Feeding & diet

A sports-medicine vet's honest answer on whether it's ok to feed dogs table scraps, what actually goes wrong, and how to share food without derailing a dog's gut.

A load-based, weight-by-weight guide to feeding chicken and rice safely — how much, how long, and when the bland diet stops earning its keep.

The 10 percent rule caps treats at a tenth of daily calories — here's why that number holds up, and where a working dog's math changes.

A sports-medicine read on feeding dogs — how to set portions, choose a life-stage diet, manage treats, and adjust for training load, growth, and recovery.

A vet nutritionist's load-management approach to changing a dog's diet — how fast to transition, what the gut actually needs, and when a slow taper isn't enough.

A load-management approach to feeding a dog on the trail — what to pack, how to store it, and why gut stability matters more than novelty when your dog is working harder than usual.

A veterinary nutritionist's evidence-based guide to softening dry food for senior dogs, covering when it helps, how to do it safely, and what the digestive science actually says.

Cooked bones don't behave like raw bones in a dog's gut. Dr. Justin Shmalberg breaks down why heat changes bone structure, what that means for a working dog's GI tract, and what actually belongs in the bowl instead.

A board-certified veterinary neurologist's method for reintroducing foods after a canine elimination diet — timing, what counts as a reaction, and where gut health fits the recovery picture.

A sports-medicine read on whole-food dog toppers — what pumpkin, plain proteins, and fermented add-ins actually do for digestion and recovery, and what to skip.

Yes, dogs can eat apples in moderation — but seeds, cores, and sugar load change the math for an active dog. A neurologist-nutritionist breaks down the real tradeoffs.

Plain, air-popped popcorn is generally fine for dogs in small amounts, but butter, salt, and unpopped kernels turn it into a real risk. Here's the honest breakdown.

Yes, dogs can eat strawberries in modest, sliced portions — here's the evidence-bounded case for when they help a working dog's recovery plan and when they don't.

A neurologist's practical framework for setting your dog's daily food amount — using resting energy needs, body condition, and recovery load instead of guesswork.

A veterinary nutritionist explains how much to feed a puppy using body condition score and growth-rate control, not just the feeding chart on the bag.

A sports-medicine read on homemade dog food — the checklist, the calcium math, and where gut recovery fits into a bowl you build yourself.

A board-certified veterinary neurologist explains why the right time to move a puppy off puppy food is set by projected adult weight and growth-plate closure, not age alone.

Most dogs can eat plain, cooked store-bought mushrooms safely, but wild mushrooms are a true veterinary emergency. Here's how to tell the difference fast.

A board-certified veterinary neurologist explains why dogs can't eat onions in any form, the dose that matters, and how the damage plays out in red blood cells.

A veterinary nutritionist breaks down why dogs tolerate persin better than other species, why avocado's fat load is the real concern, and what to do if your dog eats some.

A board-certified veterinary nutritionist breaks down what banana actually offers an active dog, where the sugar and potassium math gets tricky, and the line worth holding at snack time.

Yes, dogs can eat blueberries in moderation. A veterinary nutritionist breaks down real serving sizes, the sugar and fiber tradeoffs, and what the exercise research actually shows.

A veterinary nutritionist breaks down why ham's sodium and fat load make it a poor regular choice for dogs, and what a safer occasional bite looks like.

A neurologist explains which part of the tomato plant actually carries risk for dogs, what tomatine poisoning looks like, and how to read a GI upset like a recovery event.

Plain turkey is a lean, workable protein for active dogs, but skin, bones, gravy, and alliums turn the same bird into a recovery-day risk. Here's how to sort the two.

Dogs can eat watermelon in careful amounts, but the rind and seeds carry real obstruction risk. A vet nutritionist breaks down portions, sugar load, and gut recovery for active dogs.

Yes, dogs can eat cooked, peeled, plain sweet potato in small amounts. A board-certified veterinary nutritionist on the fiber, vitamin A, portion sizes, and the grain-free heart-disease question.

A vet nutritionist's step-by-step plan for changing a senior dog's food gradually — the 7-to-10-day ramp, what to monitor, and when to call your vet.