Vegetables for Puppy: 45 Options Explored (In-Depth Guide)

Vegetables are part of your healthy diet; should you share them with your puppy?

Unlike cats, puppies need a proportion of vegetables in their diet. Most commercial manufacturers of puppy food include appropriate plants in their recipes.

Commercial puppy food will supply the full range of nutrients necessary for a healthy growing puppy, but you can either cook your own puppy meals or supplement your puppy’s diet with healthy plant-based treats.

What are the best vegetables for your puppy?

Which should you avoid?

What Your Puppy Needs Nutritionally

Your puppy (depending on the breed) needs proportionally three times as much food per weight as the adult dog.

Your puppy grows fast, and the correct nutrition is necessary for strong bone development, healthy teeth, strong muscles, a healthy coat, a developed immune system, and excellent vision.

Smaller breeds mature faster and grow rapidly in about ten to twelve months.

Larger breeds like Great Danes take longer (eighteen months to two years) to develop and need a puppy diet that doesn’t pile on the weight too quickly.

It would be best to stagger their development for the larger breeds to let their bones become weight-bearing through the appropriate supply of nutrients to promote steady growth.

A complete and balanced puppy diet involves the correct amounts of:

Protein.
Carbohydrates.
Fat.
Vitamins.
Minerals.
Water.

Other essential nutrients less mentioned are antioxidants and other phytochemicals necessary to help your puppy’s body work efficiently.

Protein

Your puppy needs the highest proportion of protein in its diet immediately after weaning; the amount your puppy needs will decrease as it approaches adulthood and maintains health rather than growing.

Puppy’s optimal growth requires 22-32% of the dry weight of puppy food to be protein.

There are 23 amino acids necessary to build your puppy’s body. Your puppy can make thirteen of them but needs to obtain the other ten from its daily diet.

Fat

Your puppy needs some fat in its diet for fat-soluble vitamins, essential fatty acids, and energy. The fat content of the puppy meal (dry weight) around 10-25% provides for optimal growth.

The essential fatty acids your puppy needs are:

Omega 3.
Omega 6.
Linoleic acid.

Your puppy needs to obtain these through its food, typically from meat.

Carbohydrates

Your puppy needs digestible carbohydrates, but there is no clear scientific evidence on the best proportion for puppies. Current thinking is that 20% of carbohydrates meet your puppy’s needs.

Plants are the source of carbohydrates in your puppy’s food, and these provide fiber, starches, and sugars.

These nutrients build tissue and healthy digestion.

Vitamins

You eat vegetables high in vitamin C to keep your body healthy; your puppy can make its own vitamin C, but it still requires additional dietary vitamin C to meet its requirements.

Your puppy does need Vitamins A, D, E, K, and the B-complex. Plus, your puppy needs a selection of minerals – especially calcium and phosphorus.

Vitamin A is fat-soluble and necessary for cell growth, immune function, and healthy eyesight. You find Vitamin A in carrots.

Vitamin B1, Thiamine, is essential for making energy, digesting carbohydrates, and healthy brains. You find B1 in beans.

Vitamin B5, Pantothenic acid, is water-soluble and essential for producing coenzyme A and energy. Your puppy will get all it needs from meat, but some are present in lentils, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and corn.

Vitamin B6, Pyridoxine, is water-soluble and necessary for healthy red blood cells, generating glucose for energy, healthy nervous system, hormone regulation, healthy immune system, and others.

Typically, your puppy will meet its needs through poultry meat, but edamame beans are a vegetable source of this vitamin.

Vitamin B9, Folic acid (synthetic), or folate (natural form) is necessary to produce cell proteins and the body’s use of amino acids. You find this in peas, red kidney beans, and green leafy vegetables like Brussel sprouts.

Vitamin B12, Riboflavin is essential in helping necessary body enzymes to work in your puppy’s body. Without B12, your puppy can’t utilize B9.

You don’t get B12 in vegetables.

Vitamin C is essential for energy and brain function. Plenty of vegetables provide an abundance of vitamin C. Your puppy makes most of the vitamin C it needs but needs some from its diet.

Vitamin D helps your puppy’s body to balance and use phosphorus and calcium. Both these are essential for healthy bone growth. Your puppy gets its necessary vitamin D from meat.

Vitamin E is fat-soluble and vital for puppy growth; deficiency leads to muscular problems. Vitamin E is readily available in most foods. Vegetable sources for your puppy include raw red pepper.

Vitamin K is fat-soluble and is essential for blood clotting. If your puppy ingests a toxin, its ability to use vitamin K is compromised, resulting in internal bleeding and death.

The vitamin K family is present in lettuce, cauliflower, and other green vegetables.

Minerals

Choline is essential for liver and brain function.

