While we were children, we were taught by our parents that fruits and vegetables are good for our health. They ingrained in us that these foods are vitally important enough to be incorporated into our regular diet regimen. Most pet owners, however, can be under the impression that simply by feeding their dogs any kibble that is labeled as “fully balanced diet for dogs”, their pet's nutritional needs are complete and without room for improvement. 

Even though there are kibble brands that your dog’s veterinarian may claim to be complete in nutritional benefits, there are lots of fruits and vegetables which you can supplement to their diet because of how beneficial they are for dogs. In the words of Dr. Karen Becker: “Vegetables are a great source of fiber, minerals and vitamins. Whole food sources of vitamins keep pets' skin and coat healthy, strengthen bones and teeth, and provide the necessary co-factors to fuel reactions for the body to make energy. In addition, vitamins contribute to disease resistance.” 

The purpose of this article is to suggest what fruits and vegetables you should incorporate into your dog's diet, but with the supervision of your dog’s veterinarian. 

5 Best Fruits To Feed Your Dog

Even though all fruits are full of vitamins and water, not all of them should be allowed in a dog’s regular diet whether he/she is totally healthy or has any medical conditions. Some fruits and vegetables can be truly beneficial, but others truly toxic. Above all, always bear two important concepts in mind. Moderation of ingredients like fruits and vegetables is the key to a healthy diet for dogs; and a gradual introduction to new foods is always best.

Bananas are high in potassium, vitamins, biotin fiber, and copper. However, they are also high in sugar, which is especially why here at Pawprint Depot we suggest feeding them to your dog in moderation.

"Apples are an antioxidant superstar, and they offer a variety of phytochemicals, such as catechins, quercetin, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid", says Dr. Karen Becker. They also contain vitamins A and C. This fruit is a delicious choice that serves as a low-fat tasty treat to feed your dog. However, it is important you remove the seeds first, and feed the apples in pieces. Apple seeds contain cyanide and can be toxic to dogs. Apples are a great snack not only because of their vitamin content, but can also be used as rewarding treats during training. 

Blueberries are definitely one of the best fruits you could ever feed your dog. Most dogs love them very much! Blueberries are full of antioxidants, which are known to help prevent damage to cells in the body, have anti-cancer properties and fight heart disease. In addition, blueberries are also rich in tannins, a naturally occurring polyphenol found in plants, seeds, bark, wood, leaves, and fruit skins. Tannins have properties to help with urinary tract infections. Again, feeding blueberries and other items suggested here at Pawprint Depot, are best offered to your dog in moderation and under veterinary discretion.

Oranges are definitely an excellent way to implement Vitamin C and potassium in your dog’s diet. We must admit that not all dogs seem to like citrus fruits compared to blueberries; but if yours likes them, then oranges are a great tasty treat you can offer! But, be careful! You have to make sure to remove the seeds and peels first. Citruses like oranges are also high in sugar, so you should feed oranges to your dog in moderation.

Cantaloupe is another excellent fruit to feed your dog. They are low in calories, and higher in water content, which is especially great if your dog is overweight or has conditions like obesity. Cantaloupes are also rich in vitamins and minerals. However much lower compared to other recommended fruits, they are still full of sugar, so his/her intake should be limited. It’s important to remove the peels and seeds of cantaloupes before offering them to your dog!

Even though we have pointed out many fruits which benefit dogs, there are a few that should be avoided. These are:

- Cherries
- Grapes & Raisins
- Tomatoes

Cherries should be avoided in dogs because they contain cyanide, which is extremely toxic to dogs. Cyanide would cause your dog's blood unable to transport oxygen to the body as it normally should be able to. 

Grapes and raisins, on the other hand, can cause irreversible kidney damage and even death, while the green part of a red tomato (or even a green tomato) contains solanine, a substance that causes gastrointestinal and neurologic problems.

These are some reasons why Pawprint Depot recommends avoiding cherries, grapes, raisins, and tomatoes, no matter their color or level of ripeness. 

Now that we have discussed some of the best fruits to feed your dog, it’s time to talk a little bit about some of the best vegetables you can give them! Similar to fruits, not all vegetables are beneficial for dogs. We will point out some toxic vegetables later. In general, vegetables low in sugar are best to feed to your dogs. Take Dr. Karen Becker’s advice that some vegetables provide nutrients that meat, bones and organs simply cannot! Let’s first begin with our list of the best vegetables you can delight your dog with. Your dog’s veterinarian should guide you on proper amounts of vegetable and fruit consumption considering factors such as your pet's weight, breed, and medical condition(s).

