At the outset, let me be very clear when I offer my list of foods to give dogs. Dogs are fussy (especially if they are mine). Also, some dogs do develop some food allergies so it is important to give them an at-home allergy test from places like jackspets or take them to the vet to determine the cause of the allergy and serve them food that is better for their health.
A meal of packaged food alternating with home cooked food is the best bet for your pets..
This is not your dictionary or your bible for dog food, but it is a way to do your research before you push beans and cabbage in front of your dog and he turns his nose up at them. I don’t encourage feeding only human food to dogs because they are not meant to eat only what we eat, though they have been living with us for centuries.
Giving cakes, ice-cream and mithai is fine, only on rare occasion. Dog treats too are not meant to make up a full meal. Don’t give your pets an overdose of any single food. Maybe if you try a raw dog food like those from natures menu, your dog will find a diet that they’d love to stick with.
Dogs are omnivores, and can do with other food apart from meat in their diet. Though you may want to give your dog milk, avoid it, replace milk with buttermilk or curd.
So here is my list of food that is safe and good for them to eat. Understand that this does not mean that you give them only these foods and nothing else. Natural foods, minimising any artificial foods is a good tactic. Using my bully stick and raw foods provide a strong long term strategy and then you can introduce new foods when you find them. Additionally, a healthy mix, and eggs, meat and is always the best.
If your dog has any chronic or medical condition, speak to your veterinarian before you alter the diet.
With its vitamin A, C, beta carotene, pumpkin makes a wonderful addition to meals. Bottle gourd is easy to digest. Oatmeal is rich in minerals and dietary fibers. Carrots, sweet potato, potato, a couple of leaves of palak (on occasion), peas, green beans, some beetroot, drumstick pulp, apples, mango, strawberries, raspberries, bananas and blueberries all can be part of the diet. Fruit is not a main meal, but a snack.
Must Avoid :
Tomatoes, onions, garlic, avocado
chocolates (with its theobromine and theophylline can damage the heart and nervous system),caffeine, grapes, raisins and alcohol
Bones
There is a lot of talk about bones being bad for dogs, though it is the most natural thing for us to give a dog a bone! The dangers listed include the bone splintering and damaging or obstructing the digestive tract.
Remember that it is most important that along with good food, you should give your pets a healthy, loving and secure environment to be in. You don’t have to call your mobile vet in melbourne northern suburbs for an emergency if your dog does ingest these foods. We know they can be a little sneaky and guests could come over and feed them scraps, accidents happen. However, it is important to minimise any ingestion.
#All views expressed in this column are the authors
Uma Karve Chakranarayan is editor and publisher of Tell Tail, Pune’s only petzine and partner, Petsworld, a pet food and accessories store. ’Furholics’ appears every Saturday on Pune365.
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