Feeding table scraps is OK

• Usually get 'choice' scraps, eg high fat, etc.
• Should be limited (never >5-10% of diet) because dogs have different nutrient requirements from man.
• Dogs may have soft stools due to introduction of new foods. Potential problems listed below only apply if diet consists of >50% table scraps and fed for long periods.
• Meat and poultryare deficient in:
  • Calcium.
  • Phosphorous.
  • Sodium.
  • Iron.
  • Copper.
  • Iodine.
  • Several vitamins.
• Fish: same as meat and poultry except for phorphorous.
• Tuna: high [polyunsaturates] ’ vitamin E deficiency ’ pansteatitis.
• Raw fish: high [thiaminase] ’ thiamine deficiency.
• Liver: low [calcium] + high [Vitamin A] ’ bone disorders.
• Dairy products: high [lactose] ’ hard to digest ’ digestive upsets Diarrhea: due to diet.
• Fish oils’ hypervitaminosis vitamin A and hypervitaminosis D, eg 15-30 ml given daily to a small dog may cause problems.
• Chocolate: contains methylxanthine ’ toxic Theobromine / chocolate poisoning if eaten in large quantities.

Feeding brewers yeast or thiamine repels fleas

Feeding garlic or onions repels fleas

Diet causes acute moist dermatitis ('hot spots')

Certain diets cause the hair to change to red

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.