Feeding our dog some of what’s on our plate is unavoidable. But even if we think giving them just one bite (or two) won’t hurt, it’s a practice best avoided. In fact, it can even harm them in the long run.

Your dogs can’t choose and regulate their food. So it’s up to you to give them the right kind of food in the amount appropriate for their life stage.

Here are some reasons dog food is better for your dog’s health overall.

1 – Dog Food Has No Toxic Ingredients

Some of our food may contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs. Onion, garlic, raisins, grapes, chocolates, almonds, macadamia nuts, and artificial sweeteners are some examples of ingredients that are harmless to humans but are dangerous to your dog’s health.

You can be sure that good-quality dog food products will not include ingredients that are bad for your dogs.

2 – Dog Food Isn’t a Choking Hazard

We always think of bones as a dog’s favorite treat. But did you know some bones can be dangerous for your dog? They can cause choking or intestinal tearing — even when they’re cooked.

Many dog owners have had to make an emergency trip to the vet because their pet choked on a bone that got lodged in their throat or palate. Keep your dog away from such incidents and save yourself from worry (and unnecessary medical expenses) by sticking to dog food.

3 – Dog Food Won’t Make Your Dog Fat

Human food can be loaded with too much calories. One common health problem dogs have is being overweight or obese.

Dogs who are overweight tend to develop more serious health concerns such as mobility issues, breathing difficulty, heart disease, liver problems, and joint and bone problems.

Keeping them on a diet of dog food can help avoid these health issues in the future.

4 – Dog Food Promotes Good Health

Dog food products are formulated to meet a dog’s nutritional needs. They are made especially for your dog’s physical needs and their particular life stage.

Dog food not only fills your dog’s stomach, but it is also their health supplement. This is why picking a dog food tailored to their specific life stage is essential.

If your dog is a nursing mother, a puppy, or a senior dog, pick a dog food product that will give them the nourishment they need. There are even dog food products made for certain dog breeds.

Table food cannot meet these specialized nutritional needs.

5 – Dog Food Won’t Make Them Picky Eaters

If your dog gets used to eating flavorful food, they’ll start to develop an exclusive taste for delicious human food.

If tossing bacon, leftover steak, or burgers becomes a habit, it’ll be difficult for your dogs to go back to the dog food diet that’s meant for them. Eventually, this will lead to poor health.

6 – Dog Food Doesn’t Encourage Bad Habits

If your pets are used to you tossing them food when you eat, they’ll start demanding for food whenever they see you eat. They might even get used to eating at the dining table. You might say this isn’t a problem. After all, dogs are family.

But this also means when there are guests present, you won’t be able to keep them away from the table. They might also refuse to eat in their food bowl.

Correcting bad habits is difficult. So it would be best if they don’t start developing those bad habits at all.