Magnific photo

by Reed Mangels, PhD, RDN

Recently, we had a dog and a toddler staying with us. Needless to say, a lot of toddler food ended up on the floor making for a convenient dog snack. We knew that there were some fruits and vegetables that dogs shouldn’t eat but wondered if there were others. With the help of the American Veterinary Association and the American Kennel Club we learned that these fruits and vegetables are not recommended for dogs:

• Onions, chives, scallions, leeks, and garlic all are toxic to dogs.
• Avocados contain a substance that can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.
• Grapes and raisins. These are highly toxic to dogs and can lead to acute kidney failure.
• Pits from cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, mango and other fruits contain small amounts of cyanide which is a poison. Fruit pits can also be a choking hazard.

Fruits and vegetables that dogs can eat in moderation include:

• Apples and pears with the core, stem, and seeds removed
• Watermelon with the rind and large seeds removed
• Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
• Peaches, nectarines, apricots, mango, cherries without pits or seeds
• Bananas
• Green beans
• Peas
• Broccoli, although it may give some dogs an upset stomach or other health problems
• Carrots
• Celery
• Pumpkin
• Cucumbers

Whenever the visiting toddler ate grapes, we made sure none ended up in the dog’s mouth. Our visitors happily shared cucumbers and strawberries.

To read more about companion animals and veganism see The Vegetarian Resource Group’s resource on Companion Animals.

The contents of this website and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal and Vegan Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can be made. Please use your best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.