Thursday, August 14, 2014

Pixel's Favorites - 10 Safe & SUPER Foods for Dogs

I love food! I love to eat it, and I love to wear it. I really celebrate a good meal, as does my Mommy, so we always enjoy a good meal together. We both have several smaller meals and a couple of snacks a day, equaling up to what we should have total in a day. Now, we've all heard that dog's shouldn't "eat off the table" or "eat off your plate". I am a refined young lady you know. So of course I don't grab food off of Mommy's plate and she does not give me any of her prepared foods.
There are a few reasons why it is not a good idea to feed your dog directly from your plate, no matter how cute we look as we give you a big smile and sad puppy eyes. Some foods have damaging high fat, high salt, or ingredients that dogs either can't process or are toxic to us, such as onions, raisins and certain spices. But just because we can't eat some human foods, does not mean that dogs can never have people food at all! In fact, lots of dogs have their daily meals made all out of human foods exclusively, such as my friend Susie-Belle from England, who was rescued from a terrible puppy mill and now lives the good life with her Mum & Dad (a chef).
Here is my top 10 favorite human foods (in no particular order) that are not only safe for dogs to eat, but are actually SUPER Foods that provide amazing nutrition that keeps us healthy, fights disease, provides building blocks to a long life and bring lots of yummy to our tummy.
Pixel Blue Eyes' Top 10 Safe SUPER Foods for Dogs
1. Green Beans - omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, C, K. Good source of calcium, copper, fiber, folic acid, iron, niacin, manganese, potassium, riboflavin and thiamin, beta carotene. Super low calorie, a virtual "free food"
2. Sweet Potatoes - great source of vitamins E, A, B-6 and C, as well as calcium, iron, folate, potassium, copper, thiamine and iron
3. Pumpkin - High fiber, essential fatty acids, promotes digestive & urinary health (Other squash such as butternut is good for us too!)
4. Beets - Excellent for dogs with liver issues, full of beta-carotene, fiber, iron, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, B and C
5. Oatmeal - Essential source of fiber, grain protein, stabilizes blood sugar, high magnesium, contains lignans which protect against heart disease & cancer, antioxidants, boosts immune system, protects against heart failure
6. Bananas - Lots of amino acids, electrolytes, minerals, vitamins B6 and C, potassium, fiber and manganese
7. Zucchini - Good source of calcium, potassium, beta-carotene, and folate. Zucchini is best fed raw or frozen but can also be served cooked
8. Blueberries - high levels of resveratrol, which helps fight against cancer and heart disease. Contains tannins which help prevent urinary tract infections similar to what cranberries do.
9. Watermelon - Lycopene, vitamin A, B-6, C, thiamin
10. Brussel Sprouts - (I know, freaky, right?) vitamins K and G, manganese, folate, fiber, potassium and vitamins A, B1 and B6
Mommy and I have done extensive research, gleaning information from expert resources including well known veterinarians, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and professional dog sites known for their scrupulous knowledge and information. Some of these foods are best cooked a certain way for optimum nutrition absorption, while others can be raw or  just lightly cooked.
Things to keep in mind as you go through my list of favorite human foods that are safe for dogs:
1. Not all dogs will like all foods. Just like people, dogs can have finicky tastes, though generally, we're happy with most any snack or food you give us. If you really want us to eat a certain "good for us" food...hide it in something else we like.
2. Some dogs have sensitive stomachs and are not able to digest the skins of things like raw or even cooked peas or blueberries. ...we've found that all natural and/or organic baby food versions of these fruits, vegetables and grains are FANTASTIC and in a perfect, easily digestible form for little dogs with sensitive stomachs. It's already pureed for you, so it makes for easy snacking and food preparation, depending on your needs, for your dog. Plus, if it's good enough to feed babies and toddlers, it is certainly good enough to feed your dog. Happy Baby Foods and Gerber are two of our favorite brands!
My basic meal at home is a foundation of fat free ground up chicken & a little white rice, then Mommy "mixes it up" for me with different fruits and veggies.

And everyday I get oatmeal in two of my meals. The moisture from the pureed fruits and veggies (sometimes additional water is added as needed) gives it a great consistency when mixed with the chicken!
My sisters, Peanut Pumpkin Pie and Dixie Mae Doxie, have fallen in LOVE with a new all natural fruit combo that is a mix of bananas, blueberries and beets. Talk about a powerhouse of healthy elements, vitamins and minerals!! Plus, it makes each of us look like we're wearing lipstick when a family member squeezes it out of the package and we lick it up with joy! See?

So, look in your cabinets, run to the store, visit your farmers market or dig in your garden and get YOUR pup some super foods to add to their daily diet. Trust me, if you weren't already their favorite (of course you are!) then you surely will be once you start adding these tasty bonus treats to their daily routine!
Healthy eating is never too late to start and always a good idea! If you'd like special instructions on cooking some of the veggies listed, or info on where Mommy orders some of the items we mentioned, leave a comment and we'll contact you!
Now....who wants a banana, blueberry Pixel kiss???