Choline is in a class of its own, not a vitamin, and not quite an amino acid. Your puppy will get the choline it needs from meat, but vegetable sources include soybeans and cauliflower.

Necessary macro minerals (needed in large amounts) for your puppy include:

Calcium and phosphorus – bones, teeth, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, hormones, and enzymes.
Sodium, Potassium, and Chloride – fluid balance.
Magnesium – body fluids, enzymes, and bones.
Iron – oxygen transportation using red blood cells.
Sulfur – production of some amino acids.

The necessary trace elements are:

Zinc – healthy immune system and hundreds of body functions.
Copper – healthy brain, bones, connective tissues, and blood.
Iodine – supports thyroid function.
Chromium – helps regulate insulin production.
Manganese – producing energy, using protein and carbohydrate, making fatty acids.
Selenium – thyroid and immune system.
Fluorine – healthy teeth.

As part of a healthy diet, your puppy needs a range of nutrients, and commercial puppy food for specific breeds balances your puppy’s dietary requirements.

But vegetables can support your puppy by providing some extra nutrients and other valuable compounds that promote health.

Water

Your puppy cannot get all the water it needs from its food, and it must have a supply of fresh, clean drinking water constantly available.

Dehydration is potentially fatal for your puppy.

Does Your Puppy Need a Rainbow?

Nutritionists recommend eating a rainbow on your plate to give you access to a complete range of nutrients.

Does the same apply to your puppy?

For optimal growth, your puppy needs a complete range of nutrients.

A puppy matures much faster than a child, and for a reliable diet, most people opt for the appropriate breed-specific puppy food from a commercial supplier.

You can opt to prepare and cook puppy meals, and, in this case, you need to balance meat, vegetables, and fruit to supply the optimal diet for your puppy.

If you are feeding your puppy home cooking, the rainbow approach to providing a variety of potential nutrients works very well.

Red vegetables, in addition to other nutrients, have lycopene and anthocyanins.

Lycopene is an antioxidant that mops up free radicles in the body and helps fight cancer. Lycopene helps maintain excellent vision.

Red peppers are an excellent source of lycopene.

Orange and yellow vegetables contain beta-carotene.

This carotenoid acts to boost your puppy’s immune system, mop up free radicles, and is the essential nutrient to allow your puppy to make vitamin A.

Vegetables “rich” in vitamin A are actually rich in pre-stage vitamin A – beta-carotene. Carrots, yellow peppers, and orange sweet potatoes all contain this nutrient.

Green vegetables are easy to spot – the green color comes from chlorophyll which is another antioxidant.

Plus, green vegetables are powerhouses of vitamins and minerals.

Chlorophyll helps boost your puppy’s immune system, eases digestion, and helps prevent dog breath.

Purple vegetables are excellent sources of anthocyanins which help your puppy’s heart, brain and reduce inflammation.

Many common varieties of vegetables have a purple option like carrots and cauliflower. The most apparent purple vegetable is eggplant.

Will Feeding Vegetables Harm Your Puppy?

Feeding vegetables are only going to harm your puppy if:

Toxic – some vegetables which are safe for you are poisonous to your puppy.
Not correctly prepared – small pieces prepared correctly don’t cause issues.
Fed in excess – too much added to your puppy’s standard meals adds extra fiber and calories that can overload and upset your puppy’s tummy.
Your puppy is allergic – individual puppies can be allergic to otherwise harmless vegetables.

Adding vegetables as treats to your puppy’s diet can be beneficial in:

Replacing high-calorie processed treats with healthier options.
Providing additional trace elements.
Allowing your puppy to explore and discover new tastes and textures.

Encouraging your puppy to enjoy vegetables means you have the option to supplement your puppy’s meals now and when it matures with home-cooked treats.

Plus, knowing you can make your puppy a meal out of easy-to–source ingredients means if you have supply issues for pet food, you don’t need to worry about your puppy’s dinner time.

You can always provide food to fill the hungry gap.

Introducing Natural Foods to Your Puppy

Your puppy is new to the tastes and textures of food, and any new foods need to be added gradually and in small amounts.

Treats add additional calories, and if these calories exceed 10% of your puppy’s daily intake, you could put your puppy on the road to obesity and related health problems.

Some vegetables are toxic to your puppy, some may provoke an allergic reaction, and some have no health benefits.

Experiment with what you offer your puppy to distinguish foods your puppy may enjoy and monitor your puppy’s response.

Your puppy may reject a chunk of celery the first time you offer it but provide the treat several times until you are sure the puppy doesn’t like it.

Raw or Cooked Veg?

Some vegetables like cucumber are best raw; some have the option of cooked or raw, and some need cooking to allow your puppy to digest them more easily.

