Healthy People Foods You Can Give Your Dog

Pasta and Rice

Disney's Lady and the Tramp canoodled over a plate of spaghetti and meatballs. Your pooch can have pasta once in a while, too. Just make sure it's plain and cooked. Brown rice is a healthy whole grain your dog may gobble up. Mix some into their regular dog food to liven up their meal. Make human food a treat for your dog -- it should be no more than 5% to 10% of their diet. The rest should be dog food, which supplies the nutrients they need.

Meat

What dog doesn't go on alert when there's meat around? Chicken, turkey, lean ground beef, and chuck steak or roast are animal-based proteins, which help dogs grow strong. A few rules apply:

• Always cook meat well. Never serve it raw or undercooked.
• Avoid fatty cuts, including bacon.
• Cut meat -- and any human food -- into easy-to-chew chunks. Ground meat is fine, too.
• Old, moldy, or spoiled meats are not OK.

Vegetables

Vegetables give your pup vitamins, fiber, and some canine crunch. Try serving these raw veggies whole, grated or finely chopped: carrot, cucumber, zucchini, lettuce, bell peppers, corn (cut off the cob), and celery. Or steam these favorites: green beans, broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, and hard winter squash. Skip avocado, which can upset their stomach. Don’t give any vegetable or other human food that seems to cause tummy trouble.

Treats for Dog-Day Afternoons

To cool off a hot dog on a sultry day, give them pet pops. Make them with any food they like, like veggies or applesauce. Freeze the pops in an ice cube tray.

Or whip up some peanut butter pops:

• Mix 1 cup of peanut butter (unsalted is best) with half a mashed, ripe banana or a little water. 
• Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheets lined with wax paper and freeze.

Bread and Pretzels

Bite-sized bits of whole wheat bread are good for their gut health. But don't give them raw dough -- it can cause serious stomach problems. They might also go for some pieces of unsalted pretzel. Just skip the salted kind, which can make them extra thirsty and can cause big problems if they eat a lot.

Sweet Treats

Except for grapes and raisins, most fruits are OK for your pup. Try slices of fresh banana or apple (without the seeds), chunks of cantaloupe or watermelon, blueberries, or orange sections.

Homemade sweet potato jerky can also satisfy a sweet tooth:

• Scrub and skin sweet potatoes and slice them into 1/2-inch strips.
• Put the strips on parchment-lined cookie sheets.
• Bake at 225 F for 3 to 4 hours -- or longer for crunchier treats.

Foods to Help the Meds Go Down

Some dogs resist taking pills, especially if they’re big or smell bad. To make one go down easier, hide it in a tasty treat -- like peanut butter (check for xylitol if using low-calorie peanut butter -- it can be toxic) or a marshmallow. Make pill time game time if they like to play catch. Toss them a few pieces of what you plan to hide their meds in, one after another, with the pill in one of them. They may swallow it without even knowing it was there. Ground beef and chicken are other good hiding places. If none of these works, it's OK to use a slice of hot dog. Ask your vet for other ideas.

Give a Dog a Bone?

It's better to stick to chew toys. Chicken and turkey bones aren't safe for dogs, because they can splinter into sharp pieces easily. But what about big lamb or beef bones? Experts say even those aren't a good idea. Bits of raw meat on bones can have disease-causing germs. Even with cooked bones, splinters or large pieces of them can break off. Both can seriously damage your dog's digestive tract.

Holiday Foods to Share -- and Skip

Too much holiday food is a recipe for doggie distress. But you can give your hound a taste of your celebration.

• They'll be plenty thankful for tidbits like well-cooked turkey, green beans, and cooked sweet potato in their regular chow.
• Skip table scraps. They may have ingredients they shouldn't have -- like milk, onions, or garlic.
• Keep chocolate and cocktails above licking level. Both are toxic.