Do dogs who eat fresh food live longer

Do Dogs Live Longer On Human Food? What You Need To Know

You may be wondering why some dogs live longer when they eat only human or homemade food. But the truth is that the lifespan of your dog is affected by not one, but many factors including genetic and environmental factors. You cannot solely say that the dog lived long due to human food when you have no idea whether they could have lived even longer with dog food only.

So far, it has not been proven as to whether dogs live longer or healthier if fed only human food or switch to one. But unlike dog food, your doggo may be missing out on some essential nutrients and there is also a higher risk of toxicity.

Human foods are not necessarily a no-no for dogs. In fact, in certain health conditions, vets usually recommend a break from dry kibble and a transition to human food for a given period of time.

Hence, its somewhat impulsive to state that dogs should forgo all human food entirely. However, most recipes or books for homemade dog foods are nutritionally inadequate. Its always good to consult your vet if youre planning to switch your dog to human or homemade diets.

While nutrition has a significant impact on your dogs lifespan, you cannot neglect practices like daily exercise and mental stimulation, dental care, proper training to curb dietary indiscretion, regular examination, and vet checkups. In essence, proper care is key to helping your dog live a long, healthy, and happy life.

Is Human Food Safe For Your Dog?

Your canines body digests and metabolizes food in a way different from a humans. Hence, not every food healthy for humans is a great option for our furry companions.

A lot of human food is completely dog-safe and packed with important nutrients beneficial to your pooch but on the contrary, some human food can be potentially toxic or even deadly. Its wise to always take moderation into account when feeding your dog any human food or treats. Also, dogs that consume high-fat human food are prone to obesity.

A bunch of healthy, safe and nutritious human food for your includes: chicken, turkey, carrots, popcorn, apple without the core, peanut butter, yogurt, banana, blueberries, white rice, honey, and boneless fish. Food allergies and intolerances are common problems with meat-based and dairy products but generally, these diets are healthy for dogs.

Some human food harmful for your dog includes, but is not limited to onions, garlic, chocolate, grapes, raisins, almonds, caffeine, alcohol, yeast, salt, xylitol, apple core, fatty meat, avocado, coconut, and coconut oil.

While some human foods are safe for dogs the best way to prevent nutrition inadequacy is by opting for high-quality dog food. Dogs are different from humans and even their wolf ancestors, hence, dry kibble was produced to ensure that they get all essential nutrients in a balanced proportion.

Should You Feed Your Dog Only Human Food?

Human food can mean anything from homemade food, table scraps, fruits, veggies, treats, and more. Just be careful what human food is being discussed because not all are safe.

If you decide to go for homemade human food, make sure the nutrition is balanced and complete. Thats basically the hassle youll avoid if you simply get high-quality commercial dog food. You can supplement your dogs food with vitamin-rich vegetables and healthy treats. But always keep moderation in mind.

While homemade human food can be less convenient, time-consuming, nutritionally imbalanced, or even more expensive, theres no fear that the food might contain low-quality ingredients or harmful artificial preservatives. With human food, you can regulate the amount of each ingredient and youll often have a variety-rich diet.

Pay attention to the fruits or treats you give your dogs. Only feed them dog-safe treats and ensure the food you give them doesnt pose any health risks to your pooch. Remember, that a particular food is safe for humans doesnt mean it is safe for your Fido.

The word human food can also mean table scraps or leftovers. If thats the case then its not advisable to feed them to your dog. From high fat and sodium contents to the presence of toxic ingredients, these foods can be unsafe for your furry counterparts and should be kept away from them.

Both homemade human food and commercially produced dog food hold special benefits for your canine friend. No one is superior to the other. They both have their pros and cons. You can go wrong either way but its about what suits you and your pooch. You can also speak to your vet if you are quite unsure.

Also Read: My Dog Ate Guacamole: What Should I Do Now?

What Happens If Your Dog Eats Only Human Food?

Dogs can thrive on just homemade human food provided it is nutritional balanced. The same applies to wet and dry dog food, hence, ensure you do a proper quality check to prevent nutritional deficiencies and other health problems.

Talk to your vet before switching to homemade dog food. If you have already switched to homemade food, or usually share your food with your pooch, make sure you keep an eye on him in case any health issue arises.

