Instructions
Review the ASPCA's list of foods that are potentially toxic to pets. Do not give your dog foods on this list. As of June 2011, the ASPCA's list of potentially toxic foods includes several vegetables, such as avocado, onions, garlic and chives. While onions, garlic and chives can cause gastrointestinal issues, avocado can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Other foods on the ASPCA list include chocolate, coffee, caffeine, alcohol, macadamia nuts, grapes, raisins, yeast dough, xylitol, milk and undercooked or raw meat, eggs and bones.
Look up the salt content in the vegetables or vegetable dish you plan to give your dog. Sodium ion poisoning in pets can result from an excess of salt in the diet. Pets can also experience thirst and excessive urination from salt. Therefore, vegetables in the form of potato chips or other similar snacks should not be offered to your dog. Vegetable stock with added salt or soups made from salty stock, or any other dish with added salt or a naturally high salt content, should not form part of the dog's diet.
Monitor your dog's reaction for several hours after you feed it any vegetables as a treat. The ASPCA notes that although ripe tomatoes, for example, have no known toxicity to dogs, green tomatoes and the green parts of a tomato plant can cause a range of symptoms from stomach upset to confusion and weakness. Any new addition to a dog's diet can cause a reaction in your dog. The ASPCA notes that a dog's diet should only be composed of 5 to 10 percent of such treats. A high-quality dog food should constitute the majority of your dog's diet.
Speak with your veterinarian before feeding your dog vegetables and as soon as you suspect any adverse reactions to a change in diet. Your vet is an expert in canine health and will know your particular dog's health history. Listen to your vet's recommendations as what may seem like a small change in your pet's food can have a big consequence to its health and well-being.
How to Decide Whether to Feed Your Dog Vegetables
It's not uncommon for dogs to ask for foods that may make them sick. Like humans, what dogs want to eat is not always what is healthiest for them. The ASPCA recommends that dogs eat a high-quality, nutritionally complete pet food and states that owners should avoid giving people food to their pets. While some vegetables may be all right for dogs to eat, others may in fact be toxic; take care when emptying those scraps into your puppy's bowl.