Healthy Snacks You Can Share With Your Dog: Fruit and Veggie Edition

Recently I was wasting time on Facebook and someone in a group I’m in all about dogs (Cool Dog Group, it’s amazing, for srs) asked a question. Do you ever feel guilty when you’re eating chocolate and your dog is watching you, not knowing why you won’t give him some? First of all, no, I didn’t feel guilty about giving my dog chocolate, UNTIL YOU MENTIONED IT. Second, there are tons of things you can share with your pup that are perfectly safe!

Bingley learned pretty quickly that the sound of the veggie peeler means snack time! He’ll be sound asleep on the other end of the apartment and come running if he hears the peeler.

 

Apples

DO NOT feed the seeds or core of the apple. Apple seeds contain poisonous chemicals and a dog can choke on the core.

 

Berries

Bingley LOVES berries, especially strawberries. Just pull off the leaves.

 

Watermelon

Bing and I both love watermelon in the summer at the peak of its flavor. We always get the seedless variety (it’s nearly impossible to find seeded watermelon around here) but if yours has seeds, remove them before giving watermelon to your pup.

 

Cantaloupe/Honeydew

Melons in general are safe for dogs, just avoid the seeds and rind.

 

Bananas

I used to eat bananas daily, and that little nub at the bottom of the peel always went to Bingley! Freeze pieces for a fun snack.

 

Green beans

These green crunchy snacks are safe raw or cooked as long as you don’t put any seasoning on them.

 

Carrots

Also great raw or cooked. When I cut and peel carrots, Bing always gets some of the trimmings!

Pumpkin/Winter Squash

Serve to your pup cooked, cubed or mashed without butter or seasoning. Canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling) can be stirred into your pet’s dry kibble for help with loose stools, too!

Sweet Potato

Cooked, cubed or mashed without butter or seasoning; regular potatoes are also good, but in limited amounts since they are high in sugar and can increase weight. I usually eat the skin of a baked sweet potato, but on days when I don’t feel like it, I tear the skin up into little pieces and feed them to Bing as a snack.

Summer Squash/Zucchini/Cucumber

Cucumber is another one of those veggies that Bing always gets the ends of when I’m cutting them up. I would say avoid feeding to much of the skin if it’s got a waxy coating: stick to English/burpless cukes or smaller Persian cukes, neither of which have a wax coating.

Lettuce

I don’t know why, but Bingley always tries to pull the ends of the Romaine out of the garbage when I’m making a salad. It’s safe, though!

Spinach

I’ve been known to drop a few spinach leaves on the floor when making salad, and I don’t have to worry about them getting noshed on by Bing.

All of these foods are safe for dogs in moderation, and you don’t have to feel guilty about not sharing them with your pup! Do you have a pup that loves fruit or veggies? Let me know in the comments!