These health issues can stem from nutritional imbalance or toxicity of some human foods and they are usually accompanied by symptoms like vomiting, gassiness, loss of appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, abnormal urination, behavioral changes, obesity, or weight loss.

What To Do If Your Dog Eats Only Human Food

Are you worried that your dog only eats human food? Its common that after feeding your dog tasty human food hell tend to choose it over dog food. Here are possible ways to get your dog to start eating and liking his kibble once again.

When your dog begs for it or refuses to eat dog food, resist the impulse to give him human food. You can teach your dog to eat only what you put in front of them, to prevent them from wandering around your table or staring at your plate to get your attention. While you may mix their kibble with healthy human food, dont offer them treats in between meals.

Dogs can detect an unpleasant flavor or taste in food. As a result, check to confirm that your dogs kibble isnt rancid, expired, or of poor quality. Also, check to see if he has any food allergies.

Establish and keep to a regular feeding schedule for your dog. Your dog will cherish his kibble more if he knows he only has 15 minutes until it is taken away. Feeding routines will not only assist to improve your dogs eating habits, but they will also aid to fix his potty times.

If your dog is already infatuated with the thought of eating human food, try adding minced chicken veggies, probiotics, or chicken broth to his food to make it more appealing. In successive meals, you can progressively reduce the size of these human foods.

If youre concerned about your dogs eating habits or notice more serious health issues, you may need to visit the veterinarian. Keep an eye out for symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, dental problems, lethargy, or pain.

Other Ways To Increase Your Dogs Lifespan

As mentioned earlier, proper nutrition is essential for a longer lifespan in dogs but there are other ways to improve your dogs health, longevity, and well-being.

• Make sure you feed your dog a calibrated amount of food appropriate to their age, size, breed, health conditions, and activity level. Never overfeed or underfeed your canine friend.
• Pay attention to your dogs dental health. Besides regular brushing, always check for bad breath, bleeding or swollen gums, or even broken teeth.
• Physical and mental stimulation is important and holds special health benefits for your four-legged companion.
• Prevent dietary indiscretion in your pooch by proper training, supervision, and keeping leftovers and trash cans out of your dogs reach.
• Feed your dogs various supplements to help improve their health and prevent potential health issues. Examples of these supplements include probiotics, joint supplements, antioxidants, glucosamine, and multivitamins.

Also Read: Help! My Dog Poop Starts Solid Then Runny. What Should I Do?

Can Dogs Live Off Human Food?

Dogs will likely not get all essential nutrients with human food, hence, they may not thrive on human food. Dogs can survive with only human food but this doesnt make it the healthiest choice.

Millions of dogs have lived on human food but the likelihood of being poisoned by human food is high especially if you dont do proper research before feeding. On that note, your pooch will be better off with dry or wet dog food.

The fact that you are feeding your pooch some food from your table and theyre fine doesnt mean its right. Sometimes, the toxic effects of these foods may build up causing more serious issues. Many foods are also rich in fat and oil which cause obesity and heart-related problems in dogs.

Final Thoughts: Can Dogs Live Longer On Human Food.

The belief that human food can confer longevity on dogs is not scientifically backed up. The emphasis is more on feeding your dog a nutritionally adequate and complete diet. But because human food does always tick these boxes, youll be better off with high-quality dry or wet dog food.

Beware, its very easy to create a picky eater if you feed pooch varieties of human food. They may end up having a predilection for only certain food and leave others out. Never feed your dog food from your plate neither should they eat leftovers or table scraps.

In essence, your furry companion doesnt always know whats right for them so its your duty to choose the best food for them and your pooch will be ever thankful!

You might be interested in Dog Eats Only Human Food (5 Common Reasons & What To Do)

Thanks for stopping by, dog fanciers!

Study Shows Raw Feeding Extends Dog Longevity: Lets Talk About It

Today, we are thrilled to have a guest blogger, James Woller, owner ofRelease the HoundsandJet Pet Resort, write an article for us that further supports the reason why not to feed kibble but to go raw instead.

As per our company's mission statement, we are dedicated in educating pet parents the benefits of raw feeding, which ultimately contributes to your pets' well-being and longevity, so without further ado...

