If it happens that you have run out of food for your dog, you cannot go to buy it or any other similar situation, surely the question arises: «yesI don't have feed, what do I give my dog? ». Well, dogs are omnivorous animals, adapted to eating both meaty foods and those rich in carbohydrates, vegetables or fruits.
However, be careful. In this article on our site we will talk about specific situations, since giving our dog an unbalanced homemade diet can lead him to suffer from nutritional deficiencies, endangering his he alth. Continue reading to learn more about what human foods our dog can eat, as well as what we should avoid.
If I don't have dog food, what can I give him?
The dog is omnivorous, as confirmed by data such as its teeth. Compared to cats, they both have a similar number of incisor and canine teeth, but dogs have more molars and premolars, which are useful for grinding and chewing food. This suggests a more varied diet accustomed to more foods than meat.
Thanks to this eating behavior, we can prepare, in urgent cases, another meal, even if it is not specifically canine, with the food we have at home, provided, of course, that they are not considered prohibited for them. You can consult a complete list of prohibited foods for dogs here.
We insist that it is a punctual solution, since it is not an option to leave them without eating until they get dog food, because we could worsen their he alth, weaken them and even, if the situation continues, cause nutritional imbalances and electrolytic.
Below we suggest some food options that dogs can eat in case of an emergency due to not having food for them.
Meat and fish
Dogs can eat all kinds of meat and fish, but taking care that the pieces do not contain bones that can splinter in their digestive system and cause damage or bones. Although to a lesser degree, these can also be harmful, especially to small dogs.
It is advisable to offer meat and fish cooked and not raw to avoid the risk of transmitting pathogens such as parasites. For example, anisakis and tapeworms such as Echinococcus granulosus stand out in fish. In addition, a deficiency of thiamin, also known as vitamin B1, can be caused by eating fish or its raw organ meats.
Cereals and tubers
Dogs are designed to eat carbohydrates and be able to take advantage of and digest them correctly. In other words, carbohydrates are necessary in your diet. The foods with the highest amounts of carbohydrates that we can offer you are the following:
- Batata: it has a high amount of nutrients, such as calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, vitamin A and vitamin C, plus 20 grams of carbohydrates per 100 grams of sweet potato.
- Potato: small pieces of cooked ripe potato may occur, not fried or bagged. They provide 17 grams of carbohydrates per 100 grams of potato, in addition to vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron and zinc. Avoid feeding potatoes when they are raw or green, because they contain solanine, a toxic compound that blocks acetylcholinesterase, increasing acetylcholine and causing an increase in secretions from the digestive, respiratory and urinary systems, a decrease in the rhythm of heart, vasodilation and increased brain activity. This same compound is also found in green tomatoes, devil's tomatillos, peppers and raw eggplants. That is why we must avoid giving them to our dogs.
- Arroz: it is a good source of carbohydrates, specifically 28 grams per 100 grams of rice, as well as being very digestible and low in fiber. Among the main nutrients it provides are vitamin B1, B2, B3, phosphorus, manganese, selenium, iron and zinc.
Vegetables, legumes and vegetables
Vegetables are a source of vitamins, fiber and carbohydrates. We can give the dogs the following:
- Pumpkin: This is a food rich in fiber, vitamins A, C, K and alpha and beta carotene. It is best to give it to the dog cooked and cut into small pieces.
- Carrot: it is a beneficial vegetable for dogs and highly digestible, in addition to containing various nutrients, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, iron, B vitamins, vitamins A, E and K. It also helps prevent tartar.
- Zucchini: this is a he althy vegetable and recommended for our dogs. Composed of 95% water and low in calories, we can give it cooked, roasted, grilled or raw, crushed or sliced. In this last option it can serve as a prize.
- Broccoli: this vegetable has high amounts of vitamins C, A, E and K and provides its healing and bone-protecting properties and the vision of dogs.
- Green bean: This legume offers vitamins C, A and K, as well as folic acid and fiber.
- Cauliflower: This vegetable offers vitamins K, C, folic acid, potassium and manganese. It has anticancer properties, due to its content in isothiocyanates, and anti-inflammatory. For this last benefit it is a help for older dogs with osteoarthritis.
Fruits
Fruits provide a lot of moisture and vitamins. We can give the following to our dogs, but in the right measure and under certain conditions:
- Peach: is one of the fruits that dogs like the most. It has a mild and sweet flavor and provides vitamins A, B12, B6 and B1, as well as hydration. But you have to be careful not to give them the skin or the bone.
- Apple: fruit with a high content of water, antioxidants and vitamins C and group B. It also provides calcium, phosphorus and potassium. But in this case, the dog must be prevented from ingesting the seeds, as they contain cyanide and could cause intoxication, causing a process of lack of oxygen at the tissue level by blocking the enzyme responsible for respiration in the mitochondria of the cells. This can end the life of our dogs.
- Banana: A small portion of this fruit for small dogs and even a whole banana for large dogs provides vitamins K, A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B6 and B9, as well as potassium, fiber and tannins with astringent action.
- Cherimoya: in small amounts due to its high sugar content, we can give our dogs a little of this fruit, without the seeds, since it contains B vitamins, such as B1, B3 or B9, and vitamin A, as well as a lot of fiber and minerals.
- Strawberry: Dogs can safely eat strawberries, but don't overdo it. These colorful fruits provide vitamins C, K, B1, B6, fiber, antioxidants and minerals such as copper and magnesium.
I don't have feed, what can my dog eat?
If one day you find yourself without feed or without the usual food that your dog consumes, you can prepare a plate of food with some of the ingredients that we have mentioned, common in the pantries of our homes. Here are some ideas of homemade recipes as a guide:
- Homemade food for puppies.
- Recipes for overweight dogs.
