We all know munching on fruits & veggies is the healthier and smarter choice when it comes to snacking. This doesn’t only go for us-our little furry companions benefit from snacking on fresh fruits and veggies as well! At the end of the day our pooches are an addition to our family so we should treat them with the same amount of love  and care. So why not start with adjusting their diet?! Like us, our pooches may take awhile to adjust to healthier snacking, but it’s definitely worth a try. Fruits & veggies are a great alternative to biscuits and rawhides and can be greatly beneficial to their health!

Let me start by introducing you to my little fur child-Cobey! Cobey is a happy, energetic boy that LOVES his fruits and veggies! As a puppy, Cobey had a lot of health problems and scares, which is one of the  reasons why I try to ensure his diet his healthy and that he obtains nutritional goodness foods. As a puppy, Cobey was quite the picky eater, which is quite common with puppies, but with persistence and several trials, Cobey slowly adjusted and now he loves his healthy goodness! 🙂

Raw fruits and veggies make a great healthy snack, but note they should just be given as snacks and not in large quantities. Here are a list of fruits and veggies all Cobey tested and approved that your pooches may like as well:

• Carrots-Contain healthy antioxidants; high in fiber; great source of beta carotene and vitamin A
• Celery-A natural diuretic so it’s great aid for the kidneys; an excellent source of vitamins B1, B2, B6 and C; rich supplies of potassium, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and plenty essential amino acids; high in fiber
• Cucumber-Good source of potassium, magnesium; high in fiber; rich in vitamin A, B1, B6, C & D; due to the high water content, cucumbers help the kidneys
• Broccoli-Is high in vitamin C and A; good source of calcium and folic acid; contains phytochemicals that help fight against some cancers; high in fiber
• Daikon (unexpected but Cobey loves it so worth trying on your pooch)-High in vitamin C; natural diuretic so great for kidneys; contains antioxidants; high in fiber

• Apples (excluding pit, which is not good for dogs)-Contain phytonutrients which can help prevent cancers; great source of vitamins A and C; high in fibre
• Watermelon-Very low in fat; high in electrolytes and water so great to keep him hydrated; great source of the antioxidant, lycopene and vitamin A
• Pears (excluding pit/seeds)-Good source of vitamin C and K; high in antioxidants; high in fiber
• Blueberries-Very high source of antioxidants and vitamin C

Now, not all fruits and veggies are good for our fur kids, as some can actually be toxic for their system. Here is a list of some that should be AVOIDED:

• onion
• garlic
• grapes
• tomatoes
• avocados
• mushrooms
• pits of fruits

Like us, with a bit of effort and time our pets can live a healthy lifestyle as well. They may not be too keen at first but trust me….if you keep trying they may just give in and try it out.