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Study Shows Raw Feeding Extends Dog Longevity: Lets Talk About It

There is no doubt that humans' eating behaviors have dramatically changed in the past century. The past 100 years have seen humans largely move away from farming and rural environments towards suburban areas, consuming enormous amounts of convenience foods: some of which would be unrecognizable to our ancestors just two or three generations back.

This same time period has seen a dramatic increase in the domestication of dogs, and the change in our eating habits has unavoidably caused a change in the way we feed our pets. But as we are now learning, dogs are no better equipped to handle cooked, processed foods than humans are. This new unnatural diet is causing dramatic negative repercussions for dogs' health, wellness, and even their lifespan.

Not only does a diet of processed food see dogs presenting with human-style health ailments like diabetes, cancer, and obesity, causing worried pet owners to search for tips to help your dog lose weight, studies have shown that switching to a raw food diet can measurably increase a dog's lifespan.

What Are Dogs Built To Eat?

Dogs existed and thrived in the wild for hundreds of years before becoming domesticated by humans. Descended from the wolf, dogs are clearly carnivores, with their internal physiology, gut layout, and teeth structure providing unavoidable and unambiguous evidence of this fact.

Historically surviving primarily off live prey, wild dogs could survive many days between feeds, with their internal physiology facilitating the consumption of a large amount of protein in a very short period of time. A dog's digestive system is simply not created to facilitate the slow digestion required when consuming carbohydrates, including grains and plant food: nor do dogs have the molar teeth required to adequately grind plants and complex carbohydrates.

Surviving, Not Thriving

That being the case, it seems baffling that the majority of commercial dry kibble is primarily made up of plant-based carbohydrates, with a very small quantity of low-quality protein. Historically, commercial dry kibble was largely carbohydrate-based during times of meat shortages, however, there is no need for this trend to have continued to the present day.

It's true that dogs are, for the most part, able to survive on a diet of commercially produced kibble. Or are they? Scientific studies are now starting to reveal what many have suspected for some time: that commercial kibble is causing a host of diseases and illnesses for dogs, while measurably decreasing their lifespan.

While a dog can technically survive on a diet of dry kibble, it can hardly be said that they are thriving.

When Raw Is On The Menu

A scientific and statistical study by Belgian researchers Bruno Sapy and Dr. Gerard Lippert looked at more than 500 dogs over a five-year period and conclusively proved that diet is one of the greatest factors that can affect a dog's lifespan. Further, while a dog's size and breed will inevitably affect their lifespan, these are obviously factors that are outside the control of a dog's owner. Family configuration and housing were also considered in the researchers' report, "Relation between the domestic dog's well-being and life expectancy," but were found to have no impact on a dog's life expectancy. That left sterilization and food as the only factors under the control of humans that have a measurable impact on a dog's life span.

Sterilization was shown to add as much as 15 months to a dog's natural life expectancy by reducing the chances of the dog suffering from cancer or other illness of the reproductive system.

It was a raw food diet, however, that had the greatest impact on life expectancy, adding as much as 32 months almost 3 years to a dog's life. Indeed, the statistical study showed that dogs fed with industrially processed food live an average of 10.4 years, while dogs fed with home-made food can reach an average age of 13.1 years.

Increased lifespan is just one advantage of feeding your dog a raw food diet. Let's look into the background and benefits of raw food for dogs:

• Natural weight control
• Fewer dental problems following cleaner teeth and fresh breath
• Improved mobility in later life
• Reduced chance of developing allergies
• Improved stamina and energy
• Potential savings, especially when you consider visits to the vet and the cost of the food itself. For more information, see raw vs dry commercialized kibble: cost per daily feed.

It can seem a cruel twist that dogs with whom we share our homes, our families, and our lives have a maximum lifespan that pales in comparison to our own. As a dog owner that loves your pet and wants the best for them, it makes sense that you would do everything you can to not only prolong your dog's life, but ensure they enjoy health and happiness during their limited years.

As we now understand, the type and quality of a dog's diet are directly related to their lifespan. Learning that feeding a raw food diet can increase your dog's lifespan by as much as three years potentially a quarter of your dog's natural lifespan should be incentive enough to consider making the switch to raw.

About The Author:

James Woller is a long-time dog enthusiast, and owner of Release the Hounds and Jet Pet Resort, professional dog walking and boarding companies in Vancouver, Canada. On his days off from running his companies, he enjoys learning and writing about topics that are of interest to caring pet owners.