Though a majority of pet owners in the United States provide pet food availed in animal clinics like Jacaranda Animal Hospital for their pets, others give their pets human cooked food for consumption. Feeding pets with table scraps and leftover food is no longer a widespread practice, given that most owners are pretty careful since complications may arise. That said, let's burst this bubble of uncertainty: certain types of food are not only safe for pet consumption, but are actually very beneficial. The most common house pets are of course, cats and dogs so let's focus on these two animals.. So let's cut to the chase: what can and can't you give them?- LEAN, BONELESS beef, pork, chicken and fish. Always remove small pieces of bone in the meat in order to eliminate the occurrence of bones lodging themselves on your pet's throat. That said, raw meat as well as ones that are canned should be served in small portions given that too much could make them sick. As much as possible, feed them cooked meat with little or no sodium content.
- Cooked eggs, preferably scrambled. Giving these to your pup or kitten in moderate amounts will certainly give them a good protein boost, enabling them to develop muscle and tissue. However, make sure that you have to cook it through and through to eliminate the risk of salmonella.
- Apples. Though dogs and cats are perceived carnivores, they are technically omnivores. Sliced and peeled apples are a good source of dietary fiber, as well as Vitamins A and C. This also helps freshen their breath. Fruits like watermelon and bananas are good as well – just remember to remove the seeds first!
- Cheese and Yogurt. As long as your pet is not lactose intolerant (as a small minority are), you can give them these milk-related product. These are pretty high in calcium and protein, enhancing bone and tissue development. They also contain probiotics which aid in digestion.
- Peanut butter. An excellent sweet treat for both cats and dogs, this kind of foodstuff also contains essential nutrients like protein, Vitamin B and healthy fats. However, only provide raw and unsalted peanut butter.
- Oats. Tailor-made for older pets with bowel problems and hemorrhoids, these contain a huge amount of dietary fiber which aids in digestion and waste excretion.
Remember though, for non-meat foodstuff, you should only give them small to moderate amounts to remove the possibility of indigestion and upset stomach.
WHAT NOT TO FEED THEM
- Onions and Chives, especially for cats. These spices may add a little flare and flavor on your dishes, but even small amounts of these can inherently damage your pet's overall health, particularly the blood.
- Coffee or anything with high caffeine content. We all know what coffee does – it makes you active and allows you to remove drowsiness from your system. That said however, it also increases heart rate in both cats and dogs which could result into unwanted complications.
- Milk in its purest form. Though this may seem ironic, milk is actually discouraged, given that both cats and will certainly get an upset stomach if they consume some of it.