The Truth About Table Food for Dogs 

You know the feeling. Your dog is under the dinner table just waiting for a scrap of food to hit the floor to that they can eat it. You should always be aware of the foods that are dangerous and toxic to dogs. However, contrary to popular belief, not all table food is bad for dogs.

Who is responsible for this myth? The same set of people who are responsible for other myths as well: marketers! Did you know that after the invention of processed dog food, manufacturers were still struggling to successfully convince pet owners to replace real food with new, commercial varieties. Talk about “money hungry”! In the mid 1960’s, the pet food industry launched a marketing campaign which promoted a ban of all table scraps with a switch to dry kibble. We are here to tell you that it worked. In the United States, we have been hesitant to give our dogs human food ever since.

Keep in mind that dogs experience the same health benefits that we do when they consume fresh food. Therefore, the human grade food found on your table can be more appropriate for a dog to eat than the default dog food, like kibble which tends to be ultra-processed. Just be sure that you are not adding a lot of table scraps to your dog’s daily food allowance. Too many foods that fall outside of your dog’s meals can throw off the nutritional balance that those meals provide.

You may be wondering which kind of table foods would be okay for your four-legged friend. Avoid anything fried or cooked with additives. Stick with whole, fresh foods like meat, vegetables, and fruits. Once again, be aware of the foods which may cause harm to dogs! Go ahead, put some leftover superfoods in that dog bowl and let your pup join in on the deliciousness!