Your pooch looks at you with such pleading eyes, there, sitting by the edge of the chair. How not to give in to him by letting him nibble that little piece of chicken on your plate? He is so cute with his mischievous and irresistible gaze.
Now, with that being said, a dog’s saliva is full of bacteria of all kinds. Therefore, this type of behaviour is best to be avoided. Above all, you should absolutely not eat after your dog or your cat on the same plate. If the plate goes directly into the dishwasher afterwards, it is much better.
So, you might be wondering if you should let your dog lick your plate? Certainly many dog owners share their table scraps with their pooch, but one vet has warned of the possible health dangers of sharing food with your dog directly from your plate.
What are the dangers of letting your dog lick your plate?
Wren Kitchens found in their research that one in six of households in the UK let their dogs lick their plates. For many, it may seem like a harmless treat and a pleasing moment for dogs, but it would be advisable to separate dog and human dishes at all times.
The two main dangers are:
- Hidden bacteria such as salmonella. Dogs can harbour bacteria and salmonella is one of them, especially if your pooch eats raw meat. This bacteria cannot be destroyed by the dishwasher.
- Some foods are poisonous to dogs. There are actually a lot of foods which are poisonous to dogs, such as chocolate, grapes, onions, garlic, among others. If your dog unfortunately ingests a hidden hazard in food, it could result in an emergency visit at the vet.
Just finished your dinner and you want to treat your dog to something tasty? Think of putting your leftovers in your dog’s bowl.
