While you’re prepping your family’s dinner, does your dog dance in front of your cutting board, ready to snap up stray string beans? Do they crave cabbage and pine for pumpkin? While your pup’s fixation on “rabbit food” may seem odd, it’s perfectly normal — and healthy — for them to occasionally eat greens.
Regular dog food is optimized for most dogs’ needs, but adding vegetables can provide great health benefits too. “The active components of a plant can provide powerful micronutrients,” says Dr. Jane Morse, a holistic veterinarian in the Washington, D.C. area.
While your dog may not be choosy when it comes to produce, not all are appropriate for pups. These vet-approved picks, along with serving recommendations, are great for sharing with your four-legged foodie.
What veggies are good for dogs?
The best colorful vegetables and fruits for dogs have a high concentration of phytonutrients rich in disease-fighting antioxidants and help eye and brain function. That said, it’s important to remember that while dogs are omnivores, they are mainly carnivorous and don’t need vegetables like people do.
“Adding additional foods to a dog’s diet has the potential to make the diet unbalanced,” explains Susan Lauten, who has a doctorate in biomedical sciences and is the owner of Pet Nutrition Consulting in Knoxville, Tennessee. “If he doesn’t eat his entire day’s food because he likes the supplements better, his diet becomes unbalanced.” Always check with a veterinarian first to ensure dogs are getting the best nutrition.
Best vegetables for dogs
Here are 20 vet-approved, healthy vegetables for dogs to serve as snacks and treats.
1. Asparagus
Add lightly steamed asparagus tips (cut into small pieces to prevent choking) to a dog’s meal for extra variety, flavor, vitamins and minerals. Sometimes a new flavor or texture is all it takes to renew interest in their usual food.
2. Broccoli
Broccoli stalks boost immunity, help ward off cancer and fight arthritic inflammation. Dr. Ashly Smith, regional medical director for Small Door Veterinary, notes that while broccoli is safe when fed in small amounts, and can be given raw or steamed, large portions can cause gas due to the veggie’s high fiber content.
3. Carrots
Carrots are a slightly sweet, crunchy treat that many dogs love to eat raw. Beta-carotene, the antioxidant that gives this veggie its vibrant color, has potent disease-fighting properties. They can be shredded, chopped or your dog can gnaw on them like a long-lasting dental chew. Smith recommends freezing carrots to make gum-massaging snacks for teething puppies.
4. Green Beans
If your dog has trouble maintaining a healthy weight, their veterinarian may recommend replacing up to 5% of their meals with green beans, which can be frozen, raw or steamed, the experts say. Green beans are high in fiber and can help your dog feel satiated on a reduced-calorie diet. They can also help aid digestion and bowel regulation, and have a moderate amount of heart-healthy omega-3s.
5. Kale
You may know kale is a superfood for people, but did you know it also offers many of the same benefits for dogs? The leafy green may help fight heart disease, arthritis, allergies and urinary tract problems. While too much can cause gas and bloating, adding one ounce of steamed, chopped or dried kale to your dog’s meal can boost its health value.
“[Spinach is] safe in small amounts, but avoid overfeeding due to its oxalate content, which can interfere with calcium absorption.”
— Dr. Ashly Smith, regional medical director, Small Door Veterinary
6. Mushrooms
Though technically a fungus, not a vegetable, mushrooms earn their spot on our list with their disease-fighting antioxidants and digestion-boosting water and fiber content. Store-bought mushrooms like buttons, cremini, portabellos and oysters are all safe for dogs to eat raw or cooked. Some wild varieties can be toxic, though, so avoid letting your dog scavenge their own ‘shrooms from the yard.
7. Parsley
Parsley, with its antimicrobial properties, can help fight bacteria that cause dental disease and bad breath in dogs. It also adds potassium for muscle and joint health and beta carotene for vision health. Add a sprinkle of chopped fresh or dried parsley to your dog’s meal.
8. Pumpkin
Pumpkin is an excellent source of both soluble (hydrating) and insoluble (bulking) fiber, which is why veterinarians recommend it when your dog has constipation or diarrhea. Most dogs love the taste of canned, pureed pumpkin. Replace up to a quarter of your dog’s meal with the same amount of canned pumpkin until their system has regulated.
9. Sweet potato
These tasty tubers are another great source of disease-fighting antioxidants like beta-carotene. They can be sliced thin and dehydrated to make chewy treats, or steamed then mashed or cubed and added to meals. Replace part of your dog’s regular food with mashed sweet potatoes to change up their routine while boosting health at the same time.
