Dog-Friendly Vegetables

Do you want to grow your own dog-friendly vegetables? We’ve got great tips for you!

Having taken in two needy puppies that have since grown into huge, hungry and energetic dogs, it’s been a challenge to develop a healthy diet that doesn’t implode the budget.

I am also one of those soft-hearted owners who feels that just feeding your dogs biscuits is dead boring. What is life without gravy?

My vet’s advice was to opt for the best-balanced dog biscuits that I could afford, and supplement that with a gravy using natural products (vegetables, lean chicken and liver) rather than tinned dog food, which contains preservatives and is more expensive.

Veggies are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes and phytonutrients. For instance, most squashes are rich in vitamins, especially A and C, as well as minerals that contribute to the overall health of the dog and support the immune system. Combining vegetables with a little meat to make a palatable gravy is a great way to keep dogs healthy. But there are also some safety considerations to be aware of before including vegetables in the diet.

Of course, the healthiest veggies for your dogs are those that are organic and pesticide-free. What better reason for growing them yourself?

READ MORE: Learn about pet-safe gardening here

With summer around the corner, here are eight easy-to-grow, dog-friendly vegetables:

1. Swiss Chard

Easy to grow, chard provides leaves all year round. Sow inspring and a second crop in autumn. Chard needs regular watering and feeding once a month, or a slow-release fertiliser when planting. Regular picking improves its leaf production.

Benefit for dogs: Both the nutrient-rich leaves and stems (for fibre) can be used. It is a source of essential vitamins A, C and E, but don’t overdo the green stuff because too much can be harmful. If in doubt, rather use the stems, boiled, steamed or puréed to make them more digestible.

2. Celery

This is a long crop that likes cool weather. Germinate seeds indoors in August for planting out in September. Plant in deep, fertile, organically rich soil that is kept consistently moist. Small, dry stalks means that it is not getting enough water. Don’t blanch the stems if it’s grown primarily for dogs (and adding to stews), because deep green stems are higher in nutritional content. Cut stems from the outside in.

Benefit for dogs: The vitamins in celery include A and C, which are antioxidants. The high fibre can help with digestion and celery’s anti-inflammatory properties may help with arthritis. Chop and add fresh, crunchy celery to biscuits or steam and purée for adding to a gravy.

READ MORE: Try these Herbs for Healthy Pets!

3. Carrots

Many dogs like raw carrots as a crunchy treat, or finely grated and cooked with other veggies. The tops can be cooked, as can the ‘thinnings’ when doing the final spacing.

Sow in situ, either in drills or broadcast. Mixing the seed with mealie meal helps distribute it more evenly. Cover the seed with a thin layer of sand and firm down. When the seedlings have developed five leaves, reduce watering to once a week. This encourages the root to go in search of water, extending the length of the carrot.

Benefit for dogs: Carrots are rich in vitamins, including vitamin A, which is good for overall health. But carrots also contain lots of natural sugar, which could lead to weight gain and other health issues, even an upset tummy if used too much.

4. Beetroot

This feels like an unconventional choice for dogs, but its vitamin C, folate, manganese and potassium content is reputed to help dog’s digestion and immune system as well as a healthy skin and coat.

Beetroot needs light soil that drains easily. Sow in situ and thin out to a final spacing of 10cm between plants. Beetroot can be sown throughout summer, although it is less successful in the hottest months.

Both the roots and tops are eaten, making it an efficient crop.

Try this: Peel and grate raw or cooked beetroot into a gravy with other veggies and meat. Avoid chunks as the dogs may choke on them.

5. Green Beans

Bush beans are highly productive, so six plants should supply enough beans for you and your dogs. Plant in spring, followed by a midsummer planting in December or January. Beans like full sun, well-drained, fertile soil and regular watering, especially when flowering. Pick often, even daily, to encourage more flowers.

Benefit for dogs: Besides containing many vitamins and minerals like iron and calcium, chopped and cooked green beans are a good source of fibre.

6. Butternut and Pumpkins

These vining squashes take up a lot of growing space but are so good for dogs because they contain beta-carotene. However, just one plant is necessary and can be trained against a wall, along a trellis or up a tree. At planting, enrich the soil with compost and 6:3:4 organic fertiliser to supply additional calcium. Fertilise again with 3:1:5 or 5:1:5 organic fertiliser when flowering starts.

Benefit for dogs: Squashes are safe for dogs to eat and contain many vitamins (A, C, B6) and minerals that support overall health, the immune system, vision and cardiovascular functions. Just make sure to remove the pips because too many could clog up the dog’s digestive system.

7. Baby Marrows

If grown early in the season, these prolific producers won’t suffer from powdery mildew. Watering around the base and not on the leaves also helps. Marrows like fertile soil that drains well and space to grow, at least 1m² per plant. Pick frequently for small, tasty fruit.

Benefit for dogs: Dogs tend to prefer cooked baby marrows, which are sweeter and more digestible. Being low in calories and fat, this is a good veggie to include for overweight dogs. Besides the essential vitamin A, marrows contain many minerals (magnesium, potassium, folate, phosphorus and copper).

8. Cabbage

This vegetable is in the top 10 of he most nutrient-rich vegetables, particularly because it contains phytonutrients that help protect the body from free radicals (which cause cancer) and also have a detoxifying effect on the body. It’s best grown as a spring or autumn crop. Sow indoors in August for a quick spring start. Plant in fertile, organically enriched soil and water regularly. Keep plants free of aphids, which can infest and spoil the heads.

Benefits for dogs: Cabbage is high in fibre, minerals and vitamins, so it is good for adult dogs but avoid giving it to puppies. It’s best to give cabbage in small amounts – too much can cause thyroid problems and also flatulence. Cooked, finely chopped cabbage is the best way to include it in the diet.