Dave Zanoni
❌ The Foods We Love… That Dogs Shouldn’t Touch
You work hard to feed your dog right.
You spend the money. You read the labels. You ask the hard questions. You do your part.
And then one bite from the dinner plate unravels all of it.
It might look harmless. It might even feel like love. But that moment—the one where you offer just a taste of cheese or a bite of rotisserie chicken—can open the door to inflammation, gut imbalance, or something worse. And by the time symptoms show up, the damage has already started.
This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being honest.
Here’s what I see every day—and why skipping table food isn’t a suggestion. It’s a responsibility.
🍗 Rotisserie Chicken
Why it’s a problem: Brined, injected, and seasoned with additives your dog’s gut can’t handle.
Even a small portion can trigger vomiting, diarrhea, or pancreatitis—especially in sensitive dogs.
🥪 Lunch Meat
Why it’s a problem: High sodium. Chemical preservatives. Hidden sugars.
These aren’t lean proteins—they’re processed filler masked as nutrition.
🌭 Hot Dogs
Why it’s a problem: Mystery meat. Excess fat. Additives no dog should ingest.
It’s not just a snack. It’s a slow disruption to digestion and immune health.
🧀 Cheese
Why it’s a problem: Saturated fat + dairy intolerance = bloating, soft stool, and yeast flare-ups.
Most dogs love it. Their bodies don’t.
🍞 Bread, Pizza Crust, and Rolls
Why it’s a problem: Empty carbs, oils, and artificial flavors.
They spike blood sugar and upset the gut without adding value.
🍖 Bacon and Sausage
Why it’s a problem: Fat overload plus salt equals pancreatitis waiting to happen.
There’s no safe slice. Just risk disguised as reward.
🍟 Fries and Chips
Why it’s a problem: Fried oils, excessive salt, and acrylamides—compounds linked to cancer.
They’re junk food for us. For dogs, they’re worse.
🍝 Mac and Cheese, Creamy Pasta
Why it’s a problem: Comfort food for you. Digestive burden for them.
These dishes combine dairy, processed carbs, and heavy fats—three things that dogs don’t metabolize well.
They don’t just feel heavy. They cause bloating, stool changes, and long-term gut inflammation.
🥚 Scrambled Eggs (with Butter, Oil, or Cheese)
Why it’s a problem: Eggs are great—when plain.
But once they’re mixed with fat, dairy, or seasoning, they shift from helpful to harmful.
Dogs need simplicity. Their system thrives on it. Less is more when it comes to sharing safe food.
🥜 Sugary Peanut Butter
Why it’s a problem: Often given with good intentions—but loaded with problems.
Most commercial peanut butters are filled with sugar, emulsifiers, and added oils that disrupt gut balance and promote yeast overgrowth.
If you must share it, choose plain, unsweetened, and always read the label.
🍨 Ice Cream and Whipped Cream
Why it’s a problem: Fun for the photo. Not fun for the gut.
Dogs lack the enzymes to digest dairy properly. Add sugar and additives, and you’ve got a mix that leads to gas, loose stool, itching, and long-term inflammation.
It’s not a treat if it hurts them.
🍖 Meat Trimmings and Skin
Why it’s a problem: Seems like a natural reward. It’s not.
These leftovers are often loaded with saturated fat—far more than a dog’s pancreas can safely process.
Sluggishness, vomiting, and diarrhea are just the start.
It’s a bad trade-off for a moment of excitement.
🍲 Casseroles and Holiday Leftovers
Why it’s a problem: You may not remember everything in them—but their body will.
Layered ingredients, heavy fat, and hidden seasoning blends make these dishes a nutritional minefield.
Even a spoonful can set off symptoms that take weeks to calm.
⚠️ Just Because They Can Eat It Doesn’t Mean They Should
Their body isn’t built for our food. Not for the salt. Not for the fat. Not for the preservatives or the portion sizes.
It doesn’t matter if it’s homemade or store-bought. If it wasn’t made with their biology in mind, it doesn’t belong in their bowl.
And when you’ve worked this hard to feed your dog right—don’t let a few scraps undo the whole thing.
One slip might feel small. But small doesn’t mean safe.
They count on you to know better.
That’s what real love looks like.
🐾 Want Healthier Treats That Actually Help Your Dog?
Stop by Purrs McBarkin’ in Hartsville. I’ll walk you through better options—treats that reward without risk.
Because feeding your dog should never come with a side of guilt.