10. Zucchini
A few ounces of raw or frozen zucchini shredded over a meal adds water and fiber to a dog’s diet. Zucchini and other squash is great for keeping your dog lean by helping them feel satisfied with fewer calories. Smith notes that some varieties may need to be deseeded, and should be prepared without butter or seasonings.
11. Spinach
Like other leafy greens, spinach is packed with antioxidants that can help fight cancer and signs of aging in dogs. “[Spinach is] safe in small amounts, but avoid overfeeding due to its oxalate content, which can interfere with calcium absorption,” says Smith.
12. Celery
Though it’s not as nutrient-dense as other veggies, celery is comprised of about 95% water, making it a great hydration boost for your dog when served occasionally. The stringy fibers can pose a choking hazard, though, so it should be steamed or chopped before feeding.
13. Bell Peppers
A sweet, crunchy snack, Smith says, “Red, yellow, and green bell peppers are safe; remove seeds and stems for easy digestion.” As a matter of fact, bell peppers are all of the same variety. Green bell peppers are picked early, but if left on the vine, they will turn yellow, then red. Red bell peppers, picked last, have the highest concentration of antioxidants.
14. Cabbage
Cabbage is a highly underrated superfood, especially if you choose the purple variety. Anthocyanins, which lend purple cabbage its pretty color, are an antioxidant that helps protect against inflammation and may help slow the growth of certain cancers. Smith says that while the leafy veggie is safe when cooked or steamed, it can cause gas if fed raw. She also notes that sauerkraut should be avoided due to its high sodium content.
15. Beets
This sweet root veggie is another unexpected powerhouse of nutrients that dogs can enjoy. “Cooked beets are fine, but in small quantities,” notes Smith. “Their sugar content can cause digestive upset in excess. They also may turn your dog’s urine pink or red.”
16. Corn
Corn is a safe snack for dogs in moderation, but it’s high in natural sugar and the fibrous kernels can be hard to digest. It can be fed raw, cooked or even popped. PetMD recommends sprinkling frozen kernels over your dog’s meals for a crunchy treat. The cob can cause choking and bowel obstruction, though, so it should never be given whole for your dog to gnaw. Loose kernels are fair game — just make sure to skip the butter and salt.
17. Cauliflower
Cauliflower is an excellent source of vitamins C and K, which are beneficial to the immune system and help the body absorb calcium to support strong bones. Like many other veggies on this list, it can cause gassiness if fed raw. “Steamed or roasted, it’s safe, but introduce it slowly to avoid digestive upset,” Smith recommends.
“Treat veggies as supplements to your dog’s diet — not a replacement.”
— Dr. Ashly Smith
18. Cucumbers
Cucumbers, like celery, are mostly water and make a good source of hydration, even if they aren’t as vitamin-rich as other veggies. Skip the pickles, though, to spare your dog the sodium and potentially harmful seasonings like garlic and onion.
19. Brussels Sprouts
These bite-sized buds are related to cabbages and have a similar nutritional profile. Serve cooked or steamed, and skip the bacon grease — while pork trimmings are a must-have to make these veggies palatable to many humans, excessive fat can lead to acute pancreatitis in dogs, the experts caution.
20. Legumes
Beans, peas and lentils are all nutritious plants that produce pods, which contain edible seeds called pulses. These fibrous seeds contain moderate amounts of protein and lots of heart-healthy iron and folate.
In 2018, legumes in pet foods were suspected to contribute to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a form of heart disease in dogs; however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) investigation has not found any link between the disease and these ingredients. Still, while these nutrient-dense seeds can be a good snack for some dogs, your veterinarian may recommend avoiding them for DCM-prone breeds like the doberman pinscher, boxer and Great Dane.
The bottom line
Supplementing your dog’s diet with safe amounts of healthy vegetables may improve their health and prolong their life for many happy years; however, feeding your dog vegetables isn’t a substitute for taking them to a licensed expert who can diagnose and treat illnesses or serious conditions.
Signs of disease or discomfort should always be brought up with your veterinarian. And even healthy foods should be introduced slowly, one at a time, and fed in moderation.
Offering veggies on occasion can be a great way to use up extra produce and enhance your dog’s diet. But while vegetables are optional, feeding your dog a complete, balanced diet is not. “Treat veggies as supplements to your dog’s diet — not a replacement,” says Smith. “They should make up no more than 10% of their daily food intake.”
*Additional reporting by Cara J. Stevens.
