Certain vegetables are a great addition to your dog’s diet – low in calories and high in vitamins and fiber – but not always appreciated by your dog unless they are mixed with other ingredients. Although your dog probably won’t be begging for broccoli, there are ways to include veggies in her diet that she will enjoy.
According to the American Kennel Club, the only completely safe veggies for canines are:
- Broccoli (florets), cauliflower (florets), Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery
- Green beans, peas
- Carrots, corn/popcorn
- Sweet potato, pumpkin, squash, zucchini, butternut squash
You may want to enrich your dog’s diet with these suggestions, or hunt for interesting recipes online:
- Peel if necessary, and then dice, grate, or mash vegetables to fold into regular meals.
- Air-pop popcorn without salt or butter for a healthy treat.
- Dehydrate slices for chew treats.
- Freeze fresh slices to chew on a hot day.
- Mash with broth and bits of meat to make ice cube treats.
- Mince vegetables and mix with natural xylitol-free peanut butter and banana, oatmeal or applesauce for a ‘sloppy’ snack with lots of flavor.
- Celery ‘chew sticks’ coated with natural xylitol-free peanut butter. Celery also helps to clear up doggy breath.
- Combine mixed vegetables with egg, milk, Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs to make cooked fritters.
- Creative homemade dog biscuit recipes that can be found online include oatmeal/turkey/sweet potato and pumpkin/oatmeal/PB/carrot/zucchini.
Crunchy green beans and carrots are recommended by the ASPCA as good additions to the daily meal to help your pup trim down while still feeling full.
It will be interesting to learn which foods she likes, but probably it will probably not be love at first bite. Dogs are creatures of habit, so introduce just a little of the new flavor into her regular food, when you know she is truly hungry. Try salmon with green beans, beef and carrots, or chicken and peas. Cooking the vegetables first to make them softer, more flavorful and more aromatic, may increase your pet’s interest.
You might try offering a new snack dipped in broth to attract more attention.
The additional flavor in your dog’s meals will make mealtime more enjoyable. Have fun together experimenting with flavors!
Heron’s Crossing provides end-of-life care for pets in the Metro Atlanta area. In-home appointments with compassionate vets are available. If you’d prefer a home-like setting away from your home, our Decatur office is also available by appointment.