Last but not least, it’s important to bear in mind that for pets who will eat fermented vegetables, it's crucial to introduce them gradually and in small quantities to avoid digestive upset. You can work up to feeding a teaspoon for every 20 pounds of body weight a day. For more information, seek veterinary advice before starting your dog on fermented foods and don’t hesitate to visit Dr. Karen Becker's guidance on Mercola Pets.

Many veterinarians say that the number #1 vegetable to feed your dog is Kale. Kale's key mineral Iron, as well as vitamins K and A, help provide good bone health, proper vision and immune function, fetal development and energy metabolism. Iron is in all cells of your dog’s body! In addition, Kale is really low in calories, so it wouldn't affect your dog's caloric intake much in case he or she needs weight monitored very closely or is overweight.

Spinach is number #2 on our list as the best vegetable to feed your dog. It contains potassium, magnesium, and vitamins B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folate or folic acid) and E (tocopherol). It also contains high amounts of carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron and calcium. Similar to kale, spinach is really low in calories too. It also helps dogs regulate their digestive system, especially due to its fiber content!

#4: Green Beans

Green beans are full of important vitamins and minerals, such as iron, calcium, and vitamins B6, A, C, and K. Similar to kale and spinach, they are also low-calorie and rich in fiber, which not only helps to regulate dogs' digestive system, but also helps them feel full without the need to ingest calorically dense foods. Green beans are great to mix in with regular kibble/canned diet!

Broccoli is one of our favorite vegetables to suggest, not only because of its minerals like potassium and vitamins K & C and potassium (which improve bone density, battle diseases and improve heart health) but also because it is high in protein! Protein is crucial for muscle recovery and especially needed for agile and working dogs. Because dogs are generally running around, playing and being physically active, it is important that protein is included in their diet. Last but not least, broccoli is a low-calorie food that’s fat-free and high in calcium. Calcium is needed for bone preservation and is necessary for all stages of a dog's life.

Similar to fruits, even though vegetables are generally beneficial for our dog's health and growth, there are some to avoid no matter what. Two of them are onions and garlic. Each of them has n-propyl disulfide and allicin, which destroy dogs’ red blood cells. A medium onion or a single head of garlic is often enough to harm a 20 kg (40 lb) dog.

This article is not meant for you to stop feeding your dog with the kibble/canned balanced food you are actually giving to him/her under veterinary discretion, but it does provide useful information about nutritious fruits and vegetables that are often complementary to their diet. Please keep in mind that there are medical conditions for dogs for which veterinarians would suggest avoiding or reducing the intake of foods containing nutrients such as calcium and protein.

In Pawprint Depot’s perspective it’s important that you do not just feed your dog these fruits and vegetables we have listed. Giving them their loved fruits and vegetables as the first meal of the day may build a bad habit, because they might get used to it and stop eating their kibble/canned versions of balanced foods. You should generally give dogs fruits and vegetables as rewards when being trained, and as a daily snack or as a supplement to their actual veterinarian-recommended food. Maybe mixing the kibble/canned balanced food with vegetables like broccoli and carrots, for example, would be loved by your dog and an interesting recipe to offer him/her! With your veterinarian you can also discuss other beneficial fruits and vegetables for your dogs; these include strawberries, avocados, peas, cucumbers, brussels sprouts, pumpkins and squashes. Always remember to remove the skin and pits of these items, before feeding them to your dog!

[Please note that this article does not replace or take importance over actual intervention and advice by a trained veterinarian. In fact, because every dog is different, the team at Pawprint Depot suggests you trust your dog’s expert veterinarian over our general guide of the best fruits and vegetables to feed your dog. Bear in mind that recommendations often change over time based on renewed scientific findings. We have mainly formulated this guide by referencing articles involving veterinarians like Dr. Karen Becker and Dr. Donal Strombeck.]

References:

• https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/08/08/dog-food-veggies.aspx
• http://dogcathomeprepareddiet.com/feeding_a_normal_dog_or_cat.html#adult
• ​​https://rawbistro.com/blogs/raw-bistro/10-dog-friendly-vegetables
• https://trupanion.com/pet-care/fruits-and-veggies-for-pets
• https://sitstay.com/blogs/good-dog-blog/what-are-the-best-fruits-for-dogs-to-eat
• https://www.rover.com/blog/es/las-mejores-11-frutas-y-verduras-para-perros/
• https://misanimales.com/10-frutas-y-verduras-toxicas-para-tu-perro/

[Published: September 6th 2021
Edited: October 18th 2021]