What Fruits And Veggies Can You Safely Give Your Dog?

People generally consider fruits and vegetables to be health-promoting. The more you eat, scientists say, the longer you’ll live.

The same, however, isn’t always true of dogs. While they can eat some human foods, many are harmful, and some are downright toxic.

Plants and animals have strange and complex relationships. For instance, we can eat cocoa beans without any trouble at all. But dogs can quickly become sick because they don’t have the right detoxifying enzymes.

In this post, we run through some of the top fruits and vegetables in your diet and which dogs can and can’t eat. Start taking notes!

Bananas

Bananas are one of the most consumed fruits in the world – among humans, at least. But can dogs eat them?

It turns out that they can. Bananas are a great source of minerals and provide a special type of fibre that most dogs don’t get in the rest of their diet.

However, even though bananas are healthy for people, dogs shouldn’t eat too many of them. Researchers believe that the sugar content is too high for dogs to process, and some could struggle.

Cherries

Cherries are one of the healthiest fruits around for people. They’re high in melatonin, which makes them a great food to eat after you have dinner to help you sleep.

Dogs, though, can’t eat cherries. Why? It all comes down to the cyanide they contain. While humans can process small quantities of the chemical, dogs can’t, and it can make them very sick indeed. Cyanide prevents them from getting oxygen into their cells, leading to dilated pupils, red gums, and trouble breathing.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are safe for dogs and make an excellent diet food. Cucumber contains “negative calories,” which means that it actually takes more energy to process it than it provides in energy. So dogs that eat a lot of it can lose weight quickly. Again, cucumber is high in essential vitamins and minerals, like magnesium and biotin,

Broccoli

While broccoli might taste bad raw, it is okay for dogs to eat in small quantities as an occasional “treat.”

Broccoli, however, contains isothiocyanates – a compound that is incredibly beneficial for human health – that can attack the lining of the stomach. Thus, allowing your dog to eat more than a few florets can cause stomach trouble.

Carrots

Got some leftover carrots in your pantry? Good news: you can freely feed your pooch this root veggie. You shouldn’t worry about the vitamin A content because it is in the form of beta-carotene. Thus, your pooch’s body will only convert it if it needs the extra boost. If not, it’ll just pass straight through.

Carrots are also great for another reason: they help to strengthen your dog’s teeth. So the more carrots, the better!

Onions

Dogs can’t eat onions. That’s because onions are part of the allium family of vegetables (including chives, garlic, and spring onions) which contain poisonous chemicals. For instance, onions can cause your dog’s red blood cells to rupture and spill their contents. It can also lead to diarrhoea, stomach pain, and vomiting.

Spinach

Strangely, dogs can eat spinach and it won’t harm them. However, spinach is high in oxalates which can cause kidney stones and block calcium absorption. So, ideally, you should avoid feeding your dog very large quantities of this vegetable.

Raspberries

While raspberries are a type of berry, it turns out that they are fine for dogs to eat in moderation. Compared to many other fruits, raspberries are low in sugar and calories and contain high levels of vitamin C and manganese. Their high antioxidant capacity makes them a great supplement for older dogs.

Strawberries

Like raspberries, strawberries are also safe for dogs. Many owners give their dogs strawberries because of an enzyme they contain that helps to whiten teeth. Strawberries are also exceptionally low in both sugar and calories, meaning that weight gain is unlikely.

Asparagus

There’s nothing particularly toxic about asparagus for dogs. However, the stem vegetable doesn’t provide much nutrition, meaning that you’re much better off sprinkling it over your pasta dish and not feeding it to your pooch.

You can give asparagus to your dog raw, but they might not like it. You can also give it cooked. But boiling it for too long removes many of the beneficial nutrients.

Watermelon

Watermelon is a popular human food that always leaves you wanting more! But can you feed it to your dog?

It turns out that you can. However, you’ll need to remove the rind and seeds before giving it to your pooch as these can cause intestinal blockages.

