10,460 answers about dogs
From a puppy’s first feeding schedule to a senior dog’s comfort care, dog owners ask it all — this page gathers the dog library of KinsLe Answers in one place. Browse by topic below, from feeding and training to health, grooming, safety and travel. Every answer is original, written by KinsLe, and tied to a real KinsLe feature.
763 answers in Feeding & Nutrition — page 18 of 32
Yes, a cube of plain mozzarella like the one that dropped from the salad board is a reasonable small treat for most dogs, and mozzarella is one of the gentler cheeses because it is comparatively lower in lactose and salt than hard, aged varieties. Offer one or two small cubes as they are, with nothing pickled, herbed,…
Marshmallows are best kept away from your dog, even the plain-looking one that dropped beside the campfire, because they are almost pure sugar with no nutritional value and a soft, sticky texture that can cling in the mouth. The urgent exception is sugar-free marshmallows, which can contain xylitol, a sweetener that…
Yes, leftover grilled mackerel fillet can suit a dog well in a small portion, as long as every bone is picked out and the fish was not cooked with garlic, chilli, or heavy seasoning. Flake a modest amount over his normal meal rather than handing over a whole fillet, because mackerel is oily and rich, and oily fish…
A single small morsel of plain cooked lobster meat can be a celebration treat for most dogs, provided it is just the tender meat with no shell, butter, garlic, or rich sauce clinging to it. Break it into tiny flakes and offer one taste rather than a claw's worth, because lobster is rich and salty enough that a…
Yes, plain cooked lamb with the fatty edges already trimmed away is a sound occasional treat for most dogs, served as a few small bite-size pieces rather than a second helping of roast. Keep the pieces boneless, unseasoned, and fully cooked through, and count them toward the day's food so a rich Sunday lunch does not…
Yes — a slice or two of peeled kiwi is a bright treat most dogs can enjoy, taken from the fruit salad before it is mixed. Peel off the fuzzy skin, which is tough and carries spray residue, cut the flesh into small cubes, and keep his share to a few cubes, because kiwi's fibre and acidity loosen stools when a dog…
Yes — plain ice cubes are a fine crunchy game for most dogs on a hot garden day, with two cautions. Give plain water cubes only, offer one or two at a time on the grass rather than a whole tray, and supervise, because a dog who attacks ice with full jaw force can crack a tooth, and a very small dog can struggle with a…
A little hot dog goes a long way at puppy class, which is exactly how it should be used — as a high-value reward in tiny pieces, not by the slice. Cut the sausage into pea-sized bits, and slice any round coins lengthwise first so a gulping puppy cannot lodge a disc in his throat; a single hot dog should stretch across…
Herring itself is a nourishing fish for dogs, but the pickled kind in the buffet jar is the wrong version to share. Pickling brine loads the fish with salt and vinegar, and many jars add onion, sugar and spices — a combination his stomach and kidneys do not need — so one small rinsed piece, patted dry, is the limit at…
Plain hazelnuts are not among the nuts that poison dogs, but whole hazelnuts cracked at the holiday table are a poor treat. A whole round nut is a choking hazard — especially for a small dog who gulps — and the shells are sharp-edged and indigestible, so the cracking bowl and the shell pile belong well out of reach.…
Yes — ripe guava flesh is a fruit most dogs can share in small pieces, but fruit dropping into your garden needs a moment's care first. Pick up fallen guavas before he does, wash the ones you intend to share, and serve the soft flesh with the rind and the hard seeds removed, since windfalls may be bruised, fermenting…
Yes — goat milk sold for dogs in the pet aisle is fine for most dogs as an occasional drink or food topper, poured in a modest splash rather than a full bowl. Choose a plain product with nothing sweetened or flavoured added, serve it fresh over his kibble, and refrigerate the opened carton, using it within the days…
Yes — spoonfuls of dragon fruit flesh are a safe, hydrating taste for most dogs, scooped at the stall. Scoop only the soft white or pink flesh, leave the leathery skin behind entirely, and do not worry about the tiny black seeds, which pass through harmlessly in these small amounts. Keep the share to a few spoonfuls…
A pitted date, chopped small, is a sweet bite most dogs can have — but the pantry raid matters more than the sharing. Dates are not toxic to dogs the way grapes and raisins are, yet they are concentrated sugar and fibre, so one chopped date is a treat while a tin's worth can mean an upset stomach and a hyper evening.…
Yes — a small smear of plain cream cheese is a workable way to hide an evening tablet, as long as the cheese stays a smear and not a spoonful. Press the tablet into a pea-sized coating, roll it into a ball he can take in one gulp, and watch until you see him swallow rather than chew around it and drop the tablet.…
Yes — plain cooked crab meat, carefully picked free of shell, is fine for most dogs as a small occasional share of a seaside meal. Offer a few flakes of white meat, with no butter, garlic, spices or seafood sauce anywhere near his portion, and keep every shard of shell for the bin rather than the bowl. Start with a…
Yes — a spoonful of plain cottage cheese makes a sensible topper on his evening kibble for most healthy adult dogs. Choose an unflavoured tub, stir one spoonful through the kibble rather than heaping it on top, and start with half that amount for the first few evenings so you can watch his stool and appetite before…
Yes, plain baked cod is one of the gentlest fish you can share: cook it through with no butter, oil, batter, or seasoning, then flake it carefully and check every piece with your fingers for bones before it goes in his bowl. A small handful of flakes as a topper or treat suits most dogs, and its mildness is why cod…
Yes, a few laps of plain, unsweetened coconut water after a hot walk is fine for most dogs, as long as plain fresh water remains his main drink and is offered first. Check the carton for added sugar or flavourings, serve a small amount for his size rather than a bowlful, and remember coconut water is naturally fairly…
The odd stolen cat treat will not poison him — cat treats are made from safe ingredients — but they are formulated for cats, richer in protein and fat than dog treats, and never intended as a dog's regular reward. A whole pouch eaten at once is the real risk, since the likely result is vomiting or diarrhoea from a dog…
A single knob of butter licked at a picnic is unlikely to cause a healthy dog lasting harm — butter is not toxic — but it is almost pure fat, so the likely price is a greasy upset stomach or loose stools later. There is no portion to prepare, because butter should not become an offered food at all; just move the dish…
Yes, plain cooked bison mince suits a novel protein trial well, precisely because most dogs have never eaten bison, so it is a protein their immune system has not met before. Cook it thoroughly with no oil, seasoning, onion, or garlic, drain the cooking juices, and introduce it gradually over several days so a rich…
A spoonful of plain meat-and-vegetable baby food is generally safe as a short-term teaser, but only after you read the jar: it must contain no onion or garlic, since both are harmful to dogs and hide in many savoury baby recipes. Warm the spoonful slightly and stir it through his normal food rather than serving it…
Yes, a small piece of plain cooked artichoke heart is a safe, fibre-rich bite for most dogs, as long as it comes to him without the platter's marinades, oils, garlic, or dips. Cut the soft heart into small pieces rather than offering leaves or stem, because the tough, fibrous outer parts are hard to digest and the…
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