Is there a specific reason why dogs should not eat human food?

Answer 1

Not a specific reason, but only a recommendation. Most 'people' food is far superior for the dog's health than any of the brands of kibble that you will find at the grocer's..However, there are so many food items that dogs metabolize differently than humans, so it is easier to just say, "No people food" than to try to remember what they really shouldn't have..

dogs shouldn't have onions (in any form)
dogs shouldn't have added salt, and most human foods are salted,
Dogs shouldn't have nitrates, which is in most processed meats, or mono-sodium glutamate, which is in SO many things.
No chocolate, and no candy of any kind. No sugar.
No raisins or grapes, fruit seeds/pits, and most tree nuts are harmful.
Turkey fat can be devastating, causing a pancreas disease.
No cooked bones.
Nothing with excess fat, and ONLY low fat cheese.
No corn or soy (found in most dog foods)
No fresh milk products, at all..
Nothing containing caffeine, such as coffee flavored or tea.
Easy on the organ meats (liver, etc) and easy on the cabbages and tomatoes.
SO, if one can remember all the 'dont's' then you can create a healthy dog diet from 'human' food items.
I give my dogs small amounts of safe 'human' food, daily, and feed a kibble made from all human grade ingredients.

Answer 2

Generally speaking, most human foods will not provide the proper nutrients your dog needs to be healthy. You can also cause obesity by feeding them the wrong foods, or cause them to get diabetes or other horrible diseases. A good dog food will provide your dog with the perfect amount of protein, fat, and vitamins if you feed them the proper amounts.

That said, there ARE ways to feed them "human" food if you are careful about it. You need to make sure the diet is well-balanced, however, and if you do not know what you are doing, you risk causing serious health problems for your dog. Some foods can even kill your dog. Ironically, people who want to feed their pets "human" food do so to save time and money, but ultimately they end up costing themselves MORE time and money. So if you would like to feed your dog human food, do your homework and take the time to prepare them a proper meal, and it can work out fine. I've suggested some links to start with below, but you'll find that there are many more if you care to research this issue.

If you really love your dog, you'll probably want to play it safe and get them the dog food. Just make sure you do not buy the cheap junk. You may as well just feed them bread and water every day if you do that.

Answer 3

There is a common saying that pets should not eat “people food.” The myth is that feeding pets people food will not only give them diarrhea, but it will also turn them into beggars at dinner time. Depending on what kind of pet food you feed them and where, loose stools and begging can be avoided. There are some simple guidelines to follow when it comes to sharing the fridge and pantry with your pooch.

First, digestive problems can occur for a couple of reasons. One, when we say it’s ok to feed “people food”, we are not talking about potato chips, chocolate cake, soda-pop, and deep fried onion rings – foods that are sure to give your pets a tummy ache. We are talking about “real” human grade food that has not had the wholesomeness and nutrition processed right out if it. Fresh grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs and meat make for great homemade pet food. The diarrhea caused by wholesome, natural pet food is most likely your pet’s body going through a detox process as a result of the healthy pet food flushing toxins from the body. This process should be short lived. Although not a problem for most pets, you should also stay away from citrus fruits, grapes/raisins, onions and spicy foods when it comes to sharing your grocieries with your pets. Remember, the your pet’s digestive system will need to “wake up” if you are shifting from a bland over-processed diet to a raw pet food full of fresh flavors and complex nutrients. Once those adjustments occur, it will be smooth sailing. Oh, and begging at the dinner table should not occur anymore than usual, unless of course you are feeding your pet these new healthy food items directly from your own plate at dinnertime. The best way to feed people food is at a designated feeding time in your pet's own dish. If you do this consistently and avoid feeding directly from your plate -- your dog shouldn't bother you at dinner time for anything more than a pat on the head.

Answer 4

Yes certain foods are extremely toxic to dogs and others can cause serious damage to their liver in kidneys if in excess. Although some dogs are put on human food diets they arent given greasy hamburgers an things like that. They usually get cooked chicken and cooked pasta noodles but those are usually for health reasons (like food allergies) and the vet has prescribed them. Just be careful with feeding table scraps they can be a major risk for the dog.

Answer 5

There digestive system is different. If your dog eats onions he will get very sick, or chocolate can kill him. You need to be very careful when feeding a dog human food, spices can be a problem too. I have three dogs and they love human food, the only human food I let them have, is a piece of meat, not spicy, or chicken broth with rice.

Answer 6

Like many others said, there's no specific reason. But, if you feed a dog table scraps, it will soon learn that he can eat right off your table, and most of your food will be gone. Also, it will eventually get picky and only eat food it likes.

Answer 7

Dogs should never eat human food. They are not meant to eat that stuff. Think about how bad our food can be for us, its 10 times worse for doggies. Make them eat their own dog food. It will keep them healthy longer, and they wont be begging for your food all the time.

Answer 8

dog food is mad e to give the dog all it needs, just the right amount of everything, from protien to fat, vitamins and minerals. it all goes to it's overall health. from the coat and skin right down to the skeletal system. it aids in brain function, their immune system, digestion, kidney function. dogs can't get this stuff from human food. they can get their stomaches full for a while but that's it. you notice how your dog, who eats dog food seems happy, energetic, generally healthy-looking and the dog that lives in the alley off human food it finds in the trash looks skinny, malnurished, ratty coat, just all over nasty looking? human food has no nutritional value for any other animals than humans.... even then it depends on what we eat. hope i was helpful.

Answer 9

Yes, human food is made with stuff that doesn't agree quite as well on a dog's stomach. Dog food is healthiest for a dog since it's made with stuff for dogs, preferably mostly meat.

Answer 10

Human food can cause them to gain weight, and a lot of it is hard for a dog's stomach to digest. It can also intensify dental decay and cause excess gas in dogs. Behaviorally, it will cause your dog to become more demanding and a beggar at the dinner table.