Curry, cheese & custard creams - data reveals curious (and risky) food ideas for the UK’s dogs

Written by Hayley Hoggarth

As a nation, the way we treat our dogs is becoming more akin to how we treat the rest of our family, with owners treating them to holidays, outfits and the food we eat.

We are even searching more for dog birthdays than gender reveals or baby showers and social media is helping to play a big part in some of the food that owners are preparing for their pups.

But the question is, what can or can’t dogs eat? Owners are flocking to Google to ask about everything from cheese to custard creams.

In the following article, we have analysed these questions and additional search data to find out what the nation is asking and called on the experts to clear things up.

Search data: the results

Every month, tens of thousands of people across the UK search for information about what they can and can’t feed their dogs – with the table below giving a view of some recent queries:

Additional data from AlsoAsked reveals exactly what foods people are questioning, with some slightly peculiar foods making the list of what dog owners want to feed their pups!

The most searched-for foods include “Can dogs eat bananas?” with 17k monthly searches, “Can dogs eat pasta?” with 5.4k searches, “Can dogs eat tuna?” with 4.7k searches and “Can dogs have sweetcorn?” with 3.1k searches. 

But some of the more interesting searches reveal just how much dog owners want their furry friends to be as involved as possible, with questions such as “Can dogs eat curry?” or “Can I give my dog birthday cake?” indicating that dogs meals are far from the ordinary kibble.

Here is a round-up of some more popular questions, categorised by food groups:

Protein 

• Can dogs eat bacon?
• How to make a dog Christmas dinner?
• Is BBQ food good for dogs?
• Can dogs eat curry?
• Are sausages harmful to dogs?
• Can dogs eat canned sardines?
• Can dogs eat canned salmon?

Dairy

• Is milk bad for dogs?
• Can dogs have butter? 
• Is cheese okay for dogs?
• Can dogs have yoghurt? 

Vegetables/fruit

• Can dogs eat raw carrots?
• Are apples good for dogs?
• Can my dog eat broccoli?
• Can dogs eat bananas?
• Is strawberry good for dogs?
• Can dogs have sweetcorn? 

Carbohydrates 

• Can dogs eat pasta?
• Can I give my dog birthday cake?
• Are custard creams good for dogs?
• Can dogs eat Belvita bars?
• Is bread bad for dogs?
• Can dogs have toast?
• Is pasta or rice better for dogs?
• Can dogs eat Weetabix? 
• Are oats good for dogs?
• Can dogs eat roast potatoes? 

So, what can dogs have?

Some foods can be extremely toxic to dogs and should be avoided completely, while others can be eaten in moderation. 

When deciding on creating a meal for your dog, it is important to ensure it’s a healthy diet suitable for its needs. Ronan Fitzgerald, Veterinary Technical Advisor for Protexin Pet advises the following tips:

“Make sure you’re using the right ingredients – a diet packed with things your dog or cat likes to eat doesn’t mean it is nutritious or meets all your pet’s needs. Bear in mind that, if your dog or cat has a particular illness or condition that changes their nutritional requirements, it can be much harder to meet if preparing a diet at home.

“You must also make sure their diet is properly balanced – if their diet is heavily meat and fat-based, there’s a risk that your dog or cat could end up lacking the fibre they need, as well as being deficient in essential minerals and vitamins, which could lead to medical problems such as pancreatitis.”

Foods dogs CAN’T eat

Other foods that are not toxic to dogs, but should only be eaten in small doses include dairy products such as cheese, fatty cuts of meat such as ham or chicken skin, salt and sugary foods and drinks.

Foods dogs CAN eat

Avoiding the pips, the flesh of these fruits is just fine for dogs.

Blueberries and blackberries

Blueberries specifically have antioxidants, fibre and phytochemicals and vitamin C which are great for dogs.

Whilst there is a fairly lengthy list of foods dogs cannot eat, there are plenty they still can, which means you can create some truly tasty and inventive bowls of food. 

Recipe inspiration

With owners keen to feed their dogs the same meals they are having, we thought we’d collate some recipes for things such as dog-friendly curries, pup birthday cakes and advice on what to give your dog at the summer family BBQ.

