I've searched for the definitive answer to this question, but can't
find it so I'm just going to ask again ;¬}

We have a two year-old soft-coated Wheaten terrier. She's fed on dry
food and seems to be thriving. My wife wants to supplement her food
with occasional scraps leftover from our evening meal. This could
include things like broccoli stalks and other green vegetables,
potatoes cooked any way except fried, some scraps of cooked meat (but
not fat) etc. We tend to eat pretty healthy stuff, and there's not
often much left over (my wife is an excellent cook).

Are there any definite no-nos? I know that chocolate is bad for dogs,
and we wouldn't give her any extra volume, but merely supplement her
dried kibbles. Personally I wouldn't bother, but my wife thinks she's
a human and would be less "bored" by a varied diet.

Thoughts?

Thanks

Are there any definite no-nos? *I know that chocolate is bad for dogs,

If the dog is happy and thriving on the regular kibble, that's an
excellent place to stop. If the dog is eating well without being
fussy, then boredom isn't an issue. Don't be too tempted to read
human motivations into your pet.

If you still cannot stop your wife from feeding leftovers, there are
several other "gotchas" besides chocolate. Onions and Garlic are bad,
and anything related (scallions, leeks), as are grapes and raisins
(sultanas if you're in the UK). Every dog is different, and some of
these build up over time, so just because you've gotten away with
feeding something once or twice with no obvious effects doesn't mean
it is safe, or because "it's only a little bit".

I've always been told by my vets not to feed table scraps, as I recall
it was mostly because of the high fat and the salt content--there is
usally way too much salt in prepared human food for a dog, which could
cause or aggravate kidney issues.

Hope that helps,
--Glenn Lyford

wrote:

Thoughts?

Feeding leftovers can become a recipe for a fussy eater. (Are
you feeding me THAT today? I want something diiiiffffrnt! BTDT,
got the T-shirt, the bumper sticker, the mug...)

If your dog is eating and thriving without human food scraps,
count your blessings!

FurPaw

--
Don't believe everything that you think.

To reply, unleash the dog.

In article ,
FurPaw wrote:

wrote:

Thoughts?

Feeding leftovers can become a recipe for a fussy eater. (Are
you feeding me THAT today? I want something diiiiffffrnt! BTDT,
got the T-shirt, the bumper sticker, the mug...)

If your dog is eating and thriving without human food scraps,
count your blessings!

Also, if the dog doesn't get leftovers, the dog is less likely to sit
under your glass table and stare at you all through dinner whining!
--
boss, sometimes i think * * * * * |* kevin michael vail
that our friend mehitabel * * * * |*
is a trifle too gay * * * * * * * |
* * * * -- archy* * * * * * * * * |* wotthehell wotthehell

wrote in message
...
I've searched for the definitive answer to this question, but can't
find it so I'm just going to ask again ;¬}

You're not likely to find a 'definitive' answer (only opinions). There are
whole huge lists of things which are toxic to dogs, and the list has a
tendency to grow with time, so whatever 'scraps' you feed, make sure you
don't feed too much (I'm not saying that small quantities can't be toxic, or
cummulative, only that you're less likely to have problems).

The other big problem you're going to have to worry about is obesity. A
little goes a long way. For my own part, I do feed 'scraps', but they are
*really* tiny scraps. Basically as small as I can possibly make them (and my
dogs are ~35kg). If 'scraps' are constituting a significant part of their
diet, you're a lot more likely to have a problem.

Dale

elegy wrote:
On Wed, 04 Feb 2009 07:10:27 -0700, FurPaw
wrote:

wrote:

Thoughts?
Feeding leftovers can become a recipe for a fussy eater. (Are
you feeding me THAT today? I want something diiiiffffrnt! BTDT,
got the T-shirt, the bumper sticker, the mug...)

If your dog is eating and thriving without human food scraps,
count your blessings!

ime, it depends on the dog. my dogs get plenty of table scraps. they
are the polar opposite of fussy eaters.

That's why I said _can_. I've had dogs develop into finicky
eaters (Chihuahuas) and a dog who will eat anything, regardless
of what tasty morsel accompanied his last meal (Lab).

feeding leftovers is fine provided they're healthy appropriate foods
for dogs to be eating and are given in moderation. and as long as the
extra calories are accounted for.

Yep.

