The people food thing bothers me.....

[Sgt_Cooper]

not trying to start a fussy argumentative thread. But it kind of bothers me to read of people giving thier dogs the people food. Espeacially these little guys. I did it too when I first got mine and its what I regret probably the most. He is spoiled and barks to get what I have now. But dont you guys think its probably really not good for them to get the ice creams, and the mac and cheese and pizza and other things? Im guilty too. I used to give mine bites of lunch meat, cheese and other things. I didnt give them just anything but still regret giving them that. After my vet told me how these guys are prone to the pancreatiis and how it can really take them down. Now I only give him bites of bread , like the crust from a sandwich, and occasionally a piece of a cracker. if eating pizza I might would pinch off some crust. But I think I will stop doing that even. After thinking about what my vet said. I think Its doing them a better jutice to deny them these things . Limit it to dog treats and maybe a few rare people safe food like the boiled plain chicken. But these proccessed foods with stuff in it. I think I'm going to cut back even more on what I give my guy. Its like w real kids out of real love you have to deny them sometimes and not give them everything they want.

It just bothers me cauze you hear about the big big yorkies or the ones w sickness on here, and I wonder how much of that might be from the people treats. Now don't get deffensive, I'm not saying if you have one of the big guys that youre over doing it. I dont know. Could be that they are naturally big. But I'm just saying is all.

I just think personally, Id rather listen to the screeching bark and beg for what I have and limit him to his dog food and dog treats and keep him in better health longer.

Not trying to start a ruckus, just concerned about the people food thing after what my vet said.....

[boopster]

I agree absolutely! My late Bungee, who weighed about 25 lb., had frequent "moody" days all her life, and when she was about 12 years old she took to her bed a couple of times with bellyaches. Everybody was giving her treats at the table because she was so darned cute. The vet finally got through my thick head that all the snacks were making her sick. We ended that habit - it wasn't easy but I became a real b*tch about it to my family and they finally saw the light too. Bungee did not have a single "bad" day for several years, until she developed multiple organ failure.

Tallulah does not get any food not approved by her vet. I'm convinced that this will keep her healthier and happier, and will prevent her from becoming a pest at mealtime. She already knows that I don't share with her, and she will sit quietly in my lap or in her bed while we eat.

[Ellie May]

It is important to be very careful. That said, me dog may not be alive today if it wasn't for people food. In fact, one of the only proteins she can tolerate is canned (processed) tuna. And there are some pretty disgusting things in dog food... I don't really agree with giving some of the things I read about on YT, but an occasional lick of ice cream or something isn't going to hurt most dogs. With really fatty meat and stuff, I say to each their own, but I think some owners will regret it when it doesn't work out well for their pups... Ellie didn't really show symptoms of pancreatitis til age 6. Not much would have lead us to believe she had a problem before. And she had gotten fatty foods all along... So just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean it won't.

[BellarousasMom]

Oh my this post reminds me of my big mistake when I was visiting my SIL and their yorkie was sitting on the ground. I shared my chips with him like there was no tomorrow. Later I learned before I got mine that one shouldn't give people food. I apologized for my big mistake I had made and told my SIL that she should have said something. I didn't know and it wouldn't happen again. I felt so bad. Lesson learned.

[Sgt_Cooper]

i know about the chip thing. I used to give mine a few when he was younger. He's just over a year now. So, I'm glad I learned earlier than later that it wasnt good. I think they can get sodium poisoning too I read. But occassionally you drop something like a chip or something and he's right on it before u can get it up. But I do think I will get even stricter w what he has.

And I'm sure there are some things and situations where they have to have special foods like the yogart and stuff they recomend when they're sick or not eating. But I'm talking like food they don't need, isn't nessicery and stuff.

It just worries me more now. I'm deffinately getting stricter.

[FlDebra]

I think it would be bad if I gave them a bowl of ice cream. But the most any of them get is a couple of spoons (not a full teaspoon at all -- just the scrapings from the side of the bowl when I am done--but they stretch it into 4 or 5 licks a piece!). They know not to beg or they get none. But when they hear that spoon scraping on the side of the glass bowl they come look at me and I give the okay. Little Annie hasn't really learned to wait for the oky yet, but she is getting trained. The other two will not jump into the chair until I say okay. Same with chips. They dearly love potato chips -- something I do not buy unless my son is home and having friends over cause he does not usually eat them either. But if they are in the house, I will have some and they know to sit and wait for their turn. They may each get one whole chip by the time we are done. I just break off little pieces for them and I love to see them take turns like they do. Again, I amstill working on Annie and the concept of waiting. But Ben and Candy are really good about it. My mom & dad have six dogs (yes 6!) and they will sit nicely and each wait their turn for a treat too.

My minature dachshund just passed away the beginning of this year. She was 17 1/2. She started out on grocery store dog food. I thought I wsa doing good buying her the best Piggly Wiggly had. I learned better and switched her to premium dog food but I still gave her little treats of people food most days. Everyone complimented on her shiny hair and vibrant look. The vet even asked what supplements I gave her as her teeth were always bright white and she never needed a dental or lost a tooth. So I don't think the tiny amount of people food I let her have hurt her in the least.

