With pumpkins on every doorstep this week and the veg patch giving up its last autumn treasures, we’re often asked about vegetables for dogs. Do dogs need them? Which ones are worth adding? And how do you serve them so your dog actually gets something from them? Here’s our friendly, no-pressure guide, with a gut health twist.
Do dogs need vegetables?
Let’s start with the big question about vegetables for dogs. Dogs are meat eaters first and foremost, and one of our favourite voices on this, Dr Conor Brady of Dogs First, is very clear that dogs don’t need plant ingredients to survive. Meat, organ and bone sit at the heart of the bowl (he explains why in his piece on why dogs need meat).
But “need” and “benefit” aren’t the same thing. In his article on feeding vegetable matter to dogs, Dr Brady says dogs might well benefit from some vegetable matter, and suggests around 10 to 20% of the diet overall. That’s a sprinkle, not a salad bowl!
Vegetables for dogs and the gut
So where do vegetables for dogs fit in when it comes to the gut? Plants bring vitamins, minerals and a whole host of natural plant compounds, but the gut health star is fibre.
Plant fibre acts as a prebiotic, which simply means it’s food for the friendly bacteria living in your dog’s gut rather than food for the dog directly. Dr Brady describes plant fibre as an effective prebiotic in dogs, and points to research suggesting it may help support normal gut function. Feed the good bacteria well and they may return the favour.
Fibre doesn’t only come from plants, though. Fur, feathers, cartilage and connective tissue are sometimes called “animal fibre”, and Dr Brady has spoken about how they behave differently in the gut from plant fibre. That’s why we see vegetables for dogs as a lovely addition to a meaty diet, not a replacement for it.
Research from the DogRisk group at the University of Helsinki adds another little nudge. In a large owner survey, berries such as blueberries were among the foods most often given to the raw-fed puppies who went on to have fewer reported long-term tummy troubles. It’s an association rather than proof, but it’s food for thought.
How to prepare vegetables for dogs
This is the bit most people don’t know. Dogs aren’t great at breaking down whole, raw plant cell walls, so a chunk of raw carrot often comes out looking much as it went in. Dr Brady recommends two simple routes:
- Blend it. Pulverising raw veg in a blender or food processor breaks open the plant cells so your dog can get at the goodness inside.
- Lightly cook it. Gently steaming or boiling veg (squash, pumpkin and sweet potato are good examples) makes it much easier to digest.
A couple of handy tips:
- Freeze in portions. Blended veg oxidises and turns brown within days in the fridge, so pop it into ice cube trays and freeze. One or two cubes stirred into dinner is easy.
- Go easy on fruit. Berries are a lovely extra, but fruit is naturally sugary, so keep it to a small part of the bowl. Especially if your dog is sensitive to yeast problems.
Which vegetables for dogs are good to try?
Vegetables for dogs include:
- Leafy greens – think of your spinach, kale and watercress
- Green beans, peas and broccoli
- Squash, pumpkin and sweet potato (cooked)
- Seaweed and fresh herbs, in small amounts
- Berries such as blueberries and blackberries, as an occasional extra
Carrots would be bottom of our list, although still beneficial in moderation, these
A few foods, such as onions, grapes and raisins, should never go in the bowl, so if in doubt, leave it out.
A Halloween note: if you’re cooking a pumpkin this weekend, a spoonful of plain, cooked flesh is a seasonal favourite with lots of dogs. Just skip the carved lantern itself once it’s been sitting out with a candle inside, and keep anything spiced or sugary for the humans. (Pumpkin has its own post in our Natural Ingredients series if you’d like more.)
Too much of a good thing
More isn’t always better when it comes to vegetables for dogs. Too much vegetable matter may change the gut flora and isn’t ideal for every dog, which is why we recommend keeping veg as a modest part of the diet. And as with any change, go gently. Many owners find that starting with a teaspoon and building up over a week or so is kinder on the tummy than a sudden big helping. Keep an eye on the poo as you go, as it’s one of the best everyday clues to how your dog’s digestion is getting on.
Easy ways to add vegetables for dogs
Not everyone has the time (or the blender) to make veg cubes, and that’s completely fine. You can only feed the best you can, and there are some lovely shortcuts:
- Ready-made veg blends. Betsy’s Veg Blend and Naturaw Forage Pure Blend are both made to be added to raw meals, and the Naturaw blend is designed with 80/10/10 meals in mind. Just thaw a portion and mix it in.
- Raw complete foods with veg already in. If you’d rather keep things simple, Durham Animal Feeds combines superfoods like blueberries with beef in their beef and blueberry mince, they also have more minces with fruits or veggies for a light addition to the diet. Paleo Ridge Essentials Range and Benyfit Naturals complete range are our go to’s for a true complete meal with veggies.
- A little from your own kitchen. A spoonful of plain, lightly cooked veg left over from your Sunday roast (no gravy, salt or onions) is a perfectly good start.
Whether your dog is fully raw, on a cold-pressed or dry food, or somewhere in between, a little thoughtfully prepared veg can be a nice way to add variety to the bowl.
Pop in and chat with us
If you’d like to talk through vegetables for dogs, or find the right veg blend or complete raw food for your dog, we’d love to see you. Pop into the shop at Unit A, Newton Farm, Tewkesbury, GL20 7BE. We’re about a minute from Junction 9 of the M5, so it’s an easy stop on your way through. We stock 12 raw food brands (including Naturaw, Durham Animal Feeds, Dougies, Henley Raw, Wilder Pet Food and Betsys), over 250 natural treats including our Natural Pick & Mix, and a range of natural supplements.
Can’t get to us? Our local delivery covers Tewkesbury, Cheltenham, Bishops Cleeve, Malvern, Worcester and the surrounding areas. You can browse everything at btbdogsupplies.co.uk.
This article is for general information only. If your dog has ongoing digestive issues or you’re worried about their health, please speak to your vet.