Tomatoes

In the nineteenth century, many people were afraid to eat tomatoes because they believed they were poisonous. The worry concerned a chemical called solanine which appears in green tomatoes. People thought that if they ate tomatoes, it would cause their blood to curdle.

In the end, science and experience showed that tomatoes were not toxic to people. However, they did appear to be dangerous to dogs.

Dogs can eat a small amount of fully ripe tomatoes. However, eating tomatoes with any green on them can be dangerous. So, for this reason, most owners avoid giving their pooches tomatoes altogether.

Brussel Sprouts

Brussel sprouts are a member of the cruciferous vegetable family, alongside kale and cauliflower. They are full of nutrients and a healthy snack for both people and dogs.

However, overfeeding Brussels can cause problems. Dogs that gorge themselves can develop flatulence.

Celery

Celery is safe to feed dogs and a great way to get them to eat more healthily. The stem vegetable is a little bit like cucumber in the sense that it provides negative calories. Dogs require more energy to digest and process the food than they derive from it, making it a great addition to any obese dog’s life.

Celery also contains natural antimicrobial factors that freshen your dog’s breath. When they eat celery, the crunchy snack rubs against their teeth and gums, removing unwanted bacteria and plaque deposits.

Mushrooms

In general, dogs should not eat mushrooms. That’s because mushrooms aren’t just a single species – they’re actually many thousands of different types, some of which are poisonous.

There are only around fifty to one hundred mushroom species poisonous to humans worldwide among a population of nearly 50,000. However, nobody has yet done full toxicology tests on dogs. The majority are likely safe, but some might not be.

Feeding your dogs white mushrooms from the supermarket is probably safe. But anything more exotic than that is a risk you should avoid.

Peas

Peas are a happy addition to most dog’s food. What’s more, you can include practically any type of pea in their diet. Sugarsnap, snow peas, and garden peas are all allowed. Just be careful not to feed your pooch canned peas that contain added sodium. Too much salt can harm your dog.

Green Beans

Like peas, green beans are generally safe for dogs to eat. They’re packed with vitamins and minerals, and also contain a lot of fiber. Where possible, feed fresh raw green beans. Avoid products with added sauces or extra salt.

Pineapple

Can dogs eat pineapple? Strangely enough, they can. Pineapple is actually a great treat for dogs with a sweet tooth when training. Dogs will happily eat chunk after chunk as a reward for all their hard work.

Pineapple is also helpful for nutrient-deficient dogs. The tropical fruit contains a chemical called bromelain that increases nutrient absorption via the stomach and improves the uptake of protein.

Pears

Pears are another fruit that’s suitable for dogs. You can feed it in small amounts, either fresh or broken up into pieces. Just be sure that you remove the pit first. Don’t use canned pears or any products with added sugar.

Peaches

Just like pears, dogs can safely eat a small number of peaches from time to time as a treat. However, you must remove the stone first. Not only is it a choking hazard, but it also contains cyanide which is poisonous to dogs.

Dogs love peaches in the summer. Their fruity taste and bright appearance both chime well with the season.

Oranges

Many pet owners believe that citrus fruits are off the menu. But that’s not the case for dogs. It turns out that pooches can safely eat oranges because they do not contain any harmful chemicals that might damage your dog’s organs.

Whether they will actually want to eat oranges, however, remains another question. Many dogs naturally dislike the strong smell and taste, and so won’t eat citrus of their own volition

Mango

Research indicates that dogs can eat mango with no adverse effects. However, you’ll need to remove the pit first as it can be a choking hazard. Also, remember that mango is high in sugar, so you’ll want to keep quantities low.

So, there you have it: a list of fruits and veggies and whether you can feed them to your pooch.

Dogs are omnivorous, just like people. But they aren’t scavengers in the way that we are, so you have to be a little more careful about what you feed them compared to your kids!

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