Adding fruit and vegetables to your dog’s diet can be highly beneficial for several reasons, alongside the fact that they can make a great healthy alternative to shop bought treats and are also often low in calories.
Benefits of adding fruit and vegetables include:-
Nutritional balance – there are lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that contribute to a balanced diet for dogs. These nutrients support various bodily functions, including immune health, digestion, and skin and coat condition.
Weight management – as many are low in calories, they are great for your dog to snack on if you need to watch their weight and make great fillers to their meals.
Fibre: Many fruits and vegetables are rich in dietary fibre, which aids digestion and helps regulate bowel movements. This can be particularly beneficial for dogs with digestive issues or weight management concerns.
Dental Health: Chewing on crunchy fruits and vegetables can help clean dogs teeth and gums, reducing plaque and tartar buildup and promoting better oral health.
Here is some examples of “Safe” fruit and vegetables.
Apple - They contain antioxidants, fibre, potassium, calcium, and lots of vitamins, including A and C. Be sure to remove the core and seeds before feeding to your dog.
Banana - Containing a fantastic range of nutrients from potassium to fibre and vitamins but are high in sugar content so feed sparingly.
Watermelon – This is a superfood for dogs. It's packed with potassium, vitamin A, B6, and C. Because of the high-water content, it’s great for helping keep your dog hydrated on hot days. Be sure to remove the rind and seeds.
Blueberries – Fresh or frozen these make a fantastic low-calorie treat for dogs. They also contain antioxidants, fibre and vitamins C and K. Studies have also found blueberries can prevent and reduce urinary tract infection symptoms.
Peas – For such a small vegetable peas are packed full of protein and fibre, they are also rich in iron and other vitamins and minerals that can help support your dogs immune system, digestion, and overall health.
Cucumber - A great source of vitamins and are another great low-calorie treat you can give your dog, especially if they need to lose weight. Many dogs love the cool crisp crunch of a piece of cucumber, containing a high percentage of water frozen slices of cucumber make a great healthy treat on a hot day.
Peppers – Bell peppers not chilli peppers are a great healthy snack or addition to your dog’s dinner. All coloured peppers are safe, with red peppers offering the most nutritional value being rich in vitamin A. Dogs love the crunch texture which can help keep their teeth clean as well.
Carrots – cooked or raw again these make a healthy treat for your dog, packed full of vitamin A, biotin, and vitamin B6, and they're low in calories. Another top benefit of sharing carrot chunks with your puppy is, they help to keep their teeth clean!
Lettuce - romaine and iceberg lettuce varieties are great in small quantities for dogs. Lettuce is made up of 90% water so while it contains lots of healthy vitamins you would need to feed a lot to get the nutritional value. However, lettuce is still great for your dog on a hot day, a cool snack and helps keep their hydration.
Pumpkin – This is a great addition to any dog’s diet because it’s full of fibre, vitamins, and minerals, and is great for a dog’s digestive system. It’s also wonderful at helping dogs who are suffering with digestive issues like constipation or diarrhoea – always remember to remove the skin and seeds.
When feeding different foods to your dog, always remember to remove seeds, pips, cores, and hard skin such as pumpkin skin. Always feed in small amounts as a little treat for your dog, whilst feeding fruit and vegetables in small quantities is good for your dog, they do not replace their regular diet.