Which fruits are veggies are safe and which are not to give to our dogs?

Answer :There are all sorts of fruits and vegetables that you can give to your dogs although you should not make fruits and veggies a large part of your dog’s diet.  Some fruits and vegetables should be used with caution, while others should be avoided altogether.  Here are some examples of these different types.

The are some of the safe food

• All berries- blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries
• Cantaloupes, Watermelons, and Honeydew Melons
• Yams/Sweet Potatoes are ok but avoid regular potatoes
• Certain types of squashes such as Pumpkins, Summer Squash and Zucchini
• Some leafy greens such as Lettuce and Parsley
• Bananas
• Sugar snap peas and Green beans
• Carrots

Fruits/veggies  we should give with precaution

• Mango - Remove the seed. It could be a choking hazard
• Pears - Remove the seeds
• Apples - Remove the seeds. Apple seeds contain cyanogenic acid and are poisonous
• Cherries - Remove the seeds since they also contain cyanogenic acid
• Garlic - In small amounts it is very beneficial as a de-wormer and for keeping flees away, but in larger amounts it can affect the red blood cells and causes anemia
• Apricots - remove seeds, they contain cyanide
• Broccoli - These have the element isothiocyanate, which is fine in small amounts, but in larger portions can cause severe stomach upset
• Plums - remove seeds, they contain cyanogenic glucosides

Foods we should NEVER giver to our dogs

• Grapes and Raisins - Even though grapes and raisins are tolerated by most dogs,some dogs could be very sensitive to them and it can cause acute kidney failure, which is a fatal condition. I recommend not giving them for the sake of trying out to see if your dog is sensitive or not
• Onion, Chives, Shallots, Leeks, Spring Onions or anything in this family - These can cause anemia affecting the red blood cells
• Macadamia nuts - Even though the toxic compound is unknown, dogs can develop tremors and paralysis leading to fatal condition even consuming only few macadamias
• Chocolate (Cocoa) - The darker the chocolate, the worse it is for the dog. Chocolate contains an element called theobromine, which is a stimulant that increasing the heart rate and the blood pressure in humans but even more prominently in dogs. It can lead to a fatal heart attack in dogs when given even in small amounts. Dogs in perfect health condition can tolerate very small amounts, but you should never play with “ fire” and just because your dog tolerates it few times, it doesn’t meant the the 4th or 5th time around will not be fatal.
• Coffee - Can lead to a profuse diarrhea and vomiting
• Avocado - They contain persin, which is toxic for dogs and can cause heart and lung damage
• Hops - Yes, the ones used in beer making in small amounts it should be fine, but in larger amounts it can cause hops toxicity which leads to a malignant hyperthermia and uncontrollable fever. The hound breeds are more sensitive to hops toxicity than other breeds.
• Eucalyptus leaves - they are toxic to eat not only to the animals, but humans. The leaves can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and can even cause them to slip into a coma
• Rhubarb leaves - The contain Oxalic acid and Anthraquinone Glycosides . On its own, Oxalic acid is not poisonous but it forms deadly combination with Anthraquinone Glycosides

When you give fruits and veggies, try to buy organic or locally grown and give them to your dogs in small amounts as treats.