Feeding & Nutrition

There are many common foods that dogs can’t eat and non-food substances, including plants, which are potentially poisonous. Some of these you’ll know, while others might come as a surprise. Many foods, medicines and plants which are safe for humans, can be toxic to our pets. In fact, some common household items can be life-threatening for dogs. We’ve put together this comprehensive guide so you can learn about poisonous foods for dogs, which plants to avoid and what chemicals to always keep out of reach of your four-legged friend. Some of the items on this list may surprise you! What foods can'tdogs eat? We all love to treat our pups to the occasional treat! While some human foods are fine in moderation, others should be avoided entirely. Harmful foods for dogs include: Certain fruits and vegetables Many fruits and vegetables are fine for dogs to eat in small quantities, butcan pose a choking hazard if they're notcut into small piecesand fed under supervision. However, the following foods should be avoided, and can be very toxic, even in small amounts: • Raisins. • Sultanas. • Grapes. • Onions. • Garlic. • Some kinds of wild mushrooms. Other plants that can cause toxicity in dogs when eaten in largequantitiesinclude: • Rhubarb (mainly leaves). • Potato leaves and stems. • Tomato leaves and stems. • Apple seeds, Cherry pits, Apricot pits, Peach pits, present a small risk only but can cause obstructions in the digestive system.

Although many dog owners are big fans of rawhide, as their dogs really enjoy having a good old chew on it, rawhide for dogs isn’t as harmless as it looks. In fact, this can be very dangerous for pups, as it can cause intestinal blockages and can also be a choking hazard. Because of this, it’s best to avoid giving your pup rawhide and seek safer alternatives for your pet to gnaw on!

Most of us will have grown up thinking that dogs can have bones. You’ve probably seen dogs with bones on the television, or in books, or you might have seen dogs enjoying bones in real life. This well-known pairing of dogs and bones has caused many owners to believe that giving their dog a bone is perfectly okay… but unfortunately this is not the case.

It may surprise you to learn that edamame beans are actually just immature soy beans. Typically served still in the pod, edamame beans may also be shelled and added to dishes such as stir fries, or many people enjoy them simply as a delicious side, drizzled in flavourings like soy sauce or sea salt.

The healthy microbes in your dog’s digestive system have many important jobs to do, including absorbing and making nutrients and preventing illness by supporting the immune system. Stress, dietary changes, or antibiotic use can disrupt that important microbial balance and lead to health problems including digestive upsets. This is where probiotics come in to help. Keep reading to find out more about canine probiotics, discover when they’re usually used and learn which are some of the best ones to give to your dog.

Baked beans are a British staple. We love to enjoy them as an addition to a tasty fry up or loaded onto hot buttered toast as a cosy lunch or lazy dinner. Us humans adore these little vegetables so much and find them so delicious that it’s caused many an owner to pause and wonder “can dogs eat baked beans?”

A lot of us love the British and Irish delicacy that is black pudding. Made with a blend of fat, blood and oatmeal, black pudding sounds like it could be suitable to feed our furry friends – but can dogs eat black pudding? We’ve got a handy guide on whether dogs can eat black pudding below. Take a look! What is black pudding made from? Black pudding is made from pork or beef fat and blood, and a mixture of grains and flavourings. Some black pudding may not be safe for your dog to consume; for example, a lot of black pudding contains onion which is toxic to dogs.

Turmeric is a very popular spice that’s been used in India for thousands of years. It’s best known for giving Indian curries their rich, orange colouring, but there has also been some debate about whether it can also be used as a medicinal herb, as it has been claimed that this spice has both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Have the creators of the iconic Lady and the Tramp spaghetti scene taken artistic licence or does pasta really make a safe and delicious meal for our canine friends? Some of our favourite human foods are known to cause serious health issues for our pets, so it’s natural for owners to worry that spaghetti or noodles might belong to the same category of harmful foods.

Bananas are a wonderfully healthy snack for us humans. They’re great to grab quickly on the go, add into a smoothie or serve as a fantastic dessert topping – and to top it off, they contain a great variety of healthy nutrients and they’re a good source of fibre. Knowing the nutritional value bananas bring to our diets, many pet parents have paused to ask the question “can dogs eat bananas?”

Roasted, baked, fried, mashed – so many delicious ways to enjoy potatoes, and just as many questions in the minds of dog owners wondering which one of their potato dishes they can safely share with their pet. Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple yes or no answer to the question “can dogs eat potatoes?”Human foods don’t always make an easy transition into the canine world. After all, our dogs have different nutritional check boxes to tick. And when it comes to quantities, what is an imperceptible amount of salt or sugar in a potato recipe can end up being many times over the maximum daily recommended amount for our pet. That’s why it’s important to understand if and how to offer dogs a piece of that delicious potato dish, so that both you and your pet can enjoy your meals safely and happily. Keep reading to find out more. Can dogs eat potatoes?

Garlic and its tasty smell can be very tempting for some of our four-legged friends. Whether they rush into the kitchen to see what’s cooking, or stare into your soul as you sit down for dinner, dogs have plenty of tricks up their sleeve to get a bite of whatever garlicky feast everyone in the family is enjoying. But should loving pet owners give in and offer dogs that much-coveted bite? Keep reading to find out why garlic is bad for dogs.