Vegetables Your Dog Can Eat

It’s fun to be able to share food with our dogs: Both ends of the leash get enjoyment out of it! Veggies are healthy for everyone and can make a nice low-calorie treat for dogs. But when you feed vegetables to your dog, you need to make sure they are safe for them, as not all are. It’s important to not accidently feed your dog something that is poisonous! Here is a list of some vegetables your dog can eat safely.

Sweet Potato

Found in a lot of dog foods as an alternative to white potatoes, sweet potato is safe for dogs to eat. It even has some health benefits like supporting digestive health with a high fibre content. Sweet potatoes also contain vitamins B6, C, and A. Being low in fat, they are a good snack for the dog that’s watching their weight. You can mix canned sweet potato into your dog’s kibble (make sure nothing has been added like spices or sugar!). Dehydrated sweet potatoes makes a nice chewy treat.

Pumpkin

We all know pumpkin is amazing for your dog’s digestive system. It’s also low in fat and promotes urinary tract health. Like sweet potato, you can put canned pumpkin on your dog’s food: it can help with both constipation and diarrhea. Canned pumpkin is actually a bit more nutritious than fresh, since fresh contains more water. Pumpkin is also a great flavour base if you are making your own dog treats at home.

Carrots

If you have a dog that is on a diet and/or always acts hungry, carrots can be a good solution. Carrots contain high levels of vitamin A, fibre, potassium and beta-carotene, a powerful anti-oxidant that aids in improving eyesight. A whole frozen carrot can be great for a teething puppy. Cut up, they make great, low-calorie training treats. You can also give your dog cooked carrots.

Green Beans

Another treat many dogs like, green beans are rich in vitamin K, riboflavin, dietary fibre and niacin. Like carrots, they can make a great training treat for dogs that need to watch fat or calorie intake.

Acorn Squash

Not a vegetable you see people talking about much, but acorn squash is safe for your dog to eat and has some benefits too! Like pumpkin, it’s rich in vitamins A, C, B6, and E, minerals (including potassium, magnesium and calcium), dietary fibre and antioxidant compounds. Being 90% water, fresh acorn squash can help a dog with digestive trouble, or if you are worried your dog is not drinking enough.

Green Peas

Peas are found in some dog foods and contain some great nutrients including folate, manganese, magnesium, thiamin and phosphorus. Frozen peas are great for training treats too!

Spinach

Spinach is safe for dogs as well, though maybe not as palatable to most as some veggies on this list. It is a great source of vitamin K, magnesium, folate, manganese and zinc.

Broccoli

Broccoli is safe for dogs and is an excellent source of vitamins K, C, B6, E and A, fibre, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. Just remember that broccoli can have the same effect on dogs as it does people, so if your dog starts to emit unsavoury fumes, you may want to forgo this treat. Dogs with digestive trouble should avoid. If you feed it cooked, leave off the cheese and salt!

Brussel Sprouts

Brussel Sprouts are also safe for dogs, but can also cause gas. If your dog does not seem bothered by them, however, they do have antioxidants, vitamins including K and C, and fibre.

Zucchini

Safe for dogs, zucchini is full of good nutrients! It is an excellent source of manganese and vitamin C, as well as a good source for magnesium, vitamin A, dietary fibre, potassium, copper, folate and phosphorus. But that’s not all! Zucchini is also a good source of vitamins B1, B2, B6, calcium, zinc, niacin and protein. Like carrots, you can give it to a teething puppy frozen, or slice it up for training treats.

Beets

Another vegetable that is safe for your dog is beets. Though some may not be a fan of the taste, they offer vitamin C, fibre, manganese, potassium and folate. Just make sure your dog does not carry them around the house, or you will have beet stains everywhere!

Celery

Celery is safe for dogs to eat and is low in calories, making it good for treat training and for dogs needing to watch their weight, but always seem hungry. A frozen stick is great for teething puppies! Celery contains vitamins A, K, C and B5, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and fibre. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help dogs with joint issues.

Just remember that, like everything else, feed vegetables to your dog in moderation. Anything, even something healthy, can be bad if fed too much. Take your dog’s size into consideration when sharing treats or adding fresh veggies to their food. A teacup Chihuahua can only eat a tiny amount, whereas a Great Dane could be fed more. Also watch for signs of allergies or sensitives and stop feeding if you see itching, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. It’s best to introduce new foods one at a time and in small amounts, so you know which is the culprit. Otherwise, toss up that salad and save some for your dog: it’s good for you both!

Maryanne

Are dogs able to eat corn?

RobertMaryanne

Hi Maryanne, Corn Cobs are probably the biggest culprit for obstructions in the bowel for dogs that result in operations to cut the cob out. I have heard of so many instances where a dog has found an old corn cob and tried to eat it. So don't leave them on compost heaps as most dogs will try eat them. Corn out of a can is not very digestible so will come out the other end almost the same as it went in. Ground and cooked corn can be eaten by dogs but there are so many more nutritious foods out there so it really isn't advised to feed corn to dogs in any form.

Kerri

Appreciate the percentage recommendations! Tip to mash pumpkin and make own treats is motivating

Dianne

I was glad to read your article as we always mix cooked Vegetables with my dogs canned food. We include many of the vegetables you mention and it was good to have confirmation that the ones we are giving are beneficial. I haven’t tried zucchini so will have to add this to the mix. Thanks for all your informative emails, always helpful and good to know.

