The Impact of Human Food on Your Dog’s Health

Giving your dog a treat, or letting them finish left over meals is extremely common. But just how much does this affect your dog’s health? 

A UK study found that nearly half of UK dog owners claimed they have fed their dog human food twice a week. Over 25% let them eat foods such as cheese, dairy and salty foods. The study, conducted by industry experts was based on 1,000 dog owners. 

One in five owners also believed it is OK to feed their dogs bacon. This is despite salt causing potential issues such as upset stomachs and bloating. When focusing on an owner’s view of the emerging dog food trend raw meat, 44% said their dogs are on a strict raw meat diet, although vets have claimed that it could cause harm to them. This is because it contains bacteria which potentially leads to food poisoning. 

Did you know that foods such as chocolate, grapes, raisins, currants, sultanas and onions can also be poisonous to your pet? Even Vitamin D can be poisonous. 

What Are the Signs of Poisoning? 

Some common signs of poisoning can include: 

• Kidney failure
• Agitation, convulsions, tremors and heart problems
• Drooling, nausea, sickness and diarhhoea and pale gums

There are a whole host of substances and foods which can cause poisoning in animals so if you are concerned about your pet’s health it’s important to contact your local vet straight away. 

It’s important to stick to a balanced, nutritious diet for your pet. This can be achieved by purchasing quality dog food, which contains everything your dog needs to be healthy. 

We’re proud to offer grain free dog food recipes here at WCF Pet & Equestrian. We offer a high protein dog food range, made from quality ingredients in the UK.  Your extruded pet food is not only formulated and manufactured to be complete and balanced, but also convenient and safe for a pet’s digestion. Click here to shop the full range of grain free dog food. 

It is recommended by the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association that you don’t give your pet human food snacks and treats. This is because they’re often higher in fat content and salt which can be bad for them. The RSPCA also have some further guidance on feeding tips to help maintain your dog’s health.