While dog diets are typically limited to dry or wet food, certain human foods can also be a beneficial addition to a pooch’s meal plan. When chosen carefully, these foods can offer healthy alternatives, whether as part of a regular meal or as a nutritious treat.
Incorporating the right human foods can enhance a dog's diet, providing both variety and essential nutrients for overall wellbeing.
Certain human foods are strictly off-limits, but many others can be used as healthy dog treats in moderation.
Laura Crotch-Harvey, nutrition manager at Burns Pet Nutrition, has compiled the ultimate guide to safe human foods for your canine companion.
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Which human foods are safe for dogs to eat?
Whether you're looking to add variety to your dog's diet or need a special treat after a trip to the vet, there are plenty of expert-approved options will let you share the love without the worry, including certain fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, eggs and dairy.
However, a word of caution, just like humans, dogs can have individual allergies and sensitivities. Before introducing new foods, start with small portions and watch for adverse reactions. When in doubt, always consult your veterinarian first.
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Fruits
Dogs can safely enjoy many of the same fruits humans do – and reap similar health benefits. Though certain fruits like grapes and avocados are strictly off-limits for dogs, many others can be perfect, nutrient-rich treats for your canine companion. These natural snacks contain vitamins and minerals that can support your dog's health.
Apples: All varieties of apples make excellent healthy treats for dogs, packing a powerful combination of vitamin C, fibre, and calcium. Just remember the prep work: Always remove the core and seeds (which can upset your dog's stomach), and slice the apple into easy-to-manage pieces.
Bananas: Packed with potassium, bananas make for a creamy, sweet treat. They're also rich in essential vitamins and minerals, plus natural fibre that can aid digestion. A few slices as an occasional reward is perfect, but too much could lead to unwanted weight gain.
Blueberries: Bursting with antioxidants that combat cellular damage, blueberries offer one of nature's most concentrated sources of health-boosting compounds for your dog. The natural fibre helps support digestive health, while their small size makes them perfect for training treats or food toppers.
Oranges: Packed with immune-boosting vitamin C, digestion-friendly fibre, and essential potassium, oranges offer a surprising nutritional boost for dogs willing to try something tangy. The entire citrus family—including tangerines, clementines, and mandarins—can be safely shared with your four-legged friend in small amounts. Just remember, proper preparation is crucial: always remove the peel, seeds, and white pith before serving. These components can cause digestive upset or even create dangerous blockages in your dog's intestinal tract.
Pears: Crisp pears provide a refreshing crunch while offering a healthy dose of fibre that supports digestive health and vitamins A, C, and K that boost immune function. Their natural sweetness makes them an irresistible alternative to processed treats, while their high water content helps keep your pup hydrated.
Pineapple: Bursting with vitamins C and B6, manganese, and bromelain (a natural enzyme that aids digestion), fresh pineapple offers impressive health benefits in a sweet, juicy package. The enzyme bromelain may even help your dog better absorb proteins from their regular food. Stick exclusively to fresh, raw pineapple chunks and avoid the canned varieties.
Strawberries: Rich in antioxidants, fibre, and essential vitamins, these bright red fruits can serve as a nutritious reward during training sessions.
Watermelon: Watermelon makes an excellent treat for dogs, especially during hot weather. The summer favourite is made up of mostly water, making it ideal for keeping dogs hydrated while providing important nutrients. The fruit contains vitamins A, B6 and C, along with potassium, while remaining low in calories.
Vegetables
When it comes to giving the leftovers after your meal to your furry friend, many will look to rummage around for any remaining pieces of meat, but you don’t necessarily have to. Much like with fruit, vegetables can offer dogs a much-appreciated amount of fibre and nutrients, but again in managed portions.
Asparagus: Provides dogs with beneficial dietary fibre that supports digestive health, according to veterinary nutritionists. When properly prepared, this nutrient-rich vegetable makes a safe addition to a dog's diet. Experts recommend serving only cooked asparagus to pets, as the raw form can be challenging for canine digestive systems to process.
Broccoli: Broccoli offers dogs a nutritional boost that many pet owners overlook. Whether served raw or lightly steamed, this cruciferous vegetable delivers a concentrated package of essential nutrients beneficial for canine health. Rich in vitamins A, C, and K, along with beta-carotene, folate, and dietary fibre, broccoli supports immune function and digestive health when incorporated into a dog's diet.
Brussels sprouts: These nutrient-dense vegetables can provide beneficial fibre and vitamins that support overall canine health. These miniature cabbage-like vegetables should always be cooked before serving to your canine companion, which helps make them more digestible.
Carrots: These versatile root vegetables can be served in multiple ways – raw for a satisfying crunch that promotes dental health, cooked for easier digestion, or with their leafy green tops intact for added nutrients. Dogs can eat carrots in several ways, including raw, cooked or even with the green tops still on them, so you don’t need to worry about the prep time.
