Farm To Table To Dog Bowl

Every species breaks down compounds of foods differently; what is good for one is not always good for another. Dogs can eat many of the things we can but there are some foods that are good for us and deadly to them

Here are some examples of foods that your dog can and cannot have. Please note, some dogs may be more sensitive to certain foods while others have a stomach of steel.

Healthy

1. Carrots; good source of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants dogs love them cooked or raw
2. Peanut Butter; excellent source of protein, heart-healthy fats, vitamin B, niacin and vitamin E, but only if you’re spending the money on raw, unsalted 
3. Cooked Eggs; good source of linoleic acid and fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamin A, be careful raw egg can carry salmonella
4. Salmon; great for omega-3 fatty acids
5. Cheese; high in fat though so be careful
6. Blueberries; high in antioxidants, fiber and vitamins C and K
7. Pumpkin;  fiber-rich and can ease digestion in several ways
8. Bell peppers; pack a punch when it comes to nutritional value, vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium
9. Broccoli;  high in fiber and vitamin C
10. Greek yogurt; concentrated levels of probiotics and is higher in protein and has less sugar than regular yogurt
11. Sweet Potato or Yam; a rich source of vitamins A, C, B6, potassium, calcium, and iron, just to name a few!
12. Zucchini;  high in antioxidants and contributes to healthy digestion 
13. Bananas; high in potassium, biotin, fiber, and copper
14. Cashews; protein-rich, high in fiber, and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats
15. Spinach; vitamins A, B, C, and K. It also contains iron, antioxidants, beta-carotene, and roughage, which stimulate the digestive tract
16. Asparagus;  folic acid, potassium, fiber, thiamin, vitamin A, and vitamin B6
17. Brussel Sprouts; vitamin K, C, A, B1, and B6 
18. Beef; high in protein, iron, zinc, selenium and vitamins B12, B3 and B6
19. Pears; copper, vitamins C and K
20. Cranberries; bladder health, Vitamin C, E, K1, and magnesium
21. Chia Seeds; contain phosphorus, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium
22. Kelp; iodine, magnesium, potassium, iron and calcium
23. Rice; chosen grain for a dog with an upset stomach as that it’s easy to digest, quick to prepare, and low in fiber
24. Cucumber; 96 percent water
25. Raspberries; low in sugar and calories but high in fiber, manganese, and vitamin C
26. Popcorn; The stuff that makes popcorn taste delicious to us is a different story
27. Strawberries; full of fiber and vitamin C. Along with that, they also contain an enzyme that can help whiten your dog’s teeth as he or she eats them.
28. Mango; vitamin A, B6, C, and E
29. Celery; vitamins A, C, and K, folate, potassium, and manganese
30. Chicken; high in Omega 6 fatty acids and protein
31. Pineapple; manganese, copper, potassium, magnesium, iron
32. Watermelon; potassium and vitamins A, B6, and C
33. Blackberries; loaded with antioxidants
34. Corn; good source of protein, carbohydrates, linoleic acid, and antioxidants
35. Green Peas; good source of fiber, iron, zinc, potassium, and magnesium
36. Oatmeal; linoleic acid, which is a type of omega-6 fatty acid
37. Apples; vitamins A and C but don’t let them eat the seeds

Remember moderation is key even when dealing with healthy foods.

Unhealthy

1. Coffee or Tea; Caffeine causes vomiting, can build in the body and raises blood pressure and causes cardiac arrhythmias
2. Grapes or Raisins; the toxic substance within grapes and raisins is unknown, these fruits can cause kidney failure
3. Avocado; contains persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea
4. Macadamia Nuts; can cause, vomiting, ataxia, weakness, hyperthermia, and depression. Dogs are the only species in which signs have been reported
5. Onion; N-propyl disulfide. This compound causes a breakdown of red blood cells, leading to anemia in dogs
6. Chocolate; feel nauseous and cause vomit, they’ll have a high heart rate, diarrhea, show signs of hyperactivity and, if they consumed a high dose of methylxanthines, tremors, seizures and possibly death caused by the theobromine 
7. Walnuts; can contain fungi called tremorgenic mycotoxins, and if your dog is exposed to it, they can have seizures and other dangerous neurological complications
8. Pit Fruit; The fruit is ok but the pit contains a lot of cyanide. Cyanide toxicity can be deadly in only a few minutes
9. Artificial Sweeteners like Aspartame; can lead to a life-threatening drop in blood sugar and kidney failure in dogs
10. Alcohol; can cause vomiting, disorientation, high body temperature, restlessness, excessive panting, muscle tremors and seizures
11. Yeast; releases toxic levels of ethanol into the dog’s bloodstream
12. Milk; many canines are lactose intolerant
13. Candy; sweetened with xylitol, which can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop and can also cause liver failure

With these lists in mind you can now start preparing healthy snacks for your dog. Next time you go to make a smoothie for yourself make a little extra and pour the remainders into an ice cube tray so your dog can enjoy it later in their Kong. 

The two of you can try this recipe; 

1 cup strawberries 

1/2 a cup of pineapple 

1 banana 

2 cups apple juice 

½ a cup Greek yogurt 

1 cup spinach 

1 tbsp Chia or flax seeds

This recipe makes 4 (human) servings. 

Not much of a smoothie drinker yourself? That’s fine, use the same recipe but substitute the apple juice for some low sodium chicken broth and your dog will go crazy for it

Lancaster Park has two beautiful baseball diamonds, with a wide green stretch in the middle.  With plenty of parking, this would be a wonderful place to take your family for a picnic. It’s highly recommended for distraction training when games are able to start again; lots of different sounds, smells, and interactions.