Most dog owners will know that their dog loves human food. Although they should have a healthy diet containing dry or wet dog food, dogs can often eat human food too. There are lots of food items that dogs can eat but also a number that they should not eat because they are poisonous and could hurt or kill your dog. These foods include chocolate and grapes, amongst others. It is important to avoid giving your dogs manufactured processed human food as it will affect your dog’s waistline just like it affects humans.
Dogs can eat a select number of fruit and vegetables, they are a fantastic addition to a dog’s diet providing essential vitamins and minerals as well as keeping their teeth clean and giving them a fresh breath. As mentioned grapes, as well as raisins, are highly toxic to dogs. They should not be given to any dog because they can have a reaction which could cause severe kidney damage. It is always important to check the type of food you give your dog, in case it includes ingredients that could be harmful. For example, at Christmas time a lot of cakes including the classic Christmas cake includes raisins. So it is important that no-one accidentally drops this on the floor for your dog to pick up or gives some to your dog forgetting there are raisins inside.
Fruit and vegetables For a Dog
There are a number of fruit and vegetables that dogs can eat including strawberries which are a great source of vitamin C and help with the dog’s immune system, oranges but make sure you don’t give them the peel and tomatoes with the exception of the stem and leaves. It is important that these foods are given in small amounts as a treat or an addition to a meal rather than in large quantities. Vegetables that dogs can have safely include peas, sweet potato, beans and carrots which all provide essential protein, vitamins, and minerals as well as fiber for a great diet. These are great as an addition in a meal alongside wet or dry food or given as a snack to add some extra vitamins.
Apples as Part of a Dog’s Diet
A popular question is if dogs can eat apples. And in fact they can, apples are fantastic additions to a dog’s diet. They are a source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and fiber and also help to keep the dog’s teeth clean and freshen their breath. It is important however to make sure that the core and seeds are removed before giving it to the dog as these contain a small amount of cyanide which could cause some problems. Apples are good for your dog and the crunchy treats help improve your dog’s teeth.
Apple Health Benefits For a Dog
One of the bonuses of apples is that they are cheap, healthy and low calorie. They are packed full of a number of vitamins and minerals as well as being high in fiber and antioxidants. Apples are a perfect snack for your four-legged friend. They are suitable for dogs of all abilities with benefits to suit young puppies and older aging dogs. The minerals and vitamins support growing dogs and the antioxidants and vitamin C help degenerative conditions including joint disease and fiber can help improve gastrointestinal health
Important Things To Note
It is important to remember that all seeds and the core need to be removed as these are the possible harmful parts of an apple if consumed regularly. The cyanide that is found in the pips and core can be harmful there it is best to discard the whole core. To do this, simply cut and slice the fruit to give as a snack. It is also important to remember that every dog is different and all dogs will react to food differently. And thus, it may take longer for certain dogs to get used to apples. If your dog struggles to chew or eat apples, slowly add them to their diet and meals by adding small pieces and increasing in size day by day until they get used to it. Other dogs which may have diabetes or cancer have to be careful about the natural sugars that are in apples. If you are unsure, speak to your vet about the effects of apples on your dog’s body and health.
The benefit of apples is that they are very easy to buy and readily available at local shops, farmers markets and many people also have apple trees in their gardens. There are many ways to give you dogs apples but the most popular way is simply slicing and giving as a treat or adding to their meal. Alternatively, you could make applesauce and add it to your dog’s food, this would be an easier way to incorporate apple into your dog’s diet if they struggle to eat crunchy apples.