When you think your dog’s and cat’s deserve a natural treat, what kinds of fruits and veggies can they have is a great question. Fruits such as bananas, oranges, and mangoes are great additions to their diet, whereas some can be dangerous and should be avoided entirely.
Ground-rule of introducing any new foods to your cat’s and dog’s diet is to make the changes gradually. Sudden changes can cause vomiting and/or diarrhea. In general, fruits are higher in sugar than vegetables, and thus should be limited in overweight pets.
Safe to Eat:
Fruits
- Apples (great source of Vitamin A and C).
- Bananas (the pick-me-up fruit).
- Blueberries (anti-cancer and heart disease).
- Cantaloupe (help with dog’s vision, NO SEED).
- Pears (strengthen the intestinal tract).
- Pineapple (improving digestion and reduction of inflammation).
- Watermelon (tasty summer treat contains 92% water).
Vegetables
- Asparagus (low calories and impressive nutrients).
- Broccoli (the superfruit).
- Brussel sprouts (good source of fibre).
- Carrots (good for vision and cleaning teeth).
- Celery (improving heart health).
- Cucumber (little to no carbs, great for overweight pets).
- Green beans (source of omega-3 fatty acids).
- Lettuce (great source of Vitamin K and A).
- Peas (frozen treat with healthy vitamins).
- Pumpkin (promotes digestive health).
- Spinach (superfood).
Avoid or Toxic:
Fruits
- Apricots (the seeds or pits contain cyanide).
- Avocado (contain persin in their fruit, leaves, seed, and bark).
- Cherries (the seeds or pits contain cyanide).
- Currants (can cause irreversible kidney damage).
- Grapes (can cause irreversible kidney damage).
- Peaches (the seeds or pits contain cyanide).
- Plums (the seeds or pits contain cyanide).
- Raisins (can cause irreversible kidney damage).
- Tomatoes (stems, vines, and leaves of tomato plants may contain atropine and tomatine, which can be poisonous).
Vegetables
- Corn cobs (can cause intestinal obstruction, a serious and potentially fatal medical condition).
- Garlic (eating them can destroy your dog’s blood cells, causing anemia and irreparable harm to their kidneys).
- Mushrooms (toxic to the liver).
- Onions (eating them can destroy your dog’s blood cells, causing anemia and irreparable harm to their kidneys).
- Peppers (can upset your dog’s digestive system and cause diarrhea).
- Raw potatoes (may contain solanum alkaloids (solanine) that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and irregular heartbeats in dogs).
- Rhubarb (contains oxalates, and consuming this type of plant can cause problems with your pet’s nervous system, digestive tract, and kidneys).
Extra Hints
- Always remove seeds from fruits before giving them to your pet.
- You can offer vegetables raw, slightly steamed, boiled or baked.
- Watch your pet’s stools afterwards. If they develop diarrhea or soft stools, reduce the number of fruits and vegetables you are providing.
If you are uncertain about feeding any items to your pets, please contact us at 204-269-8162.
Written by Lu, Receptionist
