Vegetables are great for your dog and can help with nutrition and also keeping their teeth clean - we simply need to stick to those veggies that are safe and give them an appropriate amount.

Dog are omnivores, so they can digest plants as well as meat, and most veterinarians and canine nutritionists believe a mixture of both is important for your dog’s health. Some dogs do not tolerate grains, so make sure you start with small portions of any new food and watch your dog closely. Please note, dogs are not natural herbivores! Meat IS an important part of your dog’s healthy diet, even if you don’t like to eat it.

If your dog likes vegetables, they are a GREAT treat reward that will help your dog maintain a healthy weight as you “feed, feed, feed” for new great behaviors. Also, vegetables are a nice way to slow down eating for the gobblers - just keep an eye on your dog that they don’t inhale that carrot sideways! (Seriously, it’s no joke so if they don’t slow down to eat, make sure your vegetables are cut in small pieces.) Vegetables can help your dog feel full without breaking your budget, too.

My Luna Girl LOVES her carrots and sweet potatoes - sometimes even more than the store bought meaty treats. She comes running when she hears the chopping in hopes that I’m not eating something dumb like green beans (she hides those or spits them out!)

So, which vegetables are good for your dog?

Leafy Greens

The rule of thumb on leafy greens that are good for your dog is basically stick to the greens you would consume, too. Lettuce, spinach, chard, cabbage and kale are all okay for your pup. They have a lot of vitamins (A, C and K) as well as calcium, iron, potassium and fiber. They are best uncooked, but if you want to steam or bake them for some crunch, that’s okay, too. Watch for upset stomach or digestion issues after feeding to your dog so you learn if you gave them too much, too soon. Start with small amounts and gradually build up any new food to keep your dog safe, and you may want to limit the spinach as it can contain high amounts of oxalic acid, which blocks the body’s ability to absorb calcium and can lead to kidney damage (but your pup would have to ingest LARGE amounts for that to happen, it’s best to keep it to a minimum).

Stay away from the greens you would not eat - like grasses and weeds or things you can’t identify.

Root Vegetables

Most root vegetables like carrots, beets, sweet potatoes and parsnips are safe to feed your dog. These vegetables are starchy and higher in sugar, so want to limit the amount you give to your dog, especially if they are already in their commercial dog food (an they often are!)

Stalks

“Stalks” include vegetables like celery and asparagus. Your dog may not love them, but they are safe to eat. You can cut them into small pieces and add them into a vegetable medley, or to their kibble. Some dogs find it harder to grind and chew these stalky veggies. Add some good peanut butter to the celery, though, and you and your dog can share the snack! If your dog doesn’t like them, no harm done as they don’t really provide any nutritional value anyway.

Squash

Pumpkin and butternut squash is great for helping dogs with bouts of diarrhea and most dogs like the taste. If your squash plants went a little crazy in Summer or Fall, use up your excess garden squash by steaming it up for your dog. It’s best to scoop out the meaty insides and toss the seeds and thick rind, though (and maybe your have other livestock that want to get in on the pumpkin exterior treats).

Legumes (AKA beans and sprouts)

Your dog can eat them, but you want to limit the amount of beans and sprouts you give your dog as their commercial food is probably packed with them. In fact, check your dog food and if it seems like too many legumes, consider changing food. The reason is that dogs can get canine dilated cardiopulmonary (DCM) if they consume too many legumes as the main source of protein. They are not dangerous in small portions, just be aware you don’t need to grow a bean plant just for your dog! And a note: Green beans are actually NOT classified as beans in the food world, so green beans do not warrant the limitation! They are tasty and good for your dog - but don’t tell Luna that or she’ll hate them even more.

Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, Cauliflower, Cucumber and Corn (not on the cob)

All of these veggies are safe for your dog to snack on, but like all of them, limit to small quantities. And always take the corn OFF the cob before giving to your dog. The cob isn’t poisonous, it’s just too easy to swallow in chunks and cause choking or an internal obstruction.

AVOID Alliums (bulb vegetables)

Bulb vegetables are things like onions, garlic, leeks, chives, and shallots. Do not give your dog access to these plants, as they are toxic to dogs. Negative side effects of eating onions or garlic for dogs range from a stomach ache to developing anemia which, at it’s worse, can cause organs to shut down.

AVOID Mushrooms

It’s just generally a good practice to avoid any wild mushroom with your dog. Store bought mushrooms are not bad, but they don’t provide much in nutrients or feeling full so you can simply skip them.

Tips for Feeding the Veggies to your Dog

• Stock up when the frozen vegetables are on sale!

• Stick a blend together in a baggie or bowl in the freezer so they have something to chew on. If your dog is sensitive to cold or frozen, leave a small bag in the refrigerator for their snack.

• In hot summer, add vegetables to a mixture of chicken, beef or bone broth and freeze in ice cubes size or even the entire bowl. When you’re ready to feed, it will take them a bit to work through and allow them to lick and be calm for a bit.

• Ditch the garbage disposal and save safe the vegetable trimmings for your dog (see? we knew dogs were useful for something besides being cute!)

• If your dog will have nothing to do with vegetables, you can always chop them up small or puree them and add to her food. Also, getting your dog to “work” for food usually turns picky eaters into excited chowhounds! Use them in puzzle games as a reward. Ask your dog to play and perform certain behaviors, then reward with vegetables. They’ll be eating them as a treat in no time!