There are three major macronutrients in food: protein, fat, and carbohydrates. They have the potential to raise blood glucose at a faster rate and are also higher in calories than non-starchy vegetables. Some believe their dog’s overall health, and especially their haircoat, would benefit from a raw food diet. Starch is metabolized into individual glucose molecules after enzymatic digestion and is used as a source of energy. Chances are, she’s currently giving him the eyes and begging to go to the park. There are many other dog-safe, low glycemic vegetables. Some people worry that oxalates in this healthy vegetable can cause kidney issues in canine, but it does not affect them when given moderation. Best Vegetables for Dogs: Canine-Friendly Veggies, © Copyright 2021 by K9 Of Mine / Marrsipan Media LLC |, Snow peas, sugar peas, English peas, and snap peas, pumpkin is a fantastic “vegetable” for your dog. Kale. Lower fat diets require an additional energy source and starchy vegetables prove useful for dogs who cannot tolerate high-fat diets. However, dogs have a very low conversion rate and cats are unable to convert beta-carotene to retinol. She’ll then chew on it for hours before getting bored and hiding it somewhere (I throw the carrot carcass away after a single “use”). I don’t add the vegetable mix to each meal, instead, I mix it into big batches of raw when doing meal prep. Garlic is in the allium family of vegetables where it contains the powerful anti-microbial compounds from allicin and anti-inflammatory compounds from quercetin. You can add as much or as little as you’d like depending on how much of your dog’s diet you want to be vegetables. There are multiple types of carbohydrates and each type provides different benefits to dogs. So, don’t use peas as a way of skimping on the meat – just use peas as a supplemental protein source. Many raw diets are lacking fiber which promotes a healthy colon and firm stool consistency. Top Nutrients Sweet potatoes are high on the glycemic index chart due to the amount of starches present. Dogs can be given the occasional raw, fresh vegetable such as a carrot, celery stalk or cucumber. Vegetables with a low GI value (55 or less) are more slowly digested, absorbed, and metabolized. A raw dog food diet emphasizes uncooked meat (often muscle and organ meat), whole or crushed bones, fruits, vegetables, raw eggs and some dairy. Peas are packed with protein, fiber, and a ton of vitamins, including most of the B-complex vitamins, as well as Vitamins A, C, and K. As with green beans, you’ll want to skip the canned varieties and select raw or frozen ones. Many pet owners offer carrots, green beans, or broccoli to … Raw broccoli is very low on the glycemic index, with lots of fiber and few sugars. Happy New Year from the Perfectly Rawsome tea, We are offering 15% off on all Perfectly Raws, Meal time with @hugos.world don't forget to t, We wish all of our amazing clients and follow, ️ Daily meal for Michelle's two Ibizan Hound, Meal prep with @nolorlin don't forget to tag, BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) model. Carrots are awesome vegetables for dogs. Microgreens from a variety of seeds are highly nutritious and are not to be confused with sprouts. Options include carrots, sweet potato, winter squash, summer squash, and yellow/orange sweet peppers. Most dogs seem to like the way green beans taste, and they’re easy to cook – just steam or boil them until they soften. The addition of vegetables provides essential nutrients, beneficial phytonutrients, soluble and insoluble fiber to a raw diet for dogs. Beta-carotene is a precursor to Vitamin A as the body must convert it to retinol, it’s usable form in the body. Spinach is a green leafy vegetable rich in Vitamin A, B, C, and K. It has nutritional benefits for both humans and dogs. Your dog’s diet should be about 10% fruits and vegetables. Admittedly, potatoes don’t seem like a “real” vegetable (culinarily, they’re usually used as starches rather than vegetables), but your dog doesn’t care about any of that. In order for starches to be enzymatically digested and utilized for energy, they must be thoroughly cooked prior to feeding. Anthocyanins act as a powerful antioxidant protecting cells from damage. While dogs do not require vegetables to have a balanced diet, vegetables prove useful in diet formulation to ensure the diet includes all essential nutrients. Blue and purple produce are rich in phytonutrients, including anthocyanins and resveratrol, and have been studied extensively for their anti-cancer and anti-aging properties. Do dogs need fruits and vegetables for optimal health? Vegetation can be added to your dog’s meals daily. Let’s get … Microgreens’ nutrient content is concentrated, which means they often contain higher vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant levels than the same quantity of mature greens. The ones listed above are examples of common low glycemic vegetables found in a local supermarket, but other leafy greens can be used for more variety in raw diets. As long as you prepare them sensibly (just cut ‘em up and boil them – don’t feed your dog raw potatoes) and use them in moderation (they can cause insulin spikes), they won’t cause any problems. Best Dog Foods for Puppies: Top Wet & Dry Food For Your Fur Baby! Fermented foods is a way to provide naturally occurring probiotics through fresh food versus man-made supplements. The term carbohydrate is all encompassing of different carbohydrate types such as starch, fiber, and sugar. Including a reasonable amount of vegetables in your dog’s diet will not be a “strain” on your dog’s pancreas, nor will it create issues with nutrient absorption from anti-nutrients. It is full of antioxidants, fiber, and Vitamins A and C. And pumpkin is also helpful for dogs who are suffering from diarrhea, as its fiber content can help firm up your dog’s stool. Cauliflower is similar to broccoli in its nutritional make-up and is an ideal food for diabetic dogs. While you don’t need to add vegetables to your dog’s diet, it doesn’t mean that you can’t. Phytonutrients are chemical compounds naturally created by plants to ward off predators, parasites, and disease. Top Nutrients Technicalities aside, pumpkin is a fantastic “vegetable” for your dog. The method selected does not matter as long as the vegetable is thoroughly cooked prior to feeding. Ben’s had the chance to work with hundreds of different species, but his favorite animals have always been dogs. Carbohydrates: 1.1 grams Pumpkin is clearly a vegetable in the culinary sense of the word, so let’s just move on. Carrots are full of Vitamin A (like with other vegetables, the Vitamin A is provided in the form of Beta Carotene, so you don’t have to worry about Vitamin A toxicity) and they also provide a pretty good helping of Vitamin K and fiber. A lot of people who feed their dogs a raw diet do so because they see it as being a more “natural” option to traditional dog food. However, some vegetables and other common foods can be toxic for dogs, so it’s important to get informed before feeding your dog anything you’re unsure about. They also have a fair bit of fiber, and they can sometimes be useful in firming up your dog’s poop (although they’ll be greenish-blue). Whether you are switching from kibble, wet food or cooked food, you should see a clean plate within seconds. In addition to providing starch for energy, beetroot is particularly high in folate, magnesium, and potassium. In general, the best vegetables for dogs are the leafy green kind, for the great variety of vitamins they contain, antioxidant properties, fiber and endless benefits. Most commercial pet food companies and “BARF diet” raw feeders believe fruits and vegetables belong in a dog’s diet. Beta-carotene is another widely studied carotenoid found in yellow and orange pigmented vegetables. A good way for dogs to get the full nutrients of the vegetables is to puree them.. No matter how you prepare vegetables for your dogs, do not use salt. However, they are not the only ones, because many vegetables are rich in highly recommended beta-carotenes. By In 1993, Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst proposed extending the diet to family dogs. Broccoli is full of all the good stuff your dog needs, including most of the important vitamins. Dogs Like Veggies, Too. It is entirely acceptable to feed your dog a pure kibble diet. Additionally, vegetables provide other benefits outside of their nutritional content. Dog Food However, dogs do produce pancreatic enzymes for carbohydrate and starch digestion. But you have to be careful when picking vegetables for your pooch, as some are poisonous or otherwise unsuitable for canines. 2010, Wakshlag 2010, Rizzo et al. Ben Team ), and they’re incorporated into a number of foods – including commercial and homemade varieties. Spinach is high in fiber, low in carbohydrates, and does not have any starch or sugar. Each one is not only safe, but nutritious too. Both are powerful carotenoids known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits against free radicals. Options include garlic, mushrooms, ginger, turnip, and cauliflower. Chopped, steamed, raw, or canned – all types of green beans are safe for dogs to eat, as long as they are plain. Top Nutrients There are many other dog-safe, starchy vegetables. The top nutrients are based on 1oz (28g) of fully cooked butternut squash. Just try to experiment with the different ones on this list if you really want your dog to get more vegetables in her diet. You can give it to your dog raw, but she’ll digest it more readily (and probably appreciate the taste more) if you boil or steam it for a few minutes. The cooked seeds are also safe for your dog. Winter squash such as Butternut Squash has a low glycemic index in comparison to other starchy vegetables. This leafy green is high in magnesium, folate, and manganese. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Steaming is probably the best way to prepare brussels sprouts, but any oil-free cooking method will work. Sweet potato contains manganese, vitamin A and vitamin C. Oatmeal, rice and other grains. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that is resistant to enzymatic digestion in the stomach and small intestine. Just steer clear of those listed below. You have successfully joined our pup pack. At least 50 percent of your dog's veggies should be leafy greens. As long as your dog eats a nutritionally balanced food that meets the AAFCO guidelines for her life stage, she won’t need any extra vegetables. April 2, 2019 They’re an important part of both human and canine diets. Options include beets, chard stems, and eggplant. Options include kale, spinach, chard, asparagus, broccoli, snap beans, zucchini, avocado, bok choy, and cucumber. Whether you make your dog’s dinner from scratch or you just want to spoil her with an unusual treat from time to time, it pays to learn about some of the best vegetables for dogs. They have a lot of fiber and nutrients, including Vitamins A, C, K, and several members of the B-complex group. I don’t want to hear it, nerds. Try a few and let us know what your pooch thinks! Snow peas, sugar peas, English peas, and snap peas are all great vegetables for dogs. As a rule of thumb, if people can eat it raw, then so can dogs. Ian Billinghurst, a pioneer in feeding raw food to dogs, recommends that people following a BARF (biologically appropriate raw food or bones and raw food) diet feed about 60 percent raw meaty bones (RMB) and 40 percent vegetables and other food (eggs, organs, and so on). Depending on your dog's size, age, and weight, it'll need a certain amount of protein and fat, so you'll need to research this first. High in carbs, don’t feed if your dog eats kibble. Dark leafy greens, such as kale, contain over 50 phytonutrients including kaempferol and quercetin. My dogs adore coconut meat, papaya, and blueberries too. Additionally, K9ofMine.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links. Since dogs are unable to grind plant ingredients in their mouth and do not produce salivary enzymes to begin starch digestion in their mouth, it is recommended to process vegetables to allow for optimal enzymatic digestion. Or you can mix their diet up with some cooked or raw meat, fish, vegetables and rice. K9ofMine.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Do not feed this starchy vegetable raw due to the presence of trypsin inhibitors which negatively affects protein digestion. Low glycemic vegetables are beneficial for many of their phytonutrient benefits as well as the addition of fiber. While we provide information resourced and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. When feeding vegetable matter to dogs it makes them need to produce more enzymes to help deal with the carbohydrate load, which the carnivore body is not, designed to deal with. Many raw feeders use silicone paw print or bone molds. Carrots and celery, in particular, can help clean the gum line of dogs who enjoy “chewing” their vegetables. If you’re on the lookout for new and fun ways to rev up your furry best friend’s diet, adding fruits & vegetables can be a really healthy way to do that. The five shades of the rainbow provide a specific type of phytonutrient within each color group. Vegetables prove useful to complete nutritional holes in diets without the frequent use of whole prey. Why do people feed raw diets? To prepare pumpkin for your punkin’, cut it into cubes and boil it. Greens also have numerous health benefits. Kaempferol is an antioxidant shown to protect the body against cancer-promoting free radicals and quercetin is an antioxidant flavonoid also shown to protect the body against free radicals. Some dogs love the crunch of fresh vegetable, while others prefer the softness of steamed veggies. White and brown produce may not be deeply pigmented in vibrant colors as other vegetables, but they still have phytonutrients. Otherwise the starch becomes resistant to enzymatic digestion and is fermented in the colon. This vegetable is jam-packed with beneficial phytonutrients as well as essential nutrients beneficial for optimal health. Vegetables prove useful to complete nutritional holes in diets without the frequent use of whole prey. Fine for a raw diet, but a kibble-based diet is already high in carbohydrates. A List of Which Raw Vegetables Are Good for Your Dog | Cuteness The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g). Fiber: 0.7 grams Green beans are full of manganese, Vitamins A, C, K, and several in the B-complex, and a not-insignificant amount of protein, so they’re a great dietary item for dogs. The bright and vibrant red hue of many vegetables is due to lycopene and anthocyanins. However, some you might want to feed in moderation out of concern for excess gas. Starches: 0 grams Fiber fermentation promotes the creation of Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) which is ideal for maintaining a healthy colon. Top Nutrients There are several dog-friendly vegetables, including carrots, celery, green beans, peas, and spinach. Other vegetables such as squash and brussel sprouts should not be given to your dog for raw eating because they are too hard to digest. Peas are great for boosting the protein content of a homemade dog food, although you should note that your dog won’t be able to absorb plant-based proteins as well as she can animal-based proteins. Raw diets usually contain a combination of raw meat and other uncooked ingredients such as certain fruits and vegetables. Note that some dogs have more vegetable-friendly palates than others, so don’t feel bad if your dog politely declines the greens and roots you offer. Sweet potatoes are rich in just about every Vitamin your dog needs, aside from Vitamin D, and they’re loaded with fiber too. Variety Options