A versatile vegetable like a carrot can be served frozen or raw as a whole carrot chew toy, plus you can serve bite-sized pieces raw or steamed.

Alternatively, carrot puree adds extra texture to a puppy meal.

Recognize Allergic Reactions to Food

The typical signs of a food allergy in your puppy include:

Vomiting and diarrhea – always worrying as a small puppy can quickly dehydrate and lose energy. You need to visit a vet because this can be the first sign of anaphylactic shock.
Itchiness and a skin rash – serious but not urgent.
Licking paws and chewing – a frequent indicator of a food allergy. You will want to talk to your vet, but it does not require an emergency visit.

Typical Reactions to Toxins

The clinical signs that your puppy has ingested a toxic substance include one or more of the following:

Vomiting.
Diarrhea.
Drooling.
Not eating.
Dry heaving.
Pale or yellow gums.
Coughing or vomiting blood.
Falling over.
Collapsing.
Change in urination – decrease or increase.
Seizures.
Change in urine color and smell.
Lethargy and shaking.
Breath smelling of ammonia.

You need to talk to your vet immediately if your puppy ingests a toxic vegetable.

Your vet may talk you through appropriate treatment or schedule an emergency visit depending on their assessment of the severity of the situation.

A toxic vegetable can result in organ damage or death. But prompt treatment by a vet will often avoid damage to your puppy’s long-term health.

Intestinal Blockage

Small puppies are at significant risk of intestinal blockage from fibrous vegetables. The symptoms may appear up to 24 hours after ingestion.

Typical symptoms include:

Vomiting.
Not wanting to eat.
Constipation – unable to pass stools.

You will need your vet’s assistance to clear the blockage, and extreme cases may require surgery.

Green Zone Vegetables

Green zone fruits and vegetables are safe for your puppy to eat in moderation.

Despite the lack of toxicity for your puppy, individual reactions may vary from dislike to allergic.

1. Pumpkin

The American Kennel Club recommends plain pureed pumpkin as beneficial for settling a puppy’s stomach during a bout of diarrhea.

Pumpkin is high in soluble fiber, reducing the water content and bulking out the puppy stool, making it more comfortable for your puppy.

Plus, pumpkin is a natural prebiotic; after a case of diarrhea, your vet will probably offer probiotics as a supplement to rebuild your puppy’s health.

Pumpkin in the diet provides the necessary support and food for those helpful bacteria.

Canned pumpkin – without any additives, is better than fresh because it has reduced water content.

You can make your own plain pumpkin puree and have it available in your freezer, ready to thaw and add to puppy meals.

Pumpkin benefits in puppy meals include:

Better digestive health.
Plenty of additional nutrients.
Adds bulk to your puppy’s diet without extra calories.

If you have a puppy from the giant breeds (Great Danes and Newfoundlands), adding some pumpkin puree to the puppy feeding bowl will help keep your puppy feeling less hungry.

Pumpkin is an ideal ingredient for bulk and health benefits if you choose to cook the occasional puppy meal.

Nutrients: Vitamins A, C, and E. Minerals iron, copper, manganese, and potassium. Pumpkin also includes some protein, fiber, and carbohydrates.

2. Corn

Corn is an ingredient in commercial puppy food, and provided your puppy is not allergic or sensitive to grain is a safe ingredient.

Don’t be tempted to hand your puppy the corn on the cob; always remove the corn and serve the cooked kernels.

Don’t add flavorings, butter, oils, or spices to your corn for your puppy – plain and small amounts are best.

The nutritional value of corn comes from fiber, which is good for gut bacteria and vitamins C, B, E, and K. Plus, you get trace elements of magnesium and potassium.

3. Zucchini

Zucchini is a safe, low-calorie vegetable treat for your puppy.

While your puppy is small, steamed zucchini in bite-sized chunks retains the nutrients and is easier for your pup to digest. As your puppy matures, you can add pieces of raw zucchini to the treat list.

Zucchini is safe for your puppy but remember that fruit and vegetables don’t need to be more than 10% of your puppy’s daily intake and offer a variety rather than only zucchini to provide a range of textures and nutrients.

Zucchini provides Folate, Vitamin A, and traces of potassium and fiber, carbohydrates, and protein.

4. Carrots

Carrots are affordable and healthy options for your puppy.

When your puppy is teething, you can offer a fresh or frozen carrot as a chew toy to provide relief for those painful gums. Chewing carrots also help with dental health as your puppy matures.

But, carrots are not abrasive enough to entirely clean your puppy’s teeth – talk to your vet about appropriate dental chews or teeth cleaning regimes.

If you are feeding carrots as part of a meal or an edible treat, then cut into appropriate bite sizes for your puppy.

