7 Best Vegetables for a Healthy Pup
Dogs require a variety of organic foods and nutrients for a balanced diet. Veggies are rich in fiber, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes and phyto-nutrients which are not found in meat. Vegetables for dogs should always be mashed, and lightly cooked if possible. When making vegetable mash always add a source of fat so your dog can absorb fat-soluble nutrients (vitamin E, D, K and A).
The best vegetables for dogs are:
Carrots are high in vitamin A and fibre. They can help clean your dog’s teeth and have a positive effect on eyes, skin, and hair. You can feed them raw, boiled, steamed, or grated.
Broccoli contains a huge variety of vitamins, including vitamin K, vitamin C and potassium, which help maintain healthy bone function, supports immune system, and helps support heart function in dogs. You can serve it steamed with yogurt or cottage cheese, which are also rich in calcium.
Green beans are full of important vitamins and minerals. They are also low in calories and rich in dietary fibre, which can help dogs feel full. They can be raw, canned, steamed or chopped.
Sweet potatoes are great for digestive health because they are high in fibre. They contain vitamin B6, vitamin C, and manganese, plus they are rich with the antioxidant beta-carotene, giving them their yellow colour. Be sure to cook sweet potatoes before feeding them to your dog.
Celery is low in calories and contains vitamins A, C, and K, folate, potassium, and manganese that help keep animals in peak condition.
Cucumbers are a great treat for dogs that have to lose weight. They have a high water content and are crunchy which makes them a tasty and hydrating summer treat. However, do not feed them pickles. These contain added spices and salt that can be harmful at worst and unnecessary at best.
Spinach is an incredibly nutrient-rich vegetable. It's high in vitamin C, K, B6, B9, E, iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. A few ways you can prepare spinach for your dog is by steaming, blanching, or pureeing it to make it easier to digest. Spinach is very high in oxalic acid, which blocks the body’s ability to absorb calcium, so make sure you feed it in small amounts.
