What can and can’t my dog eat?

A guide to the do and don'ts of doggy diets

Give your pup some well recognised dog food with correct nutritional content.

Dog food

You can feed your dog suitable premium dog food from a recognised brand. The amount you feed your dog should be determined on its size, breed and the kind of food being used. If you look at the website of the particular type of food used, you should be able to find an exact serving guide. If there is no such guide, then there’s a good chance you aren’t using a reputable brand.

Your vet will also be able to provide valuable nutrition and feeding advice after weighing and assessing his health.

Meat

The RSPCA recommends that you treat your dog to human-grade meat – that means meat that you would typically buy for human consumption. Lamb, beef, chicken, pork etc are all perfect for animal consumption, the reason for this is that pet meat products can contain preservatives which aren’t the best for your dog’s health – albeit reasonably suitable for their consumption. It really depends how much you are willing to invest into your dogs.

Fish

Dogs can also be treated to fish – the tinned variety like tuna, salmon, sardines can be a good treat for your canine but not as a staple of a diet

When and how often should be dog be fed?

Adult dogs should be fed two smaller portions twice a day (rather than one massive one) to avoid bloating of the stomach. We recommend feeding right before a dog walk – this way your dog will definitely be ready to go to the toilet, and also give your dog’s metabolism the best possible chance.

while it’s true that dog training will help with your dog’s behaviour, mood and therefore overall health , the reverse also applies. That is, that your dog’s nutrition will have an effect on the way it behaves, poor nutrition will lead to your dog feeling unsatisfied, maybe leading to bad habits like stealing from counter-tops, eating out of the rubbish bin, eating soil or other inedible substances while out on a walk.

Can dogs eat bones?

The answer: sometimes. Your dog can eat raw meaty bones, and in fact can be massively beneficial to their health and dental hygiene. It is recommended that your dog only eat 1-2 bones a week maximum, as over consumption can lead to constipation in dogs. However your dog cannot eat cooked bones. Cooked bones run the risk of splintering in the dog’s stomach causing potentially life threatening digestive issues, possibly requiring veterinary surgery.

OK to eat:

The most important thing here is that the bone is RAW.

Lamb ribs

Lamb flaps

Raw chicken wings.

Specially bought chewing bones from the pet store

Not OK to eat:

Any bone which has been cooked

Large marrow bones (as they have very thick outer rims)

T-bones

‘Chop’ bones – lamb cutlets

Lamb Chops

Large knuckle bones

Bones which have been sawn lengthways (some butchers will do this, but it can cause dogs to crack their teeth)

Appropriate dog treats - like pig ears etc

Here a dog is loving a pig's ear. Yummy?

Foods toxic for dogs

While there are plenty of foods which your dog can enjoy, there are some specific foods that maybe carelessly fed to the dog as scraps after a meal. The owner may be completely unaware, but they are in fact harming the dog’s health.

This list is not exhaustive

Onions

Onion Powder

Garlic

Chocolate

Coffee

Caffeine Products

Mouldy, spoiled food or compost

Avocado

Bread dough

Yeast dough

Grapes

Raisins

Sultanas

Currants

Nuts

Fruit pips

Corncobs

Unripe tomatoes

Mushrooms

Cooked bones

Small pieces of raw bone

Fatty trimmings/fatty food

Salt

Sweetener (Xylitol)

Follow this guide, and you will be well on your way to raising a healthy, happy dog.