I’ve been hearing more and more about the value of adding fruits and vegetables to my dog’s diet. I know that certain ingredients can be harmful, but I’m not sure what to stay away from, and what’s beneficial. Can you tell me what fruits and veggies are appropriate to add to my dog’s diet, and at what amount? ML, Connecticut
Dear ML,
You’re right on both counts: that fruits and vegetables have health benefits to pets but that not every fruit and vegetable is safe to feed your pet. For example, garlic, onions and grapes have all been shown to be toxic to dogs. On the other hand, vegetables such as carrots, peas and pumpkin are wonderful additions to dry dog food diet as are fruits like apples, blueberries and bananas. Not only are they packed with vitamins and minerals, they also contain fiber, antioxidants and other beneficial agents.
If you wish to introduce fruits and vegetables to your dog, do so gradually and in moderation. Add just one to two new items each week and avoid unbalancing the diet by limiting fruits and veggies to 10 – 20 % of the total diet. Another suggestion is to lightly cook the vegetables, which helps release certain nutrients. Finally, visit www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/ to make sure everything you’re offering to your dog is safe.
SmartPak is a firm believer in the health benefits of fruits and vegetables to dogs, and has included a wide variety of both in its supplements as well as its food. SmartCanine Vite is a nutritional supplement that contains a tasty blend of fruits and vegetables along with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids and digestive support. It’s designed to complement heavily processed commercial kibble.
Either way you choose to add fruits and vegetables to your dog’s diet—by home cooking them yourself or through the product mentioned above—you’ll be providing him with a healthier diet that also tastes great!
2 Responses to “Feeding Dogs Fruits and Vegetables”
It’s not only good to feed dogs fruits and vegetables, it can be quite amusing to watch them approach a new food. Our dogs might pull a veggie out of the bowl and play with it, roll on it, bark at it, and the classic ignore it until the other dog eats it first then gobble it.
One dog shreds carrots that the other then eats, one rolls on the small tomatoes I give him (best done outside), and the jury’s still out on bananas.
Amanda, I just read that tomatoes are toxic to dogs. Please look it up for yourself and save your precious little one from getting sick. Thanks!