Fruits and vegetables can rev up essential nutrients in both humans as well as our pet dogs, however, the dog’s digestive system is not designed to process plant-based dietary foods.
Just a little too much of veggies or fruits ingestion by your pet dog could mean stomach upsets, diarrhea and to the extreme death of your pet from poisoning.
There are a lot of vegetables that we eat with our dogs that are safe for them to eat. While we would like to share with our dogs every plant food humans eat, some vegetables are not so safe for dog consumption.
Before conclusively ruling out all of the vegetables as not safe for our dogs to eat, its vital to understand where the“dangers” of vegetables and fruits ingestion by your pet come from.
Despite all fruits and vegetables being edible and palatable to the human body, the same vegetables may also contain harmful natural chemical compounds in their seeds, chlorophyll, fruit skins, thorns, prickles, and generally anything that has a detrimental effect on the health and wellbeing of the dog.
That is why we have listed the 25 of the human staple food that can quickly turn out to be dangerous vegetables and are not recommended for your dogs to ingest in large quantities.
Beetroots
Sunday roast meals in our household can not go without including Beetroot as a part of our veggie salads. And we love beetroots as they are a good source of vital vitamins and minerals like fiber, folate, vitamin C, manganese, and potassium.
The trouble for our family makeup is that it includes our beloved pet dog called Tess!
While there is all evidence backed publications supporting that beetroot ingestion can rev up vitamins and minerals for your dog’s digestive and immune system. There is also a great deal of concern for plant-based food when ingested in a larger amount for your dog.
So, Is it OK for dogs to eat beetroot?
Yes! Dogs can eat beetroots as long as the amount of the portion is moderated.
Beets are said to contain essential minerals that promote healthy skin and coat for your dog. While others would want to make, it look as if it’s rare for dogs to become allergic to beetroot ingestion; the truth is the digestive system of the dog is not designed for plant-based food.
1. Mushrooms
Mushrooms are a huge part of our day to day food we eat, whether its breakfast grilled mushrooms or pan-fried mushrooms, as humans we seem not to have enough of it!
While mushrooms are safe for humans to eat, they are not so safe for dogs to indulge themselves as they seem to want to join in on the breakfast table.
Dogs eating mushrooms does not go down well because some mushrooms do contain toxins that are known to cause serious kidney damage or failure to the dogs. Beyond that, mushroom toxicity also causes liver problems in dogs.
Though this sounds alarming, for the record, dogs and humans both suffer from mushroom poisoning as there are different kinds of mushrooms, and within the huge list of these fungus plants, some are harmful for people as well as dogs.
Except that dogs are more susceptible to suffer mushroom toxicity to most human edible types of mushrooms than the poisonous mushrooms in the wild.
The good news for humans is that the mushrooms that make it to the store are checked so do not worry about food poisoning. Sadly dogs are not on the list.
So, Can dogs eat store-bought mushrooms? Yes! Dogs can eat store-bought mushrooms. However, moderation of the amount of mushroom consumption each time your dog eats is vital here!
Too much of anything is not suitable for the dog’s digestive system and mushroom ingestion is no different.
But, if your dog has accidentally eaten yard mushrooms, you need to take him to the nearest veterinary in your local area.
2. Green Potatoes
The same nutritious cooked potatoes we all love are incredibly harmful to dogs when eaten fresh.
And dogs left alone while we are away at work can often find their way into our dry food pantry where they can mischievously munch on green potatoes, which sadly contain substances called Oxalates.
Oxalates can have a heavy impact in the alimentary canal as they can affect digestion. Your dog may excrete stools have been partially digested or not digested are all.
On top of that, Oxalates can cause kidney problems as well as the nervous system.
As green potatoes are not safe for dogs, the same applies to potato peelings.
3. Green Tomatoes And Leaves
Tomato leaves are widely eaten as a vegetable, and for humans, they come packed with phytonutrients the body needs. However, this is where the good story of tomato leaf veggie ends as this plant’s leafy juices contain a substance known as solanine which is very harmful to dogs.
