Although we are very used to feeding our dogs with feed, the truth is that there are other common foods in any house that we can offer them. Among them, vegetables and vegetables stand out.
Vegetables and greens provide dogs with vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. Dogs are carnivores, but although we feed them with feed, vegetables can be included in their regular diet as a supplement or healthy reward.
Index of contents
- 1 Healthy vegetables and vegetables for dogs
- 2 Broccoli
- 3 pumpkin
- 4 Brussels sprouts
- 5 Cauliflower
- 6 Spinach
- 7 Lettuce
- 8 Cabbage
- 9 Carrot
- 10 How to prepare vegetables for your dog
- 11 Vegetables and vegetables prohibited for dogs
Healthy vegetables and vegetables for dogs
Below we offer a list of the most common vegetables that we can include in our dog’s diet. Of course, we must always keep in mind that dogs do not have the same vegetable needs as we do, since they are carnivores. They don’t digest them the same way we do, either. So we should not abuse with the amounts.
Broccoli
Broccoli is an excellent option full of vitamins such as C, K, E and A. It also stands out for its contribution of folic acid, as well as fiber, iron, carotenes and flavonoids. It can be steamed or cooked.
pumpkin
Like any other vegetable or vegetable, the pumpkin provides a good contribution of fiber. It also contains antioxidants and produces a diuretic effect. It is recommended to offer it to the dog always without the skin and after removing all the seeds. It can be cooked, roasted, steamed or given raw well chopped.
Brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts contain B vitamins, such as B1 and B6, and vitamins C and A. In addition to fiber, it provides folic acid, calcium, iron, antioxidants, and potassium. Cooked to the dog.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is from the same family as broccoli, so its benefits and composition are similar to those of this vegetable. It provides vitamins C, K and B6, in addition to folic acid. It must be cooked.
Spinach
In addition to fiber, it contains vitamins A, C, E, B, K and F, beta carotenes and antioxidants. It can be offered to the dog raw and chopped or, if we have it frozen, prepare it cooked or steamed. They can also be passed through the pan.
Lettuce
It is rich in iron, antioxidants and has a purifying action on the body. It is recommended to give, in any of its varieties, well chopped so that the dog swallows it and does not hit it in the mouth or cause choking. It can also be cooked.
Cabbage
It has characteristics similar to those of lettuce, since iron or antioxidants are among its components. It also has a purifying effect. We can give it to the chopped dog after washing it.
Carrot
Antioxidant, depurative and digestive, carrots are one of the vegetables that are offered the most to dogs. It contains very few calories and a good amount of beta-carotenes and fiber, which causes a satiating effect.
For this reason it is recommended to give carrot as a reward to overweight dogs, to those who it would be contraindicated to offer them more caloric foods, whether commercial or homemade. Giving a raw carrot also helps clean dentures and fight plaque. We can offer it well washed or peeled.
It can also be added to the feeder grated, steamed or cooked. In the latter case, it is also widely used for those specimens that are recovering from some gastrointestinal process. Further, offers vitamins like A, K and C.
How to prepare vegetables for your dog
In addition to giving them raw, boiling or cooking them, which are the typical presentations in which they are usually offered, we can also puree them. This form of administration it is especially interesting for older dogs with chewing difficulties, those with oral problems, etc.
In summer it is a good and fun idea to freeze vegetables and greens to give them to the dog as if they were ice cream. In addition, they can relieve puppies in the time of tooth change when we will notice that they feel a greater need to bite. It is also possible to dehydrate them. For this we can use a dehydrator or dry them in the sun.
In any case, we insist, dogs are carnivores. Vegetables, vegetables or, also, fruits should be given as a supplement. They can never be the main ingredient of the diet or substitute any portion, even if it is overweight dogs. If we need to lose weight we have to establish a menu following veterinary recommendations.
Vegetables and vegetables prohibited for dogs
In general, vegetables and greens are beneficial for dogs provided in a balanced way to their diet. There are only a few discouraged, such as onion, leek, garlic or chives.
Even if we cook them, if they are consumed frequently or in large quantities, can trigger hemolytic anemia caused by the thiosulfate they contain and which dogs cannot digest because they do not have the necessary enzymes. Symptoms of thiosulfate poisoning include vomiting and diarrhea.