Vegetables are a healthy part of any human diet, but what about our dogs? While dogs get all of the nutrients they need in their dog food, vegetables can be a healthy snack so long as they’re served correctly. In this article, we’ll talk about which vegetables are safe to feed and how to feed them to your dog. We’ll also discuss some toxic or unhealthy vegetables to avoid.
How to Feed Vegetables to Your Dog Safely
Before feeding vegetables to your dog, remember these safety tips:
- Wash the vegetables thoroughly before serving to remove any pesticides and other chemicals that may have been used during the growing process.
- Avoid oils, butter, and seasonings when cooking vegetables for your dog, as they can be unhealthy or even toxic.
- Remove tough parts of the vegetable that may be difficult to chew, swallow, or digest. These parts may cause a dog to choke or develop an intestinal blockage.
- Cut the vegetables into bite-sized pieces, especially when feeding small dogs.
- Your dog’s diet should be 90% balanced dog food and no more than 10% treats. This even applies to healthy treats like vegetables, as they can still disrupt the balance of nutrients in their diet.
Now that you know how to serve them safely, let’s get into the vegetables your dog can eat–and some that they can’t!
Vegetables You Can Share With Your Dog
1. Asparagus
Dogs can eat asparagus only if it’s fully cooked, as it can be difficult to chew and digest otherwise. Before serving, cut the asparagus into bite-sized pieces and remove the thick stalks, as they can be difficult to chew.
2. Green Beans
My veterinarian has always recommended green beans as a healthy treat for dogs. They can be served fresh, canned, cooked, or raw so long as they’re also plain.
3. Bell Peppers
All colors of bell peppers are good for dogs, including green, yellow, orange, and red bell peppers. They’re high in vitamin C and other beneficial nutrients, and they make a tasty raw treat! Dogs can also eat them cooked, so long as they’re served plain, without any additives.
While dogs can eat bell peppers, it’s best to avoid spicy peppers like jalapenos or chilies.
4. Cabbage
Dogs can eat both red and green cabbage in moderation. However, if your dog is prone to GDV (also known as deadly bloat), you may want to avoid or feed cabbage in very small quantities. The same goes for dogs who have frequent tummy issues or gas. Only feed your dog the leafy parts of the cabbage, not the tough core in the center.
5. Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a superfood that’s great for our dogs’ health! It can help with digestion and provides them with many key nutrients. Since raw pumpkin can be difficult to chew, it’s best to feed it to them when it’s cooked or canned.
Avoid pumpkin pie filler and other seasoned pumpkins; instead, feed your dog pure pumpkin without any additives. Never feed the pumpkin rind, as it’s very difficult to digest.
6. Kale
Dogs can eat raw or cooked kale, but cooked kale is easier for them to digest. This helps them absorb all the helpful nutrients and can prevent them from developing tummy issues.
7. Zucchini
Dogs can eat raw, steamed, or cooked zucchini. Steaming or cooking it can make it easier to eat, as can chopping it into small, bite-sized pieces. You may want to chop round pieces of zucchini into halves or quarters so that they don’t pose a choking risk.
8. Beets
Dogs can eat raw or cooked beets in moderation, but too much can cause health problems. Beets are high in sugar and oxalic acid, and are also quite acidic. If you notice digestive issues after feeding beets, you may want to choose another vegetable to feed your pup.
If your dog has a history of bladder stones, kidney problems, or other related health issues, consult with your vet before feeding beets or choose a different healthy treat.
9. Broccoli
Dogs can eat cooked or raw broccoli. Avoid feeding broccoli stalks, and feed it only in moderation. Broccoli is toxic to dogs when fed in very high amounts, as it contains isothiocyanates. If your dog gets into a bunch of broccoli by mistake, contact a vet for help. The risk of poisoning is highest in small dogs.
10. Spinach
Dogs can eat spinach in small amounts, but it’s another veggie that’s high in oxalic acid. Feeding it too frequently may cause urinary or kidney problems.
11. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are another superfood commonly found in dog treats. Dogs can safely eat cooked sweet potato, but all types of raw potato are toxic. There is some evidence that high amounts of sweet potato can contribute to heart disease, such as when it’s used as a filler ingredient in grain-free dog food.
12. Carrots
Carrots are a healthy treat when fed raw or cooked. Since they can be tough to chew, cut them into bite-sized pieces before feeding. You may also want to cut round pieces in half or quarters to make your dog less likely to choke on them.
13. Corn
Dogs can eat corn so long as it’s removed from the cob and served in small quantities. Avoid corn that’s been buttered, salted, or seasoned.
14. Celery
Dogs can eat raw or cooked celery, but it’s recommended to cut it into small pieces since celery can be stringy and difficult to chew. You can even add some dog-safe peanut butter, so long as you feed it in moderation! (Make sure the peanut butter doesn’t contain xylitol, which is a toxic sweetener.)
Vegetables That Aren’t Safe for Dogs
Allium Vegetables
Allium vegetables include onions, garlic, shallots, and chives. These veggies can damage your dog’s red blood cells and cause anemia. Garlic and onion powders are also unsafe, and they’re in more foods than you think, including many of our favorite salty snacks. The toxins from these vegetables can stay in your dog’s system for days, and poisoning can build up in that time, making even feeding them in small amounts pretty dangerous.
Mushrooms
Not all mushrooms are unsafe, but it’s generally recommended to avoid them altogether so that you don’t accidentally feed your dog something toxic! This is because different types of mushrooms can look similar, making it difficult to identify them correctly, especially those found in the wild.
Raw Potatoes
Raw potatoes and sweet potatoes are toxic to dogs, but they’re safe once they’ve been cooked!
Unripened Tomatoes
Whether you consider a tomato a fruit or a vegetable, they’re not always safe for our pups to eat. Only feed your dog tomatoes that are completely ripe. Remove the leaves and stems. Don’t let your dog eat your tomato plants. As a general rule with tomatoes, if it’s green, it’s not safe to eat! This includes all parts of the plant.