Granted the yorkies do have a little more sensitive GI systems and I make sure they never get too much in the way of people food. I would never let them have enough to interfere with the amount of premium dog food they are getting. But the people food treats (as small as they are) are better than most doggy treats on the market! I try to limit those too. They might get one yogurt drop a day. But I have to break other treats up to tiny pieces and give several a day to Annie as she is still being house-trained.

I might have not made it clear how little they actually get in the thread where we were all telling on ourselves about bad habits. But it really is a very tiny taste and none of them are ever fed at the table or allowed to beg at the table. That would get them moved to another room.

[deonk1]

It all makes sense, but personally I'm on the other end of the spectrum (to some point). If you purchase healthy people food I see no problem with it. I'd rather know exactly what's going into my boy than have him eating unhealthy treats that he also loves. But you're right there are things that a dog just shouldn't have. Sure not everything I give Harley is the best for him, but it's definitely better than the alternatives if I stuck strictly to dog food and store bought treats.

[nana911]

I kinda agree. Depends on what you call people food. Technically really good quality dog food is made from good quality people food. I let my girls have bits of toast, carrots, green beans, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, regular cheese (not processed cheese) apples, pineapple, plain chicken or beef, plain liver, raw hamburger (from our own side of beef not store bought). This would all be 'people food'. What you said about processed food is I think the difference. I wouldn't give them mac and cheese or anything like that. Their mainstay is a good quality kibble and what I mentioned above are sporadic treats. Baxter can eat pretty much whatever he wants, he has the stomach of a goat. Every morning I make bacon and eggs, Baxter stands behind me and he gets a bite of bacon while the girls are lined up in front of me and each gets a tiny bit of toast crust simultaneously. They are none the wiser. Bear on the other hand, at 80lbs cannot have so much as a lick of a steak bone, he is very susceptible to pancreatitis, no bacon for him either, he gets a larger bite of toast. They all, once in awhile get dog cookies, those organic ones, the chocolate chip kind made with carob...

[Sgt_Cooper]

my vet said for sure no bacon and no hot dogs, just to name a couple and I don't know who posted it previously but like the one post, thier dogs didn't get sick until years later and they showed no signs prior. Just worries me is all. I have a neighbor and I love them dearly but they had a 30 pound jack russel and the poor thing couldnt harldy move or breath. They just put him down in September because he was having liver problems and failure I think. Not to be so harsh but they probably pretty much killed thier dog.

[Rhetts_mama]

I don't think "all" people food is bad. But I do try to stay away from anything processed. Nothing wrong with carrots, blueberries, etc.

[MaddiesMommie]

I don't think all people food is bad. I give carrots, blueberries, green beans, and sweet potatoes as treats. These are all people foods. My husdand will also occasionally make homeade jerky out of venison. I think this, without the seasoning of course, is a great treat for them.

IMO, just because something labeled "dog food" is good for them I would much rather give them healthy people food over most of the junk they sell in the dog food aisle as treats or kibble.

[MaddiesMommie]

Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama

I don't think "all" people food is bad. But I do try to stay away from anything processed. Nothing wrong with carrots, blueberries, etc.

We had the same thought at about the same time.

[Darlin Beauxs]

I agree wholeheartedly. I have 2 males 4 & 5, that I have raised since puppyhood. I didn't see anything wrong with feeding them table food, as my grandmother's poodle literally lived on KFC or roasted chicken from the grocery store, and she lived to be 20 years old! Like someone else said, Yorkies are a different breed alltogether, and I think their tummies must be way more delicate...even if mine are teapot sized.

Before this summer, I gave them a bite of almost everything I ate, unless it was spicy, and I always saved a couple bites on my plate and let them lick it clean. I never liked french fries, but they adore them, so they used to get 3-4 a piece when we had fast food.

I felt so bad when Cooper got pancreatitis, knowing I caused it. It has been 4 months and they still beg for food from us, but I do not give in. They get plain boiled chicken breast, little bites of fruit, or scrambled eggs ONLY. and the latter 2 are on rare ocassions.

[Ladymom]

There's people food and junk food....

Lunch meat, pizza, and hamburgers from fast food restaurants are definitely junk food and can trigger pancreatitis so you are right to worry.

Healthy people food like fruits and veggies, yogurt (no artificial sweeteners), baked sweet potatoes, grilled fish, etc. are usually fine to give in small portions for treats.

For those of us who homecook, our recipes are made entirely from "people food". High quality commercial dog food is also made from human grade ingredients.

[OwnedByJezebel]

My dogs never get anything but very high quality commercially prepared raw and kibble, with a rare high quality grain free treat now and then. They are both about 12 lbs, and they are thin, just naturally big.

Here is my big parti boy, with flopped ears. I have only had him a month, so I don't know if the previous owners gave him any "people food," but they did give me his current bag of kibble (Nutro Natural Choice) and treats. So/so food, but by far not the worst. I think he may even be too skinny, I can feel his hips too easily, so I'm trying to let him gain a little bit, slowly, by letting him have extra kibble. His previous owners thought he was a picky eater, but I don't find that to be true AT ALL.