Originally Posted On: https://bendersbakery.com/blogs/news/fruits-and-vegetables-that-are-safe-or-unsafe-for-dogs

Fruits and Vegetables that Are Safe or Unsafe for Dogs

It isn’t always clear to dog owners which fruits and vegetables their pets can eat. Often, online advice is conflicting, and there isn’t a single, authoritative source of truth they can fall back on.

Fortunately, this guide can help. By the end, you should know what you can feed your dog (and what you can’t).

Before we begin, we should note that some fruits and vegetables are a gray area. You can feed them in moderation, but too much can cause problems. As such, you should be wary of this fact as you read through this guide.,

Saying that, most human food is okay for dogs. What’s important is that you know the exceptions.

What Fruits Can Dogs Eat?

Dogs can eat numerous fruits in moderation. The safest fruits for dogs are:

Apples–Apples are okay for dogs and provide them with a source of vitamins A and C. They can also help with digestion and make for a great low-protein snack. However, always remove the seeds and core for safety.

Bananas–Bananas are another fruity snack option for dogs, but should be offered in moderation due to their high sugar content. This fruit provides dogs with rarer nutrients, like biotin, copper, and potassium, usually as a treat. The peel, however, should not be fed to dogs.

Strawberries–You can feed strawberries to dogs for the vitamin C, fiber, and teeth-whitening enzymes they contain. Fresh or frozen is fine, and the sugar content is low, allowing you to offer more as a treat.

Cranberries–You can also feed cranberries to dogs in moderation. However, be careful of dried cranberries. Due to the fruit’s natural tartness, manufacturers often add refined sugar to make it more palatable to humans.

Raspberries–Raspberries are another fruit you can feed to your dog. Older pets love this option because of its anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce joint inflammation. However, raspberries should still be consumed in moderation because of their natural sugar alcohol content (something that can upset dogs’ stomachs if eaten to excess).

Pineapple–Pineapples are also relatively safe for dogs to eat. A few chunks here and there are a nice tropical treat. Just be sure to remove the prickly peel and the core before serving. (Note that here we are discussing fresh pineapple straight off the fruit. Dried or canned options may contain too much sugar for your dog.)

Mangos–Mangos are another safe option for your pup. These provide vitamins A, B6, and E along with plenty of potassium and spermidine for a healthier, longer life. However, you should only feed your dog this fruit in moderation due to the high sugar content. You should also remove the pit, which can be a choking hazard.

Watermelon–Watermelon is a refreshing fruit that dogs love, and because it is 92% water, it’s great for cooling down after hot summer days. Dogs are usually okay with eating the seeds, but you can remove them if you’re worried.

Blueberries–Blueberries are another berry dogs love. They provide antioxidants to support their immune and cardiovascular systems. Furthermore, many dog treat manufacturers use them in their products, so they are quite easily added to your pup’s diet.

Peaches–Finally, peaches are safe for dogs. Vets recommend cutting up a small amount of the flesh (with the pit removed) and giving it as a treat. Again, don’t use canned versions as these contain high volumes of refined sugar that could damage your dog’s teeth and metabolism.

What Fruits Can’t Dogs Eat?

The list of fruits that dogs can’t eat is quite short. However, you must avoid these fruits to prevent poisoning or gastrointestinal issues.

Grapes

Tartaric acid and its salt, potassium bitartrate, have been implicated as a toxic agent. Tartaric acid is found in a variety of plants. Grapes and tamarinds have a higher concentration of tartaric acid compared to other fruits.

Furthermore, because raisins, currants, and sultanas are dried grapes, they are dangerous for dogs and should be avoided at all costs. Again, if you think your dog might have eaten some, take them to the vet.

Unfortunately, dogs eating raisins is common, especially in busy families. Children often leave them lying around, only for the dog to later find and eat them.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are another fruit that may be harmful to your dog. Ripe, red tomatoes are typically okay and safe, but green varieties are not.

The reason for this has to do with the toxic substance solanine. This compound is known to lead to weakness, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, and neurological symptoms in dogs (and even sometimes in people).

