Dogs are carnivorous animals. This means that they have evolved to eat proteins of animal origin: meat is the main ingredient in dog food. However, they can still eat some fruits and vegetables as long as the diet is balanced.
There is a global trend to reduce people's meat consumption. A 2018 survey by Global Data (London, England) found that 70% of consumers report reducing their animal protein intake.
However, this does not mean that carnivorous animals (including dogs and cats) can become vegetarians. Their organisms have evolved over hundreds of millennia to utilize the nutrients obtained through hunting.
Diet change
However, owners can still include some fruits and vegetables in their dog's diet. In the wild, wolves often eat some fruits and roots, particularly to aid digestion.
What you can't do is feed dogs a vegan diet. Veganism is more than a diet, it is a lifestyle where people do not consider the exploitation of other animal species to be ethical.
In this regard, veganism is a worldview that dogs do not share. They can only eat a vegetarian diet, but if they were released back into the wild they would return to hunting.
An exclusively vegetarian diet for dogs is possible, but it is very complex and requires supplementation with some nutrients that are not present (or difficult to absorb) in fruits, vegetables and legumes.
Like any other diet, a vegetarian diet, if introduced, must meet the dog's entire nutritional needs in terms of the quantity and quality of proteins, sugars, fats, vitamins and minerals.
Vegetables on the menu
In general, dogs can get all the nutrients they need for health, wellbeing and quality of life through a balanced diet. Tutors must pay attention to the conditions in which they are manufactured and also the logistics of distributing the products.
Industrialized products with a high level of quality are often compromised in whole or in part due to inadequate transport, storage and presentation.
But even if you don't plan on radically changing your dog's diet, you can add value by offering some vegetables every day. It is important to remember that giving dogs fruits and vegetables is a form of nutritional supplementation.
Therefore, in some cases, when offering a vegetable, it is necessary to proportionally reduce the amount of food that day. Vegetables are almost always viewed as a prize, reward, and treat, but when they become more common, owners need to control possible weight gain.
Another important point: If you make changes to your diet, it is important to follow the instructions of a veterinarian ideally the one who accompanies the dog.
Healthy options
Some snacks made from vegetables can be very useful for dog training. You can even substitute some treats like fake bones and steaks (some available products can be harmful to your furry friend's health).
In addition to being used as a reward, fruits and vegetables can also be offered in playful and relaxing moments. Some dogs seem to really like some vegetables, even though taste isn't that important to our best friends.
Fruits and vegetables can be offered raw or just cooked in water, without seasonings or seasonings. Most dogs prefer a firmer consistency, but some enjoy a puree in addition to their daily dry food.
Another option is to freeze diced pieces (e.g. water or meat broth). In addition to providing some ingredients, the liquid improves hydration conditions and can be a fun game, especially on hot days.
There are no contraindications to the vegetables listed below, nor have any reports of harm from ingesting them. Nevertheless, caution is advised, especially during the first attempts, as food intolerances can occur in individual cases.
Taking into account the fact that the portions offered cannot lead to an increase in calories in the diet (unless there is a proportional increase in physical activity), owners can include various vegetables in the menu.
- Pumpkin is rich in fiber, which facilitates intestinal transit and increases stool volume. The fruit is particularly recommended for dogs with constipation problems. Pumpkin is a good source of vitamin A and helps improve skin, hair and eye health.
The fruit is also recommended for strengthening the immune system and improving blood circulation. Regular consumption also appears to be associated with a lower incidence of some types of cancer.
- Zucchini provides good amounts of vitamins A, C and E as well as some minerals. Fruit (it's also fruit!) strengthens the immune system and improves skin, hair and eye health. It is also a source of few proteins and is quite fibrous.
The vegetable is a source of selenium (reduces the amount of free radicals), zinc (accelerates healing, prevents infections and helps control blood sugar levels), copper (important for the production of collagen and red blood cells) and manganese (helps during blood checks). sugar levels and regulates metabolism) and potassium (important for the function of nerves and muscles).
- Sweet potato often consumed by bodybuilders, the tuber can be offered to dogs, but not in excess. It is a source of vitamins A, B and C, calcium (develops, regenerates and strengthens bones and teeth), potassium and is rich in fiber.
Excessive consumption can lead to unnecessary weight gain, and some studies suggest that animals that eat a lot of sweet potatoes are more susceptible to heart problems. The tuber should always be offered cooked in small portions (half a potato per day for a mediumsized animal).
- Beetroot can be offered raw or cooked, but always without the peel. Consumption must be minimal because beets are a source of glucose, which in excess can alter a dog's metabolism.
The tuber is rich in vitamin C as well as calcium and phosphorus, two important minerals for the good development of bones and teeth. However, you should not give them to dogs that have already developed calcifications.
