There are plenty of examples of human foods that are unsafe for dogs to eat, but how about the other way around? Can humans eat dog food? Or are there ingredients in your dog’s bowl that would lead to health problems?
Aside from the fact that your doggo probably doesn’t want to share their meals with you (especially not their high quality lightly-cooked meals), the question of whether you can is a bit more complicated. It all depends on the type of food you give your dog, how it’s been stored, and, well, why you’re choosing to chow down on your dog’s chow in the first place.
In this article, we’ll answer all the questions you never knew you had about whether humans can swipe a few bites of their dog’s food (and why you probably shouldn’t make it a regular habit).
Is dog food fit for human consumption?
If you look at a generic bag of kibble, you’ll likely see a warning label that the food is unfit for human consumption. And, there are a few reasons for that.
For one thing, all dog foods on the market are intended for—you guessed it—dogs! And as it turns out, our four-legged friends have significantly different nutritional needs than we do. Canines, for example, are able to synthesise vitamin C in the liver, so there’s no need to add it to their food. Humans aren’t able to produce our own vitamin C, so we rely on plants in our diet to synthesise it for us. If you switch to an all-dog food diet, then, you could put yourself at risk for a vitamin C deficiency.
Vitamin A is another example. This vitamin is often found in large quantities in dog food, as a result of the use of organ meats. And, as we’ve covered in our article, Benefits of Offal for Dogs, an abundance of this vitamin is brilliant for a dog’s health and stamina. But when it comes to human nutrition? Too much vitamin A can pose some problems.
These are just two examples of how dog food caters to your pup’s nutritional needs in ways that could be unhealthy for humans. Even more broadly, you’ll find that the different breakdowns of carbs, protein, fibre and more are simply not suitable for humans. You’re much better off finding a healthy diet plan designed for you, not your dog.
Can humans eat dog food that is human grade?
How about the dog foods that have the “human grade” label on them, like, for example, Lyka? These pre-portioned meals are full of whole ingredients that you can recognise by sight, gently cooked to maximise their nutritional qualities and taste. It’s understandable that you might look at your dog’s bowl and think, “that doesn’t look so different from a meal I would prepare for myself!”
So does the “human grade” label mean that dog foods like this take into consideration human nutritional needs? We can see how that would be confusing, but no! The human grade label doesn’t refer to the nutritional breakdown of the food, but rather the quality of processing and handling that goes into the ingredients.
The reason why a human grade label is so useful is that historically, pet food hasn’t had to pass the same rigorous quality testing as the food intended for humans. This has meant that our beloved dogs and cats have been eating food that may be at a higher risk for food contamination or spoilage. In contrast, when you stick with “human grade” foods, you can be sure that your pets are getting high quality ingredients.
Human nutrition aside, though, this human grade label is actually pretty important when asking, “Can humans eat dog food?” Because, although it doesn’t mean that human grade dog food is a good alternative to your normal diet, it does mean that the food is at least safe to eat temporarily. If you are set on trying a taste-test of your dog’s food, making sure that it’s human grade wil mean that the ingredients aren’t too far off from what you’re used to.
Can humans eat dog food in an emergency?
We’ve established that it’s not a sound nutritional plan to swap out your regular meals with a bowl of dog food, no matter how healthy or all-natural that dog food may be for your furry friend. But, what if you’re in a unique situation in which there’s no alternative, such as an emergency?
As long as it’s been properly stored, you should be able to eat a meal of dog food without any major health risks or long term outcomes. Certainly, you would never want to eat a non-kibble or opened can of wet dog food that hasn’t been properly refrigerated. The risk of contracting a food-borne pathogen is simply too high.
That’s not to say that kibble will always be a safe option, either. Dry dog foods can also spoil, and you should never attempt to eat kibble that has expired, been exposed to heat, or developed mould or a rancid odour. Your dog should avoid this kind of spoiled dog food, as well.
All in all, can humans eat dog food? Yes, but it’s in your best interest not to
Unless you’re facing a really drastic circumstance, most health professionals would say leave the dog food alone! Dog food is formulated to fulfil your dog’s needs—not to mention taste buds—and you could be risking long term nutritional deficiencies by replacing your regular diet with dog food. Plus, even the human grade label doesn’t mean that a dog food is actually intended for humans, although a bowl of lightly cooked dog food does look quite similar to recipes you might make for yourself.
Really, the only time that you might consider eating dog food is if you’re really in a tight spot, or you’re simply curious about how your dog’s food tastes. Other than that, your pup would appreciate you keeping your hands off their delicious dog food!