Margaret

Oops!!

That should read: 'my dogs'.

Margaret

Hi Robert, Thanks for that information re vegetables for my dogs. As things turn out, the only ones I haven't used for my dogs are:
Beets; Squash; Brussel Sprouts. All the others are normally eaten by me 4 dogs all the time. Keeps them happy an there's nothing left in the dishes.

Narelle

Thanks for the article Robert, few vegetables there I wasn't aware my dog could have. He does however love red capsicum, in fact I can't make a salad without being pestered to share. Is there a limit to how much he can have ?

RobertNarelle

Hi Narelle, as far as i know there is no limit to how much red capsicum a dog can eat. That said I would recommend feeding up to 30% vegies in a dogs diet.

Deb Pomeroy

Can dogs eat potatoes?

RobertDeb Pomeroy

Yes. But if they eat green parts, like leaves, from the garden that could be toxic.

Deb Pomeroy

Which of the above veggies are best cooked for dogs. For instance, carrots are best cooked for humans to get the best out of the nutrients.

RobertDeb Pomeroy

Hi Deb, I like cooking Carrots and broccoli for dogs, I find they get a bit more out of them when cooked. You can feed them raw but they seem to come out the other end not as well digested as when they are cooked.

Ingrid Burnett

Excellent article. How about raw tomatoes? My Doberman just loves them.

RobertIngrid Burnett

Hi Ingrid, Ripe tomatoes are fine. You may want to watch your dog if it is eating green tomatoes as they could cause issues.

Col

Thanks for the vege info, great ideas for summer with the frozen zucchini & carrots!
I have a question though, about GARLIC? I myself, am allergic to garlic, & earlier this year my adopted elderly, 14 yr old Greyhound/Rhodesian Ridgeback was diagnosed with food allergies after a year of regurgitating, hacking, vomiting & obvious breathing difficulties. Buying Single Protein Diet Food is helping. (Lamb, Roo & seafood). However, it infuriates me so many SPD foods & treats have GARLIC in them? Why on earth do they put a veg that's supposed to be toxic to dogs in a specialised food for dogs with extremely sensitive guts & allergies? .. & charge exorbitant prices I must add.

RobertCol

Hi Colleen. So Garlic can be toxic in very large amounts to dogs. But in small amounts its actually beneficial. It has so many antibacterial and antifungal properties that its a great choice as a supplement for dogs. The type of fiber it contains is also good for the good gut bacteria. Definitely worth a try for dogs with stomach and skin issues.

Loretta Phillips

My 13year old bischon/shitzu has been diagnosed with liver problems and cushing disease ..we have always fed her a raw diet of human grade roo mince and veges..I have now changed her diet to cooked chicken and vege...vets don't give out too much info..I checked out the net...she has picked up after having 2 teeth removed..?????

RobertLoretta Phillips

Hi Lorretta, older dogs are just prone health problems and although there are always triggers and contributors the general commonality is the old age. If you only feed Chicken and vegetable you may want to consider feeding at least 50% of the diet as a complete and balanced food like Stay Loyal. Just feeding chicken and vegies could lead to dietary deficiencies.

Bea

Thanks so much this was so helpful

Marcia Hauser

Is cauliflower not suitable for dogs ?

RobertMarcia Hauser

Hi Marcia. Yes cauliflower is fine in moderation for dogs.

Andrew Bahnsen

Thanks for the info I usually give my dogs half steamed chopped up broccoli and red cabbage but might experiment with different veges. They only have about 80gms combined each day with your kibble and raw meats.

RobertAndrew Bahnsen

Hi Andrew, that sounds like a good plan. Keep up the good work.

Fox

I'd like to add cucumber to this list. It's my favourite veggie—I'll just eat it whole like a piece of fruit—and I give my dog the trimmed-off ends which he LOVES. I think it's particularly because of they're crunchy and cold, since he also loves eating frozen peas and ice cubes.

Frank Dean

Thanks again for your interesting articles
The vegetables list you gave was good
Unfortunately owning a Dalmatian PEAS are a definite no no due to being high in Purines which along with some other foods Sardines etc cause Urate bladder stones
We've had our standard poodle & Dalmatian using your product for years without issues but other Dalmatians may have issues
Thanks again

Robyn

Thank you Rob very helpful as some veggies as we like to keep him trim. By the way loving his new food, Chicken, lamb and fish.

Lorraine Kelly

Thank you Rob for another very informative article. I always look forward to your newsletters and do gain a lot of knowledge about things for my dogs that I otherwise wouldn’t know.

RobertLorraine Kelly

You are very welcome Lorraine.

Guest

Our whippet loves all those vegetables and we give them to her regularly both in her food or as a snack. Thank you for the article it was excellent. So much nutrition in vegetables. I prefer them given raw as I always feel cooking them destroys some of the vitamins.
Again thank you. Julia

RobertGuest

Hi Julia, Its true that cooking them does destroy some nutrition. However often the digestibility goes up so much that its often more nutritious to cook them. Feeding both cooked and raw could be the best way to get all the benefits all good food provides.

Frank Chou

Is kale safe for dogs ?

Thanks

RobertFrank Chou

Hi Frank, yes Kale is fine in moderation.