Foods Dogs Can Eat: Healthy Human Foods to Feed Your Dog

The human foods dogs can eat may surprise you as much as those that should stay off-limits for safety reasons. Some "people foods" are actually really good for dog health, and some you'd least expect can be dangerous.

Last summer, while hosting a big neighborhood barbecue, my terrier Pixie started walking around the guest tables, giving each person those irresistible puppy dog eyes, hoping a sympathetic soul would throw her a rib bone.

Fortunately, I saw what she was up to and warned my guests that dogs shouldn't eat pork ribs, especially those cooked long enough to be tender. Mine are, of course.

Dogs can eat a lot of "people food." But as contrary as it seems to our love for meaty dog bones, pork ribs just aren't okay.

Here's what they can have instead.

Safe Human Foods for Dogs

Sharing certain human foods with your dog can be both safe and even good for dog health. It can strengthen your bond as you share a meal experience.

• Carrots are low in calories and high in fiber and vitamins. Best served in whole pieces vs. puree because the texture can clean plaque off teeth.
• Apples are a good source of vitamins A and C; remember to remove the seeds and core. Apples are also great for cleaning teeth. And you'll love the crunch dogs make when they eat an apple slice.
• Fresh Green beans deliver a satisfying crunch and are rich in vitamin C and folate. They can be eaten raw or cooked, but avoid high sodium.
• Blueberries are packed with antioxidants and fiber.
• Lean Meats like cooked chicken or turkey without seasoning can be a great protein source.
• Pumpkin is amazing. It aids digestion and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds. Butternut squash and sweet potato... also good. Canned is okay too, but not pumpkin pie filling.
• Organ meats are a powerhouse of nutrition. When prepared correctly, they can be tremendous sources of collagen, iron, and vitamins and minerals.
• Unflavored Bone Broth without salt or seasoning, as you might make at home. Real homemade bone broth is a labor of love. But so nutritious with collagen, glucosamine, healthy fats, and more.
• Natural Peanut Butter is a real treat with healthy fats and protein. Look for ones that are just ground peanuts with a bit of salt or the kind you grind yourself at the grocery store. It should be stirred well since natural stuff separates. Avoid sugary brands.
• Plain Yogurt with live cultures is an excellent source of probiotics, protein, and fats for healthy digestion. While dogs are often lactose intolerant, the live cultures eat many problematic sugars.
• Cheese is okay in moderation. It is a treat with concentrated healthy fats but also quite a bit of saturated fat. 

Human Foods to Avoid

While some foods are safe, others can be harmful:

• Chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. Caffeine is also not good for them.
• Grapes and Raisins can cause kidney failure.
• Onions and Garlic can damage red blood cells and can lead to anemia.
• Macadamia Nuts can cause weakness, vomiting, and other symptoms. They're also deadly to cats. One of my neighbors has two cats, and macadamias are prohibited in the house.
• Avocado contains persin, which can be harmful in large amounts.
• Xylitol-containing foods are great for strengthening human teeth enamel but can cause a dog's blood sugar to drop dangerously low.
• Cooked meal bones should be off-limits. Rib bones, chicken/turkey bones, and beef bones cooked to the point where a human could eat the meat are too soft or fragile for a dog.

Can Dogs Eat Bones?

Yes. Dogs can undoubtedly eat bones. And marrow-filled bones are some of the most nutritious "human" food you can give a dog. The right kind of dog bone can:

• Reduce oral bacteria by 60-80% by helping the dog remove plaque.
• Alleviate boredom and dog anxiety
• Support mental health
• Reduce destructive behavior.
• Enhance canine nutrition, filling in the gaps in an all-kibble diet

So, what is the right kind of bone?

What Dog Bones Can Dogs Eat?

Beef Cattle Are the Best

First, it needs to come with an animal with durable bones. Beef cattle have very durable bones. Dairy cow bones....not so much. They're depleted from years of milk production.

Grass-Fed & Single Ingredient

Ultra-processed dog treats are off my dogs' menus. Who knows what's really in them? Added sugar, additives, preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, GMO. These should not be in dog bones and dog treats.

Instead, I choose single ingredient dog bones from grass-fed cattle, which are higher in healthy omega-3 fat and lower in saturated fat.

Buy USA for Safety & Local Jobs

I like to support local US farmers and ranchers, so I choose bones from cattle born and raised in the USA.

Beyond wanting to support local jobs, the FDA regulates pet food that's made in the US. But when you buy a dog bone from another country on a marketplace or directly, they do not have to undergo any safety inspections if you spend less than $800. This is because of the USA's de minimus regulations. A lot of people don't know this.

When was the last time you spent that much on dog bones? Your dog deserves to be safe from harmful ingredients. Buy USA when you can.

Raw Is Okay

Raw bones are okay, although you have the same raw meat pathogen risks as eating raw ground beef. I'm not too keen on having my dogs dragging raw meat around my house.

Slow Roasted Is Better

I prefer meaty beef dog bones cooked specifically to achieve the proper density for safe consumption by dogs. A slow, low-heat cooking process by a professional who knows how to maximize safety is critical.

How to Safely Feed Organ Meat to Your Dog

Organ meat is great but can carry some risk, especially in those filtering organs like the liver and kidney. So, I give my dogs single-ingredient lung bite treats.

These single-ingredient organ meat treats from grass-fed cattle are roasted and dried, so they don't smell. They make perfect training treats.

My terrier, Pixie, does backflips for these treats. They make avoiding distractions during training easier. So, she can learn commands faster.

Check out the Free 7-Day Dog Training Challenge to see what's possible with high-value training treats.

Clever Ways to Give Them Human Foods Dogs Can Eat

Now, that we've established that some people's food can be very healthy for dogs, here are some fun ways to give them these foods:

• Refill an empty marrow bone so it can last even longer. These make healthy homemade dog treats.
• Get a fun, refillable toy like this classic Kong toy.
• Hand-serve fun foods dogs can eat to your pup. Share the video on social media. Sure to get all the likes.

Check out this Dog Thanksgiving Dinner video from K9 Connoisseur for ideas.

Note: Introduce fiber-rich foods slowly. Dogs need fiber. But if they haven't been eating much, they may not have developed the healthy gut microbiome to break it down. Also, remember that all treats put together should be no more than 10 percent of a dog's diet. Most of their diet should be a balanced kibble.

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