Leafy greens are healthy for dogs.
Homemade chicken broth can make a wonderful treat for dogs, but if you want to add vegetables to the mix, you will need to use some caution. Some vegetables can make excellent additions to the canine diet, but others can become toxic in a dog's digestive tract. Make sure to add the right vegetables before feeding the broth to your beloved dog.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens like cabbage, lettuce, collard greens and spinach are safe for dogs as well as nutritionally beneficial. They contain essential vitamins, protein, calcium, fiber and antioxidants. Chop up leafy greens before placing them in a chicken broth, so that the dog can easily consume, swallow and digest the pieces. As the vegetables dissolve, they will also enhance the flavor of the broth.
Peas
Peas make another safe and healthy addition to the broth. Veterinarian David McCluggage recommends adding peas to a dog's diet as a way of promoting a healthy lifestyle. You can use fresh or frozen peas, but use them sparingly. Giving your dog too large a serving of vegetables (even healthy vegetables) may result in diarrhea.
Carrots
Veterinarians like James Glover of Pet People's Place and David McCluggage of WellVet encourage the occasional addition of carrots into a dog's diet. As with any vegetable, you should feed them to your dog in moderation, but a diced carrot can make an excellent addition to the broth, particularly when added with peas. In addition to the nutritional benefits, carrots promote strong teeth in dogs.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes can complement the broth as well, but you must cook them first and include only a small serving at a time. Sweet potatoes contain complex carbohydrates, beta carotene, vitamins and protein, and present absolutely no health risks to dogs when served in moderation.
Vegetables to Avoid
While some vegetables can promote good health, other vegetables are toxic to dogs. These include onions, garlic and broccoli, as well as fruits like grapes and tomatoes. Avoid using any of these ingredients in your broth.
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