FurPaw


--
Don't believe everything that you think.

To reply, unleash the dog.

"Dale Atkin" wrote in message
news:TClil.9530$PH1.5268@edtnps82...

wrote in message
...
I've searched for the definitive answer to this question, but can't
find it so I'm just going to ask again ;¬}

You're not likely to find a 'definitive' answer (only opinions). There are
whole huge lists of things which are toxic to dogs, and the list has a
tendency to grow with time, so whatever 'scraps' you feed, make sure you
don't feed too much (I'm not saying that small quantities can't be toxic,
or cummulative, only that you're less likely to have problems).

The other big problem you're going to have to worry about is obesity. A
little goes a long way. For my own part, I do feed 'scraps', but they are
*really* tiny scraps. Basically as small as I can possibly make them (and
my dogs are ~35kg). If 'scraps' are constituting a significant part of
their diet, you're a lot more likely to have a problem.

I feed scraps but -only- meat scraps. Commercial dog food espically dry is
very
high in grains and not so high in meat - the exact opposite of a dog's diet
in the
wild. I've read the explanations by the so-called animal nutritionists as
to why the
dog food companies do this but I think most of them a bunk - the fact is
that grains
are cheap, meat is expensive, and the dog food companies save money by
substituting
grains for meat - so they are biased. I feel that supplementing the dry
food with meat
scraps is a good thing.

Now as for obesity - if you really, honestly think that you can control
obesity in
ANY animal INCLUDING humans through diet alone, you are deluding yourself.
There is no substitute for exercise. In the wild, a dog has a chance to run
all day long.
It has been my observation that it's impossible to run a healthy and fit dog
too much -
a truly fit and healthy adult dog is perfectly capabable of chasing a ball
all day long
or wrestling with other dogs all day long.

I can take Ruby to the dog park and she can spend 30 minutes running at top
speed
chasing other dogs - and it is not uncommon to see some of these dogs
panting like
a 1800's locomotive with a full head of steam after only about 5 minutes -
meantime
Ruby isn't even panting and is ready to run some more. She gets at least an
hour of
exercise at the dog park every day and often closer to 2 and it's almost all
running -
and in just the 4 months we have had her I would swear that her paws and
legs have
thickened at least a quarter inch, and she no longer has that trim figure -
she kind
of almost looks like a dog-weight lifter, you can see the muscles bulging in
her legs,
shoulders and paws. And she is damn fast - running flat out she whips along
like a
Cheetah and will outrun most dogs double her size.

I also think that a lot of vigorous exercise can also help reduce unwanted
behaviors
and calm high-strung animals down.

Ted

In article ,
Ted Mittelstaedt wrote:
Now as for obesity - if you really, honestly think that you can control
obesity in
ANY animal INCLUDING humans through diet alone, you are deluding yourself.

Let me guess: You stuff your children full of junk food and
leave it up to them whether or not to vomit it up. But I
like the way you think! Er, "think." Someone who eats 800
calories/day but it completely sedentary: FAT. Fat, fat,
fat. Yer a genius!

She gets at least an hour of exercise at the dog park every
day and often closer to 2 and it's almost all running - and
in just the 4 months we have had her I would swear that her
paws and legs have thickened at least a quarter inch, and
she no longer has that trim figure - she kind of almost
looks like a dog-weight lifter, you can see the muscles
bulging in her legs, shoulders and paws.

Dude? If she's exercising like you describe, those aren't
muscles. Your dog is fat.

Go sit next to Paul in the congenitally clueless corner.
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community

"Ted Mittelstaedt" wrote in news:eimq56-o2c.ln1
@news.ipinc.net:

Commercial dog food espically dry is very high in grains and not so
high in meat

Funnily enough, my dog's kibble is grain free. Not that it's necessarily
an appropriate diet for all or maybe even most dogs, but you obviously
paint with an overly large brush, and it makes you look like a dumbass.

--
Shelly
http://www.cat-sidh.net

In article ,
Shelly wrote:
Funnily enough, my dog's kibble is grain free. Not that it's necessarily
an appropriate diet for all or maybe even most dogs, but you obviously
paint with an overly large brush, and it makes you look like a dumbass.

I think that it provides important context for understanding
Ted's posts and chard's posts and so on is that
carbohydrates are a primary energy source for the brain.
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community