Thinking of changing up your dog’s meal plan? Well, here are some people foods your dog can enjoy as well.
1. Pasta And Rice
Disney’s “Lady and the Tramp” canoodled over a plate of spaghetti and meatballs. Your pooch can have pasta once in a while, too. Just make sure it’s plain and cooked.
Brown rice is a healthy whole grain your dog may gobble up. Mix some into her regular dog food to liven up her meal. Make human food a treat for your dog – it should be no more than 5% to 10% of her diet. The rest should be dog food, which supplies the nutrients she needs.
2. Meat
What dog doesn’t go on alert when there’s meat around? Chicken, turkey, lean ground beef, and chuck steak or roast are animal-based proteins, which help dogs grow strong.
A few rules apply: Always cook meat well. Never serve it raw or undercooked. Avoid fatty cuts, including bacon. Cut meat (and any human food) into easy-to-chew chunks. Ground meat is fine, too but old, moldy, or spoiled meats are not okay.
3. Vegetables
Vegetables give your pup vitamins, fiber, and some canine crunch. Try serving these raw veggies grated or finely chopped: carrot, cucumber, zucchini, lettuce, bell peppers, corn (cut off the cob), and celery.
Or steam these favorites: green beans, broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, and hard winter squash. Skip avocado, which can upset her stomach. Don’t give any vegetable or other human food that seems to cause tummy trouble.
4. Treats For Dog-Day Afternoons
To cool off a hot dog on a sultry day, give her pet pops. Make them with any food she likes, like veggies or applesauce. Freeze the pops in an ice cube tray.
Or whip up some peanut butter pops: Mix 1 cup of peanut butter (unsalted is best) with half a mashed, ripe banana or a little water. Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheets lined with wax paper and freeze.
5. Bread And Pretzels
Bite-sized bits of whole wheat bread are good for her gut health. But don’t give her raw dough, it can cause serious stomach problems.
She might also go for some pieces of unsalted pretzel. Just skip the salted kind, which can make her extra thirsty and can cause big problems if she eats a lot.