Your pooch probably isn’t that enthusiastic about vegetables and that is completely normal, but veggies are full of dog-friendly nutrients that you can use as part of a healthy homemade canine diet. Cooking softens the fibers in veggies and blends flavors.
Veterinarian David McCluggage, who runs WellVet.com, suggests that each meal should be 25-50 percent meat protein, the rest should be mostly vegetables. Here are some suggestions on how you can enrich your dog’s food by adding vegetables.
Leafy greens, green beans, potatoes, carrots, peas and broccoli are always a good choice. Pumpkins and all types of garden squash can make great dog food additions. You can prepare them in advance and freeze them in individual portions for later use.
It is a common misconception that you should add salt and pepper, or some other spices. Your dog doesn’t really like them and some are very unhealthy for him.
Always allow cooked foods to cool to room temperature before serving them to your dog.
When boiling them, make sure you don’t overcook the vegetables because it destroys some of the vitamins. Save the water after boiling for it is full of nutrients. Once it cools, you can use it to soften dry commercial dog food or let your dog drink it.
Pumpkins and squashes make excellent veggie treats so you don’t have to throw them away after Halloween, and the preparation is easy. Cut a whole pumpkin in half and place the cut sides down on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Once it cools, it is simple to scoop out the seeds and peel off the skin. Cut the flesh out into chunks and freeze them for later use.
However, some vegetables are not good for your pup. Avoid onions, avocados, garlic and chives, which can trigger stomach irritation and become toxic when consumed in large amounts. Don’t give him too much corn. Corn is actually a grain, not a vegetable, and commercial dog food manufacturers already use it in large amounts as cheap filler.