The Best Fruit & Veggies to Feed a 4-Month-Old Puppy

Starting your puppy on a raw diet early in life benefits the pet's future health greatly. Many packaged puppy chows are composed of primarily by-products and grains, which is not the optimum nutrition. A raw diet means you feed only fruits, vegetables, some dairy and grains, and meat to your dog. It naturally cleans teeth, keeps the dog's system clean and costs less in the long run. When it comes to the fruits and vegetables you should feed a young puppy, it is important to either chop them up finely raw or cooked, or blend them together into a puree.

  1. Fruit

    • When you feed your puppy fruit, you must finely chop it up into a mixture or else puree the chopped pieces in a blender for easier consumption, particularly for young puppies. The best fruit to feed puppies includes apples (boosts the immune system with potassium and pepsin), pears, grapefruit, oranges and bananas (in small amounts). Always make sure seeds are removed from the fruit since they are toxic to puppies. You can feed your puppy a fruit serving daily.

    Raw Vegetables

    • When you feed your puppy vegetables, you must steam the vegetables and finely chop them up into a mixture, or else puree the chopped steamed pieces in a blender for easier consumption, particularly for young puppies. The best vegetables to feed your puppy includes broccoli (lots of vitamins and minerals), carrots (rich in vitamins), cabbage (boosts digestive system and improves skin), cucumber (potassium content improves bones and teeth, and when pureed is a great diuretic), celery (chopped or juiced; can help with arthritis), green beans (low-calorie treat), kale (rich in antioxidants and reduces allergy symptoms), green or yellow squash, asparagus, and spinach. Your puppy can have one serving of vegetables per day.

    Herbs

    • Some herbs and oils can be incorporated into your puppy's diet in small doses for added benefits. Add a couple cloves minced and mashed up to the vegetable mixture once or twice a week to help repel fleas and ticks, and to remove waste from the blood. Chop up parsley raw and sprinkle it on top the puppy's food once or twice per week to reduce allergy symptoms and improve kidney function. Tofu is a good protein supplement, and grasses such as barley help deter your puppy from eating grass on the lawn, helping his digestive system. Add a tablespoon per day to the fruit or vegetables of olive or sesame oil to improve skin and fur health.