. Strawberries
Is there a better accompaniment to a fancy salmon dinner than a night-cap of fresh berries to cleanse the palate? Probably but my knowledge of food is strictly limited to things I’ve seen on TV.
Regardless, strawberries are A-OK for your dog to eat. It’s still classed as a treat, so don’t swap out actual dog food for the little red suckers, but they have a tonne of Vitamin C so they’re definitely what we’d consider a ‘healthier’ treat.
While we’re on the subject, I’m using this time to remind fellow humans that strawberries dipped in chocolate do not go towards your daily fruit intake.
Stop playing yourselves.
5. Celery
I mean sure, once the leaves have been removed and it’s cut into dog-friendly pieces, celery can be eaten by your pup, but should it be?
Save that bland, wet blanket of a vegetable for yourself. Dogs can’t smother celery in cream cheese, so why subject them to it?
Treat your puppy like you’d treat your youngest child and always choose Chobani over celery. Do not treat your puppy like you’d treat your middle child.
