https://blog.myollie.com/10-healthiest-dog-food-ingredients/

2. Grapes and Raisins

Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure for dogs. Because grapes have more water in them than raisins, they are less toxic than raisins. 

3. Onions

Although this is not commonly recognized, onions are the most dangerous food a dog may eat. Onions contain disulfides and sulfoxides that damage red blood cells and cause anemia.

4. Avocado

Avocado contains persin. Persin is a toxic chemical that causes vomiting and diarrhea for dogs.

5. Raw or undercooked meat that is not correctly prepared

Feeding raw food is an awesome option for dogs! Think about what their ancestors ate for thousands of years-- raw meat. Dogs are biologically designed to eat raw food. That does not mean they should eat ALL raw meat. It is important to carefully only feed raw meat safe for dog consumption to avoid fatal bacteria, like Salmonella and E. Coli.  Raw food that is safe for dogs will be specially packaged.

6. Fruit seeds and stems

Fruits like apples, cherries, and apricots have seeds, stems, and leaves that contain cyanide. Cyanide is very poisonous and can make it hard for dogs to breathe.

 

Can My Dog Eat Tomatoes?

Dogs can absolutely have the tomato fruit. If you want to give a tomato to a dog, small amounts won’t hurt them a bit. Many dogs love them for the same reason people do; they’re tasty!

While they are nontoxic, don’t feed too much tomato to your dog because it can cause stomach upset. Tomatoes are notoriously acidic, which could definitely cause problems in a dog with a sensitive stomach.

Be sure you start with small amounts to see how your dog reacts, just like you would when introducing any new food.

Cooked Tomatoes and Tomato Pomace

Cooked tomatoes are safe for dogs, just like ripe ones, and tomato pomace is a common ingredient in many dog foods.

Tomato pomace is made from the ripe fruit and incorporates skin, pulp and seeds. It’s a frequent byproduct of human food production.

Potatoes

Recent research has suggested that potatoes, while not poisonous, may not be appropriate for a dog’s diet. From the UC Davis School of Medicine: “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued an alert about reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating certain pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes as main ingredients. DCM is a disease of the heart muscle that leads to reduced heart pumping function and increased heart size. The alterations in heart function and structure can result in severe consequences such as congestive heart failure or sudden cardiac death. While the most common cause of DCM is genetic, on rare occasions other factors can also result in the condition, particularly in breeds that are not frequently affected.”

1. Pumpkin is Nutrient-Rich

If you look at the nutritional information for one cup of cooked pumpkin (USDA Nutritional Database), you can see that pumpkin is low in calories, but rich in a host of essential vitamins and minerals. Pumpkin, the orange beauty that it is, contains a high concentration of vitamin A (beta-carotene). It also contains a lot of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure, improves muscle health, and assists in metabolism. It also contains smaller amounts of a variety of healthy nutrients, including Vitamin C, Iron, Phosphorus, Magnesium, and Folate, to name a few.

Pumpkin is Nutrient-Rich

2. Pumpkin Benefits Eyes

Vitamin A is essential for your eye health, and it’s no different when it comes to your dog. Vitamin A promotes eye health and the development of night blindness and other eye degeneration. Since Vitamin A is fat-soluble, feeding your dog pumpkin with a little healthy oil will make the nutrients pack more punch. Mix your pup’s pumpkin on top of his regular food, or mix in a little flax oil for a healthy, satisfying treat.

3. Pumpkins Boost Immune Health

Vitamin C is integral for immune health all-around. When combined with vitamin A (beta-carotene), E and other antioxidants in pumpkin, it can possibly help prevent certain cancers from developing. Antioxidants help destroy free radicals, or “oxidants” in your pet’s system, like yours. While oxidants are a natural part of everyone’s immune system, too many oxidants can contribute to cancers and damage the body. Boost your pet’s immune system by including fresh sources of antioxidants, such as those found in pumpkin.

4. Pumpkins Moisturize Skin & Coat

A number of nutrients in pumpkin, including vitamin A and zinc, improve your pet’s skin and coat. The high water content in pumpkin flesh also contributes to supple skin and a lustrous coat. In addition to making your pet’s coat shine and look fantastic, the added moisture causes the skin to flake less and less hair to be shed on your carpets, furniture, and clothes.

5. Pumpkin Seeds Prevent Urinary Incontinence

Don’t just look to the pumpkin flesh for your pet’s health – give him a taste of the seeds, too! Pumpkin seeds and flesh contain antioxidants and the seeds in particular contain a healthy dose of Omega 3 fatty acids. These fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help dislodge kidney stones. In addition, pumpkin seed powder is known to prevent urinary incontinence, which is the reduced ability to hold in urine.

6. Pumpkins Encourage Digestive Regularity

A sign of your dog’s good health is whether he is pooping normally. Hard stools or those that are difficult to pass put strain on your dog’s intestines. Adding a little pumpkin to your dog’s diet supplies the necessary fibre to enable your dog to pass stool easily and cure constipation. Though it may defy understanding, pumpkins have the unique ability to cure both constipation and diarrhea in your dog. If your pet’s stool is a little loose, a little pumpkin can add bulk and form to your dog’s poop.

7. Pumpkin Can Help Naturally Control Parasites

Parasites, such as tapeworms, can wreak havoc with your dog’s digestive system and cause unpleasant symptoms including weight loss, nutrient deficiency, dry skin, and a shabby coat. Pumpkin has high amounts of an amino acid cucurbitacin, which is actually toxic to many common dog parasites and has been used to expel worms in ruminating animals. Grinding up a teaspoon or two of pumpkin seeds and mixing into canned food (or a little canned pumpkin!) is a good preventative measure, but don’t skip out on your pet’s usual treatment.

