Healthy Vegetables for Dogs: Feed Those Greens

As kids, many of us turned our noses up at veggies, and we told we weren’t leaving the table until those peas were gone. Now, as adults, we know the truth; veggies are good for our health. But they aren’t just good for us – they’re also great for our furry family members. Want to know which vegetables for dogs are best? We’ve create a list of some of our faves!

The Benefits of Vegetables for Dogs

If you’re thinking that your pup doesn’t need veggies in her diet, think again! Many vegetables are chock full of essential vitamins and nutrients that can help keep your dog healthy.

In fact, many vegetables are full of disease-fighting antioxidants that can seriously boost your dog’s health! They’re also full of healthy phytochemical that offer a ton of benefits, including:

• Alkaloids – improve heart function
• Flavanols – improve blood vessel function
• Terpenoids – can prevent metabolic disorders, fight cancer, exert anti-aging benefits
• Polysaccharides – great for a healthy gut
• Anthocyanins – improve immune, heart and cognitive function and fight cancer
• Curcuminoids – have you heard about the benefits of turmeric yet?

And not only that, most vegetables are low in calories, making them great treats that won’t add up to added pounds (and that’s a very good thing).

Our Favorite Vegetables for Dogs

These are some of our favorite vegetables for dogs. Switch them up, adding a few pieces to your dog’s meals or feeding as a healthy treat.

• Asparagus – Great source of Vitamin K. Good source of vitamins A, B1, B2, C and E, folate, iron copper, fiber, manganese, and potassium.

• Sweet Potato – Great source of vitamin A. Good source of vitamins C, B6 and B5, manganese, potassium, and fiber.

• Broccoli – Great source of vitamins C and K. Good source of vitamin A, folate, manganese, and fiber.

• Cauliflower – Great source of vitamin C. Good source of vitamins K and B6, folate, and choline.

• Brussel Sprouts – Great source of vitamins K and C. Good source of manganese, folate, fiber, potassium and vitamins A, B1 and B6.

• Kale – A real superfood!

• Green Beans – Good source of vitamins C, K and A, manganese, and fiber.

• Zucchini – Great source of vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium.

• Red and yellow bell peppers – Great source of beta carotene, fiber, and antioxidants.

• Pumpkin – Great source of fiber, rich in vitamins and minerals, and is a good source of water.

• Spinach – Contains almost every vitamin and mineral there is!

So, now you know which ones are good, but how do you feed them?

How to Feed Your Dog Veggies

Some dogs like veggies, which makes feeding them super easy. Others are like us as kids and will turn their noses up at something that doesn’t smell like bacon. For this reason, it’s good to have a few different ways to prep those greens (and red and yellows).

A note before feeding: buy organic vegetables whenever you can and give them a good rinse. Thoroughly wash and peel veggies that are store-bought and not organic. Rinse off your homegrown produce to remove bugs and dirt.

Raw – many dogs enjoy vegetables raw, which makes it an easy way to feed them. However, dogs have short digestive systems and don’t get as many nutrients from raw veg as humans do. Still, there’s no harm in feeding raw veggies as a treat – they’re still good for them

Pureed or steamed – Dogs get more nutrients from veggies if they’re lightly steamed or pureed. This makes them easier to digest. Toss them in a blender and whip them up, either raw or steam. If you steam them, don’t overcook them.

Dehydrated – Dehydrated vegetables offer all the benefits of raw, including minimal processing and high bioavailability of nutrients. The gentle heating slowly cooks the veggies without compromising their nutrient value, and dehydrating also helps kickstart the digestion process, making it easier for your pet to digest them.

No matter how you prep vegetables for dogs, stay away from the salt. Dogs don’t need it and it doesn’t do anything for their health. We promise, they’ll be happy with them just as they are.