“Human” Foods For Pets

Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. I was thinking the other day, why do we separate food for our pets as their food and human food? Why isn’t it just food? Well obviously, not all food that humans consume is for dogs and cats or small animals, but what food is totally allowed? Let’s go exploring to find out what foods besides designated pet food are totally fine for a pet.

Proteins for Pets

If you look around the pet specialty store or ask an expert, you will find just about every protein you can think of. The most familiar ones are chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, fish (usually salmon or whitefish, possibly herring or another fish). Pork and duck are also mainstream these days.

Cooking and Preparing Protein

If you want to feed these proteins to your pet in the same form as you would consume it (not in kibble, freeze-dried, or raw), you need to buy the leanest form. Debone and skin the protein before cooking. Boneless, skinless chicken or turkey is ideal. If cheaper cuts have skin or bones, remove them, as bones can be dangerous when cooked, and skin increases fat content.

Bones: Raw vs. Cooked

It is not recommended to feed dogs raw bones from grocery stores. They can carry E.coli or Salmonella, and jagged edges can cause injuries.

You can make bone broth from large bones, which is safe for dogs. Frozen bones from pet specialty stores are safer, as they are processed specifically for dog consumption.

Grocery Store Proteins

Raw grocery store proteins are intended for humans, so they must be cooked to kill bacteria. Reputable raw pet food providers freeze proteins at deep temperatures to minimize bacteria. Always sanitize utensils, bowls, and hands when handling raw meat.

Proteins Not Commonly Eaten by Humans

• Rabbit – Available in kibble, freeze-dried, or raw.
• Bison – Sometimes available in specialty stores.
• Kangaroo – Often used for dogs with allergies due to novel protein. Research sourcing carefully.
• Black Soldier Fly Larvae & Crickets – Used in some innovative pet foods as sustainable protein sources (Pet Food Industry).

Fruits Safe for Dogs and Cats

According to the American Kennel Club:

• Apples – Remove seeds and core. Low protein and fat, good for overweight or senior dogs.
• Bananas – High in potassium; give in moderation due to sugar content.
• Blueberries – High in antioxidants.
• Cantaloupe – Nutrient-rich, freeze into balls for treats.
• Cranberries – Good for urinary health, avoid dried cranberries with added sugar.
• Cucumbers – Great for overweight dogs.
• Pumpkin – Supports digestion; use 100% pumpkin, not pie filling.
• Other fruits – Mango, peeled oranges, peaches (skin removed), pears (seed removed), pineapple (peeled), raspberries, strawberries, watermelon (remove rind and seeds).

Unsafe fruits: grapes, raisins, cherries (pits contain cyanide), avocado skin and pit, unripe tomatoes, persimmons (seeds).

Cats can generally eat the same fruits, but they may be less inclined due to fewer taste buds.

Vegetables for Pets

Vegetables to Avoid

• Asparagus – No nutritional value.
• Mushrooms – Grocery store varieties are safe; avoid wild mushrooms.
• Onions, leeks, chives – Toxic, call vet if ingested.
• Rhubarb leaves – Toxic.
• Cats share similar restrictions (onions, garlic chives, unripe tomatoes, avocado, mushrooms, rhubarb).

Safe Vegetables

Many holistic practitioners recommend cooked vegetables for better nutrient absorption.

• Carrots – Cooked preferred for easier digestion.
• Bell peppers – Support skin, coat, and eye health.
• Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower – Cooked; may cause gas.
• Butternut squash – Good for digestion, nutrient-rich.
• Celery – De-stringed.
• Green beans, peas, sweet potatoes, corn, zucchini – Nutrient-rich, safe in moderation.

Cats can eat some vegetables (broccoli, pumpkin, peas, carrots, asparagus, zucchini, corn, leaf lettuce, romaine), though they are obligate carnivores and don’t require them.

Other Human Foods Safe for Pets

According to Top Dog Tips:

• Oatmeal – Cooked plain, can reduce inflammation in itchy dogs.
• Coconut & coconut oil – Share meat or a small amount of oil.
• Shrimp – Boiled, plain, shell removed.
• Rice – White or brown rice; helps supplement taurine absorption.
• Dairy – Dogs may tolerate plain Greek yogurt or goat yogurt; cats generally cannot.

Summary

There are many proteins, fruits, and vegetables that dogs and cats can enjoy. When in doubt, do research and err on the side of caution, because knowing is caring.

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