Feeding time can be a fun bonding activity between you and your pet. If they have been on good behavior, you may even give them special food as a reward. Occasionally, these treats can be human food, such as peanut butter and chicken breast. However, some foods that people eat regularly are toxic to dogs, like onions and chocolates. Due to this, it is good to practice caution when giving away food to your beloved friends.
With that being said, can dogs have bacon grease? If dogs simply consumed a little bacon grease, like licking some off the floor, it is generally safe. However, bacon grease is fatty and salty, so it should be avoided as much as possible. If a dog has had a little too much bacon grease, their bodies may experience problems processing it, which may also impact its ability to digest foods and absorb nutrients properly. Giving dogs bacon once in a while is fine, but if a dog consumes too much bacon grease, it may lead to inflammation of the pancreas, also known as pancreatitis.
It is hard to resist the sad eyes of a dog begging for food, especially if the dog seems to want to eat the food more than you. Before you give your dogs food scraps from dinner, remember that they have a different digestive system from you. While many foods are considered safe for them to eat, it is still advisable to be cautious when sharing some table foods with your dog. This is especially true if you are not sure about the type of food you are giving them. Moreover, the general rule of thumb is that everything can be harmful if not taken in moderation.
What Foods are Bad for Dogs?
It’s scary to think that the food you eat while in the presence of your dogs can seriously endanger them. If left unattended, your pup might even ingest food without you knowing! Due to this risk, some people choose to feed their pets with only dog food. On the other hand, giving away table food to dogs seems to be the more convenient and cost-effective choice for others. Regardless of which of the two you are, it is essential to know which food dogs can eat. It may seem dramatic, but arming yourself with this knowledge can actually make a difference in a life or death situation. Listed below are common foods you should keep away from your pets.
Chocolate
It is common knowledge that chocolates are bad for dogs. However, consuming a small amount by accident does not necessarily require an owner to take their dog to the veterinarian. While chocolate is generally non-lethal for dogs and other house pets, consuming high amounts can lead to health complications. Dogs are not able to metabolize chocolate like humans, which leads to digestive complications.
Salt
Consuming salt is not deadly for dogs. Even so, it should be consumed in moderation. Too much salt intake might lead to salt poisoning or water deprivation for dogs, which might further lead to more problems like vomiting, seizures, and diarrhea. To avoid these complications altogether, it is best to avoid giving them foods high in sodium, such as chips and pretzels. Moreover, it is also important to provide them with enough water every day.
Some varieties of nuts
Even though peanut butter can be an excellent treat for your furry friends, some nuts are not advisable to be eaten by them. For example, you should keep macadamia nuts, cashews, and almonds away from your pooches. It is ideal to limit food mixed with cashews and almonds because they are difficult to digest. Likewise, these nuts are also high in fat which may cause health complications in dogs, particularly heart diseases. Macadamia nuts, on the other hand, are more dangerous. Other than being high in fats, macadamia nuts also contain unknown toxins that are toxic to dogs. In addition, consuming macadamia may also lead to pancreatitis.
Onion and Garlic
Onions and garlic give flavor and aroma to our foods, yet, when consumed by pets such as dogs and cats, they can cause complications. In worst cases, ingesting either of the two can be lethal for them. Garlic contains chemical compounds called thiosulfates that can damage red blood cells in dogs, developing into anemia. Similarly, onions have N-propyl disulfides that also affect the red blood cells in dogs, which reduces their ability to carry oxygen across their body and might also lead to anemia.
Cheese
Eating cheese in small quantities is generally safe for dogs. Still, a person should keep in mind that cheese is high in fat, and feeding the dogs cheese regularly might lead to weight gain, and ultimately, obesity. Overeating cheese can lead to digestive complications for dogs, such as diarrhea and stomach pain. Therefore, one should limit the amount of cheese present in the food they feed their pets. Should you feed them cheese, a healthier kind would be mozzarella, which has a lower fat content.
How to Feed your Dog in a Healthy Way?
We care for our dogs a lot. As such, we want to give them healthy and delicious food. However, people often forget about the “healthy” part and just give their pets what they think is delicious. Fortunately, there are various ways to treat your dogs without sacrificing their health. Here are the things to remember to provide a well-balanced diet for your fur babies:
- Check the fat content of the food. Most food considered bad for dogs is high in fats, so it is essential to check the nutritional label for fat content. As mentioned earlier, fatty foods lead to unhealthy weight gain and worse complications such as pancreatitis. To avoid these complications, it is best to limit or avoid fatty foods altogether.
- Avoid giving dogs table foods. It is not uncommon to see a dog begging for food whenever people are eating at the table. However, it is necessary to choose which foods to give them. As stated earlier, some common foods found on our plates are bad for them, like onions and garlic, so limit giving the dog food off a person’s plate.
- Moderate their food intake. Too much of anything is bad for humans and dogs alike. To be a responsible pet owner, be sure to feed the dog in moderation. Puppies six months or younger usually eat three to four times a day. However, when a dog turns six months old, a person can gradually decrease their food intake twice a day. Meanwhile, an adult dog may eat once or twice a day, depending on their exercise. Remember, a balanced diet can help them live a longer and healthier life.
- Do not give too many treats. Treats should not make 10% of what dogs eat in a day. Some treats are high in calories and giving them too many may lead to excess weight gain. Instead of giving dogs high-calorie treats, a person can provide them with baby carrots, blueberries, or frozen peas as a treat, or anything that is healthy and is low in calories. Also, owners should realize that dogs do not need treats every time they do something incredible.
- Adjust the dog’s diet seasonally. Dogs can be more active and like to take a walk outside every summer and just stay at home during winter; these changes in season and your dog’s behavior and activities can also affect their diet. When a dog only stays at home during winter, limit their food intake because they do not get a lot of exercises. However, when a dog is active, give them the usual amount of food they eat, or even more on some occasions.
- Practice controlled feeding. As stated earlier, pet owners can decrease a dog’s food intake gradually. A person can practice controlled feeding on their dog by only giving them the exact amount of food every time they feed them based on their weight and diet. Also, remember not to leave food out where they can eat anytime. Whenever they get bored, they will proceed to eat and therefore overstuff themselves. By practicing controlled feeding, the dogs will not experience hunger quickly because their stomachs will know when to digest foods.
Getting a dog is a serious responsibility. It is not enough to just give them anything to eat. Instead, it is essential for you to differentiate which foods are safe and healthy for them and which ones are downright harmful. Instead of absentmindedly feeding them anything and wondering about things like, “Can dogs have bacon grease?” it is best to read articles and educate yourselves on the matter. It is also important to know the specific nutritional requirements for your dog’s breed, weight, and age.
Without a doubt, the food you provide your pet improves the longevity and quality of their lives. With better nutrition, dogs have better immunity against diseases and feel happier. Who wouldn’t want to improve the lives of their furry companions? Indeed, the phrase “You are what you eat” applies even to our dogs.