With tomato plants, even the stem contains this harmful compound too. The same can also be said for green unripened tomato which is also toxic but only when it has the green skins. And when they are ripe, your dog can enjoy them with you.
Some symptoms after ingestion include; vomiting, tremors and urine in blood.
Note: Do not serve tomatoes to your dog if you have mixed them with onions. This brings me to my next point;
4. Onions
When it comes to onions, no matter how they are prepared, they are generally harmful to dogs. This is because they contain disulfides and thiosulphate.
These substances, when ingested by your dog, can cause severe red blood cells damage which leads to anemia. And for this reason, make sure to always keep onions away from your dog’s diet.
5. Peppers
Green peppers are a popular condiment and veggie on our tables! The trouble is numerous dogs enjoy eating human food where peppers were added.
And its no secret that a lot of pet owners like their cooking to include peppers, to the point that they add it to every meal.
Now the question here is, if your dog is eating human food or scraps, are peppers safe for dogs to eat?
Yes! Dogs can eat green peppers in smaller quantities. However, if you snooze and let your dog eat too much raw bell peppers, expect stomach upset and stinking farts, which can eventually escalate into diarrhea and, in some cases, severe vomiting also.
And the only type of peppers considered to be safe for dog’s ingestion is bell peppers.
The rest of any other peppers should not be fed to your dogs, although green peppers have low calories and vitamins C and beta carotene, which help in reducing toxins in the body.
6. Garlic
Garlic has thiosulphate, the same substance that is found in onions. The substance kills dog’s red blood cells count and can lead to Anemia. Garlic also seem to impact heavily the dog’s gut bacteria levels which the dog’s digestive uses reliantly.
However, tiny amounts of garlic are okay to give to dogs. But I wouldn’t take the chance.
7. Corn on a cob
Corn can be a good source of Iron and Potassium. It also contains fiber which helps the digestive system for the dog.
While it is safe for dogs to eat the corn, the cob is not. It is highly fibrous and can block the dog’s intestines. The safest way to Take the corn grains off the cob and give it to your dog.
8. Potato leaves
White potatoes are safe for dogs to eat and they contain Calcium, magnesium Vitamin A, C as well as K.
However, you should not feed your dog raw potatoes or the rest of the potato tree- leaves, the stem and sprouts.
This is because they contain toxic substances called glycoalkaloids. Your dog can experience severe abdominal pains and diarrhea.
9. Pumpkin leaves
Dogs can eat the pumpkin flesh- as long as it is not given to them raw. You must not, however, feed your dog the leaves or the stem.
This is because the both have little hairs that can be fatal as they can tear the dog’s windpipe.
10. Rhubarb
Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid which is a corrosive acid. That said, it is very harmful to dogs.
Symptoms of rhubarb poisoning are abdominal pains associated with kidney problems. This may later result into a coma and even death.
However, the leaf stalks are safe to eat for both you and your dog.
11. Garden Croton
While they are safe for some people, these vegetables cause health problems in others. It’s best not to feed your dog the leaves, roots or the latex as they are highly poisonous.
In most cases, the sap of these plants have caused skin eczema when ingested.
12. Calabar beans
Also called ordeal beans, these seeds contain toxin called alkaloid physostigmine, which is known to cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and severe abdominal pains.
If your dog ingests these particular types of beans, call the vet immediately. If you are not sure of how these beans look like, ask a vet before introducing it to your dog’s diet.
13. Indian Peas
Different from other types of peas, Indian peas contain diaminopropioni acid. The name of the substance alone sounds poisonous.
However, indian peas are safe to eat if you will eat small quantities. Consuming these people over a long period of time can cause paralysis of the lower body in humans and limb paralysis in dogs.
14. Cassava
These roots are safe for both dogs and humans to eat and they can be prepared in various ways- cooked, dried, powdered or even eaten raw.
Cassava is mostly classified based on its sweetness or bitterness in which case, the sweeter the cassava, the healthier it is.
The bitter cassava is a result of lack of sufficient water so these cassavas are common in times of drought.
