HOW ADDING VEGETABLES AND FRUITS TO YOUR DOG’S DIET IMPROVES THEIR HEALTH

Remember how you were always told to eat your vegetables growing up? That’s because we know how rich in vitamins and minerals they are. And dogs can benefit just as much as we can from all those important nutrients!

Even though commercial-grade dry dog food is technically nutritionally-balanced, it’s still a highly processed food; many nutrients are therefore lost during the high-heat processing used to produce it. Adding back even a little bit of that lost freshness through fresh vegetables and fruit is an easy way you can make a huge difference to your dog’s health.

Fresh vegetables and fruits contain many anti-inflammatory phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, fiber, enzymes and moisture. Some people are sometimes skeptical about adding these to their dog’s diet (they are carnivores after all, right?), but research has shown that they greatly benefit our canine companions. In fact, one of the more well-known studies conducted on Scottish Terriers (known for their higher chance of bladder cancer) showed that dark leafy greens added to their commercial kibble diet reduced their chances of getting cancer by 90% – and orange-yellow veggies (like carrots), by 70%. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16013542/)

Steaming, finely grating or puréeing some dog-friendly vegetables and fruits is the best way to serve them to your dog. Avoid feeding whole chunks of raw veggies or fruits as these will tend to simply “pass through them” without much benefit. Fruits and vegetables can make up anywhere from 5-20% of the diet, depending on the individual dog.

Some good veggie options include:

• Leafy greens (spinach, kale, arugula)
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Brussels sprouts
• Green beans
• Carrots
• Bell peppers
• Squash and pumpkin

Some good fruit options include:

• Berries (blueberries, strawberries, cranberries)
• Apples (skin and seeds removed)
• Pears
• Pineapple
• Watermelon
• Cantaloupe
• Papaya

Fruits and vegetables to AVOID:

• Grapes, raisins and currents
• Onions
• Cherries
• Rhubarb
• Macadamia nuts
• Avocado

You don’t have to feed vegetables and fruits every day to benefit your dog! Feed what you have on hand, and rotate the types you feed to add variety to their diet over time. Even a little bit of fresh food added regularly can make a huge difference to your furry friend’s life, the same way adding a few extra servings of vegetables to a person’s diet each week can help improve theirs.

Please note: when introducing any new food item, try small amounts to start and see how your dog responds. If all is well, you can work your way up to a full serving.