Reasons not to feed your pet human food

 When it comes to our pets, it's hard to resist their pleading eyes and adorable purrs, but sometimes we must. Some human foods and ingredients are toxic or unhealthy for our cats and dogs, so it's best to throw away scraps instead of giving them to our pets.

We often discuss what foods to avoid giving your pet to prevent unnecessary vet visits. Even if you think your leftovers are safe for your cat or dog, they might cause more harm than good.

Teaching Bad Habits

We train our pets to behave as we desire, whether sitting, lying down, meowing to go out, or scratching at the door to come back in. Feeding them from the dining table or putting meal scraps into their bowls introduces habits that are hard to break. Your dog might start begging while you're cooking or eating, expecting a taste. It might be tempting to give in to stop their whining, but doing so will only reinforce their begging behavior.

Health Problems

We need to remember that our pets have different digestive systems than ours, so they can't eat everything we do. There might be hidden dangers in your food that could harm your cat or dog, even if it's something healthy for humans. Leeks, onions, and grapes are dangerous for pets, including many gravies served with meals containing onion.

Feeding them scraps and human treats also increases their daily calorie intake without you noticing. Some foods may be high in salt and unhealthy fats that your pet might not be able to handle, depending on their activity level, which could lead to weight gain.

Becoming a Picky Eater

If you give your pet too much of your tasty food, they might start ignoring their own food because it doesn't taste as good. This can be concerning if your cat or dog refuses to eat their regular food, and you might be tempted to give them more of what they like, which only reinforces their pickiness.

Hidden Dangers

Besides toxic ingredients, other dangers could be lurking on your plate. Pet shops often sell bones as treats for dogs, but there’s a big difference between those and leftover bones from your meals. Cooked bones, especially poultry or pork bones, can shatter or splinter into sharp pieces, causing choking or serious damage to your pet's mouth, throat, and intestines, leading to a vet visit.

It's best to stick to your cat or dog’s regular food. If you want to give them a special treat, consider making homemade pet treats.