Last week I talked about guidelines as to what fruits and vegetables to feed, or not feed, your cat. This week I would like to discuss treats or snacks that are, and are not, appropriate for dogs. Again, always consult your veterinarian before you incorporate diet changes, especially if your dog is on a prescription diet or has allergies. And remember, any of these fruits or veggies, when eaten in large quantities, may cause a problem. Still, dogs are naturally omnivores, that tolerate a variety of foods. Cats, on the other hand are obligate carnivores, having evolved on a diet excluding fruits or vegetables. Cats are not always attracted to the sweetness of some fruits and vegetables, yet there may be flavors or textures associated with these types of foods that certain cats find attractive. And, dogs can eat some things that cats cannot. So if you have both dogs and cats, try to refer to both posts and offer snacks appropriately.
Best options for fruits and vegetables for DOGS:
– Carrots
-Green beans
– Broccoli
– Squash/zucchini
– Cooked sweet potato
– Apples (without seeds)
– Peas
– Cucumber
– Bananas (offering frozen bananas keeps the squishy mess to a minimum) 🙂
Bad/ Unrecommended fruit and vegetables for DOGS:
– Onions, garlic, leeks or chives , contain organosulfoxides, that are toxic to pets.
Cooking does NOT reduce their toxicity potential
– 
Grapes or raisins – can cause illness and kidney damage
– Raw potatoes
– Wild mushrooms
– Apple cores with seeds (also avoid seeds from other fruits, such as watermelon)
– Stone fruits – for their potential to cause choking and obstruction (BAD< BAD< BAD)
– Rhubarb leaves ( the stems are safe)
Hopefully you found this helpful, and will not automatically give what you are eating to your dog (or cat).
If in doubt, don’t.
Dr. Dawn
Please share and subscribe here
