When we share our lives with a canine companion, it is essential to know what food dogs can eat and, even more importantly, which types of foods can upset them or are directly toxic to them.

Some of the foods we humans love, like chocolate, cheese, or peanuts, are not good for our dogs. No matter how much their puppy eyes say otherwise, there are foods better not shared with our best friend.

This does not mean dogs cannot eat “human food”. In fact, at Kun-Kay we make our pet supplements using natural ingredients that are completely suitable and safe for them, such as some vegetables, meats, or fish, for example. Our products can be added as a complement to their kibble and, besides taking care of them, they also have flavors they love. Give them a try; your dog will have ironclad health and will even lick the plate clean!

At Kun-Kay we help keep your dog healthy, strong, and happy with our products and advice. This time, we have prepared a guide on the food dogs can eat and the foods not recommended for them. Stay with us and take note of all the key points!

1. Can dogs eat fish or seafood?

Dogs can eat most fish and seafood, and these also have many beneficial properties for them as they are a great source of protein low in saturated fats.

Most dogs love foods from the sea like shrimp, clams, octopus, as well as fish and seafood. You can give them as a treat to help support their immune system and improve the health of their skin, coat, and joints.

Dogs can eat both white and oily fish, although oily fish have a higher caloric content, so they are not recommended for dogs prone to overweight, although they also provide more omega-3.

Some of the most recommended fish for dogs are hake, tuna, salmon, and sardines. They can eat it raw, although it is more advisable to cook it first to eliminate possible bacteria and parasites.

Seafood, on the other hand, can be consumed occasionally and in small amounts because it can provide too many calories, and your dog may have trouble digesting it in large quantities, which can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal problems.

2. Can dogs eat fruit?

Dogs can eat most fruits and many love their taste, although you must be careful with possible allergies and four specific fruits: grapes or raisins, currants, cherries, and avocado.

Some fruits suitable for dogs that also have health benefits are the following:

1. Apple: Many dogs love it, and it provides many vitamins (A, C, B, E, and K) and minerals. It is also easy to digest, although you must be careful with the core and seeds as they can be toxic.
2. Pear: Rich in vitamins C and E and antioxidants. It is also good because it contains few calories and lots of water, perfect to keep your dog hydrated in summer.
3. Banana: Contains vitamins B, C, and E and minerals like potassium, although it is not as easy to digest as other fruits, so we recommend giving it only occasionally.
4. Strawberries: Most dogs like them a lot, and they are rich in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants, although in excess they can be harmful due to their high sugar content.
5. Mango, papaya, and other tropical fruits: They are soft, tasty, and dogs usually love them. They are also among the healthiest and provide fiber and vitamins.

3. Can dogs eat vegetables?

As with fruit, most vegetables are suitable and beneficial for dogs, although you must be careful because some are harmful. Specifically, dogs cannot eat garlic, onion, tomato, mushrooms, potato, and rhubarb.

There are many other vegetables that are suitable for dogs and beneficial for their health. Here are some of the most important:

1. Celery: A natural antioxidant that helps strengthen their immune and digestive systems. It is also anti-inflammatory and diuretic.
2. Spinach: High in fiber and vitamins A, B, C, E, and F.
3. Peas and green beans: Antioxidant, digestive, energetic, and rich in vitamins A and C.
4. Cabbage and lettuce: Rich in antioxidants and iron, with cleansing and analgesic properties.
5. Pumpkin: Besides being very tasty to them, it is excellent for combating constipation.
6. Carrot: One of the best vegetables for dogs due to its great cleansing, antioxidant, and digestive properties. Also, chewing them helps care for their teeth.
7. Sweet potato: They love its sweet taste and it is rich in beta-carotene and vitamins C and B6.
8. Cucumber: Very hydrating, especially recommended in summer months.
9. Broccoli: High in vitamins A, C, E, and K. It also has healing properties and helps strengthen bones, vision, and teeth.

3. Can dogs eat dairy?

The vast majority of dogs are lactose intolerant and cannot eat milk, cheese, or yogurts. Although most love the taste, except for rare exceptions, lactose-containing products cause gas, diarrhea, and other intestinal discomforts.

As a curiosity, although we are used to seeing them in series and movies drinking a little plate of milk, cats have exactly the same issue.

4. Can dogs eat meat?

Meat is another “human food” that dogs can enjoy, especially if it is chicken, turkey, or beef and as long as there are no bones or pieces with too much fat. If you want to give meat to your four-legged friend, we recommend always giving it cooked and cut into small pieces to avoid choking.

Important: if you are going to give meat to your pet, it is better to avoid bones, especially if raw. Chicken bones are particularly dangerous because they can cause choking, while other raw bones may splinter and hurt them when swallowed.

5. Other foods they can eat?

Besides the foods mentioned above, dogs can also eat broths as long as they contain no salt (a tip to enrich their meals is to hydrate their kibble with a tasty broth). They can also have honey, plant-based or lactose-free yogurts, olive oil, and eggs.

6. Can dogs eat sweetened or salty products?

Neither salt nor sugar or other sweeteners are recommended for dogs.

Excess salt can be harmful to their circulatory system and kidneys as they will tend to drink and urinate more to try to eliminate it; salt is also strictly prohibited in overweight dogs because it can cause heart failure.

Sugar and other sweeteners are also not recommended. Among other problems, sweets can affect your pet’s vision, causing blindness.

7. Foods strictly prohibited for a dog

As mentioned in the introduction, it is as important to know what food dogs can eat as it is to know which foods must be strictly prohibited in their diet. Here are the five foods you should never give your furry friend:

1. Chocolate: Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. The darker the chocolate, the greater the risk of fatal consequences for the dog; it can even cause death.
2. Grapes and raisins: They are deadly for some dogs, causing poisoning that can lead to severe kidney failure within 24 to 72 hours.
3. Onions and garlic: They are completely prohibited because they contain substances that attack dogs’ red blood cells. Just five grams of garlic or onion per kilogram of dog weight can be highly toxic. In other words, a head of garlic or a medium onion is enough to harm a 20-kilogram dog.
4. Eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes: They can cause solanine poisoning, and special care must be taken with their green parts. In this case, there is no risk of death if the dog consumes them, but they can cause diarrhea and vomiting.
5. Peanuts and nuts: Nuts are not recommended for dogs because, as they are not prepared to digest them, they can cause intestinal blockages. Macadamia nuts are strictly prohibited because they can also cause nerve and muscle damage.

All natural supplements for dogs are designed to help you solve specific problems and prevent their appearance. For example, in our article about the use of chondroprotectors in dogs, we explain that Arthrokun is a natural supplement for dogs specially designed to help care for their joint health.

Another of our star supplements is Enterokun Mild, focused on strengthening your four-legged companion’s intestinal health. Enterokun will be perfect if your dog has consumed any food not suitable for dogs and it upset them, as one of its uses is precisely to relieve stomach discomfort and combat diarrhea and constipation, among many other applications!

We recommend the BARF Diet as one of the important options for your pet.

If you want to know more about which type of Kun-Kay supplement is most recommended in each specific case or wonder what nutrients, vitamins, and minerals your dog needs to grow healthy and strong, don’t miss our guide on the different types of vitamins and supplements for dogs. There you will find all the information you need!