A ‘paw-some’ birthday cake

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• ⅓ cup honey (Optional)
• ¼ cup peanut butter
• ¼ cup cooking oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1 cup whole wheat or white flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Method:

• Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees. Grease a 6-cup ring mould or fluted tube pan. 
• Combine egg, honey, peanut butter, oil, and vanilla in a large bowl; blend well. 
• Stir in carrots until well combined. 
• Sift together flour and baking soda and fold into carrot mixture.
• Spoon cake batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean, about 40 minutes.

Lady and the Tramp-style meatballs and pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 serving of whole-wheat spaghetti
• 16oz lean beef
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs - unseasoned and unsalted
• 5-6 fresh cherry tomatoes (not canned)
• ¼ cup organic, low or no-sodium beef broth 
• 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese

Method:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the pasta to cook.
• In a small bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, and panko. Mix well to combine, then roll into bite-sized meatballs.
• Air fry the meatballs for 5-8 minutes until cooked through. Alternatively, bake in the oven at 200 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until cooked through. Cool to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, use a food processor or hand blender to blend the tomatoes and beef broth to make a "sauce" for the pasta.
• Drain the pasta and place it into a large bowl with a few ice cubes. Pour the "sauce" over the pasta and stir in the Parmesan cheese. Toss gently to combine and continue to stir until the pasta is no longer steaming hot.
• Add the meatballs to the bowl with the spaghetti and toss well to combine. Use a knife to cut the spaghetti into bite-sized pieces. 

Dog-friendly curry night

Ingredients:

• 1 small carrot
• 2 tbsp Greek yoghurt
• 80g red pepper
• 1.5 tsp turmeric
• 200g pork

Method:

•  Place red pepper and carrot in a blender or food processor.
• Add Greek yoghurt and turmeric powder to the blended mixture, and blend once more.
• Place the small pieces of pork in a very hot, non-stick pot for a good sear (be sure not to use oil).
• Stir the pork around for 2 minutes,
• Add the curry sauce to the pot, bring to a boil, then cover the pot and simmer for 15 minutes until the pork is tender and the sauce is well cooked through.

BBQs, roast dinners and more

The important thing to remember when cooking your dog a meal inspired by human food is to check that they can have the ingredients you are planning to use.

For example, a roast dinner is a perfectly acceptable meal to feed your dog so long as you follow some different steps; don’t cook the potatoes in oil (mashed or boiled is best), don’t include broccoli as it can be harmful, avoid adding any extra salt (best to avoid gravy for this reason) and no bones or seasoning.

BBQs are also absolutely fine, with dogs being able to eat most foods, but just be careful to remove any seasoning for your pup, any oil and don’t give them cooked bones. 

FAQs

Can dogs eat human food every day?

The most important thing is to make sure you are giving your dog all the nutrients they need. The RSPCA states that most human food isn’t ideal as it doesn’t contain the nutrients that dogs need, but Purina notes that homemade meals can aid the management of food intolerances as you can do elimination-style diets. 

PDSA also advises that human food should be given as treats, with safe fruit and vegetables or meat as a good option. So if you are planning that summer BBQ, a cheeky burger (no oil) in a plain bun will be fine, but ensure they have had a nutritious bowl of wet/dry food as well.

What is the unhealthiest dog food?

The most unhealthy foods for dogs are the ones that are toxic to them, for obvious reasons, but it is also advised to stay away from many of the foods also unhealthy to humans such as fatty foods, sugary or salty foods and anything processed.

How many times a day should a dog eat?

The RSPCA advises that dogs should only be fed once a day unless your vet recommends otherwise. Further guidance from Dog’s Trust says that how much you feed your dog will depend on their metabolism and activity levels, and to check the food packet for how much to give.

Always check with your vet

In summary, there are good and bad foods you could be giving your dog as a treat so it is always advised to check with your vet before considering preparing your dog a meal to ensure they are getting the correct nutrients they need.

If you’re looking to spoil your dog in other ways than with a share of your dinner, take a look at our range of luxury harnesses, leads and collars to find their next favourite.