People Food for Dogs - What to Know - Stubborn Dog, Novice Owner

We all know not to give our dogs too much people food, even if we think the foo d we are feeding them is healthy. If you’re like me, you hit Google on a regular basis to see if a particular people food is safe for your dog. Avocado = NO. Strawberries = YES. It gets tiresome always checking.

For this post I’m including a list of safe-for-dogs food items. Most of them are quite common. However, I throw in a few that might be surprising. Or maybe I was the only one surprised – did you know dogs can eat Mango? Or Pineapple? Yeah, I didn’t know that. I assumed those wouldn’t be good for them. I also assumed avocados would be fine. NO, they’re not. Not at all. No ‘cado for the doggo.

After chatting with lots of dog parents and then researching what I learned, I’ve also discovered that some people food can even be beneficial to dogs.

I’ve created a list of people foods that are safe for dogs (in small quantities) and when appropriate I share a benefit for the dog if eating that particular food. I say “may” because for each “yes, it works” response, there’s always an equal opposite response, “no, it didn’t work for my dog.”

The list is not all-encompassing, fully extensive. Different countries have different tastes, just like different regions within countries have different tastes. I did my best to list the most common people foods.

Disclaimer

I am not a veterinarian. I’m an average, maybe slightly under-average dog owner. You know your dog better than anyone else, so trust your gut. If something sounds off about a recommendation, listen to your gut. Don’t do it until you have consulted with your Vet first.

Fruit Options of People Food for Dogs

Fruits and Vegetables are the categories that hold the safest options of people food for dogs. Not all are safe. If you don’t see it on the list, check Google, ask Siri, hit up Alexa, or contact your veterinarian’s office.

Apples – no seeds or core
Bananas – high in sugar so only give as a treat once in a while
Blueberries
Cantaloupe
Mango
Oranges – no peel
Peaches – no pits, some people have reported diarrhea in their dogs
Pineapple – POSSIBLE BENEFIT: If your dog eats his or other animals’ poop (it’s called Coprophagia) some people have reported that eating pineapple makes the poop taste off-putting to the dog.
Raspberries
Strawberries – POSSIBLE BENEFIT: May whiten dog’s teeth.
Watermelon – no seeds or rind

A little hope for those whose dogs have Coprophagia:

While it can be tough to discourage dogs over one year old that have developed a poop-eating habit, most puppies will grow out of it.
Breaking Your Pup Of A Nasty Habit: Poop Eating & Butt Scootch – DogTime

Vegetable Options

This is a great category for people food options for dogs. You usually don’t have to worry about sugar content.

Beets
Broccoli – Florets, no stalks. HOWEVER: More than one place I’ve researched has mentioned there is a potential for severe gastric irritation. You may want to avoid this veggie or try a super small piece as a treat.
Brusses Sprouts – WARNING: If you have people coming over or you’re going to bed, your pooch may gas you out of the room. However, it might be a great way to get straggling guests out of your house.
Cabbage – Take note of the above gas warning.
Carrots – Cooked or raw. POSSIBLE BENEFIT: Raw carrots are great for dog’s teeth and gums. It helps remove plaque from their teeth.
Cauliflower
Celery – POSSIBLE BENEFIT: May freshen your dog’s breath. If your puppy is currently going through a Coprophagia phase (see #8 in the fruit category) you may want to give this a try.
Cucumbers – And yes, you can give your dog a pickle, but only as a rare treat because of the high sodium content.
Green Beans
Lettuce
Parsnips
Peas – regular green, snow, and sugar snap varieties are fine
Pumpkin – Cooked and mashed or cooked and diced. POTENTIAL BENEFIT: Help relieve diarrhea in dogs.
Radishes – Another gas warning
Spinach – Some listings don’t give warnings; other listings say to avoid large quantities.
Sweet Potatoes – Same preparation as Pumpkin (#13). POTENTIAL BENEFIT: Can help relieve constipation in dogs. I can verify that this has worked for Pandora. Just a tablespoon or two. Not too much or you might end up visiting #13.
Tomatoes – however make sure the tomato is ripe, never give them unripe tomatoes and try to keep them from eating the tomato plant itself.
Turnips
Zucchini

Nut Options

When it comes to nuts, there a lot of yes versus no on whether they are okay or not. If you do decide to give your dog nuts these are the ones that I’ve seen consistently rank in the “okay” category. Always make sure the nuts are out of the shell. Those darn shells can be choking hazards for dogs.

Cashews
Peanuts
Pistachios

The American Kennel Club has this to say about nuts:

Not all nuts are toxic to dogs, but almost all nuts are high in fat. This can lead to obesity and pancreatic issues in dogs. Feeding your dog salted nuts can also lead to water retention and other complications, and some nuts, like almonds, are potential choking hazards. In addition, there are certain types of nuts, such as macadamia nuts, that are very toxic to dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Nuts? – American Kennel Club (akc.org)

They recommend avoiding nuts and going for safer alternatives in the fruit and vegetable categories.

Meat and Legume Options of People Food for Dogs

The biggest concerns with meat are the high fat content and the seasonings we use. If you opt to give your dog meat, trim the fat and avoid the seasonings. Pretend you’re cooking for your beloved great-grandparent who has heart issues and diabetes, give it to them lean, bland, and in small chunks.

Alligator – I had to put this in here. I only saw it on one resource. Definitely not something we see in the Pacific NW, but for some regions, this may be good to know. If you live in those regions, you probably already know it’s fine to feed the dog.
Bacon – WARNING: Only as a small chunk and once in a while. The high fat content can lead to pancreatitis in dogs (and cats – as we unfortunately learned. Stan made a full recovery and now hates us for not giving him bacon anymore – he’s very vocal about that hate).
Beef
Beans
Chicken – This is great for a training treat. Boil it and just give tiny bits. It’s a high-value reward during the training stages.
Clams – Cooked and shelled.
Eggs – Must be cooked
Lentils
Salmon – Cooked, watch them bones.
Shrimp – Cooked
Tuna – Yes, even from the can.
Venison

A Couple Other Options and Reminder

One other item safe for dogs is honey. But not raw honey. They can also eat cheese but go easy with it. Peanut Butter is good, too. However, make sure it doesn’t contain Xylitol. That’s toxic to dogs.

Again, I want to remind you to go with your gut, know your dog’s food sensitivities and consult with your vet’s office if you’re unsure. We tell people it’s safe to eat shrimp and most people can without any side effect. But for some it is a major food allergy. Always try a pea-size chunk and wait 24 hours to see if anything is okay.

The best way to see how your dog is reacting to new food is to be diligent on Doo-Duty. This is definitely not the most pleasant task of being a pet parent. However, you can see how your dog is fairing after trying something new when on doo-duty. It’s how I discovered that rawhide was not digesting well in Pandora’s system.