What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?
Many vegetables make great low-calorie treats for dogs - safe options include carrots, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, peas, bell peppers, zucchini, lettuce, and cooked pumpkin, squash and sweet potato. Avoid onions, garlic, leeks and chives (toxic), wild mushrooms, and unripe/green tomatoes and raw potato. Serve vegetables plain, chopped small, with no salt, oil or seasoning, and keep them to about 10% of the daily diet.
Lots of vegetables are a healthy, low-calorie treat for dogs - but a few are toxic, so it’s worth knowing which is which. The rule of thumb: serve safe veg plain, washed, chopped small, and in moderation, with no salt, butter, oil or seasoning.
Vegetables that are safe for dogs
| Best served raw or cooked | Notes |
|---|---|
| Carrots | Crunchy, great for teeth; raw or cooked |
| Green beans | Raw, steamed or canned (no salt) - a filling low-cal treat |
| Broccoli & cauliflower | Small amounts only; can cause gas |
| Cucumber | Hydrating, very low calorie |
| Peas (green, snap, snow) | Fibre and protein; skip canned with added salt |
| Bell peppers | Vitamin-rich; remove seeds |
| Zucchini & lettuce | Gentle, low-calorie |
| Pumpkin, squash, sweet potato | Cook first; great for digestion |
Vegetables to avoid
- Onions, garlic, leeks and chives (the allium family) - toxic to dogs; they damage red blood cells. This includes powdered forms in many sauces and seasonings.
- Wild mushrooms - never risk it; toxic types are hard to identify. (Plain store-bought mushrooms are low-value and best skipped too.)
- Unripe/green tomatoes and green potato/raw potato - contain solanine; only ripe tomato and fully cooked potato flesh are okay. See our answer on tomatoes.
- Corn on the cob - the kernels are fine, but the cob is a serious blockage hazard.
How to serve vegetables safely
- Plain and unseasoned - no salt, butter, oil, garlic or onion.
- Chopped into bite-sized pieces to prevent choking, especially for small dogs.
- Cook the starchy ones (pumpkin, squash, sweet potato) and leave crunchy ones (carrot, green beans) raw or lightly steamed.
- Introduce gradually - too much fibre at once causes gas or loose stools.
How much is okay?
Vegetables are treats, not meals. Keep them and all other treats to no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories; the rest should come from a complete, balanced dog food. If your dog has a health condition (like kidney disease or a sensitive stomach), check with your vet before adding new veg.
References
- What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat? - PetMD
- Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Can and Can’t Eat - American Kennel Club
- What Can Dogs Eat? - Hill’s Pet
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Introduce new foods gradually and ask your vet if your dog has a health condition.
