Vegetables aren’t only a great source of vitamins and nutrients for humans, but also for our pets. It’s always funny to see what types of vegetables your dog will eat. I’ve had plenty of dogs and each of them act differently when given different veggies. Many dogs won’t like plain vegetables such as lettuce, but they will almost always enjoy snacks like carrots and cucumbers.
Most dog foods already include vegetables in their recipes. The average dog should have 20% vegetables in their diet, as it’s important for them to get a great deal of vitamins and nutrients in their system. Since there are so many different vegetables out there, let’s breakdown a list of what vegetables dogs can eat, and the nutritional value of each.
What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?
- Carrots – An excellent source of vitamins for your pet, while also acting almost like a treat. Full size or baby carrots, both are a great food for your dog. Depending on the size of your dog, be careful how you feed them carrots. Large dogs will be able to handle any size carrots, but smaller dogs might choke on smaller size carrots.
- Green Beans – A lot like carrots, but smaller in size, most dogs will enjoy the taste and crunchiness of green beans. The addition of green beans will also help fill your dog’s appetite, while providing a lot of substance. Plain green beans can also be used as a treat/reward for your dog.
- Cauliflower, Broccoli and Brussel Spouts – We’ve grouped these three vegetables together because they are all quite similar and specific in taste. If your dog enjoys these vegetables, then they will probably eat almost any. These three low-glycemic vegetables are all great for your pet, and will not add unnecessary sugars to their diet. Lastly, be careful with the brussel sprouts consumption, as it may lead to a very gassy dog :).
- Spinach – Of all the vegetables out there, spinach contains twice as much iron as most, and is super rich in antioxidants. In addition to being very high in nutrients, spinach also acts as a source of fiber, calcium, potassium and vitamins A, B6 and K.
- Celery – Much like carrots and green beans, celery can be used as a treat or reward if your pet likes the taste of it. The nutritional facts behind celery are also excellent, as they contain calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium and iron, and vitamins A, B, C. Celery has also been an active ingredient in pet food testing and has been shown to decrease the incidence of tumors in laboratory animals. Celery can also act as a medical food, as it is said to decrease nervousness in humans and dogs, and is also used as an acid neutralizer.
What Vegetables Can Dogs NOT Eat?
Just like they are great vegetables for dog to eat, they are a few that dogs should not be eating. A few of them are avocado, onions, garlic and some nuts (macadamia). These veggies can upset a dogs stomach or even be poisonous. WebMD has created a nice slideshow of different foods and vegetables that your dog should never eat, along with the reasoning for each.
What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat? Video
