No matter what you have fed your dog, they always seem to be hungry. Moreover, they are so in love with everything you are eating that it’s hard to say no to them.
Some of you might think that people’s food is not suitable for your furry friend, but there are non-starchy vegetables, which can be a part of your dog’s food. Which means you can always share your food with friends.
The next time you want to spoil your four-legged family member’s with some treat, go for these vegetables. Not only these vegetables are healthy, but will also act as digestion booster. Let’s begin without much ado:
Vegetables for Dogs
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Brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts are rich in antioxidants and fiber, which helps in improving overall blood circulation and reduces inflammation in the body.
Depending on the size of your dog, serve only one to three sprouts at a time. Make sure you slice each sprout while removing the hard and nubby stem.
You can both roast and boil Brussels sprouts before serving and it will be an amazing treat for your tiny family member.
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Asparagus
Asparagus is the powerhouse of Vitamin A, B1, B2, C, E, and K, fiber, potassium, manganese, folate, and iron copper.
Remove the fibrous ends, sprinkle a little of olive oil and grill for 30 to 60 seconds from all sides. Do not feed more than one to two pieces in one day.
Asparagus is also tough to chew, so make sure you cut it into small pieces and never serve it raw.
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Broccoli
Broccoli is meant for boosting the immunity in your furry friend. Along with this, it also fights against arthritic inflammation and chances of cancer.
However, you should always stick to a small proportion, as broccoli has the tendency of the upsetting stomach.
For an accurate value, it should cover just 5% of your dog’s food.
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Carrots
Carrot sticks are a great alternative to your dog’s traditional food. Seeing the increased obesity rate among dog’s this is a must-have snack for your furry friend.
It’s a low-calorie treat that won’t add up any inches to their waistline. On the other hand, your Little Pea will be relieved of his teething discomfort. Cut the carrot into small chunks before feeding.
Last but not the least; it’s a great way to fulfill the demand of beta-carotene and Vitamin A in your dog’s body.
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Kale
Dietary fiber, beta-carotene, vitamins A and C, and antioxidants are a few nutrients to be found abundantly in Kale.
To be fed, it needs to be either steamed or dried. Chop it into small forms, then steam or dry it. Do not feed more than one ounce, else it will cause bloating.
Kale is also known for fighting allergies, urinary tract problems, and heart diseases. In fact, it offers more iron per ounce than beef.
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Mushrooms
Mushroom is a complicated food product, even for human beings. If you want to include it in your dog’s food, go for washed mushroom from a nearby supermarket.
In case, you are confused with mushroom, it should not be a compulsory addition to your dog’s food. Just make it an alternative now and then.
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Parsley
No one can deny that dog’s breath smells a little weird. If you want it gone, parsley would be the savior.
Along with being an ideal breath-freshener, it also improves the joint health and eyes of your dog. All you need to do is sprinkle some chopped parsley in your dog’s meal.
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Zucchini (Courgette)
Zucchini (aka courgette) is meant to keep his tummy full, allowing them to maintain their body weight.
100 grams of zucchini contains 29% of Vitamin C, 10% of Vitamin B-6, 4% Vitamin A, and 4% magnesium. It will also fulfill the need of fiber and water in the food.
Feed your four-pawed friends with raw or frozen zucchini.
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Green Beans
Green beans are the powerhouse of fibers. Want to feed your dog without adding much of calories to his diet? Fresh, steamed, or cooked beans would be a great alternative.
All sorts of green beans are safe to serve, just make sure it is plain. Serving it whole or with any other ingredients should be avoided.
Feed it as an alternative to dog biscuits and it will fill most of the nutritional demands, including iron, protein, calcium, and vitamin A, B6, C, and K.
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Pumpkin
Is your dog suffering from constipation or diarrhea? Ease it up with the high fiber content of pumpkin.
Most dogs love purred pumpkin, you can add an ounce of pumpkin puree to your dog’s food. However, it should not be fed every day, because of the high sugar content.
We recommend serving it only till the time, his bowel moments have returned to normal. Never serve raw and spiced pumpkin.
Pumpkin is also rich in fatty acids, which is considered good for their fur and skin.
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Spinach
Spinach works almost the same way on dog’s health as it does on human health. This leafy green vegetable is super loaded with nutritional benefits.
Some of the main nutrients found in it are vitamins A, B, C, and K, manganese, folate, fiber, iron, and calcium.
Add slightly chopped and cooked spinach into your dog’s daily meal and serve it once a day. It will help in maintaining energy level, heart health, and immune system.
Here is a spinach recipe you can try.
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Sweet Potatoes
Once again, your dog has a choice of vegetable which is full of fibers and vitamin B6. Sweet potato also contains mineral and beta-carotene, which is said to act against heart diseases and cancer.
Add a tablespoon of chopped, steam, or boiled sweet potatoes in his meal to enhance his mood. No wonder he is going to love the sweet and tangy taste.
Want to have a complete look at its nutritional value, have a look here for Sweet potato.
Conclusion: Vegetable can be a great alternative for snacks in your dog’s meal. However, you should limit its quantity in every day’s food. Do not add any salt or much of oil in these vegetables as it might alter the nutrient’s value. Just take all these precautions and let your dog have a change of taste.
