Why Don't Dogs Like Vegetables?

When it comes to eating vegetables, dogs can behave like children. Many dogs don't care for vegetables and they have to be disguised within meat or other food. The structure of their digestive system, metabolism and body structure can make some vegetables difficult to digest and even harmful for a dog.

  1. The Digestive System of a Dog

    • Dogs are carnivores, or meat eaters, and have a digestive system that differs from plant eating animals, or herbivores. The digestive tract of most herbivores is long, which aids the digestion process. Food travels slowly down the digestive tract, where it is broken down into simpler forms; enzymes in the digestive tract help break the food particles down. The digestive tract of a dog is far shorter than that of herbivores, so hard-to-digest foods -- such as vegetables -- are not easily broken down and absorbed.

    Sense of Smell

    • The smell of the food is far more important to a dog than the taste, according to Best Dog Food Guide.com. Seefido.com adds that a dog's entire anatomy is designed for the consumption and digestion of meat and that dogs, due to their heightened sense of smell, instinctively know which foods are good for them and which foods are not. If a particular vegetable is harmful or toxic to a dog, they can smell it.

    Taste Buds

    • Dogs have far fewer taste buds than humans: about 1700, to a human's 9000. Flavors are not as robust for dogs, which is one reason they eat so quickly. Work Dogs.com states that dog food companies test many types of foods on dogs to see which flavors they prefer. Most will prefer a type of meat to cereals and most vegetables. Finally, Elizabeth Parker states in her article, "Finicky Fido to Chowhound Charley," that dogs don't enjoy foods that taste bitter. Vegetables, such as onions or broccoli, taste bitter and are repulsive to dogs.

    Toxic Vegetables

    • Some vegetables can cause a dog to become ill, and some even are toxic to dogs. For example, onions can cause gastrointestinal upset and even destroy the dog's red blood cells. Mushrooms can cause vomiting, and if eaten over time, can cause liver and kidney damage. All parts of an avocado are toxic to a dog and can cause fluid accumulation in the chest, as well as difficulty breathing.