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Take Your Dog's Diet to New Heights With Veg
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Take Your Dog's Diet to New Heights With Veg

Critter Culture Staff

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The next time you make a cooked veggie bowl or arrange a crudité board for yourself, set some prepared fresh produce aside for your pooch.

It's best to introduce new foods one at a time and monitor your dog's reaction so you can learn what it tolerates well. Dogs aren't obligate carnivores like cats, but if you're thinking of switching to an all-veg diet (which we don't necessarily recommend), it's essential you consult with a vet first to ensure it's safe for your fur baby.

1

Apples

beautiful woman talking to her pet french bulldog at the kitchen counter who is waiting for his pet owner to feed and stick out tongue Edwin Tan / Getty Images

We don't know if an apple a day will keep the doctor away, but it'll certainly provide your dog with antioxidants, fiber, calcium, and vitamins A and C.

All varieties of apples should be a-okay for your pup. Core the apple, remove the seeds containing toxic cyanide, and chop the fruit into bite-sized pieces to prevent choking.

Apples are crunchy, which makes them fun to chew on, and their texture is good for dental hygiene. Add a little peanut butter for the macronutrients.

2

Brussels sprouts

Dog`s nose poking out of Brussels sprouts

We don't want to get anyone in trouble, but if you need help with your brussels sprouts at the table, Fido could probably hoover them up for you.

Brussels sprouts are a highly nutritious addition to a doggy diet when cooked simply without added salt. They contain folate, manganese, potassium, vitamin K, and other nutrients.

But be warned—dogs get as gassy as their owners when eating these vegetables. Brussels sprouts look like mini cabbages, another vegetable your dog can consume with stinky results.

3

Berries

High Angle View Of Dog Looking At Woman Eating Blueberry Lucia Romero Herranz / EyeEm / Getty Images

If you live where berries are affordable, your dog can partake in the bounty in moderation—that means about ten blueberries, for example.

These delicious fruits offer loads of micronutrients. Resveratrol may help fight cancer, and tannins can prevent urinary tract infections.

Blueberries contain selenium, zinc, and iron and are optimal. But strawberries, cranberries (dried or fresh), blackberries, and raspberries are good too. Strawberries can whiten teeth, and small frozen berries are great as a summer treat or for teething puppies.

Avoid cherries or potentially toxic wild berries.

4

Carrots

Portrait Of Dog Holding Carrot In Mouth On Field Melanie Mittmann / EyeEm / Getty Images

Carrots are orange and high in beta-carotene, so they're good for your dog's vision, skin, and fur. This is probably why store-bought dog foods include them.

They're another stimulating chew-toy-like vegetable when raw, but you can serve them cooked too. The best part? They're pretty much a flatulence-free veggie, so your nose will thank you for this particular source of fiber.

5

Celery

Funny puppy chewing a celery stick

Nope, your dog doesn't need half your celery juice and might turn its nose up at it. But the whole food makes a healthy, crunchy snack and is fab to freshen doggy breath.

Celery is loaded with nutrients that can keep heart disease and cancer at bay. It's also low in calories and fat-free if your obese dog needs to lose weight. The fibrous strings can be dangerous, so ensure you cut the celery into small chunks, which are also easier to digest.

6

Cucumbers

Owner feeding Samoyed dog with cucumber on color background

Does your dog watch The Kardashians with you? Perhaps they noticed all the Kendall Jenner cucumber-related content on your socials while chilling on your lap and are keen to give these cooling vegetables a go.

You'll want to peel your cucumber because the waxy dark green skin may upset a sensitive dog's stomach. Cucumbers are like edible water bottles with bonus nutrients, so they'll keep Fido hydrated, trim, and energetic, just like a Victoria's Secret model.

7

Melons

Dog eating a melon Fenne / Getty Images

Melons won't cause melancholy—dogs love 'em, especially cantaloupe and watermelon.

Watermelon contains lycopene, thiamin, and nutrients that boost the immune system. They're the ultimate summer treat because of their high water content.

Cantaloupes reduce inflammation in the body, but they have slightly more sugar, so diabetic dogs should go easy. Take the rind off and the seeds out to prevent any chance of a blockage in the intestines.

8

Pumpkin

Dog Siberian Husky eating a pumpkin Sergeeva / Getty Images

Just like other yellow and orange fruits and veggies, pumpkins contain beta-carotene, and they should only be served plain and cooked, or there's a risk of an upset tummy.

Pumpkin is fantastic if your canine bestie has constipation or even diarrhea. Remove the shell and seeds, or offer a tablespoon of unsweetened pure canned pumpkin.

Pumpkins are high in fatty acids, and vets recommend them for the skin and coat.

9

Spinach

Green vegan breakfast meal in bowl with spinach, arugula, avocado, seeds and sprouts. Girl in leggins holding plate with hands visible, top view. Clean eating, dieting, vegan food concept Kseniya Ovchinnikova / Getty Images

Dogs are often on the fence about spinach, but if your pooch likes this leafy green, more power to 'em. Popeye was onto something—spinach is nutrient-dense and contains iron and many other wellness-boosting, disease-thwarting components. Chop the spinach for better absorption and cook it blandly.

Your dog may take to it better if it's hidden in a meal. Too much spinach, like too much of anything, can be bad for dogs, and excessive oxalic acid can cause kidney damage.

10

Sweet potatoes

homemade sweet potato & dog

Root veggies are great for your dog's vitality, and sweet potatoes are the sweetest of the lot.

They're a better option than regular potatoes and are kind to your digestive system. Vets are enthusiastic about this veg's benefits for dogs with allergies.

Peel and cook sweet potatoes before serving them to furry family members. Because of the relatively high amount of carbs, only offer moderate amounts to diabetic or overweight dogs.

11

What to avoid

Dog sniffing Baked raspberry pie on diningroom table Milan_Jovic / Getty Images

Fruits and veggies can do wonders for lil' buddy as part of a balanced diet, although you should avoid the likes of avos, onions, grapes, mushrooms, and rhubarb.

Experts are on the fence about asparagus, citrus, and ripe tomatoes, which are generally safe but might only agree with some dogs.

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