You can serve the carrot raw or cooked but avoid seasonings and added fats. Pureed carrots are an excellent mixer for other foods.

Carrots provide vitamins (A, C, and K) and minerals potassium, calcium, and iron, as well as helpful fiber.

Carrots also contain lycopene, an antioxidant that is helpful in human health and potentially for your puppy. Lycopene has a reputation for reducing cancer and improving vision.

5. Dandelions

Dandelions are a safe food for humans and puppies, but if you forage for your dandelion greens, be aware that many people spray them with weedkillers to get rid of them.

In passing, the occasional nibble by your pup is unlikely to harm it, but if you are gathering for use in a meal, you want a clean and uncontaminated plant.

All parts of the dandelion are edible for you and your puppy.

Dandelion roots help keep blood sugar stable due to inulin content, and they also relieve constipation as they have a laxative effect.

The leaves are a healthy salad vegetable, but their diuretic action means your puppy may pee more freely.

Dandelion greens are a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals: A, C, B, K, E, iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Add the cooked roots or raw leaves to the food bowl if you want to add dandelions to your puppy’s diet.

Your puppy is unlikely to look at dandelion as a treat food, but it is a valuable source of nutrients in the diet.

6. Green Beans

Plain green beans (raw, steamed, boiled) are healthy and safe for your puppy.

Serve your pup with bite-sized pieces as a single treat or part of a meal to avoid choking hazards.

Green beans are relatively low in calories, and if your puppy likes them, they are a healthy alternative to high-calorie training treats.

There are around 130 varieties of green beans, and they all provide plenty of vitamins A, C, and K in the diet.

Plus, calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus are available in the humble green bean.

7. Jicama

The Jicama is an edible tuber (sometimes called the Mexican turnip), and it is safe for your puppy to eat.

If you grow it – the plant is toxic, and you want to make sure your puppy only accesses the tubers. Your puppy can eat raw or cooked Jicama.

The dietary fiber and other nutrients Jicama provides are excellent for promoting good gut health in your puppy.

You need to peel the Jicama and offer the flesh in puppy-appropriate chunks.

If you have affordable access to Jicama, you may want to introduce your puppy to this root vegetable early because it has many benefits for older dogs – start your puppy on the path to healthy old age.

Jicama contains Vitamins C and B9 with traces of other B vitamins and vitamin E.

Mineral-wise, you get plenty of iron, magnesium, potassium, and manganese with trace amounts of copper, zinc, phosphorus, and calcium.

8. Lettuce

Despite its appearance, lettuce is not a member of the cabbage family but belongs to the same group as sunflowers.

Your puppy can safely eat chopped lettuce leaves but don’t be tempted to add salad dressing.

Before serving your puppy lettuce leaves, wash them thoroughly as lettuces can carry food poisoning bacteria like salmonella or E-coli.

Too much lettuce may overload your puppy’s digestive system and give it diarrhea, so only feed small amounts as a treat or dietary supplement.

Iceberg lettuce is crisp with high water content and small amounts of Vitamins A, B9, and K, calcium, zinc, and potassium.

Romaine lettuce is greener and more nutritious with significant amounts of vitamins A, B9, C, and K plus calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium.

In a league table of nutrients in lettuce varieties, Romaine is at the top with the humble iceberg at the bottom.

The other types fall between these two for nutritional value.

9. Chicory

Chicory has a lot of different names like frisée, witloof or endive. Plus, you can get red varieties like radicchio adding color to your salad bowl.

Leaves are a popular ingredient in salads, and the dried roots are a coffee substitute. Some puppy food mixes will list chicory root as an ingredient.

All parts of the chicory plant (leaves and roots) are safe for your puppy.

The taste is bitter, so your pup may prefer cooked leaves rather than raw ones. The roots contain inulin and are prebiotic for beneficial gut bacteria.

A potential additional benefit of eating chicory is the essential oils help keep your puppy clear of worms – but this is not a substitute for regular worming.

Nutritional elements include vitamins (A, B complex, C, E, and K), electrolytes (sodium and potassium), and minerals (calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus.

10. Fennel

Fennel has a unique taste and flavor and is a member of the carrot family, although not a root vegetable.

One of the beneficial effects of fennel is it aids digestion and relieves gas in the stomach.

All parts of the plant are edible, but your pup might not enjoy the taste.

You can serve pieces of the bulb cooked or raw, chopped leaves, flowers, or seeds. Remember to keep the portion size small and in proportion to your puppy.

You get a real mix of nutrients in fennel: Vitamins A, B complex, C, E, and K, sodium, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and choline.

11. Red Kidney Beans

Your puppy can eat cooked red kidney beans.

