While there are many human foods that are risky for dogs to eat, there are several that provide major health benefits. These health benefits can be huge for your dog. If you’ve always wondered what are the best human foods for dogs to eat and what’s generally safe for dogs to eat, you’ve come to the right place!
We spent a combined 35 hours researching common human foods that are healthiest for dogs to eat. We researched several internet sites, YouTube + other videos and spoke with vets and vet nutritionists.
We summarize the 11 healthiest human foods for dogs and each of their health benefits. We also address some frequently asked questions related to “what can dogs eat”. Last, we provide a more comprehensive list of human foods that are safe for dogs to consume.
Keep in mind the 90/10 rule, where a dog’s food should account for 90% of its diet and 10% should come from treats. See our article on best dog food. No matter how healthy a food may be for your dog, overfeeding anything isn’t healthy. So let’s get started!
Apple Slices
Blueberries
Carrots
Chicken
Eggs
Oatmeal
Peanut Butter
Pumpkin
Salmon
Sweet Potatoes
Yogurt
To Sum It All Up
Apple Slices
Apples are sweet and tasty. They provide fiber, vitamins A and C, omega-3, omega-6, antioxidants, flavonoids, and polyphenols. They are also low calorie, low in protein and fat. So they’re a perfect dog snack!
“But make sure your dog doesn’t eat the apple seeds,” warns Dr. Kelly Ryan, DVM, Director of Veterinary Services for the Animal Medical Center of Mid-America. “They are toxic.” We deliberately refer to them as apple slices as apple seeds have small amounts of cyanide. Humans can easily filter this, but dogs cannot.
Also, be careful not to feed your dog rotten apples, this can lead to alcohol poisoning. See our article on what can dogs not eat relating to the risks and symptoms of alcohol poisoning for dogs.
Blueberries
Blueberries are a superfood loaded with antioxidants, phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and fiber to benefit your dog’s health. They are small and low-calorie, which makes them a great training treat!
Blueberries are especially good for senior dogs to help improve many of age-related conditions. For smaller breeds, blueberries can be a choking hazard. Cut them up for smaller dogs.
Carrots
Carrots are an incredibly healthy and low-calorie snack for dogs. Dogs love their crunchiness and sweetness. Carrots are rich in fiber, vitamins A, B, C, D, K, beta-carotene, antioxidants, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. In addition, carrots can help remove plaque too for good dental health, without causing gum damage. (Wow!)
Carrots can be served several ways – raw or cooked. However, raw carrots can be difficult to digest, so consider serving them slightly steamed or boiled. Also, consider cutting it into bite-sized chunks to prevent choking. Peeling and cleaning carrots is a good idea as well to remove any residual pesticides and herbicides.
Beware. Carrots are high in sugar content, so they shouldn’t make up too much of your dog’s weekly diet. Too much sugar makes for upset stomach pain, weight gain, weight loss, or more serious issues, like diabetes. Additionally, carrots are rich in vitamin A and excessive amounts can become toxic to dogs. Eating too much fiber can also cause your dog to have stomach pain, diarrhea, or constipation.
For all these reasons it is recommended that you feed your dog carrots only once a week in these recommended portions – 10lb dog: 2 – 3 bite-sized pieces (1 TBSP), 30lb dog: 3 – 4 bite-sized pieces (up to ¼ cup) and 70lb dog: up to ½ cup of bite-sized pieces.
Chicken
Chicken is great nutritionally for dogs, as it’s a lean, high-protein meat. Chicken is a complete protein, which means it contains all 10 of the essential amino acids. See our article on nutrition for dogs to learn more. In addition, chicken contains several vitamins, minerals, and fats namely Omega-3, Omega-6, vitamins B, E, K, A, and folate. Chicken also contains several minerals including selenium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, sodium, copper, calcium, and manganese. Also, dogs love it!
If your dog isn’t feeling well, chicken can be a great option too. Plain, boiled chicken with no seasoning is a good choice when a dog has an upset stomach. “Try bland foods like poached chicken and steamed white rice,” says Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, of New York City’s Animal Medical Center. Chicken bone broth can also be a great alternative for a dog with an upset stomach.
“Veterinarians recommend feeding cooked protein sources rather than raw protein sources,” she adds. “Protein like meat and eggs can carry diseases in microbes unless properly cooked.” According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), raw or undercooked meat can cause the same pathogens by eating undercooked meat, such as Salmonella, E.coli, and Listeria.
Try to keep portions to a half ounce and remove excess fat. This excess fat can make your dog gain weight quickly. Dr. Kelly Ryan, DVM, Director of Veterinary Services for the Animal Medical Center of Mid-America adds, “If you are feeding your dog any type of meat, remove all bones before giving it to them. Ingesting the bones could cause a variety of problems for dogs like broken teeth, an injured mouth, [or] an intestinal blockage that requires surgery.”
However, protein is a frequent allergen that can cause an adverse reaction in some dogs. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that your dog isn’t allergic to chicken before feeding it to them.
Eggs
Eggs are an amazing superfood. It’s a complete protein (all 10 amino acids) and they contain almost every important vitamin and mineral. They also contain the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which are also high in fat. This makes them an ideal healthy snack for your dog.
