Function

• The healthiest dog diet is one that is comprised of protein, grains and plant sources like fruits and vegetables. Vegetables provide beneficial nutrients including antioxidants, carbohydrates, vitamin A, potassium, calcium, chlorophyll and vitamin K. In order to infuse a dog's diet with these vitamins and nutrients, add pureed vegetables or juiced vegetables to a normal diet, or chopped and mashed vegetables as part of a homemade diet.
  
  

Types

• Most vegetables are safe for dogs to consume, especially in pureed or juiced form. Examples of vegetables that are packed with nutrients include peas, carrots, kale, watercress, Swiss chard, parsley, celery, alfalfa sprouts, zucchini and beets. Avoid introducing onions, tomatoes, avocados and mushrooms into your dog's diet, as these foods can be harmful to their health and sometimes deadly.
  
  

Consideration

• Most people believe that dogs are obligate carnivores, only requiring a diet of meat and other protein sources. What is not normally considered is that dogs in the wild also consume the stomach contents of their prey, meaning that their diet does also consist of grains and plant matter, so these are typical components of a dog's diet. Most commercial diets do contain vegetables and grains, though not always in the most nutritionally beneficial amounts. Most commercial dog food diets are comprised of primarily filler from grains like rice and wheat.
  
  

Homemade Diets

• You can create a homemade diet to give yourself greater control over the nutrients that your dog receives. There are several different methods, including feeding a raw food diet or a cooked food diet. Each type of homemade diet offers its own distinctive set of benefits. The raw food diet is purported to offer the greatest nutritional benefit, since the nutrients in the vegetables and protein are not cooked off during the preparation process. Experiment with different diet choices, types of meat, grain types and vegetables until you find a diet that works best for your dog.
  
  

Expert Insight

• "If you have any doubt about feeding your dog vegetables, or whether or not your dog is getting the right nutrients in a commercial or homemade diet, consult your veterinarian," Said Caroline Tanaka, a private-practice veterinarian in Austin, Texas. "Your veterinarian will be able to help you find the right combination of proteins, grains and fruits and vegetables to give your dog an ideal diet for optimum health and well being."