What Can Happen to a Dog That Eats Table Scraps?
Dogs that eat table scraps are at risk for a variety of health problems. Here are just a few.
Pancreatitis is a condition that’s caused by eating fatty foods, and it can be fatal in dogs.
Normally, the pancreas releases enzymes into the digestive tract when food has been ingested to help break all the fat down and promote digestion.
Pancreatitis occurs when these enzymes are released prematurely—before the food reaches the digestive tracts—which causes the pancreas to start ingesting itself and induces inflammation.
These enzymes can also leak into the abdominal cavity, causing damage to adjacent structures and other organs, like the liver, bile ducts, gall bladder and intestines.
Though high-fat foods are not the only thing that can cause pancreatitis, they’re thought to be one of the main causes of acute pancreatitis.
The clinical signs that you see depend upon the severity of the pancreatitis, but they can include:
In very severe cases, pancreatitis can be fatal.
The severity of the disease will determine the treatment, which sometimes can require the hospitalization of your pet.
Not every pets gastrointestinal (GI) system is capable of taking on new foods and digesting them properly.
If you know your pet has had digestive sensitivities in the past, you should avoid introducing anything new into their diet, especially human foods.
New foods have the potential to disrupt the balance of your pet’s gastrointestinal linings and flora, which can cause inflammation in the GI tract.
This can cause your pet to suffer from issues such as:
If you see these signs, take your pet to the veterinarian right away. They will be able to help your dog recover safely and ensure there are no continued issues.
While it may be well-intentioned, treating pets to tables scraps can lead to them ingest toxic foods.
Human foods that contain raisins, grapes, chocolate, xylitol (a sugar substitute seen often in gum and candies) and onions can all be toxic.
These foods might be introduced in seemingly harmless ways, such as in raisin breads, soups, brownies and any other food combinations with these ingredients.
Many of these toxins can have serious ramifications. For example, raisins and grapes have been associated with kidney toxicity in pets, and xylitol causes extremely low blood sugar that can lead to death.
Another concern is intestinal foreign bodies, which are foreign objects within the GI tract.
Common foreign bodies that dogs ingest include pieces of toys, bones, peach pits, corncobs, pieces of blankets, socks, underwear, hair ties, carpet and ropes. Foreign bodies often cause a GI obstruction, which can be fatal if not treated.
Symptoms of a GI obstruction include:
If you suspect that your pet has ingested a foreign body, call your vet immediately. Sometimes, if you get to their office immediately, your veterinarian may be able to induce vomiting, but this is not always recommended.
Some obstructions are easy to diagnose, while others are more challenging. Oftentimes, X-rays will need to be repeated, or an abdominal ultrasound will be recommended if it is unclear.
Depending on diagnostics, your vet will advise you on the best treatment for a foreign body obstruction. The common recommended treatments are surgical removal or aggressive fluid therapy.
Bones are also potentially hazardous to pets.
This applies to pork and steak bones, but it’s especially true for bird carcasses and bones (e.g., turkey and chicken bones that you might have considered giving to your dog as scraps).
The cooking process dries the bones, making it easier for them to splinter and get stuck in the passages of the digestive tract.
The splintered pieces can be caught anywhere from the mouth to the throat (esophagus) or stomach. They can even become embedded in the intestinal walls.
Larger chunks of bone can also become stuck in the small bowel, causing pain and distress to your dog because other items are not able to pass through the narrow passage.
In fact, in some cases, internal bone fragments may require surgical removal.
Is Table Food Bad for Dogs?
Yes, most table food is bad for dogs, for a variety of reasons. Let’s dig into them.
Obesity is a major health concern for dogs, especially when hooman food is added to their diet. According to Sykesville Veterinary Clinic:
Most dogs already have a balanced diet thanks to their regular kibble feedings. Any additional treats – whether they’re intended for dogs or hoomans – can spike up your dog’s daily caloric intake and cause them to pack on the pounds.
When it comes to table scraps for dogs, weight gain might be a primary issue, but it isn’t the only health risk.
Limit These Treats
Treats and table scraps should never make up more than 5-10 percent of the animal’s daily calories. If you plan to treat your furry family members, remember to subtract about 10 percent of their regular diet first, so you don’t add too many calories. For example, if giving a 20 lb dog a 1 oz piece of cheese, this is considered the equivalent of an adult human 1 1/2 cheeseburgers, which is more than a full meal. This makes it easy for dogs to gain weight rapidly. Hills Pet Nutrition has a website where you can learn more about how peple food relates to pet health.
You will need to train yourself, your family, and your guests in order to keep them from setting up a people food treat habit with your puppy. Make house rules about when and where treats are offered and ensure they are followed by your family. Educate guests so Grandma doesnt sneak a treat to your puppy when she visits. Better yet, set aside a certain amount of safe dog treats that guests can offer, and that fit your pets diet. By planning ahead, you can stay on top of your dogs nutrition and temptations of guests to feed him/her.
Is It Safe to Feed Table Food to Your Dog?
Its fun to treat your puppy, but people food is not the best for them. While an occasional table scrap treat may not be harmful, these should be limited, especially when your dog is young. Learn the healthy ways you can treat your dog and which foods are best.