Feeding Your Pets “People Food”

We have been told for so long by the pet food industry and those who support it that we shouldn’t feed our pets “people food” or “table scraps” and yet for thousands of years before the invention of dog food that is exactly what they lived off of. They generally hunted or ate what their owners gave them from the leftovers. The canine and feline species did not die out due to lack of nutrition, but have survived by the instincts God gave them and the love of their owners.



You can feed your pets good, wholesome home-cooked foods just as you do your own family. If it’s good enough for your family, likely, it’s good enough for your beloved pet, with some exceptions. Some foods you should not feed your pets are chocolate and other caffeine products, grapes and raisins, and most or all processed foods. Other than these, most foods, especially meats, vegetables, fruits, and whole grain breads, are usually fine to give your pet. You probably shouldn’t give them processed meats such as wieners and luncheon meats on a regular basis, but these probably won’t hurt them if given only once in a while.



You should stay as close to natural foods as possible. You should serve a variety of foods, just as you would your own family, to insure that your pet gets adequate nutrition. Your pet’s diet could be supplemented from 30% to 50% with home-style foods without any problems. If you want to go 100% natural, with no processed pet-foods, then a bit more research and care should be taken to insure your pet gets adequate amounts of the proper nutrients.



Be careful not to over feed your pet so that it becomes obese. A low fat diet may be in order if this is the case with your pet. The food you give your pet should be part of their normal diet, not extra servings in addition to their regular meals. You should also feed your pet in its regular food bowl at regular times and not from the table, which will teach it to beg for table-scraps.



A mixture of olive oil, minced garlic, and finely crushed eggshell is a good natural supplement to give your pets, as garlic is a natural wormer, and the eggshells are a good source of calcium. Any bones given to pets should be matched to the size of the pet, as small chicken and fish bones can be dangerous if given to larger dogs. Larger beef and pork bones should be given to larger dogs, and smaller chicken and fish bones to cats. The larger poultry bones can be given to dogs fairly safely, but you should use care whenever feeding your pets bones.



Don’t just accept that all “table scraps” are bad for your family pet by those who are trying to sell you their own products instead. If you do choose to share “people food” with your pet, do some research and do it right. Knowing what your pet needs to be healthy and happy is part of the responsibility of pet ownership. Giving your pet some home-cooked foods to enjoy is a loving choice your family can make for their beloved companion.