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If you have a pet dog and a baby living in the same house, you might have thought, “Can dogs eat baby food?”. After weaning off, when your baby shifts to solid food, have you noticed your dog innocently staring at the baby’s food?
Baby foods have a strong smell that makes your furry friend curious to munch on them, especially if it is meat-based. This behavior of dogs confused the owners about whether to give some of the leftovers to the pup or not. Let’s bring you out of this confusion.
Can dogs eat baby food? The answer is YES. Dogs can eat baby food but in small quantities only. One to two tablespoons of baby food and a dog’s normal diet are good enough. Excess amounts can put your pup in complications.
Can dogs eat baby food of all types?
The answer is No. Dogs cannot have all types of baby food. Only those foods that do not contain harmful or toxic ingredients are good for dogs. If your dog has a digestive issue or refuses to eat, you can offer bland baby food to the puppy as a short-term solution only.
Baby foods dogs cannot eat.
Bland baby food is considered an occasional good treat for dogs. Some baby foods have a few ingredients that are toxic for pups. Let’s uncover those ingredients;
- Garlic
Garlic is a member of the Allium family. Many baby foods have garlic. It contains disulfides and thiosulphates that are toxic for dogs. They break down the puppy’s red blood cells and cause anemia.
- Onion
Onion is another member of the Allium family. It contains N-propyl disulfide, which is a potential toxin for dogs. Like garlic, it also causes oxidative damage to the pup’s red blood cells, leading to anemia.
- Salt
Baby food does not contain spices except salt. In normal amounts, it does not harm your pet. Excess of it can upset the pup’s stomach.
- Sugary food
Sugary baby foods are also bad for dogs’ health. They make them hyperactive and nauseous. Such foods also make pups obese.
Therefore, we advise you to read the ingredients before serving the food to your furry friend.
Did you Know?
We have written many articles about what dogs can eat. But did you know about this one? Can Dogs Eat Popsicles?
When to give baby food to dogs?
When a dog has the stomach or other gastrointestinal problems, he raises his nose from the normal dog food. No matter how much he loves it, he still refuses to eat it. In such situations, baby food is ideal. It is soft and easy to digest.
Dogs do not take medications easily. You can mix them in the baby food and offer the food to your dog. In this way, your dog does not have to experience the unpleasant taste of the medicine.
If your dog refuses to eat new dog food, you can mix the baby food with the dry kibble to tempt the pup to eat it. It will make the new food more attractive. Apart from it, you can also serve it as an occasional treat to your dogs. It will make them happy.
The best baby foods for dogs
“Can dogs eat baby food?” is the first important question. The next equally important question is which baby food is best for dogs.
Experts recommend baby foods that have meat flavor or are vegetable based. Dogs are attracted more to meat-flavored food. It fulfills 18-25 % of their protein requirement.
Moreover, baby foods containing only a single flavor are preferred the most. It is because a mixture of different flavors contains additives that are not good for a dog’s gastrointestinal tract.
Here is a list of baby food flavors you can offer your pup.
- Beef
- Banana
- Sweet potato
- Pumpkin
- Lamb
- Turkey
- Chicken
Ensure the baby food does not exceed the recommended amounts (1-2 tablespoons at a time).
Can puppies eat baby food?
The answer is yes. Puppies can eat baby food but only in small amounts. They can digest baby food easily. Moreover, you can also feed them a small quantity of baby oatmeal when they are two to four weeks old.
If you notice any undesirable side effects of baby foods in your puppy, immediately stop serving the food.
Wrapping up
Can dogs eat baby food? The answer is YES. It is soft and easy to digest. If your dog is sick, you can mix the medication in it and serve it to your dog.
Likewise, you can also offer it as an occasional treat or a reward. Hence, in small quantities, it is completely safe for your dog unless it does not contain any toxic compound.
