Vegetables for Dogs

The first question that is bound to come up in your mind after you hear the words, vegetables for dogs is, "why should dogs be consuming vegetables?". Here's an explanation.

Dogs are mammals, that have bodily functions that are almost similar to those of human beings. Hence even dogs require many food nutrients such as vitamins that many a times do not come in through the normal diets. In fact many concerned dog owners have frantically started searching for sources of many nutrients that are not included in the daily diet. Coming back to the concerned question, that why dogs require vegetables. Many a times you may have noticed your canine friend nibble on grass when you take him for a walk. There is a very logical explanation, as to why your dog consumes grass. The answer is - fatty acids, vitamins and fibers.

Many of us just tend to feed our dogs with wheat based products, meat and milk. In the course of this diet, your canine just gets three types of nutrients, namely, proteins, carbohydrates and portion of fats. If you are feeding your dog with packed dog food then probably your dog is either getting only chemicals accompanied by the usual ingredients or very small quantities of vitamins, fatty acids and other nutrients that are obviously not enough.

Dogs have been eating green plants to get vitamins, fatty acids and fibers even before they befriended man. However since the growth of civilization, the supply of these nutrients that are usually found in wild plants has been curbed. It is now time that we help out our canine friend and serve him fresh vegetables that contain the appropriate nutrients.

More on:

• Dog Health Problems
• Dog Illnesses

Advantages of Vegetables for Dogs
There are several advantages of feeding dogs with vegetables. Some of them are listed below.

• Intake of vital nutrients like proteins, vitamins and fatty acids.
• Fibers help on the digestion of meat and heavy foods.
• Vegetables contain anti oxidants, that reduce chronic diseases.
• Many vegetables also contain phytochemicals, that help the dog to overcome aging symptoms.
• Many vegetables also contain omega 3 fatty acids that are needed by all mammals.

Safe Vegetables for Dogs
The following is a table that depicts some of the best raw vegetables for dogs.

Broccoli	Broccoli is a very good source of vitamin C, beta carotene, folic acid, calcium. In addition to that it is also a fibrous plant that boosts the digestive system, and also has may proven anti-cancer characteristics.
Spinach	Just like broccoli, spinach is also a very resourceful vegetables as it provides a generous supply of anti-oxidants and almost twice the the quantity of iron as compared to other vegetables. Spinach also contains a good amount of nutrients that include fiber, calcium, potassium and vitamins A, B6 and K.
Celery	Celery is a warehouse of rare nutrients that include vitamins A, B, C calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium and iron. In addition, celery also includes a huge amount of phytochemicals.
Carrot	The tastiest food of bugs bunny is enjoyed, rather relied by all our canine kennel dwellers because not only does it taste good but also contains most of the available vitamins that range from vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K. Not only the carrot vitamins but it is also a rich source of iron, calcium, potassium and phosphorus. And the result of feeding carrots to your dog? A brilliant and extremely sharp eyesight. What's up doc?
Cayenne Pepper	Cayenne Pepper is probably the best preventive measure for cancer in your canine. In addition to anti-cancer properties, cayenne pepper contains thrice the quantity of vitamin C. In addition to vitamin C also cayenne pepper also contains a huge amount of fibers and vitamin B6.

There are several more vegetables that you should definitely consider feeding your dog. To know more about vegetables that you can easily feed your dog, you can consult the vet. There are 3 basic ways on which you can feed vegetables to your dog.

• Raw feeding
• Plain boiled vegetables
• Mixing squashed vegetables in normal food

There are however some vegetables that you should never feed your dog with. The prominent ones are the onions and garlic. The reason why one should not feed onions and garlic is that, both these vegetables contain significant amount of Thiosulphate, which is toxic to dogs and tend to decrease the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. Also, it's best to avoid soy products and corn. To know more about dog allergies, read: dog allergies.

If you are still in a dilemma as to what to feed your dog, you may try anything green and leafy and anything from the cabbage family. It is however recommend to consult a vet first.

The Story of Grandma Bramble: Who is grandma Bramble? Bramble is a border collie dog. Believe it or not this dog, who lives in Britain is a vegan (well also by ownership). Bramble lives on the diet of rice, lentils and organic vegetables and still has a perfect health. So what makes Bramble, such a famous grandma? - She's 27 years old.