People Food for Pooch in a Pinch

Is it ever a good idea to feed your dog the same food you eat? Suppose, for whatever reason, you find yourself home alone with your pooch and there’s no dog food to be found. Chances are, living in Upstate New York ‘ s Capital District, and the Albany and Saratoga areas in particular, you have a pet or grocery store nearby and open at almost any hour. However, if you can’t get out, there are some human meals you can prepare to safely and temporarily tide your canine companion(s) over, according to an online article in the Canine Journal found athttp://www.caninejournal.com/ran-out-of-dog-food/.

While the article acknowledges that packaged and canned dog food is created to be nutritionally complete, unlike quickly prepped meals you throw together for Rover in a pinch, Veterinarian Korinn Saker, DVM, PhD., DACVN – who is likewise Associate Professor of Nutrition for North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine – is cited as recommending the following guidelines:

·      Provide your pup with a balance of lean protein and complex carbohydrates

·      Avoid feeding your dog too much fat or sodium, which can trigger vomiting, diarrhea or constipation

·      Remain mindful of your pooch’s food allergies or chronic conditions, including renal, liver and heart disease or pancreatitis that require special low-fat diets.

Keeping the meal simple is probably the best course of action. And if your dog is food-aggressive or has potty-training issues, you may want to rethink how you approach the entire alternative meal topic. Even for a pup without any behavioral issues, the meals-in-a-pinch idea should never become a permanent substitute for the traditional dog food diets. In fact, Dr. Saker advises not to feed these alternative dishes to your dog for more than five consecutive days.

The article further cites the following:

Some Basics to Provide

·       Poultry – cooked, skinless and boneless

·       Beef (such as chop meat or beef cubes) – at least 80% lean and cooked

·       Canned meats and veggies – well-rinsed and drained to remove excess sodium

·       Keep it simple and lay off the salt and spices. Bland is better.

For Added Nutrition

·       Canned vegetables like corn, beans, peas and carrots – well-rinsed and drained

·       Plain pasta – cooked

·       Plain, cooked rice, couscous or quinoa – avoid the flavored varieties which are loaded with sodium and spices that may upset your dog’s tummy

·       Plain, cooked oatmeal – not the flavored variety packs

·       Canned chicken and fish packed in water – well-rinsed and drained

·       Cooked farina

·       High-fiber or multi-grain healthy cereals – avoid cereals with raisins or magically delicious kids cereals

·       Low-sodium vegetable, beef or chicken broth for flavor

·       Low-sodium, plain tomato sauce

·       Honey – sparingly

Don’t Overlook the Fridge

·       Cooked eggs (egg whites only for dogs with renal disease, please)

·       Boiled, baked or simply prepared poultry – skinless and boneless. Rotisserie chicken is fine, just remove skin and bones.

·       Cooked beef, at least 80% lean or trimmed of excess fat

·       Mild cheeses such as American or Colby

Consider Fruits and Vegetables

·       Apples and pears – sliced

·       Bananas, peeled

·       Blueberries and strawberries

·       Cooked potatoes (any kind)

·       Cooked or raw carrots, beans, peas, broccoli, corn

Make sure to familiarize yourself with the following list of foods that should never be fed to your pup! Be sure to check labels and packaging on anything you are considering for this meals-in-a-pinch diet. Avoid:

·     Breaded, fried, greasy, high-fat, salty and processed foods

   Grapes and raisins

·       Onions

·       Garlic

·       Bacon, cold cuts/deli meats which are high in sodium

·       Anything spicy or prepared in a spicy sauce

·       Milk