Feeding our dogs fruits and vegetables is good for them,
especially the organic variety! Although they do not require large amounts of
these, they can reap the benefits of the nutrients contained in them,
especially if your dog is suffering from an illness or disease such as cancer. However,
since their digestive system really wasn’t built to consume a lot of fruits and
vegetables, it can also put a strain on their digestive tract. But, all is not lost. We can assist in this matter.
Most of the really potent nutrients such as vitamins,
minerals and antioxidants are found in those fruits and veggies with an edible
peeling. (i.e., apples, zucchini, etc.) Since we want to derive the most value
possible from feeding our dogs these foods, we need to include the peel. So,
here are some tips. Buy organic whenever
possible, because the peel is edible, it is more susceptible to penetration of
chemicals and pesticides. If you cannot
purchase organic, be sure to wash all your fruits and veggies (organic or not) off
in water, this will help remove surface residues. Add a vegetable wash, allow to soak and rinse
well. If the fruit or vegetable will be
eaten raw, cut (remove any inedible parts, i.e., seeds, cores, etc.) and place
in a food processor and chop it up fine.
Any that are cooked can either be mashed with a fork or put in the food
processor once cooled slightly. By
preparing them this way, we jump start the digestive process by making these
easier for our canine buddies to utilize.
It really only requires a little forethought to prepare good
meals for our pets. Since we should (and
hopefully are) eating better ourselves, it will just be an extension of what we
are already doing.
Note: I prefer to purchase fruits and vegetables that don’t
have a peeling (i.e., broccoli, strawberries, celery, lettuce, etc.) as
organic. The less outer ‘protection’ is
has, the more of a chance for food borne illness issues. Produce with a ‘heavy’ shell, watermelon,
cantaloupe, etc., are okay to buy non-organic, but rinse well with water and
veggie wash.
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