Why Adding Human Food To Your Dog's Diet Is So Important

While you may think that it's alright to let your canine companions thrive on nothing but commercial dry food, and the occasional treat, the truth is that adding the sort of food items we eat has benefits that go beyond simply giving our furry friends extra variety in their diet. 

So What Sort of Benefits Are We Talking About?

Veterinary experts are now claiming that three out of every five dogs will develop some form of cancer. The good news is that you can have a huge effect on these odds by how you go about feeding your pets.

A study from 2005 discovered the following: Dogs who were given a diet of dry commercial food and leafy green vegetables were incredibly resilient to cancer development, reducing the chance of cancerous proliferation to a mere 10%. Only three vegetable servings a day were necessary to achieve that steep an effect.

Similarly, dogs whose diets of dry commercial food were augmented with yellow and orange vegetation in the same frequency exhibited a 70% reduction of cancer risks. While the results of the study are impressive, the sheer variety of green, yellow and orange vegetation means that you can greatly mix things up in your four-pawed pal's bowl.

Examples of Leafy Green Fruits and Vegetables: Broccoli, cabbages, collard greens, kale, lettuce, mustard, spinach and Swiss chard.

Examples of Yellow Fruits and Vegetables: Some varieties of beet, bell peppers, cantaloupe, cauliflower, lemon (just use the juice), mangoes, rutabagas and squash.

Examples of Orange Fruits and Vegetables: Apricots, carrots, papayas, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and yams.

So Should I just Stick to Adding 'Rabbit Food'?

While the addition of regular vegetables into your pal's diet makes for a wonderful dietary supplement, you should not feel like they are the only element of human food fit for such an animal. After all, dogs are descended from wolves.

While bones are a nice surprise for your doggy buddy, it's the marrow within those bones that is what dogs crave. Contrary to many cartoons' depictions of bones being strictly for dogs, bone marrow can be enjoyed by both two-legged and four-legged beings.

Additionally, giving marrow to your furry friend bypasses the risk of having a sharp bone fragment cut into his internals. After letting the marrow-exposed bones cook for 15 minutes at 400° Fahrenheit and seasoning them, you will have a delicious gelatinous substance that is rich in minerals, Vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids and alkylglycerols; the last of which directly affects the development of cancer-fighting white blood cells.

Meat is an excellent surprise for any canine companion. You just need to make sure that you cut away any fat or gristle before serving it.

What Are The Most Common Strains of Cancer in Dogs?

While the age and breed of a canine have some role in its chances of developing cancer, veterinarians have seen melanomas develop within:

• Lymph Nodes. These help regulate white blood cells and other things that keep the immune system in check.
• Skin. Skin cancer most often takes the form of tumors involving mast cells, which affect your pooch pal's resistance to allergens.
• Breast Tissue. This develops within either the mammary glands or in the form of a general sarcoma.