The bitter cassava has high concentrations of cyanide which is very toxic to both humans and dogs.
15. Shallots
While shallots are safe for humans, its not the same to dogs. These bulb vegetables contain high amounts of disulfides, the same substance found in onions.
This substance can be fatal to a dog’s health as it can cause anemic conditions which is followed by organ failure.
That being said, there is no way of preparing the shallots that will dissolve the toxic substance for your dog to eat. The best way is to keep them out of your dog’s reach.
16. Broccoli
Broccoli is known to cause abdominal pain because it irritates the intestines. This is usually followed by symptoms like diarrhea and muscle weakness.
To avoid having such health problems and spending unwanted time at the vet, the broccoli should not be given to the dog raw.
You should either cook, bake or boil them. On top of that, make sure you don’t add any salt or seasoning.
17. Squash
While some people consider this to be a fruit, others prefer to call it a vegetable. Either way, squash are safe to eat for both you and your dog.
However, the seeds are poisonous to dogs and they may cause diarrhea and depression. On top of this, your dogs should not ingest the skins as well.
18. Celery
This is one of the healthiest vegetables as they contain minerals like potassium and phosphorus. In addition to that, it is also known to reduce blood pressure.
Despite such health benefits, this vegetable is unsafe for dogs- specifically the leaves. Hence you must always make sure that you remove the leaves before you prepare celery.
19. Kale
This vegetable is highly nutritious as it contains Calcium, potassium, iron as well as vitamins A and C. It also has vitamin K which helps to improve the body’s immunity.
It is high in fiber which can block the intestines which can lead to upset stomach. The safest way to feed this to your dog is to give them small amounts of kale.
20. Canned Vegetables
Canned beans for instance, have minerals and Vitamins that provide vast benefits to the body. The only difference is that canned beans contain preservatives.
The main preservative found in canned beans is salt. Since it is not recommended to feed your dog anything containing salt, canned beans are off the list on your dog’s diet menu.
21. Chives
With some similarities to onions, these vegetables contain thiosulphate, which is harmful to dogs as it can severely damage red blood cells.
If this happens, the result is that your dog will become anemic. After this, your dog may experience muscle dysfunction, organ failure, and eventually, death.
22. Bean Varieties
While beans are known to be safe for humans and dog consumption, there are other types of beans that are harmful.
Especially the popular Lima beans and Kidney beans as they contain significantly high amounts of phytohaemagglutinin.
Predominantly found in legumes, it does not play nice with your dog’s digestive system and the name like that, you can almost immediately mark it as poisonous.
It’s very toxic to dogs and by all means you should never contemplate giving your dog legume based dietary meals with high concentration of it.
Symptoms that occur after ingesting a few raw beans are vomiting and diarrhea. To remove the toxins, cook them.
The other variety, Lima beans are known to have linamarin which is toxic and can be fatal for both dogs and humans.
23. Arnicas
These vegetables, also known as mountain arnicas, were marked by the USFDA as unsafe. They are, somewhat safe if you only take small amounts of them.
This because they contain a substance called helenalin which can be fatal if you and your dog ingest a lot of them.
Symptoms that emerge after the vegetables are consumed are vomiting, increased heart rate and digestive-tract bleeding.
24. Beetroot
This bulb vegetable is rich in Magnesium, zinc, sodium, Potassium and also contains vitamins C, thiamine, beta carotene and riboflavin.
On the down side, it has substances such as disulfides and thiosulphate which are harmful to a dog’s health. So no matter how you prepare this vegetable, it is not recommended to give to your dog.
25. Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass contains Vitamins, minerals and amino acids. In other words, it has all the necessary nutritions to supplemental diets, can be blended to turn it into a drink or can simply be cooked.
However, wheatgrass is highly fibrous compared to other vegetables with fiber content. It can be dangerous to a dog’s health if eaten excessively.
Therefore you should give your dog only very small portions of wheatgrass.
In conclusion, now that we have looked at the 25 vegetables that are dangerous for dogs, we can now get a clearer picture of what type of foods they are not supposed to eat along with the chemicals they have.