Unfortunately, you can’t usually tell the solanine content of tomatoes by looking at them. Red ones contain less than green, but the quantity isn’t zero.

Because of this, most owners avoid giving their dogs tomatoes, replacing them with other fruits and vegetables.

What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?

So, what vegetables can dogs eat?

Let’s take a look:

Broccoli–Dogs can eat broccoli. It contains plenty of vitamin C and fiber, along with lots of phytonutrients that are critical for health. Broccoli is rich with sulforaphane and has potent anti-cancer effects. In order to release this compound it is recommended to chop up the broccoli and let it sit for 30-90 mins before feeding.

Brussels sprouts–Also part of the brassica family, Brussels sprouts are safe for dogs in small quantities. They contain plenty of vitamin C but cause gas and diarrhea if you provide too much.

Cabbage–Cabbage is another food you can feed your dog, but it carries the same flatulence risk. Dogs can become extremely gassy when eating this food in high quantities as it gets broken down in the colon.

Celery–Celery is safe for dogs and provides vitamins A, B, and C. It also comes with cancer-fighting nutrients that reduce tumor size. However, celery does contain natural salt, so you should moderate how much your dog eats.

Green beans–Green beans are another doggy-approved food. Pups can eat them raw or steamed in fairly high quantities without any adverse consequences.

Peas–Similarly, dogs can eat peas. Simply mix them with regular dog food for extra bulk, fiber, and protein. Fresh and frozen peas are great, but canned versions usually contain too much sodium for dogs.

Spinach–Finally, we have spinach, another top vegetable for dogs. Spinach is well-known as mild in flavor, but heavy on nutrition, meaning dogs love it. But be warned: it also contains high oxalate concentrations, which can damage your pup’s kidneys or lead to stones in extreme cases.

Carrots-carrots are rich in vitamins A, C and K, and are healthy for dogs to eat – including the green tops

What Vegetables Can’t Dogs Eat?

Unfortunately, the list of vegetables that dogs can’t eat is quite long. Therefore, owners need to be careful.

Onions

Onions are another vegetable you should avoid feeding your dog. They contain compounds that cause your pooch’s red blood cells to rupture, leading to serious health problems and GI issues.

Sometimes, you will read online that onions are only poisonous to specific, rare Japanese breeds, but this isn’t true. While they might have more severe effects on these dogs, they can harm nearly all breeds.

Green onions (scallions) are similarly problematic. They contain the same harmful compounds as regular or red onions, so don’t give them to your dog. Also, be careful when feeding your dog leftover human food, since it often contains chopped onions or onion powder. If you made it yourself, remember what you put into it. Alternatively, read the label if it is processed food.

Leeks

Leeks are from the same allium family as onions, so they also harm dogs. They contain similar sulfur compounds that cause red blood cell issues, leading to sickness and anemia.

Corn On The Cob

Dogs are okay eating regular corn, but not on the cob. Cobs are a choking hazard for dogs because of how they eat them, so it is better to err on the side of caution and avoid feeding in this form. Furthermore, if your pup manages to swallow the cob by some miracle, it can end up lodged in their intestines.

Chives

Chives have the same problem as leeks and onions–they damage dogs’ red blood cells. Like garlic, they contain small quantities of organosulfide toxins that can cause a health emergency.

Looking at chives through a human lens, it’s hard to imagine that something so small and tasty could hurt your pup. However, even small quantities of this ingredient in processed foods can cause dogs to feel sick and lethargic, warranting a trip to the veterinary office.

Rhubarb

Finally, avoid feeding your pup rhubarb. This stem vegetable (sometimes treated like a fruit in traditional culinary practices) is harmful because it contains oxalic acid. Farmers have known for many years that they should avoid feeding it to their chickens for this reason.

Dogs who eat large quantities of rhubarb (usually because they are hungry) are in the most danger. They can form painful kidney stones that leave them feeling lethargic and unwilling to do anything.

To summarize, most fruits and vegetables are okay for dogs to eat. However, dog owners must be careful. Therefore, always take precautions if you keep these foods in the house. Keep them out of reach of dogs, locked away in cupboards and tins.