Inspired by St. Paddy's Day: Green Foods Your Dog Can Enjoy!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone. Hope you are having fun, and staying safe! Today's blog post is inspired by this Irish day - let's talk about some green foods that are safe for our dogs. 

Here are some of our favourite greens:

• Apples and Pears! A great crunchy texture, and packed with vitamins A&C. Dogs can't eat the core or seeds (neither should humans, the seeds have cyanide in them).
• Broccoli: fibre and vitamins, oh boy! Broccoli should be steamed before serving, as dogs don't have amalayse enzymes in their mouths like us humans. Without steaming, this green treat can be hard to digest and cause stomach upset in our furry friends. 
• Kiwi: enjoy in moderation! Lots of fibre, like broccoli - so a little treat here and there is okay and safe. 
• Spinach and lettuce: high fibre, and spinach especially is a superfood. You can blend these with goats milk or bone broth & freeze them into little frozen superfood supplements! 
•  Watermelon (the outside is green... so this counts, right?): composed of mostly water, this is a great hydrating snack - also packed with vitamins (A/C/Bs). Too much can cause diarrhea, but it makes an excellent summer snack. 
• Cucumbers: cool as a cuke, am I right? Did you know cucumbers can help freshen our pup's breath? Well, it can! Also very low calorie/carb/fat so it is a healthy snack for even our chunky monkey dogs.
• Peas: Favourite vegetable of children everywhere... NOT. But it is a favourite for health benefits for our pups. This one has potassium in it, as well as B-vitamins, which means they can help boost energy. Like broccoli, it is best to steam these and mash before serving. You might have to mix it in with your pups dinner, because like kids - dogs can be fussy!

Green foods to AVOID:

• NO GRAPES. We all know this already, right?
• Limes.. I doubt our dogs would enjoy these due to the high acidity, but that same acidity can be tough on their tiny tummies
• Avocados: Can make your dog puke! No thanks, I will save them for my hipster avo-toast thank you very much
• Scallions: No onions, but we all know this already too... right?

Remember: 

When adding something new into our pup's diets - do so in SMALL increments. All dogs react to foods differently, and not all these green foods will suit your dog. Also, if your dog has known medical conditions (or you just want to be proactive) please consult your vet before trying anything new. These are all meant to supplement the dog's diet, and not replace their regular nutrition.

​Have fun, give your dog a little green treat today if you have any!