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Liver is one of the least liked organ meat among people. Luckily, the same cannot be said about our canine friends. Most dogs love this highly nutritious food. So, what makes liver an essential food for our furry buddies?

Did you know that liver contains 10 to 100 times the nutrients that are found in muscle meats? Liver has a high level of vitamin A and B, iron and trace minerals. It is also an excellent source of protein.

Ironically, eating liver actually benefits the liver. They improve vision and tonify blood. Blood deficiency and anaemia can be cured by consuming liver as a part of a daily diet.

One thing to watch out for when you feed liver regularly to your pet is that it is very rich and may cause diarrhea if they eat too much. You can start with half a tablespoon for a couple of days for a medium size breed and lookout for signs of loose stools. If they do show signs of loose tools decrease the frequency of feeding. It is always a good idea to consult with your vet before including liver as a part of your pet’s daily diet.

Dogs love to get a bite of our food. They just cannot resist eating butter chicken or a small chunk of a pizza with ketchup! While it is never good to feed your pet titbits from your meal, its nonetheless unavoidable. Some foods however do not pose any harm if they are given once a while as occasional treats and tomatoes are one among them.

Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family of vegetables. This means that they contain a few components that can prove to be quite fatal to animals, like solanine. Solanine is found in the green parts of the tomato, which are the green tomatoes, stem and leaves. In dogs, it causes serious health risks when they are consumed in large quantities.

Ripe tomatoes are completely safe for canine consumption but have to be eaten in moderation. Never give unripe tomatoes to your pet as it can cause an upset stomach. If you have a tomato plant in your garden it is a good idea to have it fenced or the pot shifted to an area that your pet cannot reach. It will probably save your pet’s lives and not to mention the longevity of your tomato plant!

Spinach or palak are a type of greens that most people would dearly love to skip, unless it comes in the form of pakodas or palak paneer. We do know that greens are rich in iron, calcium and other nutrients but can they be given to our canine friends?

Dogs are basically carnivorous animals. But if they are not given enough meat they will eat vegetables. Since vegetables are high on nutrients and low on calories it makes it a sensible choice for treats or as an accompaniment to a dish.

Spinach contains a good amount of Vitamin A, B, C and K. It also has antioxidants, iron, roughage and beta carotene. All these nutrients promote overall health. So, giving your pet spinach in small amounts will help them to get their dose of these powerful nutrients.

On the flipside though, making your dog consume large portions of spinach can cause excessive damage to their health. It may cause kidney damage, muscle weakness, abnormal heart rhythms or even respiratory paralysis.

Feeding your pet a small portion of spinach occasionally can cause no harm. The ideal way to serve spinach to your furry buddy is to have it steamed. Boiled spinach will be devoid of its nutrients and raw spinach can cause a digestive upset. So, the best way is to serve it steamed and without any spices, herbs, oil or garlic. Always remember to chop the spinach before you serve it to them as their digestive tract cannot break down vegetables the same way ours does.

If your dog’s kidney is healthy and well-functioning you can serve them spinach occasionally and in small amounts. However, it is a good idea to consult the vet before you plan to include spinach to your dog’s diet. They will be a better judge in helping you decide if your dog can or cannot eat spinach.

Grapes are called as the Fruit of the Gods. This fruit comes in various varieties, colours, seeded as well as unseeded. Some even consider it as the forbidden fruit. This seems to be particularly true when it comes to our furry friends.

One of the first things your vet will advise you when you ask them about your pet’s diet is to not feed them grapes or their shrivelled-up cousins – the raisins. In fact, grapes and raisins are highly toxic for canine consumption.

Grape toxicity affects dogs of all breeds, sex and age. Ingesting the fruit can lead to kidney failure in dogs.

The signs of grape poisoning you need to lookout for are:

• Poor appetite
• Lethargy or weakness
• Vomiting or diarrhea after a few hours
• Dehydration
• Increased thirst or changes in their urinal output
• Kidney failure

If your pet has consumed grapes or raisins then treatment at the right time is very important. Take them to the vet immediately for prompt medical intervention. Since prevention is better than cure you must try to keep grapes or raisins out of their reach.

Are you busy chomping delicious morsels of fish from your favourite takeout place? The waft of the fish flavoured dish is bound to have your pet drooling for a quick bite! Yes, dogs absolutely love the smell of fish. But is it good for them? Whether it’s a well marinated fish fry or an intricately made gravy, you would think twice before serving it to your furry pal.

Fish is a lean meat, an excellent source or protein and omega 3 fatty acids. But they also contain mercury that may lead to toxicity, apart from the bones causing digestive upset to your pet. So, is it safe to feed fish to dogs?

Fish is quite safe for canine consumption as long as they are served in moderation. It also depends on the method of cooking and the type of fish you choose to give your dog. Never feed your dog raw or smoked fish. Always serve them boiled, steamed or grilled fish.

Fishes with shorter life span like salmon have lesser amounts of mercury than fishes with longer life span like tuna. So, choose a fish that is small in size and has a shorter life span.

Bones also pose a problem to your pet’s digestive system so always debone the fish before serving it to them.