30 comments:

  1. What a wonderful and informative post, Pixel! Thanks for sharing. Delia likes blueberries, honey, green beans and bananas.

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  2. Excellent blog post! I periodically make my Yorkie boys pumpkin treats (pure pumpkin - no sugar - mixed with powdered milk and cream of wheat and then bake them as flat cookies) and sometimes they will eat green beans. I will have to try some of the others. My main problem is my dogs won't eat out of bowls or off a plate - they will only eat if the food is on the floor. My skittish Yorkie (Simon) jumps at all noises (no idea why - I did not know about Yorkies rescues in 2007 and bought him and his brother Joey from a small backyard breeder) so he's not been abused or lived in a scary shelter.
    And I still love your beautiful smile!
    Rhonda Backus Wash

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  3. Pixel they sure look great but peeps shrugs and lets out a big sigh as I won't oblige with any veggies or fruits. I am sadly a meat and biscuit dog. She has long given up trying. Hope you enjoy. Have a tremendous Thursday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  4. Great post! There are some foods on your list that we haven't tried yet but the green beans we just can't get used to! BOL! Great info, thanks for sharing!

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  5. I can't wait for Pixel to share the next installment of safe, fun and healthy people foods for pets. Great job!

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  6. Thanks for the list Pixel. I like the baby food idea too.Since I am still on my special eating plan I am always on the lookout for GOOD treats

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  7. We mix baby food in stuff for ice cream and some treats we make. We tend to get more fruits than veggies because I'm not a big fan of veggies. No matter, as long as you eat healthy.

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  8. This is great information, Pixel, thank you!! We have a garden full of green beans and our puppy Luke LOVES them....raw or cooked. We've started adding cooked ones to the dogs' kibble, and Sheba will eat them as well, though Cricket won't. I'd like to try making a homemade meal for the dogs occasionally and this gives me some good ideas of what to use.

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  9. Good friend Pixel!! It's Zoe the Therapy Dog. This is very good advice. I shared your blog post on my FB page. Love you, Pixel!

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  10. Great post on an even greater topic!

    Healthy snacking is so important in contributing to a strong immune system, ultimately adding years of happiness & health to our pups' lives!

    Our two pups Missy & Buzz get tasty fruit & veggie toppings on their daily meals, such as blueberries, pineapple, watermelon, banana, apple, & green beans. We also mix a little pumpkin puree in with a small amount of wet food, which we then mix up with their kibble...yumm yumm!

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  11. People are sometimes unaware that heart conditions can occur in dogs too. Your dog has such an animated face.

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  12. Though it can appear easy to provide your dog the same food you eat, you should never give them all types of human food. On occasion, giving human food can be safe, but more often than not, they are toxic to dogs.

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  13. thank for share! great

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  14. There was a recent report on the news about xylitol, the active agent in TicTacs, nearly killing a dog that had sneaked the candy from her master's purse. It seems that xylitol, is toxic to dogs. What other dangerous foods for dogs are out there? Here is at least a partial list of foods dogs should not eat. It may save your pet's life. ceramic nonstick cookware reviews

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  15. High protein dog food is beneficial for tender dogs that needs energy during the growing age. It helps to keep the pets fit and active.

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  16. This effective real estate agent with TicTacs, just about eradicating a puppy of which received sneaked this sugary snacks by the woman master's wallet. Any difficulty . xylitol, is usually deadly to help pets. The alternative risky ingredients intended for pets usually are in existence? Suggestions at the very least some sort of partially directory ingredients pets should never try to eat.

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  17. thanks a lot to the autor for this post))

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  18. There are still too many pet owners who are under the impression they can feed their dog anything. Their dogs subsist on leftovers and scraps. These are pet owners who actually love their dogs and believe what they are doing is normal. Many of these dogs end up with a variety of diseases because they are not eating a balanced diet suitable for dogs. Nutrient Value of Foods

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  19. It's my great honor to be on your blog,I benefit a lot from reading your blog..funny dog

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  20. That's nice ! I'm loving read this because it provide the best information , it's kind of best tip ,
    really appreciate thanks for sharing the value information !!!!!

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  21. I need to do this for my dog too. Great share.

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  22. I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work for you in the future as well
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  23. Numerous individuals don't have the foggiest idea about that nourishments we eat all the time could be lethal sustenances for dogs. This article will name basic dangerous sustenances for dogs and why they are harmful. It will enable you to be better educated whenever you choose to hurl a "treat" to your dog. A portion of the sustenances may astound you since they are so sound for us.

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I'd love to know what you think friends. Leave me a note & I'll send you a pumpkin kiss!