However, do not feed your dog raw eggs. Raw eggs carry the risk of Salmonella.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Oatmeal is rich in protein, carbs as well as manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, copper, biotin, and vitamin B1 (Thiamine). Cooked oatmeal is digested easily. This makes oatmeal ideal for stomach and bowel issues. Cook the oatmeal in water (don’t add milk, salt, sugar, or extra ingredients), as these additional ingredients can be harmful to your dog. Oatmeal can be added as a food topping or served on its own. A good serving size for a 20-pound dog is about one tablespoon.
Oatmeal is safe for dogs with wheat allergies. It’s a good substitute for wheat for gluten-intolerant dogs. Although uncommon, make sure your dog isn’t allergic to oatmeal. Further, be aware that too much oatmeal can lead to digestive and weight issues.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a healthy snack for dogs in moderate amounts. Peanut butter is rich in protein, healthy fats, niacin, and vitamins E and B. Since it is of “high value” to a dog, you can smear some of it on a chew toy to keep your dog occupied for hours.
Make sure to feed your dog plain, raw, unsalted peanut butter free of added sugar and artificial sweeteners. There are a few other important things to be aware of with your dog and its beloved peanut butter. Due to its high caloric content, if fed too much or too often, peanut butter will lead to weight gain. Salt in large quantities can lead to excessive thirst and urination. This can ultimately lead to sodium ion poisoning.
Specifically, be on the lookout for xylitol in peanut butter as it is toxic to dogs. It often shows up in light or lower-calorie peanut butter. Xylitol is absorbed quickly and can result in a high release of insulin and possibly a life-threatening decrease in blood sugar levels. See our article on what can dogs not eat.
If you suspect that their dog has ingested xylitol you should immediately contact a veterinarian, or call the Animal Poison Control Center or the Pet Poison Helpline.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin (squash family) is full of protein, copper, magnesium, fiber, beta-carotene, and vitamins A, C, and K. Fresh or canned pumpkin is fine. Both are low in calories and tasty. Make sure it’s plain though! Avoid pumpkin pie filling as it is loaded with added sugars and spices. Dogs can also eat raw or roasted plain pumpkin seeds (no salt, butter, or oil).
In addition, pumpkin is a great choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs or digestive issues. The soluble and insoluble fibers feed the dog’s gut good bacteria. Based on the size of the dog, about one to four tablespoons of pumpkin can be added to a dog’s regular food to help ease constipation. Also, check with your veterinarian for recommended portions. Too much can cause diarrhea.
Salmon
Salmon is high in protein and filled with omega-3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are good for your dog’s coat, heart health as well as strengthening your dog’s immune system. Antioxidants in salmon have many other health benefits including fighting inflammation to improve skin quality.
Salmon is also a great source of safe protein if your dog has allergic reactions to other types of meat. Interestingly, fish such as salmon have short lives. Therefore, they have lower levels of mercury compared to other fish near the top of the food chain.
There are a few things to look out for when feeding your dog salmon. Feeding your dog raw salmon isn’t a good idea. Raw salmon may contain a parasite that is known to cause salmon poisoning disease, which can be fatal to your dog.
Also, track how much salmon you feed your dog. It’s actually possible to overdose on fatty acids. Related, salmon skin is safe for your dog to consume but is high in fat. So only feed it to your dog sparingly. Last, check any fish before serving for bones. Even small bones can cause choking or damage to a dog’s internal organs.
Sweet Potatoes
Cooked, plain sweet potatoes are a low-fat, nutritionally dense addition to your dog’s diet. Be sure to cook (boiled or baked) plain – no salt, no seasoning, and no oil. Sweet potatoes are rich in fiber, vitamins A, B-5, B-6, C, manganese, potassium, and beta-carotene, which help to improve skin and vision.
Sweet potatoes are also an excellent replacement for grain in kibble. The high fiber in sweet potatoes promotes good digestion while keeping your dog full. Sweet potatoes can be part of your dog’s regular food or can be a snack. However, sweet potatoes are high in calories, so manage the portions. A few tablespoons mashed or a ¼-inch-thick chew is a recommended daily portion.
Yogurt
Yogurt is full of protein, calcium, and digestive cultures, and is another excellent way to improve your dog’s digestive health. Only feed your dog plain yogurt without artificial sweeteners and any other added flavors. Xylitol is especially important to avoid because it is toxic to dogs. No fruit, no added sugar either. Added fat can cause gastrointestinal issues in dogs, so choose Greek or regular, low- or non-fat plain yogurt.
If your dog is lactose intolerant, skip yogurt altogether.
To Sum It All Up
Many dog owners might prefer to feed their dogs only dog foods and dog snacks/treats. If you can remain disciplined and monitor portions closely, many of these healthy human foods can boost your dog’s nutrition. If you feel you’re up to the challenge as a dog owner be sure to make many, if not all, of these 11 healthiest human foods for dogs part of your dog’s overall diet!
Below we have also compiled a more general listing of human foods that are safe to feed your dog.
