Are fruits and veggies good for dogs

Your dog deserves the best diet available to them. While your veterinarian can recommend a high-quality dog food for your dog’s breed, size, and lifestyle, supplementing your dog's diet with fruits and vegetables can greatly benefit your furry pal. 

Fruits and vegetables are tasty, and are full of disease-fighting antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Lots of dogs enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables added to their diet, and you will know you are providing the best foods for your best friend. 

In this guide, we’ll talk about some of the reasons why giving your dog fruits and vegetables in addition to their normal meals can help keep them healthy, and which foods are simply pawrific for pups!

Benefits of fruits and veggies

Why are fruits and vegetables good for your dog?

Boosts Nutrition

Your dog's dog food has the nutrition they require to grow, play, and thrive, including lean proteins, fat, and carbohydrates. Adding fruits and vegetables to these meals provides several additional vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids not always found in processed dog food, and can give them a nutrition boost. Some dogs, such as large breeds, require additional vitamins to aid in rapid bone growth, and many fruits and vegetables are an excellent way to meet these dietary requirements.

Fights Disease

Fruits and vegetables are filled with antioxidants and vitamins which helps your dog fight disease. Antioxidants are powerful at fighting abnormal cell growth and the free radicals your dog's body naturally produces, and counteracting the damage these free radicals do to your dog’s healthy cells. Antioxidants are also known for fighting against cancers and boosting your dog's immunity, so they are less likely to become ill. Adding fresh fruits and vegetables to your dog’s diet is an easy way to fight disease naturally.

Keeps the Body Hydrated

Fruits and vegetables are naturally filled with water your dog needs. While keeping your dog hydrated is essential for overall health, it is especially beneficial for fighting kidney disease and dysfunction. Keeping your dog hydrated can also help prevent bladder stones from forming within your dog's bladder, kidney stones from forming within the kidneys, and blockages from occurring from the stones. Always offer your dog clean and fresh water, and supplement their diet with fruits and vegetables for their overall health.

Offers Natural Fiber

Fruits and vegetables contain natural fiber which is better for the body than the processed fiber found in most commercial dog foods. Plant fiber is highly nutritious and also better for your dogs than fiber found in grains. Soluble fiber that comes from vegetables is digested later in your dog's system, helping to keep your dog regular and fight diseases in your dog's digestive system. 

Safe fruits and veggies for dogs

There are many fruits and vegetables that are completely safe to give your furry, four-footed buddy. Be sure to remove all seeds, pits and cores from any fruits, and try steaming some of the tougher veggies to soften them up a bit to help ease digestion before serving up to your pooch. Safe produce to try with your dog include:

Avoid these fruits and veggies for dogs

Not all fruits and vegetables are safe for our doggos. While any food has the possibility of causing an allergic reaction in certain pups, these particular foods can be downright toxic! Foods to avoid include:

How to feed your dog veggies and fruits

Start to introduce fresh fruits and vegetables early when your dog is a puppy. Most can be fed to your dog in their raw or cooked state, although some dogs may prefer one or the other. And always check with your vet to make sure you’re providing the best options possible for your doggo’s needs. 

Looking for ideas on how to incorporate fruits and veggies into your dog’s diet? They can be offered in a number of ways, such as:

• Baked into a yummy veggie casserole with quinoa or rice

• Formed and baked into crunchy treats

• Cooked, steamed or raw bite-sized chunks mixed in with regular meals

• Handed out as training incentives 

• Whirled greens and/or fruits into a dog-licious smoothie

• Given instead of bones and rawhides, such as raw carrots

So, go ahead, and spoil your pup with healthy and safe fruits and veggies that'll make their tail wag! And be sure to check out the many other Wellness guides on Wag! 

A high-quality diet is essential for keeping your dog happy and healthy. If your dog may be at risk of developing food allergies or digestive issues, check out our pet insurance comparison tool. Brought to you by Pet Insurer, Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like Figo and Healthy Paws. 

Can I feed my dog fruits and vegetables everyday?

Which fruits and vegetables are good for dogs?

Is it OK to feed dogs vegetables everyday?

What fruits should be avoided for dogs?