Raw red kidney beans contain high levels of Lectin – this chemical causes gastric upsets in both humans and puppies.

You can use canned red kidney beans (watch the salt levels), but you need to wash them thoroughly and cook in boiling water for ten minutes before cooling and feeding them to your puppy.

A small portion is safe for your puppy but remember your puppy needs only a small amount of plant-based foods, not a large quantity.

Beans have a well-founded reputation for producing gas, and too many beans lead to a smelly atmosphere and a risk of a bloated and painful stomach.

Red kidney beans provide protein, iron, manganese, B9, B1, and phosphorus.

12. Lima Beans

Cooked lima beans are a safe ingredient for your puppy, but they can promote excess gas like all beans.

Beans contain sugars that don’t break down entirely in the stomach; a side effect is an excess of gas.

Raw lima beans aren’t toxic, but they are hard on your puppy’s teeth and difficult to digest – they may lead to a blocked intestine.

As an ingredient in puppy meals, they add extra nutrients, fiber, and protein. The nutrients include iron, manganese, molybdenum, copper, B9, B1, and phosphorus.

Humans need trace amounts of molybdenum for enzyme production and breaking down body wastes. It probably forms a similar function in your puppy.

13. Peas

All pea forms – sugar snap, snow peas, garden peas – are safe for your puppy.

You can give your puppy frozen or fresh peas as a treat or as a puppy meal addition. It is best to avoid canned peas because of the additives like salt and green dye.

Green peas have a high protein content and vitamins (A, K, C, and B complex), manganese, iron, and phosphorus.

14. Lentils

Your puppy can eat cooked lentils – in moderation. Lentils have low sugar content, valuable nutrients, and fiber.

Lentils are iron-rich – excellent for blood health but can produce a gassy reaction in your puppy’s stomach.

Lentils tend to produce less gas than other legumes, but the effect is still there.

It is best to cook your puppy’s lentils at home rather than opting for preprepared lentils because of the additives in human food.

Too many lentils introduced suddenly into your puppy’s diet may cause stomach upset, so as with all new foods, introduce a small amount to see how your puppy copes.

The most common lentil types include:

Brown – earthy in taste and hold their shape.
Puy – a French green lentil prized by gourmets.
Green – more affordable than Puy.
Split yellow and red – cook to a soft texture.
Beluga – tiny black lentils that appear like caviar.

Lentils provide fiber, protein, and B vitamins, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, and manganese.

15. Okra

Your puppy can tolerate okra as it is not toxic for dogs.

You can add it to your puppy meals but in small amounts. Avoid adding salt or fat, and it is best raw, steamed, or boiled rather than fried.

Technically, okra (like cucumber) is a fruit, and it is available in red and green varieties. You get magnesium along with Vitamin A, B6, B9, C, and K.

16. Yam and Sweet Potato

Don’t feed your puppy raw yam or sweet potato as this can cause gastric upset.

Cooking reduces the amount of oxalate and solanine present in the flesh, making a small amount safe for your puppy to eat.

The portion size is super small – less than a teaspoon for small puppies. The adult portion for large dogs is only one tablespoon, so a tiny amount goes a long way.

Adding a small amount to your puppy meals provides a nutrient boost for your puppy’s gut health, but the portion needs to remain small.

Yams give you Vitamins B complex and C, manganese, magnesium, potassium, and copper.

Sweet potatoes contain vitamins A, B5, B6, C, and E, as well as potassium and manganese.

17. Bell Peppers

Sweet or bell peppers are not toxic for your puppy.

Green and yellow peppers don’t contain the quantity of nutrients of red, but they are still safe for your pup.

For your puppy, keep the portion size to under a quarter of a pepper. It is best to remove the seeds, and initially, cooking or pureeing makes the skin more digestible.

You get vitamins A, B6, B9, C, E, and K in bell peppers, along with some potassium. Bell peppers are one of the richest dietary sources of vitamin C.

Bell peppers are not toxic but don’t feed your puppy the hot Chile peppers because the spice will burn your puppy’s sensitive mouth and stomach.

18. Cucumber

Cucumbers are a healthy, low-calorie puppy treat fed in moderation and with an appropriate chunk size.

As with any vegetable addition to your puppy’s diet, the key is small amounts and as a treat portion.

Cucumbers contain plenty of water and vitamins C and K. You get magnesium, manganese, and potassium in valuable amounts.

19. Celery

Celery is another low-calorie vegetable treat for your puppy. Either cooked or raw, small pieces appropriate to your puppy’s mouth reduce the risk of choking.

In the celery plant, any pesticides concentrate in the leafy parts of the plant. If you worry about pesticide residues, feed the stems and discard the leaves.

