As a kid, I used to feed my dog the vegetables I didn’t want under the dinner table all of the time.Nowadays I recognize the importance of knowing which human foods are safe for dogs and although I don’t pawn my vegetables off on my furry friends anymore, I still share with them!Vegetables as a treat or additional supplement to your dog’s daily diet can provide him with many of the essential vitamins and nutrients that he might not be getting enough of otherwise.You may find that some of these yummy veggies are already included in your pet's diet, but real, whole food treats deliver more nutrition and flavour than the processed ingredients found in prepared diets, like kibble and canned foods.Thiamine - supports high energy organ function, like the brain and kidneys.Vitamin A - maintain healthy eyes, skin, coat, muscles, and nerve function.Antioxidants - fight free radical cells that can lead to cancer or other mutations and diseases.We’ve put together some do’s and don’ts to help you feed asparagus to your dog safely.We know that cooking a vegetable can destroy some of the nutrition, but is there a way to feed raw asparagus to your dog without causing digestive issues?Feeding veggies as treats or as part of their meals is fine, but portion control is important.Over-feeding treats, table scraps, and even healthy veggies for dogs can lead to digestive discomfort.If your dog is getting gassy after eating asparagus, then it’s probably time to cut his portion or switch to a less fibrous veggie treat.Adding asparagus to a meal is a great way to spice up your dog's dinner and add some extra nutrition, too.Vitamin A - maintain healthy eyes, skin, coat, muscles, and nerve function.Vitamin E - builds strong muscles and promotes healthy circulation, works as an effective antioxidant.Manganese - aids in bone growth, thyroid function, and digestion, slows the aging process.Antioxidants - fight free radical cells that can lead to cancer or other mutations and diseases.Like with any fruit or vegetable, it’s important to know your dog’s feeding guidelines based on their size and needs.The key is to know your dog’s individual eating habits and take note of what things might cause stomach issues or poor digestion.Your dog might really enjoy the juicy and crunchy texture of raw bell peppers, but you can also choose to cook or steam them.Make sure to wait a few minutes before serving the peppers (or any cooked vegetable) so your dog doesn’t burn her mouth.The seeds and stem of bell peppers aren’t necessarily toxic to your dog but can be much more difficult to digest properly.It is also highly recommended to avoid feeding your dog a whole pepper without chopping it up into smaller pieces first.Cutting the bell peppers into bite-sized treats makes it easy for your dog to chew, swallow and digest.Adequate Portion Size: 10 lbs dog - 1-2 thinly sliced pieces, raw or cooked; remove seeds before serving.30 lbs dog - 2 -3 thinly sliced pieces, raw or cooked; remove seeds before serving.Vitamin A - maintain eyes, skin, and coat health as well as strong muscles and active nerve function.Manganese - aids in bone growth, thyroid function, and digestion, slows the aging process.Calcium - supports teeth and bone health, helps with hormone, muscle, and nerve function.While many dogs might turn their snout at the sight of it, broccoli can provide so many valuable benefits.If you’ve ever tried to bite into a raw floret of broccoli, you know how tough and dense it can be.Broccoli is full of fibre and is a member of the brassica family, so feeding too much of it to your dog can cause GI irritation and bad gas.That’s why it is important to always keep an eye on your doggo after you feed her broccoli (or any fruit or vegetable) and take note of any digestive problems that arise.Depending on your dog’s size, chop it up into smaller, bite-able pieces to avoid choking.Feeding Frequency: Occasionally (1 time per week) Adequate Portion Size: 10 lbs dog - up to 1 small floret, cut into bite-sized pieces.70 lbs dog - 3 - 4 small florets, cut into bite-sized pieces Feeding Tips: Cook or steam.Raw carrots are crunchy, tough, and full of fibre which makes them a great natural toothbrush.Vitamin A - maintain eyes, skin, and coat health as well as strong muscles and active nerve function.Antioxidants - fight free radical cells that can lead to cancer or other mutations and diseases.Calcium - supports teeth and bone health, helps with hormone, muscle, and nerve function.Magnesium - supports digestion, reverses urinary problems or constipation, has a natural calming effect.Either way, carrots are a nutrient-dense addition to your dog’s diet, as well as an excellent way to clean his teeth and improve his puppy breath!But before you start adding them to his bowl of kibble, be sure to know the proper feeding guidelines for his particular size and needs.Soft carrots can be mashed or pureed to then be added to your dog’s usual dinner in moderation.Cold carrot juice on a hot summer day acts as a refreshing treat for your dog.Carrots are high in sugar content, so they shouldn’t make up too much of your dog’s weekly diet.Too much sugar in a dog’s diet can lead to an upset stomach, weight gain, or more serious issues like diabetes.Eating fibre in excess can also cause your dog to have stomach pain, diarrhea, or constipation.It’s also important to know your dog’s size and make sure you don’t give him too big of a piece.Feeding Frequency: Occasionally (1 time per week) Adequate Portion Size: 10 lbs dog - 2-3 bite-sized pieces (1 Tbsp).If you’ve ever wondered if you can share your cauliflower with your dog, the answer is absolute.A small serving of cauliflower occasionally can help with your dog’s colon health, vision, blood flow, and stave off weight or bowel issues.Calcium - supports