Safe Fruits & Veggies for Dogs

Fruits and vegetables can provide flavor and variety to your dog's balanced diet while adding important vitamins, minerals, enzymes and roughage. Although most fruits and vegetables are perfectly safe for your dog, some need additional preparation to be safe and a few are unsafe.

  1. Vegetables Safe for Dogs

    • Most vegetables are safe to feed dogs raw or cooked. These vegetables include carrots, collard greens, chopped parsley, zucchini and other soft squash, lettuce and other mixed greens, green beans, cucumbers, celery, kale, spinach and bell peppers.

      Vegetables in general are rich in vitamins A and C as well as minerals. Vitamin A promotes a strong immune system and is essential to skeletal growth, eye function, healthy skin and mucous membranes. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system by combatting the effects of free radicals and promoting cell growth. Minerals work in conjunction with vitamins to facilitate bone and cartilage formation, the transportation of oxygen to the blood, normal functioning of muscles and nerves, and the production of hormones.

    Fruits Safe for Dogs

    • Dogs can safely consume a large variety of fruits, including cantaloupe, watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, apricots and bananas.

    Vegetables to Cook First

    • Some vegetables should be steamed or cooked before being fed to dogs. These include peas, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes and hard squash such as winter squash.

    Fruits and Vegetables Not Safe for Dogs

    • Grapes and raisins contain a toxin that can cause acute renal failure. Apple, pear, peach and cherry seeds contain small amounts of cyanide, a powerful toxin, so don't give these fruits to your dog or remove the seeds before you do. Onions and garlic contain high concentrations of thiosulphate and should not be fed to dogs. These vegetables, known as alliums, can damage red blood cells, impairing their ability to carry oxygen.