Celery provides vitamins A, B9, C, and K with some potassium.

You can add a little peanut butter to the celery to make an attractive puppy training treat. Go easy on the peanut butter as it is higher calorie than celery.

20. Mint Leaves

A small amount of mint leaves in your puppy meal isn’t an issue and may freshen the breath.

However, if your puppy has terrible breath, consult your vet and treat any underlying issues.

The portion size that avoids tummy upsets is small – one or at most two leaves per day for your puppy.

Stick to culinary mint – spearmint or peppermint and avoid the other varieties as some mints (Pennyroyal) are toxic for you and your puppy.

Your puppy may enjoy puppy treats with mint, but don’t share mint sweets because the high sugar content won’t help your puppy’s teeth or waistline.

21. Parsnips

Parsnip is safe for your puppy to eat, either raw or gently cooked. Cooked parsnip may be easier for your puppy to digest.

The peelings contain the most nutrients and fiber, so you may want to wash your parsnips well and set the shredded peelings to one side to add to your puppy meal when your family has parsnips.

Leftover roast parsnips are not the best option for your puppy because the seasonings, honey, and fats are not appropriate for your puppy’s health.

Parsnips provide vitamins B complex, C, E, and K, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and traces of calcium and iron.

22. Turnips

Turnips are another root vegetable that is safe for your puppy, providing your puppy doesn’t have thyroid problems.

Feed it in moderation, either raw or cooked, and cut the turnip into small pieces to avoid choking.

Turnip roots provide vitamin C and B9 along with phosphorus and calcium.

23. Cauliflower

Cooked cauliflower is a safe addition to your puppy’s diet.

Raw cauliflower contains thiocyanate, which can cause digestive problems for both you and your puppy.

You can steam, boil, or mash your cauliflower and add a small amount to your puppy’s dish with no ill effects, but don’t add too much.

Cauliflower provides vitamin C and K, calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium.

24. Cabbage and Brussel Sprouts

Cooked cabbage and Brussel sprouts are safe additions to your puppy’s food bowl.

Avoid feeding too much or to puppies prone to bloat because the cabbage family promotes gas and flatulence.

You can provide red or green varieties, but the red types are more nutritionally dense in the cancer-fighting ingredients.

Cabbage provides sulfur compounds, vitamins B6, B9, C, K, manganese, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and trace amounts of iron.

25. Radishes

Radishes won’t hurt your puppy, but they don’t provide many essential elements.

Your puppy probably won’t enjoy the taste (spicy and peppery), but if it does, the occasional bit of radish will not harm.

Radishes provide trace amounts of B and K vitamins, calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, copper, and manganese.

26. Celeriac

Your puppy can eat small amounts of cooked celeriac.

This root vegetable provides valuable vitamin K, phosphorus, calcium, iron, copper, and manganese.

Celeriac can produce excess gas in your puppy, and you might want to avoid it if your puppy suffers from flatulence.

27. Beetroot

Beetroot is another safe root vegetable for your puppy, and you can provide small chunks of raw or cooked beet.

Cooked mash beetroot is an excellent mixer for your puppy meals but in moderation.

Beetroot juice does stain fur, so you may have a puppy with unusual coloring for a little while.

Beetroot provides vitamins B9 and C, manganese, potassium, and iron. There are some other potentially healthy plant compounds, principally betanin, nitrate, and vulgaxanthin.

28. Butternut Squash

All the squashes (spaghetti squash, acorn squash) are suitable for your puppy and provide vitamins (A, B6, B9, and C) and minerals (phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium).

You need to remove the rind and seeds to avoid potential blockages.

You can steam, roast, boil or mash the flesh for serving, but you can offer raw bite-sized chunks as well.

29. Globe Artichokes

Your puppy can safely eat prepared pieces of globe artichoke.

The most significant risk with globe artichoke is the potential choking hazard and the excess fiber content.

Plainly cooked without seasoning and other ingredients is best.

Your puppy can enjoy:

Artichoke heart – but avoid the marinated versions.
Fresh, raw artichoke in appropriately sized pieces.
Soft steamed artichokes cut into pieces are straightforward for your puppy to digest.

An alternative to artichoke is Cardoon – a member of the thistle family. There is no information about its suitability for your puppy.

Avoid the Cardoon, and remember the artichoke leaves are not edible for you or your puppy.

30. Jerusalem Artichokes or Sunchokes

This starchy vegetable is a tuber, and it is safe for your puppy if properly prepared.

Steamed or mashed, the portion size is less than a teaspoon for a puppy.

The Jerusalem artichoke is an excellent source of inulin (prebiotic for good gut bacteria) and iron.

