Fruit and Vegetable Snacks for Dogs

If you are like most dog owners, you have heard not to give your dog people food over and over.  Some people food, however, is not bad for your dog in small quantities.  Here are ten fruits and vegetable snacks you can give to your dog without feeling guilty:

  1. Cantaloupe has lots of vitamins for your dog that may help his eyesight.   Plus cantaloupes are loaded vitamin A and lots of beta carotene, which helps reduce the risk of cancer and prevents cell damage. It’s also a good source of vitamins B-6 and C, fiber, foliate, niacin and potassium.
  2. Green beans are a good treat for your dog.  Green beans are good for dogs because of their omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A, C, and K. They’re also a good source of calcium, copper, fiber, folic acid, iron, niacin, manganese, potassium, riboflavin and thiamin, as well as beta carotene.
  3. Spinach is just as good for your dog as it is for you.  Although it’s high in iron (with almost twice as much of it as most other sources), spinach is a particularly good option for your dog since it helps fend off inflammatory and cardiovascular issues, along with cancer.
  4. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” works for the dog in your life, too.  Apples have loads of antioxidants and lots of vitamin c as well.
  5. Pumpkin loads them up on fiber, vitamin A and anti-oxidants. It can help alleviate diarrhea and constipation. And it has been known to promote his overall cardiovascular health.  Dogs usually love this vegetable and will eat it without an argument.
  6. Sweet potatoes are good for dogs.  They are a great source of vitamins E, A, B-6 and C, as well as calcium, iron, foliate, potassium, copper, thiamine and iron.
  7. Blueberries are good for dogs.  They have high levels of resveratrol with anti-cancer and heart disease fighting qualities. They make a great option for your dog’s diet. As an added bonus, the tannins found in blueberries also help prevent urinary tract infections.
  8. Watermelon is good for dogs if you don’t eat it all first!  It is loaded with lycopene, vitamin A, B-6 and C, as well as thiamin.
  9. If you cut asparagus into bite sized pieces and feed it to them, you are giving him vitamin K, A,  B1, B2, C, E.  It also has foliate, iron, copper, fiber, manganese, and potassium.

10.  Although not a common vegetable on most people’s plates, Brussels sprouts can give your dog vitamins K and G, manganese, foliate, fiber, potassium, vitamins A, B1, and
B6

Treats and people food should not make up more than one third of the dog’s diet.  The rest should come from a good dog food.  While many people want to formulate their own dog food, that is very complicated and if you don’t get the ingredients in their correct proportions you can make your dog very ill.  However, these ten fruits and vegetables can be used as a treat for your dog that is actually good for him.

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