What vegetables can dogs eat?

Can dogs eat all vegetables?

Dogs cannot eat all vegetables due to the harmful substances that some of them contain. Below, I have prepared a list of the most popular and healthy vegetable options that you can safely serve to your pet. Please note that some vegetables can only be served after boiling, baking or drying, and some may also be eaten raw.

Root vegetables include, among others, carrots, parsley root, celery root, beets, sweet potatoes and parsnips.

• Carrot – low in calories, contains carotenoids (mainly beta-carotene) that support the function of the eyesight,
• Parsley root – another low-calorie vegetable that contains quite a lot of calcium, potassium and magnesium,
• Celery root – rich in antioxidants, also contains small amounts of vitamin PP (niacin) and folic acid,
• Beets – good source of manganese, folic acid and potassium,
• Sweet potatoes – they have a delicate taste, a high content of fiber and carotenoids and additionally are recommended for diabetics,
• Parsnips – low-calorie vegetable, contains B-vitamins and potassium.

Remember that sweet potatoes and beets must be cooked before serving, the rest of the vegetables from this group can be served raw.

Nightshade vegetables that dogs can eat include: potatoes, tomatoes and red bell pepper.

• Potatoes contain a lot of starch and have a high satiety index,
• Tomatoes have very few calories, they contain a lot of potassium and vitamin C. Additionally, they are the best source of lycopene (a strong antioxidant),
• Red bell pepper is a good source of vitamin C and beta-carotene.

Potatoes should be boiled before serving. Tomatoes can be served raw (preferably without skin) or cooked (then we activate the lycopene which is better for our dogs). Red bell peppers should only be served from time to time.

Cucurbitaceous (gourd) vegetables include pumpkin, cucumber, zucchini, melon and watermelon.

• Pumpkin – low-calorie, thanks to the high fiber content it can regulate bowel movements,
• Cucumber – a vegetable consisting of >90 % water. It is recommended especially for dogs with gastrointestinal reflux and those who are on a low calorie diet,
• Zucchini – easily digestible, low-calorie, contains a large dose of vitamin C and B1,
• Melon – it consists mainly of water, so it is a low-calorie vegetable with a decent ammount of vitamin C,
• Watermelon – water makes up approximately 90% of its weight (recommended for hot weather!). Contains B-vitamins, vitamin C and lycopene.

Pumpkin must be served after thermal processing (boiled or baked).

Asparagus are rich in fiber (regulates bowel movements). They contain a lot of folic acid, B-vitamins and are low in calories. We serve them only after thermal processing.

How many veggies should you give to Your dog?

This is one of the most common questions I receive from people. The content of vegetables in the diet depends on many factors, including: dog’s health, diet and its daily activity.

• For dogs on a raw/cooked diet, we assume that vegetables can make up to 20 % of the daily portion,
• For dogs eating commercial food, vegetables should make up to a maximum of 10 % of the daily portion (although it would be more optimal to stick to the limit of 5 % of carbohydrates in dry matter).