Cut out people food from your pet?s diet
As pet owners, we want to do whatever we can to make our dogs or cats happy. But while sharing some of our food with them may bring immediate gratification for you and your pet, the long-term results can be devastating.
Here?s the bottom line: Human foods should not be used as treats or snacks for your pet. Human food is not nutritionally balanced for your pet?s needs as it is typically high in calories and fat. Feeding your pet food high in calories and fat can contribute to obesity or even pancreatitis* (inflammation of the pancreas), which can be a life-threatening disease. Feeding human food to dogs and cats can also lead to frequent begging, a behavior that quickly becomes tiresome. It?s best to resist the temptation of feeding your dog or cat human food and keep your pet on a nutritious diet designed for his or her needs.
It?s one thing to know why feeding human food to dogs and cats is not a healthy choice, but how do you cut those table scraps from your pet?s diet?
Start by thinking about why you?re giving your pet the snack or treat. Is it for training or a reward? Treats and snacks don?t have to come in the form of food. Instead, offer a non-food treat for good behavior, such as a tummy rub or playing with a new toy. By substituting non-food treats, you can help to reduce the number of excess calories your pets consume each day and encourage a happy, healthy life.
Does that mean I should avoid giving my pets treats all together?
It?s entirely natural for pet owners to want to treat their pets every now and then, but as in the case with humans, it?s a matter of moderation.
The number of treats that pets receive should be limited to less than 10 percent of their daily caloric requirements (and the amount of food fed each day should be reduced accordingly by 10 percent). For example, if your pet needs 1,000 kcal of energy per day, the maximum number of calories that the daily treats should provide is 100 kcal. If the treats contain 50 kcal per treat, then the pet should only receive a maximum of two treats per day. You can often find this information on the packaging for your pet?s treats and food. Talk to your vet about determining how many calories your pet requires.
The examples of human food below will show you how a small snack can amount to a large percentage of your pet?s daily caloric intake.
| Treat | Calories | % of daily caloric intake | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog (44 lb.) | Cat (12 lb.) | ||
| 1 oz. of cheese | 114 | 17 | 50 |
| 1 beef hot dog | 147 | 22 | 65 |
| 1 oz. of popcorn | 149 | 23 | 66 |
| 1 slice of deli meat ham | 46 | 7 | 20 |
| 1 miniature marshmallow | 2.2 | 0.3 | 1 |
| 1 regular marshmallow | 23 | 3 | 10 |
| 1 Tbsp. peanut butter | 94 | 14 | 41 |
| 1 jerky strip | 88 | 13 | 39 |
| 1 oz. bag of potato chips | 1,230 | 186 | 542 |
In addition to extra calories, some human foods can actually be poisonous to your pet. The 10 most common human foods dogs and cats should not eat are alcohol, avocado, caffeine, chocolate, garlic, grapes, mushrooms, onions, raisins and sugar-free foods containing xylitol. It?s also important to be aware that raw foods are more likely to infect pets with diseases like salmonella, toxoplasmosis and other food-borne illnesses.
When in doubt, ask your vet
If there?s a food item that you?re not sure about giving to your pet, or you have questions about your pet?s nutritional needs, remember to always consult your veterinarian.
*Signs can include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and lethargy.
Source: Banfield Pet Hospital Article, September 22012
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