Dog Talk (previous articles)

Are Fruits and Vegetables Good for Your Dog?

The treats we feed to our dogs are the source of most weight problems. Instead of giving them a regular dog biscuit, try introducing fruits and vegetables.

Some studies suggest that up to 30% of dogs seen by veterinarians are overweight. The benefit, then to giving fruit or vegetables as treats is their low-calorie content.

If you have an overweight dog and are trying to reduce his calories, in addition to reducing the amount of food he is eating, try adding a can of vegetables to his food. This helps the dog to feel he's getting more to eat.

Suggestions for fruit and vegetables to give your dogs are carrots, apples, bananas, orange sections, broccoli, cauliflower, beans, etc. Stay away from onions and garlic. They contain an alkaloid compound that can damage red blood cells. Raisins and grapes aren't good as well as they can be very toxic.

Just as you'd wash any fruit or vegetable you'd eat, do the same when you feed them to your dog.
 
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* Some content is from "Your Dog", a newsletter published by the
Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine

 

 

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