Can You Feed Dogs Garden Greens?

Whether you are looking to feed your dog a homemade diet or looking for healthy snack foods, garden greens offer a variety of nutritional benefits and feeding options for your canine companion. Your garden can be a wonderful source of nutrition for your dog, but at the same time, some garden plants can pose a toxic threat.

  1. Types of Greens

    • Many fruits and vegetables coming from your garden, such as carrots, pumpkin and sweet potatoes, provide a wealth of nutrients for your dog. When it comes to garden greens, some of the top choices include broccoli, lettuce varieties, spinach, kale, cabbage, celery, mustard greens, parsley and bok choy.

    Benefits of Greens

    • Greens provide a variety of nutritional benefits for your dog. For example, spinach provides iron, beta carotene, calcium, potassium, vitamins A, B6 and K, as well as dietary fiber. Celery provides calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, iron and vitamins A, B and C. It also contains phthalides and coumarin that reduce cholesterol and cancer risk. Broccoli contains vitamins A, C, D and beta carotene while also providing a source of fiber, keeping your dog regular.

    Serving Suggestions

    • As with any new dietary change, introduce garden greens to your dog̵7;s diet slowly. Watch for diarrhea or loose stools, as well as gas. As far as preparation, raw vegetables can make a healthy treat but due to a short digestive system, dogs are not able to break down as many of the nutrients in the raw form. Breaking down the vegetables through pureeing or cooking offers increased nutritional benefits. When cooking, consider steaming or baking. If your dog prefers the crunchiness of raw greens, cook for a reduced amount of time or consider snacks such as kale chips.

    Vegetables and Fruits to Avoid

    • While most greens found in the garden are safe and beneficial for your dog, some vegetables and fruits can be toxic. Avoid feeding garlic, onions, grapes or raisins, tomatoes, avocados, mushrooms and rhubarb greens. These are toxic and can cause gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms, internal bleeding, kidney failure and even death.