Amber Zone – Be Cautious

These vegetables aren’t toxic, but they have little benefit for your puppy and have some areas of concern.

31. Dill Pickles

Plain dill pickles aren’t an issue for your puppy, but they are high in salt, and the bitter taste is likely to be unappealing.

Watch the ingredients in the pickle jar – added garlic and onion are toxic for your puppy.

Instead of offering a bite of pickles, try a chunk of fresh cucumber as a refreshing low calorie treat on a hot day.

32. Asparagus

Asparagus is not toxic for your puppy, but it isn’t the most helpful puppy snack.

Raw asparagus is too fibrous and indigestible for your puppy. Asparagus contains an ingredient that makes urine smell bad in both humans and puppies.

By the time you’ve cooked the asparagus to serve to your puppy, you’ve lost most of the benefits – there are better and more digestible treats.

If you grow asparagus – don’t let your puppy eat the foliage as these leaves are toxic for your puppy.

33. Kale

Kale may be a wonder food for humans but be cautious about feeding your puppy an excess of kale.

Some of its constituents are not particularly healthy for your puppy:

Calcium oxalate is an issue in forming kidney and bladder stones.
Isothiocyanates can result in mild to severe gastric upset.
Regular consumption of kale interferes with thyroid function.

A small amount of kale (relative to your puppy’s size) is unlikely to cause too many problems, but there are better green vegetables for your puppy, like green beans, with benefits instead of potential ill effects.

34. Spinach

Although your puppy can eat spinach, the spinach leaf is high in oxalic acid. Oxalic acid stops your puppy from absorbing the calcium necessary for developing strong bones and teeth.

Plus, an excess can result in kidney damage.

Admittedly your pup would need to eat a lot of spinach to suffer these ill effects, but as spinach doesn’t contribute to your puppy’s healthy diet, it is probably best avoided.

You don’t need to worry if your pup accidentally eats some spinach, but you don’t want to make a special effort to add spinach to your puppy’s bowl.

35. Swiss or Rainbow Chard

You can cook and serve your puppy small amounts of these leafy greens, but the leaves contain oxalic acid.

This plant is very similar to spinach, with the same cautions to using it.

36. Olives

Plain olives without the pit aren’t a problem for your puppy if given as a small amount and not to excess.

Most olives come packaged in brine with too much salt or other toxic ingredients like garlic or painful chilies.

The pits are a choking hazard and, if swallowed, can cause blockages.

37. Eggplant

Your puppy can eat eggplant, and best cooked rather than raw for easy digestion. Fried eggplant is too high in fat for a healthy meal addition for your puppy.

Potential long-term impacts from feeding eggplant are:

Inflammation is a member of the nightshade family, and as your puppy matures, eggplant contains compounds that make arthritis and other inflammatory problems worse.
Nasunin is a compound that binds to iron and can increase or cause anemia.
High oxalate content may result in the formation of kidney stones.

Plus, your puppy may be allergic to eggplant.

The eggplant isn’t toxic, but there are better vegetables available for your puppy.

38. Tomatoes

Ripe tomatoes are not toxic for your puppy, but tomatoes are a member of the nightshade family like eggplant.

Solanine is a compound concentrated in green tomatoes and the leaves – can result in tomato poisoning.

The occasional bite of ripe red tomato shouldn’t be a problem for your puppy, but don’t make it the snack of choice every day.

39. Broccoli

Broccoli is a safe vegetable in small amounts (less than 10% of daily meals) and toxic in larger quantities (25% of daily meals).

When feeding broccoli to a small puppy, you can inadvertently tip into the danger zone – hence amber listing for broccoli.

You can feed broccoli raw or cooked without other additives.

The stalks can represent a choking hazard, so pay attention to your chunk size for your puppy.

Some puppies may be allergic or sensitive to broccoli, so always add a small taste first and watch your puppy for any reaction.

40. Mushrooms

If your puppy snacks on a wild mushroom on a walk, it is best to automatically assume it is an issue.

Your puppy doesn’t have a reliable detector for which fungi are safe to eat. It is best to consult a vet in case of poisoning.

Many mushrooms are safe for both you and your puppy, but the poisonous ones are quick acting and deadly. Some of the most toxic wild fungi have an attractive (to puppies) fishy smell.

The mushrooms you buy in the supermarket for human consumption are generally safe for your puppy if prepared without seasonings or fat.

But honestly, it is not worth encouraging the mushroom eating habit for your puppy.

Mushrooms don’t significantly add to your puppy’s well-being, and it is safer for your puppy not to consider wild mushrooms as a food source.

41. Potatoes

Fried potatoes may delight your kids and family, but too much fat is not suitable for your puppy.

Raw potatoes contain toxic solanine, and cooking reduces the levels present in the potato.