teeth and bone health, helps with hormone, muscle, and nerve function.Be sure to remove the stems and chop up the cauliflower or puree it to avoid creating a choking hazard for your doggo.The high fibre content in cauliflower can cause digestive problems and constipation, so be sure to keep an eye on him after feeding.It’s highly recommended to only feed your dog this vegetable occasionally, meaning one time per week.Additionally, other foods categorized as part of the allium family can be toxic to dogs.Feeding Frequency: Occasionally (one time per week) Adequate Portion Size: 10 lbs dog - up to 1 small floret, cut into bite-sized pieces.70 lbs dog - 3 - 4 small florets, cut into bite-sized pieces Feeding Tips: Best served steamed or cooked to make it more digestible.It is also loaded with essential nutrients that can help keep his immune system active and improve his cardiovascular health.Calcium - supports teeth and bone health, helps with hormone, muscle, and nerve function.Antioxidants - fight free radical cells that can lead to cancer or other mutations and diseases.It’s important to make sure you take care when feeding your dog celery based on her size and needs!Don’t worry if your dog pees a little more than usual or has loose stools after consuming celery.Feeding Frequency: Occasionally (one time per week) Adequate Portion Size: 10 lbs dog - 2 - 3 1/2" wide pieces, raw, cooked, or pureed.It also has anti-inflammatory properties that make it a great source of nutrients for dogs suffering from arthritis, injuries, or other conditions.Vitamin A - maintain eyes, skin, and coat health as well as strong muscles and active nerve function.Antioxidants - fight free radical cells that can lead to cancer or other mutations and diseases.Many dogs don’t like the plain flavor, but others really enjoy the crunchy, juicy texture.If your dog doesn’t drink enough water, switching it up with cucumber juice is a great way to make sure they stay hydrated.Keep an eye on your dog after feeding her cucumber to ensure that she isn’t having a bad reaction.Feeding Frequency: Fairly often (two to three times per week) Adequate Portion Size: 10 lbs dog - 1 - 2 bite-sized pieces, peeled.While store-bought mushrooms are generally safe for your dog to eat, we want to make it incredibly clear how to properly cook them and which kinds!Mushrooms fed to your dog in moderation can add great nutritional value to their diet!They are low in calories, plus fat and cholesterol free making them a beneficial snack if fed correctly.Magnesium - supports digestion, reverses urinary problems or constipation, has a natural calming effect.While mushrooms are a delicious addition to our dinner plates, I don’t know anyone who would eat them without covering them in sauce and seasonings.However, when it comes to feeding mushrooms to dogs, it’s important to serve them plain as these additives can cause an upset stomach or other digestive issues.Portobellos, white button, cremini, shiitake, porcini, reishi, and maitake mushrooms are safe for your dog to consume.Signs of mushroom poisoning include vomiting, salivation, urination, and extreme tear production.Cut into small pieces based on your dog’s size and feeding guidelines.Don’t add any salt, spices, oil or butter as these ingredients can be harmful to your dog’s health.If you’re introducing mushrooms to your pet for the first time, start slow and offer just a small amount at first to see how he reacts.Feeding Frequency: Rarely (once per month) Adequate Portion Size: 10 lbs dog - 1 - 3 small mushrooms.Potatoes are another vegetable that make for a safe and tasty treat to feed to your dog on occasion.Antioxidants - fight free radical cells that can lead to cancer or other mutations and diseases.Magnesium - supports digestion, reverses urinary problems or constipation, has natural calming effect.It might seem strange to bake a potato without these ingredients, but they can be toxic to our furry friends and cause issues with digestion and gut irritation.These are chock full of nutrients including molybdenum, which aids in digesting carbohydrates and protecting your dog’s body from excess copper; selenium, which promotes a healthy immune system; and chromium, which can support a healthy metabolism.These types of snacks are typically made with heavy oils, salts, and fats that can be a danger to your dog’s health.It is also important to avoid feeding your dog any of the green parts that might be found on potatoes as they can be toxic (to you too!).Feeding Frequency: Rarely (once per month) Adequate Portion Size: 10 lbs dog - up to 1/4 cup bite-sized cooked pieces.Ok, ok, we know that tomatoes are technically a fruit, but it’s treated more like a vegetable and it’s very nutritious, so it made our list!Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and other essential antioxidants that fight free radicals in the body that can cause cancer and other ailments.Antioxidants - fight free radical cells that can lead to cancer or other mutations and diseases.Tomatoes may not seem like the kind of thing you might feed to your dog, but if you choose to give it a try, it’s important to know the right way to do so.Pasta sauce, ketchup, tomato soup and other tomato-based foods are not safe to give to your dog.These items are loaded with processed sugars, oils, and other ingredients that are dangerous for your dog to eat.While most dogs’ regular diets should consist mostly of meat, vegetables are a beneficial addition to help them get all of the essential nutrients and vitamins they need.As long as you know which ones are safe and the proper guidelines for your dog’s specific dietary needs, you can enjoy a healthy veggie snack with your furry best friend.
Edward R. Forte
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