Vegetables can play an important role in a dog’s diet, from introducing key micronutrients to keeping plaque from building up as they chew their way through tough greens.
Dogs are omnivores, meaning that they can eat both meat and vegetables, but vegetables shouldn’t make up more than 25 percent of your dog’s diet.
When it comes to our canine friends, not all veggies are created equally; many vegetables can upset your dog’s digestive system, and some are extremely toxic.
What are the benefits of vegetables for dogs?
Vegetables are packed full of goodness in the form of important vitamins and minerals that will keep your dog in good health and full of energy. For the most part vegetables can be given raw to dogs and often contain more nutrients when fed this way.
Vegetables are also a great source of hydration and full of fibre to promote healthy digestion. Raw vegetables will provide your dog with many vitamins including:
- Vitamin C: Helps keep your dogs’ immune system strong to fight off disease.
- Vitamin A: Keeps skin and eyes healthy as well as keeping teeth and bones strong.
- B vitamins: improve metabolism and prevents fatigue.
- Vitamin E: Promotes healthy skin and hair as well as helping to prevent some forms of cancer.
- Vitamin K: Important in the blood clotting process to prevent excessive bleeding.
Vegetables dogs can eat:
1. Broccoli
A great source of vitamins A, C, E and K as well as being packed with fibre. The stems can also be great to chew on, keeping teeth clean. Broccoli can be fed raw or cooked but be sure to chop the stems small enough so that they don’t cause a choking hazard!
2. Carrots
An ideal low-calorie treat for dogs which is full of vitamins B, C, D, E and K. Carrots are also great for your dog’s dental hygiene.
3. Spinach
Full of goodness, spinach contains potassium, magnesium, iron, and calcium as well as vitamins B, C, E and K. A real superfood for both humans and dogs!
4. Cucumber
Full of antioxidants including vitamin C, beta-carotene, and manganese. Cucumber is also full of water, making a great hydrating snack for dogs on hot days!
5. Sweet potatoes
Rich in vitamin B6 and vitamin C, beta-carotene, and manganese. Sweet potatoes are also high in fibre making them great for digestive health.
6. Celery
Containing vitamins A and C, celery is also crunchy which is great for your dog’s teeth by preventing plaque from accumulating.
7. Green beans
High in fibre to aid digestion and full of vitamins B6, A, C and K, green beans will help your dog feel fuller for longer.
8. Brussel sprouts
Containing vitamin C for boosting immunity and vitamin K for bone health, brussels sprouts are a great addition to your dog’s diet – just introduce them slowly as they can cause gas.
9. Beetroot
Helps keep your dogs coat healthy and aids digestion. Beetroot contains vitamin C, folate, manganese, and potassium.
10. Kale
Full of vitamin A and K, Kale also contains high levels of iron. Great for immunity, vision, and bone health.
Adding the vegetables above to your dog’s diet can work wonders for their health. However, there are a lot of vegetables that should be completely avoided as they can be extremely toxic to dogs, making them very unwell.
These include onions, garlic, unripe tomato, leeks, avocado and wild mushrooms to name a few. If in doubt, stick the veggies mentioned above!
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