Some puppies are supersensitive to potatoes and can’t eat any amount without a stomach upset.

Most puppies can tolerate a small amount of potato (no salt or fat) as a snack or meal ingredient.

Potatoes aren’t a super healthy snack for your puppy, and if you choose vegetable treats for health reasons, carrots are better.

42. Edamame or Soy Bean

Plain edamame (without the pods) frozen, raw, or steamed is safe for your puppy if your puppy isn’t allergic.

Soy often provokes an allergic reaction in people as well as puppies, so approach with caution.

If your puppy tolerates soy, there are some crucial nutrients on offer – B6, calcium, vitamin C, Omega 3, as well as fiber and protein.

Some vets are dubious about the value of feeding soy in a puppy’s diet because some studies indicate that excess soy (fed daily in large amounts as a meat substitute) in the diet can cause damage to your puppy’s liver and thyroid.

One or two edamame beans as an occasional treat are unlikely to damage your puppy because these are a minor part of your puppy’s total intake.

Red Zone – Toxic Veg

These vegetables contain compounds that are toxic to your puppy and are not suitable treats.

Even a small amount like one raisin can necessitate an immediate call to the vet.

43. Garlic

Garlic is toxic for your puppy – don’t feed.

The problem ingredient is thiosulfate which damages the red blood cells.

Your puppy would have to eat a lot of garlic (around three to five whole cloves) to get very sick, but your puppy may be supersensitive.

It’s best to avoid garlic in your puppy’s diet altogether.

44. Onion

All members of the onion family – onions, leeks, scallions, shallot are toxic for your puppy.

The problem compound is N-propyl disulfide which attacks the red blood cells and can cause anemia in your puppy.

The impact of onion depends on your puppy’s weight, but 100g per 20kg of puppy is enough to give severe toxic overload.

Some form of onion appears in most prepared meals for humans, limiting the range of dishes you can share with your puppy.

45. Watercress

Don’t feed your puppy watercress because it is toxic and can cause thyroid and kidney damage.

Even small amounts are likely to cause stomach upsets (vomiting and diarrhea).

Does Your Puppy Breed Matter?

The puppy breed matters when choosing which vegetables are potential dish additions for your puppy.

Size

The most miniature toy breeds (Shih Tzu, Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Pug, Maltese Terrier, Papillion, Havanese, Yorkshire Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Toy Poodle) are more at risk from intestinal blockages from ingesting pips, stones, and highly fibrous rinds.

Plus, the smaller the puppy, the more significant the impact of a toxic vegetable.

Proportionally a smaller puppy will suffer more from a bite of onion than a larger puppy.

Bloat

Some breeds are more prone to bloat, and avoiding gas-producing foods like beans and cabbage makes sense for these puppies.

Reducing the buildup of gas in your puppy’s stomach is one way you can defend against this potentially fatal condition.

Thyroid Issues

It is exceptionally rare for a puppy to have thyroid issues as this disease typically develops between four and ten years.

Toy and miniature breeds seldom have problems, and you don’t need to worry about keeping some foods (like turnip or kale) out of their diet for this reason.

This disease most often impacts medium to large dogs, and the most susceptible breeds are:

Airedale Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund, Miniature Schnauzer, Irish Setter, Doberman Pinscher and Golden Retriever.

Planning to eliminate potential problem foods from your puppy’s food bowl is good practice for keeping your mature dog in excellent condition.

Kidney Stones

All dogs can form painful kidney stones because of infection or mineralization.

Female dogs are more prone than males.

Some smaller dog breeds (Shih Tzus, Miniature Schnauzers, Yorkshire Terriers, and Lhasa Apsos) are more prone than other dog breeds, and in the larger dog breeds, Dalmatians are more susceptible.

Some foods encourage the formation of kidney or bladder stones because they change the PH of the urine.

As none of these vegetables are essential for your puppy’s health but are optional additions, you may wish to avoid them.

Summary: Vegetables for Your Puppy

The key message is that the total amount of treats, including vegetables, in your puppy’s daily or weekly intake should not exceed 10%.

Although your puppy benefits from including some plant material in its diet, too much causes stomach upsets because your puppy’s developing stomach can’t cope.

The best approach to adding vegetables is to:

Avoid toxic ingredients (red zone).
Prepare by cutting and cooking as appropriate.
Choose healthy over harmful; avoid when in doubt.
Provide small quantities and vary the type.

Your puppy gets its nutrition from balanced meals.

Everything else is an optional treat food, so to avoid unpleasant incidents, identify safe treats for your puppy.

Puppies explore the world with their mouth; as a responsible puppy parent, you protect your puppy from its lack of knowledge of safe vs. unsafe vegetables in the home and the garden.