8. Pumpkins Aid in Weight Loss

Pumpkins have a high moisture and fibre content, which makes them a powerful tool for your pet’s weight loss. Replacing a little of your dog’s regular food with canned pumpkin (a few teaspoons for a small dog up to half a cup with a large dog) can help your dog lose some excess weight. The fibre and water in the pumpkin will keep them full, so they don’t miss the extra calories.

9. Pumpkin Hydrates

Many dogs fed a kibble only diet suffer from a mild, but chronic dehydration. Dry dog food has a very low moisture content and dogs do not possess a very strong thirst drive. This means that getting extra moisture into your dog through drinking can be difficult. But the high moisture content of pumpkin adds more water to your dog’s diet easily and naturally.

10. Pumpkin Tastes Great

Like many people, dogs relish the rich, creamy flavour of pumpkin. And anyone who has tried to feed a dog something healthy that does not taste as good will appreciate this benefit thoroughly. Most dogs willingly lap up even plain cooked pumpkin. But go ahead and add a pinch of cinnamon or honey for an extra tasty treat.

How Much Pumpkin Do I Feed My Dog?

While pumpkin can be a fantastic addition to your dog’s complete diet, it’s important that you feed the correct amounts. It’s unlikely that your dog will overdose on any natural nutrient by consuming too much pumpkin, but if your dog eats too much pumpkin, it could lead to a nutritional deficiency somewhere else, or could mean your dog is getting too few calories.

Generally, 1 tsp of canned (or cooked and pureed) pumpkin per 10 lbs of body weight per day is a good standard to go by. If your dog has a health condition such as diabetes, please talk to your vet before feeding pumpkin to your dog. As a general rule, treats (including fruits and vegetables) should never exceed 10% of your pet’s daily caloric needs.

Pumpkin seeds are high in fat and should be fed more sparingly. 1 ground up pumpkin seed per 10 lbs of body weight per day is a safe amount.

For puppies and very small or underweight dogs, only feed pumpkin in very small amounts as a treat.

How Do I Serve Pumpkin to My Dog?

Pumpkin can be enjoyed by your dog in a variety of ways. There are many pumpkin treats, canned foods for dogs containing pumpkin, and pumpkin supplements that can easily be fed to your dog. For their safety, ensure that you feed your dog only supplements and treats that are designed with dogs in mind.

Simple canned pumpkin can also be fed to your dog, but be careful not to feed pumpkin pie filling or any canned pumpkin with added sweeteners or spices. Cans should be good for 3 or 4 days in the refrigerator, or portion out and freeze in individual servings for a longer lasting alternative (ice cube trays work perfect). Store these properly to avoid freezer burn, which can affect taste and nutrient density. You can also make your own dog treats from canned pumpkin, but ensure that you include only safe ingredients for dogs in your recipes.

You can also feed your dog cooked pumpkin that you make at home. Prick a few holes in a pumpkin and bake at 350F for 45-60 minutes. Cube or puree for a tasty, home-cooked dog treat! While raw pumpkin is safe for dogs, the flavour and texture improves with cooking.

Pumpkin seeds can be consumed raw by your dog, but your dog will probably enjoy them more when they are dry roasted. Avoid salting or adding oils to pumpkin seeds that you give to your dog. Fatty, rich foods can cause a life-threatening condition called pancreatitis in dogs. Clean, rinse, and dry out pumpkin seeds after you scoop them from a fresh pumpkin. Roast pumpkin seeds with no oil or salt on a baking sheet (with parchment paper to prevent sticking) at 350F for approximately 10-15 minutes. Cool and treat your dog (see serving suggestion above).

10 Health Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs

Rice

One of the most popular foods around the world is rice. But can dogs eat rice? The answer is yes. You may not even realize it, but rice is an ingredient sometimes found in commercial dog foods.

In fact, if you ask many pet owners what they feed their dog when he’s sick, they’ll likely tell you that white rice is a part of their pup’s diet. One of the reasons white rice is the chosen grain for a dog with an upset stomach is that it’s easy to digest, quick to prepare, and low in fiber.

“We use rice as a carb source when dogs are on a bland diet after a GI upset,” says Dr. Steve Weinberg, DVM and medical director/CEO of 911Vets, a mobile veterinary service in the Los Angeles area. “Rice helps to bind the stool in cases of diarrhea.”

Is All Rice the Same?

Brown rice is never prescribed for dogs having gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea. It is always white rice because our canine companions need the starch. However, white rice has a higher glycemic index than brown rice and can cause blood sugar levels to rise. If your dog is diabetic, you can still feed him a little white rice, if needed, but it shouldn’t be given to him on a consistent basis.

Yellow Labrador Retriever puppy eating

Due to the way in which brown and white rice is processed, brown rice can be harder for a dog to digest because it is not as processed. “Brown rice has a seed coat where the nutrients are stored,” explains Dr. Carly Fox, DVM, a staff veterinarian at New York City’s Animal Medical Center. “That coat is missing from white rice, resulting in less nutritional content.”

Carbohydrates are an important part of a dog’s diet, along with a certain amount of protein and fat. Like us, eating too many carbs can lead to weight gain in a dog. Because commercially produced dog food contains carbohydrates, be careful not to overload your dog with additional high-carb foods like rice. As long as he’s maintaining a healthy weight, adding some rice to your dog’s meals is perfectly fine.

When preparing rice for your pup, boil it in water and do not add any seasonings or spices. Keep it plain and simple; he won’t know the difference. And just like with any new food you introduce into your dog’s diet, consult your veterinarian first and then start off slowly.