Dogs metabolize foods differently from humans. therefore, it’s important to know what food is safe to give them. When it comes to veggies, it’s worth noting what vegetables are good for dogs before feeding them anything.
Without further ado, here are some vegetables that dogs can eat without any safety issues:
Green peas
As a healthy treat for canines, green peas are incorporated into many kinds of dog food as they are nutritious, have low-calorie content, and dogs find them tasty.
When feeding your dogs green peas, stay away from the canned types. They often contain too much salt which can be harmful to your pets when consumed in large amounts. To be safe, only give your canines frozen or fresh peas.
Sweet potatoes
They are among the safest vegetables dogs can eat for as long as you only give them moderate amounts. This vegetable is also loaded with vitamin A which is good for your pet’s immune system and eye health. Too much of this veggie, though, can cause vitamin A overload that can result in your dog’s muscle weakness and bone problems.
Aside from vitamin A, these root crops contain vitamin C, carotenoids, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. They are also rich in minerals that help the cells in doing myriad functions such as building up proteins and boosting the oxygen’s flow in their system. These minerals include manganese, iron, and copper.
Sweet potatoes are low in fat and can also provide sufficient magnesium, fiber, potassium, and pyridoxine. When feeding, gradually introduce the veggie to your dog’s diet since it has fiber. Dogs find it easy to digest them, but make sure that you do not feed your pets with raw sweet potatoes and that you only feed them the veggie occasionally.
To add the vegetable to your dog’s meal, steam them and mash before mixing a little amount to your dog’s regular meal. Boiling and steaming will retain most of the vegetable’s nutrients than baking or roasting. You can also dehydrate sweet potatoes and give them as dehydrated chews to your pet.
Celery
Celery is packed with vitamins and minerals while being low in calories, making it a good choice for a dog’s treat. Give it in small amounts to make it easier for your canine to digest. Chop the celery into smaller pieces before feeding to your dog to prevent choking.
Broccoli
Broccoli is another item that is always included in the list of vegetables that dogs can eat. It is important to remember, though, to give your dogs the amount of broccoli which is less than 10 percent of their everyday intake.
This veggie has low-fat content and rich in vitamin C and fiber. You can feed this to your canine raw or cooked, as long as you don’t add seasonings to the vegetable.
However, keep in mind that too much broccoli or more than 25 percent of their daily intake can be toxic to dogs. Broccoli has isothiocyanates that can lead to varying levels of gastric irritation. Always cut broccoli in small pieces before feeding to your dogs to prevent choking.
Carrots
Carrots are among the most common answers to the question, what vegetables are good for dogs. Carrots are calorie-free, making them a better option as a healthy treat for your dogs instead of giving them other treats such as biscuits.
Veterinarians also recommend giving teething puppies with frozen or cold carrots to help in relieving discomfort. Carrots are also rich in fiber, potassium, and vitamin A. You can feed them to your dogs raw or cooked.
Always cut the veggies in bite-size pieces to prevent choking. It is also essential to thoroughly wash and peel the vegetables to remove the pesticides and dirt.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are also among the top choices when it comes to what vegetables can dogs eat. You can give your pets ripe tomatoes as an occasional treat. Avoid giving them green tomatoes because they contain little amounts of a toxic glycoalkaloid, tomatine.
Tomatine is not harmful to people, but when your dog consumes too much of it, they may suffer from health effects that include seizures, tremors, muscle weakness, loss of coordination, cardiac problems, and upset gastrointestinal organ.
Conclusion
When giving your pets new foods, gradually introduce the new food to them and observe how they react to each item. Monitor your dogs, especially if they suffer from health problems or allergic reactions from what they have eaten so that you can modify their diet healthily and safely.