Benefits of feeding fish to dogs

• Good source of omega 3 fatty acids
• Fish is a lean meat and has high protein levels
• It is low fat

Risks of feeding fish to dogs

• Presence of toxins and other pollutants
• Commercial pet foods that are fish-based use harmful preservatives
• Raw or under cooked fish can cause bacterial infection like salmonella poisoning

What type of fishes can dogs eat?

Always choose fishes that are smaller in size and have shorter life span as they have lesser amount of mercury like the ones mentioned below;

• Salmon
• Sardines
• Anchovies and Herring

What fishes should be avoided?

Fishes that have a longer life span have heavy metals like mercury which slowly builds up in their system and causes heavy metal toxicity. So, the fishes to be avoided are mentioned below;

• Tuna
• Swordfish

The final verdict. To feed or not to feed fish to dogs?

Fish is safe for canine consumption and can be a part of their diet once it has been approved by the vet. You must choose the type of fish you want to feed your pet wisely keeping in mind its mercury level. Ensure that you cook the fish without any seasonings or spices and to debone the fish before serving it to your pet. It is always a good idea to consult the vet for their professional advice.

It is always good to be informed about what vegetables dogs can or cannot eat, as you might want them to be safe from any health hazard. So, can dogs eat carrots? Well, here is what you need to know!

Can my dog eat carrots?

Carrots are not only safe for dogs to eat but also come with added health benefits. Carrots are a healthy snack choice for our canine pals. Carrots have low calories, are high in fiber and are known to slow down the onset of dental diseases. So, carrots must be made part of your pet’s daily diet.

Carrots are a great source of vitamin A

Carrots are an excellent source of antioxidants, fiber and vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for the body as it helps to sustain and maintain overall health for both dogs and humans. In dogs, vitamin A is necessary for bone growth, reproduction and a well-functioning immune system.

Feeding your dog carrots regularly will help them to keep their eyes healthy and their vision sharp. Carrots are rich in beta carotene and other nutrients, which will protect their eyes from free radical damage and UVB radiation.

Carrots are good for dental health

Making you dog eat raw or lightly steamed carrots is a great way to clean their teeth naturally and to reduce the most abhorred plaque build-up. So, the more veggies your dog eats the better. If your pet loves carrots then it is a win-win situation as their teeth gets cleaned along with them consuming a nutritionally rich vegetable.

Carrots given to dogs as low-fat treats

Obesity has becoming a rising problem in dogs. So, if you are looking for a treat that makes a delicious snack apart from having fewer calories then look no further than carrots.

How to feed carrots to dogs?

Since we now know that carrots are a superfood that your pet must have, the next question is how to feed it to them? Should it be served raw or cooked?

Well, dogs can be given raw carrots but for them to absorb the vital nutrients and to ingest them appropriately the carrots must be cooked.

Once they are cooked you can either give them as a puree or chop it and serve it to them.

Can dogs eat sweet potatoes?

Sweet potatoes are a root vegetable that are not only starchy but are also loaded with various nutritional benefits for your canine buddy. Apart from being good for health they also taste wonderful when they are boiled or steamed. Dehydrated sweet potatoes are a great choice of sweet treat for your furry friend.

Sweet potatoes have an orange flesh, which means they contain beta carotene and have a significant amount of vitamin A and antioxidants that help to keep diseases and infections at bay. Vitamin A helps to maintain healthy skin, coat, eyes, nerves and muscles in dogs.

Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of fiber, potassium, calcium, iron, vitamin C and B6.

You can serve a small portion of boiled or steamed sweet potatoes along with your pet’s regular diet. They can be given as a sweet treat as well.

Sweet potatoes are usually added to commercial pet foods and treats as they are gluten free and are easily digestible. So, they are a popular choice for a grain free dog food as they provide an alternative source of carbohydrates.

If you are planning to include sweet potatoes as part of your pet’s daily diet, you must consult your vet especially if they are suffering from a health condition like diabetes.

There are certain fruits that must never be given to your canine friend. While raisins and grapes fall into the category of banned items for dogs, there are other fruits like apple, cantaloupe and banana that can be easily given to them.

But what about a plump and juicy strawberry? Well, the good news is that you can serve your pet fresh and juicy strawberries!

Fresh strawberries have all the healthy nutrients that your dog needs. Strawberries that are canned or bottled or the ones that come in the form of a conserve or sugar glazed must never be given to dogs, simply because of the high sugar content that increases their risk of developing diabetes.

Only fresh strawberries are to be served to dogs.

Benefits of eating strawberries

Strawberries are a good source of fiber and nutrients. They also do not cause an increase in blood sugar levels as they have a good amount of digestible carbohydrates. Since they are also rich in fiber, it helps in improving and maintaining the condition of a dog’s digestive tract.

Apart from this, strawberries also contain essential nutrients like Vitamin B, C, E and K, manganese, potassium, iron, phosphorous and antioxidants.

Why must I give strawberries to my pet?

As we now know that strawberries have so many essential nutrients that helps to build a stronger and healthier body, so serving them strawberries as a snack is a more sensible choice than giving them commercial treats that contain unhealthy fats.

But remember to always give them fresh strawberries as they are power packed with nutrients rather then the canned or bottled ones.