WHAT VEGETABLES CAN DOGS EAT?

We know vegetables are super healthy. They contain antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. People consider vegetables to be essential to our good health. Many people want their dogs to have these health benefits too, so they include vegetables in their dog's diet. But are vegetables good for dogs, and if so what vegetables can dogs eat? 

My dog loves carrots!

ARE VEGETABLES GOOD FOR DOGS?

According to the AKC (American Kennel Club) Wolves, the ancestors of all dogs, were Carnivores (meat eaters). But as dogs became domesticated their digestion and metabolism developed into domestic dogs being classified more as Omnivores, meaning they eat both plant and animal based food. Humans are Omnivores as well. 

For overall dog health, most Veterinarians seem to agree that a well balanced, nutritionally complete diet for dogs should contain both high quality meat and plant based foods.

I have always shared fresh vegetables with my dogs, especially the vegetables dogs love most like carrots, broccoli, and sweet potatoes! I add these to their food, and give them as treats.

I play a lot of games with Icy, like puzzle games and Find the Treat. I don't want her to have too many rich or high calorie treats, so I often mix in raw carrots with dog treats for our games.  

I also like to mix steamed sweet potato and carrots with some salmon in the blender and add that to her regular dog food. It gives her the added health benefits of vegetables as well as the healthy Omegas found in salmon.

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Vegetables Dogs Can Eat

This list of vegetables are all safe for dogs to eat. They can safely be given raw or lightly steamed except, as indicated, for pumpkin and sweet potato. The important thing is that the vegetables can be fresh, frozen, or canned, but shouldn't have any salt or seasonings added.

HEALTHY VEGETABLES DOGS CAN EAT

✵ Broccoli

✵ Carrots

✵ Green beans

✵ Peas

✵ Sweet Potatoes (cooked not raw)

✵ Spinach

✵ Kale

✵ Pumpkin (cooked or canned not raw and canned should be pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling)

✵ Cucumber

✵ Celery - cut into small pieces since it's stringy 

✵ Zucchini

As they say, all good things in moderation. Vegetables should enhance a dog's meal or be given as a treat, they should not be used as a meal replacement.  

You don't need to load your dog's food bowl with veggies to give her the health benefits of vegetables. Just add small amounts of vegetables to their food or offer them as a treat or snack to get the health benefits of vegetables for dogs.  

I add about 1/4 cup of vegetables to my dog's regular food each day.  The vegetables she likes best are carrots, broccoli, green beans, and sweet potatoes.  I rotate the addition of these vegetables to her food or give them to her as treats.

I try to always use fresh produce, but frozen veggies are good too.  I feed my dog most veggies raw, except for pumpkin and sweet potato. Pumpkin should be cooked or canned (100% pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling), and sweet potato should be cooked, not raw.

Note: Your dog's Veterinarian knows your pet best, so always consult your dog's Vet before making changes to their diet. 

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Do you give your dog vegetables? Tell us about it in the comments, we always Love hearing from you!

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