Recognizing that not every vegetable is suitable for canine consumption is crucial since certain varieties may lead to gastrointestinal distress, pose a risk of choking, or potentially cause a neurological incident. Nonetheless, adding vegetables to your dog’s diet can offer immense health advantages, particularly if they are served raw.

On the bright side, incorporating fresh vegetables into your dog’s diet can provide many health benefits, such as weight control, boosted immune system, and improved skin health.  To ensure a healthy and balanced diet, here is a list of dog-friendly list of what vegetables can dogs eat that you can safely include in your dog’s meals or use as a tasty treat.

Why Should Dogs Eat Vegetables?

It’s okay if you are wondering why you need to feed vegetables to your pup. Dog eats vegetables 一 fresh or cooked vegetables, from sweet potatoes to green beans. 

Here are a couple of reasons you should prepare vegetables for your furry friend:

• Nutritional value: vegetables are a rich source of vitamins like vitamin C, fiber, and minerals, which can provide the essential nutrients for healthy bones and skin.
• Weight management: when dogs eat vegetables low in calories and high in fiber, they are fuller for more extended periods. Thus, making it less likely for them to overeat and get obese. Pumpkin pie filling is one of the best vegetable dogs can eat for weight control. 
• Digestive health: Whether eaten raw or not, vegetables can aid digestion and keep constipation at bay.
• Healthy skin and coat: vegetables such as brussels sprouts are a rich source of vitamins, including vitamin C and K, and antioxidants to promote a shiny coat and healthy skin.
• Improved immunity: vegetables are a rich source of vitamins and essential minerals that can help boost the immune system of your dog, which helps ward off illness. 

What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?

Let’s check out some of the best vegetables that dogs can eat to improve their digestive health or promote healthy skin.

It’s essential to take note that before adding raw vegetables to your dog’s food, you should always remove any pits, cores, seeds, leaves, and stems. Additionally, washing the vegetables thoroughly and cutting them into small, bite-sized pieces is crucial to prevent a potential choking hazard or an upset stomach.

Broccoli

Most dogs can eat raw broccoli. It’s a rich source of vitamins and minerals like vitamins C, K, and calcium. However, pet parents should feed their dog broccoli florets in moderation to avoid gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea or gas. 

Green Beans

Dogs love green beans. They contain vitamins C, and K, iron, fiber, protein, and calcium. While they can serve as healthy treats to feed your dog, the canned green beans mustn’t contain salt. Green beans can also foster better bone health. 

We strongly recommend adding frozen or fresh green beans to your dog food instead of canned green beans to avoid all of the preservatives and seasoning that potentially lead to stomach pain. Also, green beans can lead to bladder stones if your dog has eaten significantly. 

Carrots

Carrots are high in Vitamin A and fiber, essential for eyesight and healthy skin. Also, carrots are vegetable dogs can eat to promote bone health. 

Dog owners can serve raw carrots to their dogs as healthy treats. Dogs love to eat raw carrots because they are crunchy and naturally sweet, which benefits your dog’s teeth. 

Alternatively, you can cook carrots, making their nutrients more digestible and manageable for dogs to absorb. Remember not to include onions or garlic; these seasonings can harm your dogs. 

However, you must feed your furry friend in bite-sized pieces and in moderation to prevent potential choking hazards.

Bell Peppers

Bell peppers are available in different colors. While they are all safe and healthy choices, adding bell peppers can significantly increase your dog food’s nutritional value. These raw veggies are an abundant source of vitamins and minerals like C, B6, and E. They are essential for healthy skin and eyesight. 

Brussel Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are a type of cruciferous vegetable that dogs eat. They contain vitamins and minerals like vitamins C and K, beta carotene, and antioxidants. However, only some dogs can handle Brussels sprouts well. 

More so, Brussels sprouts should be served cooked and in bite-sized pieces to protect your dogs from a choking hazard.

Cabbage

Another vegetable dogs eat well is cabbage. It packs a lot of vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C and beta carotene. It is high in fiber to promote a healthy digestive system. While it makes a great snack, it should not be served in large quantities. It can lead to stomach upset and, if not chopped in small pieces, put your dog at risk of choking hazard.

Spinach

Dogs eat leafy greens like spinach. They are safe for dogs in minute amounts. However, it contains oxalates known to cause kidney and bladder stones in some dogs when consumed in large quantities. 

Sweet potatoes

Sweet potato is another rich source of vitamins and minerals for dogs, including vitamin C, fiber, and beta carotene. Sweet potatoes are also low in calories and fat, which makes them perfect for low-calorie food for your dog. Also, sweet potatoes can improve your dog’s bone health.

When your dog eats too many sweet potatoes, it can result in stomach upset. It’s vital that sweet potatoes are served cooked and in small bite-sized pieces to prevent choking hazards.

Vegetable Dogs Can’t Eat 

In the previous section, we discussed what vegetables dogs could eat. Now, let’s talk about vegetables that should not be included in dog food. 

Dog’s diet: What not to feed them 

Onions

Dogs should not be eating onions, chives, garlic, and leeks. They are not part of the vegetable dogs can eat. They are most likely to cause a rupture in your dog’s red blood cells.

Wild Mushrooms

Numerous mushroom species are out there, and over 100 of them are not dog-safe vegetables. Therefore, you should keep this vegetable away from your pet.

FAQs

Should I include canned vegetables in my dog food?

Canned vegetables for dogs are not recommended. It would be best to avoid canned peas, canned pumpkin, etc. they tend to contain salt and preservatives that can harm your dog’s health in the long run. Instead, feed your pup frozen vegetables or raw vegetables like raw potatoes, which benefits the dog’s immune system.

Can I mix vegetables with dry dog food?

Yes, you can mix vegetables with dry dog food. In fact, adding vegetables to your dog’s diet can provide important vitamins and nutrients.

Conclusion

Feeding your animal friend some dog safe vegetables won’t hurt. The most important thing is to ensure you chop them into smaller pieces and prepare them correctly. This means without salt or another seasoning that can trigger allergic reactions or disrupt their digestive system.