Dog Nutrition: Why You Should Never Give Food Scraps to Your Dog

I tend to find the scene both funny and very cute and I bet most dog owners do too. Having your dog sit by your side at the table and look at you with those adoring and "I didn't do it" eyes usually makes anyone melt, but there is another side of the coin to know about because of its incredible importance in your dog's health and life.

I have known for years from friends, neighbors and all kinds of acquaintances that they give their dogs all kinds of foods these like, including sodas and even alcohol. Sometimes I have felt sick just listening to the amount of mistakes dog owners make believing they are doing the right thing.

Dogs' digestive system is definitely not like ours, so just using this as a starting point, it would be logical to believe dog nutrition cannot be the same. We season our foods to our tastes and needs, using all kinds of condiments, spices and everything imaginable to make them tasteful and good for us, but those same spices and other ingredients we put in our food can cause tremendous harm to our dog's digestive tract, causing for example, bad breath, gas and loose stools, among other complications. Why provoke distress to a being we say we love?

If we also consider the fact that giving our dogs the extra calories that come from fatty table scraps will certainly produce weight gain, it is important to remember that overweight dogs are always at a much higher risk of presenting complications such as diabetes, heart disease and other unwanted illnesses such as pancreatitis. Their healthy diets should be based on a high protein ingestion, although many dog foods also include vegetables today.

Also avoid giving your dog bones that can splinter like chicken & pork bones

If you suspect that your dog has eaten any of these foods consult your vet immediately

Many dog owners are not familiar with the fact that there are many foods they should never feed to their dogs, such as chocolate and dairy products. We typically use onions to make our foods taste better, but these can be poisonous to the dog, including the powder form. If we condiment our food with onions and then give our dog scraps containing it, what can be expected?

We may face difficulties sometimes digesting certain foods, and dogs are not different in that sense. They don't know that, so if you give corn or sugar, you can expect them to be tough on the dog's digestive system. This also includes potatoes, lunch meats and other condiments that are high in sugar content.

We are used to thinking dogs love bones, and that is true, but when we give them meat products that contain bones in them, these can break and puncture the throat, stomach or intestines. This happens to humans too, so keep it in mind. If they block the digestive path, constipation may be the result. Oh, yes, licking the bone is probably a very satisfactory experience for the dog, but that should be the end of it. If the bone starts cracking, that is the time to remove it.

Many dog foods are prepared for the dog's digestive system and give them the correct nutrition they need, but there are also special recipes you can prepare at home for your dog that have been said to even help them not only live healthier, but also longer lives.

Jumping from the physical to the psychological aspect of giving your dog the table scraps while you are having dinner, do remember that if you do it, the dog will interpret this as a reward for his asking, so you would then have to be prepared for this behavior to repeat itself every time you sit at the table. Although it may seem cute as I mentioned previously, that scene is not adequate and should not present itself. You have your time for dinner and they should have theirs, apart from each other.

We do use food as a way to reinforce the behavior we want from our dogs, no matter where we want it to manifest itself (home, neighborhood, shows, etc.), but this should always be used when we are training our dog and not just because. There are many good treats you can give your dog when doing this instead of feeding it what will undoubtedly produce harm, even if delicious.

Remember it is your responsibility to choose the right nutrition for your dogs. If left to them, there is no end to what they find attractive to their taste without knowing what the consequences may be.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Dog-Nutrition:-Why-You-Should-Never-Give-Food-Scraps-to-Your-Dog&id=8511392