Which Green Veggies are Best for Dogs?
Doggie Safe Green Veggies
Dogs are actually omnivores despite many people believing they are natural carnivores. While a dog in the wild might not be snacking on spinach and broccoli, many dog foods are formulated with vegetables for their health benefits. Your dog doesn’t need a huge amount of vegetables every day in order to maintain a healthy diet. However, the occasional vegetable treat won’t cause any harm and will actually benefit your dog. Let’s look into some green vegetables that are safe for your dog to snack on!
Broccoli
This green vegetable is safe for dogs to eat, cooked, or raw. Be sure that the broccoli is free of oils and seasoning which your dog shouldn’t be consuming. Plain is best! Broccoli is full of fiber, low in fat, and has vitamin C & K. The vitamin K found in broccoli promotes strong, healthy bones. When paired with the other great nutrients in broccoli, this vegetable works great for growing pups!
Give your dog bite-size pieces of broccoli and give it only as a treat. Too much broccoli can cause gastric irritation due to the isothiocyanates found in the florets. A piece or two while you’re preparing dinner is totally safe! Our dehydrated base mix contains all-natural, healthy broccoli.
Green Peas
Green peas are the perfect snack for dogs. This tiny vegetable is high in vitamin A, K, and B vitamins. It is an excellent source of fiber, zinc, iron, and potassium. All of these vitamins and minerals work together to benefit your dog's overall health. This includes healthy eyes, skin, digestion, and even an immune system boost!
Serving your dog fresh peas from your garden is the healthiest option. During the summer you can even freeze the peas before giving them to your dog for a cool, crunchy snack. Avoid canned peas because they come loaded with sodium.
Celery
A very popular weight loss vegetable for humans, celery is great for dogs as well! Low in fat and sugar, celery is high in vitamins and fiber. These vitamins include vitamins A, C, & K. Celery has even been known to help fight bad doggie breath!
Add some fresh chopped celery into your dog's wet or dry food for a yummy added crunch. You can even add some dog-safe peanut butter on top for an extra special treat. (sugar Our grain-free dehydrated base mixes also contain a healthy amount of celery!
Spinach
This green leafy vegetable is a favorite with the humans, what about dogs? Of course! This delicious veggie is full of vitamins A, B, C, & K. It also has iron, beta-carotene, antioxidants, and roughage. These vitamins and minerals boost the immune system and energy levels. Spinach should be cooked and chopped up for easy digestion. You can add this to your dog's food or add it into a homemade treat recipe.
Kale
Kale is safe to give your dog in small quantities. Kale is an excellent source of vitamin C & K, beta-carotene, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. All of these vitamins and minerals work together to support your dog's muscles, vision, immune system, and so much more! Kale should always be given to your dog cooked. This is because raw kale is difficult to chew and can cause gastrointestinal upset and even kidney stones. You can add kale into a homemade meal and balance it out with healthy protein. If you want to feed your dog a gourmet meal, our Wheat-Free Dehydrated Base Mix is made with all-natural fruits and veggies, including kale!
Cucumber
When you think of a cool, hydrating vegetable you probably think of cucumbers. This green veggie is safe to share with your pup in small quantities. Water makes up 96% of cucumbers, making them a super healthy treat option. They are full of vitamin C & K, magnesium, and potassium. This crunchy vegetable can be given as a refreshing treat or used as a topper for your dog's food. If you have a teething puppy, freeze some chunks of cucumber for a cooling teether treat. Be sure to peel the cucumber and remove the gooey seeded center before giving to your dog. The seeds can cause an upset tummy so just cut your cucumber in half, scrape out the seeds with a spoon, and chop it into manageable sizes.
Green Beans
This fiber-rich vegetable contains vitamins A, C, & K, as well as a healthy dose of magnesium. Healthy fiber helps keep your dog feeling full for a longer amount of time without the extra calories. Magnesium will help your dog's body absorb the vitamins easier. The vitamins found in green beans help your dog's immune system, bone health, and heart health. Green beans can be given cooked or fresh, just be sure that they are not seasoned or been tossed in oil or butter. Try adding these on top of your dog's food or as a treat. Our Grain-Free Dehydrated Base Mix comes with green beans plus many other beneficial fruits and vegetables.