If you have recently adopted a puppy, you may face the challenge of what to feed it. Before deciding what to feed your puppy, it is imperative to know that every pup needs to be fed at least five times a day. This feeding habit can be, with time, slashed four times and three times once a puppy is eight to nine months old, and two times after it completes one year.
Many of us often wonder if feeding human food to pups is a good idea. The answer to that is yes, however, not all human foods. It is pertinent to mention here that as pet parents we should not be solely fixated on feeding a pup only dog food as there are many human foods that are great for your dog’s health. The best idea is to mix dog food with human food rich in vitamins and dietary fibers and then feed your pooch.
Human Foods that are Great for Your Puppies and Dogs
- Sweet Potato: High in dietary fiber, sweet potatoes also contain essential vitamins like B6, C, and A. However, restrain yourself from feeding your dog raw sweet potatoes. Cook, boil or bake it before feeding it to your dog, and remember to peel its skin off.
- Apples: This fruit is not only a rich source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and dietary fiber but also helps in keeping your dog’s teeth clean and prevent bad breath. Before feeding an apple just get rid of its seeds as they contain cyanide which may cause digestion issues.
- Carrots: Either raw or cooked, carrots make a lovely treat for your dogs. This vegetable is not just healthy but also keeps dogs engaged as they just love to chew it. Carrots are low in fat and calories and great for your dog’s bowel movement.
- Papaya: This is another healthy treat for your dog, but make sure that your pup or dog, not even accidentally, ingest its seeds. Just like apple seeds, the seeds of papaya contain cyanide and can be harmful. Papaya is rich in vitamins K, C, E, A and helps increase your dog’s energy and strengthen the immune system.
- Chia Seeds: Power-packed with protein, fiber, antioxidants, calcium, iron, magnesium, B vitamins, and Omega-3 fatty acids, chia seeds are just amazing for your pooches. Chia seeds are great for a dog’s immune system and improve its skin and coat. They are also great for their intestinal health, boosts insulin function, and regulate blood sugar. Before giving chia seeds, soak them in water for 30 to 90 minutes and mix them in your dog’s food.
- Eggs: Either boiled or cooked, eggs make an excellent dietary supplement for your dog. What is more interesting is the fact that even eggshells can be fed as they are rich in calcium.
While the list of human foods that can be given to your pooches is too long, some of the foods that can be most beneficial to them are green peas, pumpkin, cottage cheese, peanut butter, watermelon, bread, chicken, broccoli, mango, rice, banana, strawberry, oranges, beef, and turkey, etc.
What to Avoid
Now that we have a big menu to choose from before feeding a puppy or a dog, it is a good idea to be familiar with human foods that are a big ‘No-No’ for your canine.
Food items like chocolate (both white and dark), raisins, nuts, coffee, onion, garlic, salt, sugar, lime or lemons, avocado, and grapes can give you and your dog a hard time.
Before making a dietary plan for your puppy or dog it is always a good idea to consult your vet. Doing this will help understand your pooch’s digestive system better and what it can and cannot process. Another important thing here is to understand that your dog may be allergic to some food items like peanuts. A piece of advice is not to engage yourself in any kind of experiment.
Inculcate good eating habits in your pup
Since you are a first-time dog owner, you also need to understand that feeding your dog untimely and just anything will bring you no good. Going ahead, you may also want to resist feeding your dog while you eat. Doing this will only spoil your dog. The best way to do it is not to entertain any kind of attention-seeking behavior of your pup while dining.
Another word of advice is that your pup should know not to bite the hand that feeds it. A dog’s possessiveness for food coupled with its territorial nature can make it food aggressive. The best way to avoid any kind of food aggression among dogs is to make them comfortable sharing. This can be done by putting your hand in the bowl of the pup while it eats. As you do it, the pup could show some aggression in the beginning but gradually it will get used to it.