Cauliflower: These offer numerous health benefits for canine companions, making it a valuable dietary supplement for many dogs. Rich in vitamins and minerals, this versatile food contains anti-inflammatory compounds that may help alleviate discomfort in senior dogs suffering from arthritis.
Celery: These crunchy vegetables are a nutritious, low-calorie option that support weight management while adding texture to a dog’s mealtime. Celery contains beneficial vitamins and minerals while being naturally low in fat, making it appropriate for dogs on restricted diets. Veterinarians recommend chopping celery into small pieces before adding it to your dog's regular food to prevent choking hazards while enhancing palatability.
Cucumber: This water-rich vegetable provides hydration while being exceptionally low in calories, making it ideal for pets on weight management programs. Animal health experts recommend serving cucumbers sliced or diced into appropriate sizes based on your dog's stature to prevent potential choking.
Green Beans: Green beans represent an optimal nutritional supplement for canines, providing a comprehensive array of essential nutrients while posing minimal health risks. These contain significant levels of fibre, omega-3 fatty acids, and multiple vitamins including A, C, and K. The nutritional profile extends to include folic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium, making green beans an exceptionally balanced addition to canine diets.
Peas: Much like many others on this list, these small veggies are packed with fibre and nutrients, making them a good occasional addition to your dog’s dinner. However, you must make sure that they are not canned peas, as these are often filled with high levels of sodium.
Pumpkin: Although a symbol of scariness during Halloween, pumpkins are nothing to be scared of when it comes to feeding them to your pup. Feeding your dog a pumpkin is a great, effective and natural way to combat constipation. But, a word of warning, too much pumpkin can lead to unwanted diarrhoea.
Spinach: Spinach is packed with plenty of antioxidants, iron and vitamin K. It’s also a great way to improve your best friend's immune system and can boost their energy levels.
Sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes offer some great nutritional value to dogs because they contain high levels of vitamin B6, vitamin C and beta-carotene – just make sure you’ve not added any salt or seasoning if it’s going in the dog bowl after your plate.
Courgette: Courgettes offer a wide variety of nutritional and health benefits, including vitamin C, vitamin A, dietary fibre, potassium, folate and niacin all for the price of one.
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Meats
All manner of meats are perfectly fine for a dog, however, you should be wary that the meat isn’t too seasoned or heavily salted, and it also shouldn’t contain large quantities of fat, as this will lead them to gain unwanted amounts of weight.
On the whole, meat is a great food to share with your companion because it offers plenty of protein. However, it should be noted that every dog is different and not every meat will suit every dog. All dogs have their allergies, and this can include meats.
Eggs
Eggs represent an exceptional non-meat protein source for dogs, offering a comprehensive amino acid profile that supports multiple physiological functions. These readily available food items contain substantial concentrations of essential minerals, including iron, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc—all of which contribute to optimal canine health.
But, much like others mentioned, preparation is key. Thorough cooking is essential, as it eliminates potential pathogenic risks associated with raw egg consumption while maintaining nutritional integrity.
Fish
Much like with meat, many dog owners know the standard seafoods that their dog can snack on, like tuna, but there are actually plenty of other options available to them. Fish cannot be served raw to your waggly-tailed friend, however, there are several cooked options on offer.
Salmon, ocean whitefish, and herring contain notably lower mercury concentrations, which are important in long-term feeding strategies to minimise heavy metal accumulation in canine tissues.
The unique amino acid profile and reduced allergenicity of fish proteins make them particularly valuable in specialised diets for dogs with identified food hypersensitivities.
When integrated into balanced feeding protocols, fish deliver essential omega-3 fatty acids that support cardiovascular health, reduce inflammatory responses, and enhance coat quality, providing multiple physiological benefits beyond basic protein requirements.
Dairy
Much like with their human compatriots, many dogs can also be lactose intolerant, meaning that these products can be a no-go. However, if they are not intolerant, the very rare treat of a dairy product will be fine.
Yoghurt: yoghurts can be a particular favourite sweet treat for your pooch as they not only love the taste but also the challenge of licking the packet clean. Plain yoghurt formulations represent a nutritionally beneficial option for dogs if you want to go down the dairy route once and a while.
Yoghurt products deliver probiotic microorganisms that can support gastrointestinal health and immune function in canines. Yet, it’s still recommended to select a low-fat or non-fat yoghurt to minimise risks associated with excessive fat consumption.
The absence of artificial sweeteners constitutes a critical requirement, as certain sugar substitutes present significant toxicity risks to canines.
Laura Crotch-Harvey, Nutrition Manager at Burns Pet Nutrition, says: “Always monitor for potential allergic reactions when introducing new foods, particularly with protein sources like chicken or beef. Some dogs may develop itching, digestive upset, or behavioural changes signalling intolerance.
“Remember that while sharing appropriate human foods can enhance your dog's nutritional profile, it's crucial to avoid known toxins like chocolate, grapes, onions, and foods containing the food additive xylitol.
“When in doubt about a specific food, consulting with a veterinary professional is always the safest approach.”
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Main image: a Jack Russell eating a slice of watermelon/Getty