- Broccoli and cauliflower many dogs particularly like the florets it’s hard to know if they like the taste, texture or smell. Broccoli provides vitamins A, B1, B6 and C, as well as the following minerals: calcium, iron (essential for transporting oxygen to cells), magnesium (important for protein synthesis, heart function and lymphocyte production) and potassium.
Broccoli and cauliflower can be offered raw or cooked, depending on your dog's preference. You can use the leaves, stems and flowers.
- Carrot is one of the vegetables that dogs like the most. Carrot stalks are very useful in training: dogs consider them a good reward and, moreover, they end up replacing other fatty snacks.
Carrots, which can be served raw or cooked, are high in fiber, vitamins A, C, E, and K, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium, and are a good source of glucose (so they may not be a good option for diabetic dogs). . or obese).
- Chayote Source of calcium, iron and magnesium, chayote also provides vitamins A and C. The vegetable is a good option for hydrating dogs, especially after (or during) intense physical activity.
Offering the vegetables in cubes or stalks stimulates the dog's desire. In these cases, chayote can be given raw, taking care to remove the peel, which in dogs feels rough to the touch and in some cases contains thorns.
- Jiló usually offered to birds, but dogs can also enjoy it. The ideal is to serve the Jiló cooked and chilled (since it is small, many furry people can bite it while it is still hot and even suffer burns).
Jiló is a good source of vitamin A and complex B. The fruit also provides fiber and plenty of calcium. Although Jiló is considered bitter (and very bad) by many people, it is also one of dogs' vegetable preferences.
- Paprika Dogs can eat red, green and yellow peppers (the deeper the color, the higher the concentration of betacarotene). The fruit is a source of calcium, iron and vitamins B1, B2, B5.
It is a lowcalorie food that can be given with a little generosity. Most dogs prefer the delicacy raw, but peppers can also be cooked and mixed into their food. In cases where an increase in iron intake is necessary, the pepper can be boiled until it breaks down and the cooking water added to the daily diet.
- Okra is rich in vitamins A and K, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. Okra is low in calories (can be given to chubby people), provides fiber and can be offered raw or cooked depending on your preference.
Okra is also an excellent source of polyphenols, substances that help regulate the intestines, facilitate digestion and combat the effects of free radicals in the body. Owners need to control their intake to avoid bloating and diarrhea.
- Green beans and cow ears both varieties are useful for controlling the levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the bloodstream of dogs. Green beans are low in calories and can also be incorporated into any meal.
The pod also has another function: it controls blood sugar (blood sugar) levels, preventing an uncontrolled increase. Dogs with diabetes especially benefit from eating this vegetable.
The leaves and fruits
It's harder to convince a dog to just eat leaves, but it all depends on the furry friend's personality. Owners can choose watercress (source of vitamin C), lettuce (vitamin A and calcium), kale (calcium and iron), spinach (calcium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin A and some B complex) and cabbage (vitamins A, B and K ) try, in addition to antiinflammatory properties).
Among the fruits, it is easier to list which dogs are not allowed to eat:
- Avocado in addition to its high fat content (which is contraindicated in overweight dogs), avocado is rich in persin, a toxic substance that causes vomiting and diarrhea and can lead to heart failure and even death;
- Carambola There is no consensus, but the fruit is believed to increase the risk of kidney failure, especially in dogs prone to problems with the excretory system. It's best to keep dogs away from the fruit;
- Grapes the reasons are not yet fully understood, but the entire vine stems, leaves, buds, fruits (including raisins), peels and seeds is harmful to dogs. The effects of poisoning depend on a number of factors such as size, age and general health and range from mild stomach upset to deep coma.
Citrus fruits are not forbidden, but they can cause stomach problems such as heartburn and indigestion. This is the case with lemon, orange and pineapple. In healthy animals you can give a small piece and observe the reaction.
All other fruits can be part of dogs' daily lives, either as a reward or as an ingredient in a particular diet. The shells and seeds must be removed as they can cause suffocation.
Tomatoes, like all fruits in the nightshade family, are rich in a substance called solanine, which can cause stomach upset if consumed in excess. A mediumsized dog should eat a maximum of half a large tomato. Eggplants, peppers and potatoes (sweet potatoes, English, etc.) are also part of the family.
Laboratory analysis suggests that cherry peels contain small amounts of cyanides, substances that can cause death. However, the cyanide content of these fruits is so low that in the event of poisoning it would be necessary to eat a bowl of cherries; and in that case it would be more likely that he would have severe indigestion.
In some cases, such as all varieties of apples and pears, the seeds can contain small capsules of toxic gases that can even be fatal, especially to older or sick small dogs. Typically, substances are neutralized through harvesting, transportation, etc.
In any case, moderation must be exercised when it comes to giving fruit to dogs, even if they love it. Most contain significant amounts of sugar, which in small doses provides the body with energy. In excess, they can cause a number of problems such as overweight and obesity.
Source: Cães Online/Metropoles partner.