FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

FOR YOUR DOG

Fall is here and along with it several varieties of fresh apples and pears.  It’s time to cruise our local farmers markets and take advantage of this fresh fall bounty.

Don’t forget that your dog loves fresh fruit and vegetables too!  Most of them are good sources of vitamins and minerals for your dog and are low in calories.

So what is safe for your dog to eat and what isn’t?

Many fruits are safe.  Apples, pears, peaches, bananas, melons and most berries are good for your dog.  All of these should be given in moderation as too much of any of these could cause stomach upset or diarrhea.  Just like in humans each dog’s digestive system will react differently.

Buying organic for you and your dog is your best choice.  But organic or not fruit should all be pealed.  This will remove any harmful chemicals from non-organics and make these fruits easier for your dog to digest. Never allow your dog to ingest the seeds as many of them contain small amounts of cyanide.

Grapes and raisins should never be given in any amounts to dogs or cats as even a small amount can potentially cause kidney failure.

As for vegetables carrots, zucchini and cucumber are all great treats.  Lettuce, celery, spinach and cabbage all contain excellent vitamins and minerals but can often cause digestive problems like gas.  So you may want to either avoid these or offer them in small amounts.  Of course like fruit, it is best to choose organic vegetables.  If you can’t get organic be sure to wash the vegetables well before giving them to your dog.  Vegetables can be served raw or cooked.

Onions and garlic should never be given to your dog.  They can make them anemic.  They shouldn’t have tomatoes, broccoli or potato peels either.

My two spaniels anxiously await our shared morning banana.  Then once or twice a week I will share an orange with them.  I limit this to two segments for each of them.  They both like fresh strawberries, blueberries, pitted cherries and carrots too.  We give them pieces of carrot instead of dog biscuits several times a day.  Aside from the vitamin and mineral benefits of raw carrots they also help scrub their teeth clean.

One last note; frozen carrots make a good teething toy for puppies.  They like the taste and the cold and crunchy texture will both ease their urge to chew up your furniture and shoes and soothe irritated gums.

By Paul Schenkman