Dogs may be primarily carnivores, but that doesn’t mean certain fruit and vegetables are not only enjoyable for them, but can also be an added source of essential vitamins and minerals necessary for good health and longevity. In fact dogs fed on kibble or manufactured canned foods, which often include high levels of processed grains and synthetic nutrients, can often be seriously lacking in certain nutrients that can be found in fruits and vegetables.
My own dog eats the BARF diet – Paws Around Berkshire Barf Diet article – which comprises mainly raw meat and meaty bones. However, he also munches a raw carrot every day, which he loves and which seems to help keep his teeth clean, and he now also gets a small portion of the fruit and vegetable juices we recently started making every day for ourselves. The juices I give him are usually a combination of broccoli, celery, spinach and wheatgrass, which I pour over his main meal of raw minced meat but, as a result of my research for this article, I think I will start adding in a few other juices, especially fruits, from now on too.
It is worth remembering that dogs don’t have the enzymes to break down the cellulose walls of many fruits and vegetables, which is why it is better to remove peel before feeding and/or serve juiced to ensure the nutrients are absorbed. Carrot, for example, if fed to your dog whole, passes straight through almost unchanged and I suspect this would be true for many other fruits/vegetables too.
Here is our list of the top fruit and vegetables your dog should be able to safely enjoy and which may also provide some of the health benefits we can get from them. Your dog won’t like all of them, but you can experiment to see what he/she likes best:
Broccoli – Apart from broccoli’s nutrient-rich and cancer-fighting properties, it also features sulforphane, a compound that helps boost the immune system.
Note: Too much broccoli can reduce thyroid function in dogs, so feed in moderation.
Carrot – Carrots nourish the optic nerve and promote good visual health. They are also a great source of pro vitamin beta carotene, a nutrient that can be converted into vitamin A. Beta carotene is also a powerful antioxidant that can help to prevent cancer.
Celery – Celery contains a chemical called ’3-n-butyl phthalide’, which gives it its particular taste and smell and is also a powerful tumour-fighting agent. Celery is also reputed to lower blood pressure and reduce nervousness in animals.
Beans – Green beans contain silicon, vitamin K, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous, all of which promote bone health.
Beetroot – because it contain nitrate, fresh beetroot juice has been shown to reduce blood pressure and increase stamina in humans. Beetroots and are rich in vitamins as well as calcium, iron and potassium.
Watercress – Watercress is a powerful neutricutical (natural food with medicinal properties) and is high in vitamins A and C, and iron. It also contains Isothiocyanates (ITCs), which may have a protective effect on cancers of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, and quercetin, one of natures strongest anti-inflammatories.
Spinach – Spinach contains twice as much iron as many other green vegetables and is also a good source of fibre, calcium, potassium, and vitamins A, B6 and K. It is particularly good for protecting against inflammatory and cardiovascular problems in dogs.
Sweet Potato – Sweet potato is inexpensive and easy to prepare, and is usually readily accepted by most dogs. The juice is higher in beta carotene than carrots and is also rich in cancer fighting phytochemicals.
Pumpkin – Pumpkin is especially good if your dog suffers from diarrhoea or constipation because it not only softens hard stools but also absorbs water which helps alleviate diarrhoea.
Note: only feed fresh pumpkin. Tinned pumpkin is usually full of preservatives and sugars, which are not good for your dog. In the UK, it is often difficult to find fresh pumpkin except around Halloween time, but you can dice it or juice it and then freeze it for use at other times of the year.
Cantaloupe Melon – Cantaloupe is a particularly good fruit to feed to dogs because it is usually not allergenic, so most dogs will be able to tolerate it without experiencing an allergic reaction.
Apple – Apples are an excellent source of vitamin C for dogs, and apple skin contains high levels of vitamin A and pectin, a fibre that can improve digestion by strengthening intestinal muscles. Pectin also works to get rid of toxins in the intestinal tract and creates short-chain fatty acids that keep away dangerous bacteria.
Pear – Pears also contain pectin to help strengthen intestines, and their fibre content can be particularly good for dogs who suffer from constipation or irregularity.
Important – remember that not all dogs are the same and what may suit one, could upset another. Only ever introduce new foods gradually and in very small potions, and keep a close watch on your dog for any signs that they are unwell as a result of any new food substance.
Fruits and Vegetables to Avoid:
While some fruits and vegetables can be healthy for your dog, others could cause serious damage. Here is a list of those to avoid:
Onions – Onions can cause the development of Heinz body anaemia and also kidney damage. Symptoms include lethargy, red urine and discoloration of the lungs.
Grapes – Grapes can cause renal failure. Similarly, do not feed any dried grapes – eg raisins, sultanas etc.
Avocado – although it is not certain that avocado is bad for dogs, it can be toxic to a number of animals, including horses and rabbits, so probably is not worth risking.
Citrus Fruits – some dogs will be fine with a small amount of citrus fruit, but many can find them hard to digest and may even cause vomiting or diarrhoea. Feed with caution.
All Fruit Seeds and Stones – can cause cyanide poisoning
Mushrooms – contain an alkaloid which may cause liver and kidney damage.
Eggplant, Peppers and Tomatoes – They can all cause inflammatory problems such as arthritis as well as damage the nervous system.
For further information:
http://www.barfworld.com/html/barf_diet/barfdiet_specific.shtml
http://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/10-fruits-veggies-aid-dog-nutrition1.htm
http://factoidz.com/fruits-and-vegetables-for-dogs/
Fruit and vegetables for cats
While there is still some debate about whether dogs are true carnivores given the variety of foods they can process, cats are definitely carnivorous and will only thrive on a good, high protein meat diet. Therefore, while certain vegetables such as carrot, spinach, green beans, peas, pumpkin and broccoli, may be served in very small potions along with their meat, cats do not need or really benefit from vegetables or fruits. They do however, as we all know, enjoy munching grass and if you grow them some wheatgrass in a pot, they will not only get great pleasure from chewing it, it will also be very good for their overall health – Eating Grass? Try Wheatgrass.
