Although dogs are omnivores, they are often only considered carnivores and hence not fed vegetables. Adding veggies to a dog’s diet is an excellent way to provide it with all the necessary nutrients that are not abundantly present in meat. Most dog owners believe that their dog enjoys meat; therefore, the best diet for it would be one that has all kinds of meat. While a dog parent’s decision to feed their child morsels of meaty goodness comes from a place of love, it can deprive their baby of some very vital nutrients.
Although meat is an excellent source of protein that is crucial for a dog’s muscles, it lacks in healthy antioxidants and micro-nutrients. Therefore, you must include veggies in your canine companion’s diet so that they get the perfect mix of nutrition. With that said, not all vegetables are suitable for a dog. A dog’s digestive system works differently from humans, which is why the two species respond differently to certain eatables. While humans can enjoy and easily digest all veggies, dogs cannot. Hence, a dog owner must carefully pick out vegetables to feed their little ones.
If you want to learn which vegetables you should feed your pup, then here are the top five dog-friendly veggies for you.
Kale is often referred to as a nutrient powerhouse. It is packed with vitamins A, K, and C, which are excellent at keeping dogs energetic and supporting their vision. The leafy goodness of kale is also loaded with antioxidants that are crucial for a healthy immune system and also prevent some types of cancers.
Kale is also extremely beneficial for a canine’s heart health. The abundance of micro-nutrients, such as magnesium, iron, and potassium, in kale, keeps a dog’s heart and bones healthy.
Adding kale to your fur baby’s diet will not just keep them healthy but also put your mind at ease because you’ll know that your fur-baby is eating well.
Most green vegetables are nutrient-dense, and so is spinach. Spinach is rich in magnesium, iron, and essential vitamins that keep a dog healthy and high on energy. If it weren’t such a nourishing veggie, Popeye wouldn’t be able to save Olive from Bluto all the time. Wouldn’t you agree? 🙂
The nutritional hub that is spinach helps a dog fight cancers, inflammation, and various cardiovascular issues. Moreover, it boosts immunity in dogs and gives them ample energy. And the best part about spinach is that it is low in calories, so you can feed it to your fluffy baby without worrying about their weight.
Although known for being the staple food item of bunnies, carrots are also popular in the canine world. They offer multiple health benefits to dogs. From a sharp vision to a healthy immune system and heart, the crunchy orange goodness of carrots is excellent for a dog’s overall well-being.
Carrots are low-calorie veggies, so they can be an ideal snack for your fur child. However, the sugar content in a carrot can a bit too much for a dog; therefore, be sure to give the root vegetable to your pup in moderation.
Celery is probably one of the most wholesome vegetables that you can give your dog. It is packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and protein. Adding celery to your canine companion’s diet will keep their digestive system healthy, reduce inflammation, and ease symptoms of arthritis.
Furthermore, celery contains 95% water, so it will not only satisfy your fur baby’s hunger but also keep them hydrated. Be sure to feed the nutritious veggie to your dog in the summer season to reduce the chances of dehydration.
The high-fiber vegetable is an excellent source of healthy vitamins and antioxidants for canines. It keeps their digestive system and skin healthy, and also boosts immunity. Moreover, feeding a dog sweet potatoes improves its nerve and muscle function.
If you wish to give your little one a wholesome package of nutrients, then sweet potatoes are the answer for you.
Now that we have discussed five dog-friendly vegetables let’s also look at some that aren’t.
Onions are one of the most toxic veggies that you can feed your fur child. They can cause server damage to your dog’s blood cells and dangerously reduce its iron levels. So the next time you are having onion rings and are tempted to pop one in your fur baby’s mouth, look the other way!
A general rule of thumb to decide whether or not a vegetable is suited for dogs is to smell it and keep it away from your fur baby if it stinks. Garlic, just like an onion, can be extremely harmful to your four-legged companion. It can damage their blood circulation system by affecting the blood cells. And it can also drop your pup’s iron levels drastically.
Since garlic is generally not eaten raw, the chances are that you will not ever be tempted to hand out a bulb to your pooch during dinner.
Chives are not as aromatically strong as garlic and onion, but they do have a pungent aroma. They can also wreak havoc on your pup’s health.
Chives can be extremely toxic for a dog and lead to anemia. Therefore, keep your pooch’s diet free of chives at all costs.
When it comes to feeding veggies to a dog, you cannot just pop them raw in your fluffy pal’s mouth. You need to first thoroughly wash the vegetables you wish to hand out to your pup, then blanch them. After you are done blanching, you can either steam the veggies or puree them. For maximum health benefits and digestive ease, puree your pooch’s vegetables. And if your baby doesn’t eat all of them at once, freeze them in ice trays and use them later.
For your convenience, puree a bunch of vegetables at a time and freeze them so that you don’t have to prepare your pup’s veggies every so often.
by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ .
Facts About Animal Homelessness:
Here are a some adoptions for consideration: puccicafe.com/adoptions