As a dog owner, you probably want the absolute best for your four-legged companion. And one way to be a great pet parent to your dog? Give it treats.
An invaluable tool for dog training, feeding your canine friend some treats is a great way of rewarding it for good behavior. Treats can also provide your pet with extra vitamins and minerals and let it know just how much you love it.
If you’re having a hard time choosing from the different commercial dog treats on the market, don’t worry–you can easily find healthy, all-natural dog treats in your apartment: fruits and veggies.
Here are some of the best plant-based treats that your pet will surely love:
1. Apples
Chock-full of vitamins A and C and fiber, apples serve as wonderful snacks for your dog. These fruits also help improve your dog’s breath and dental health. Just be sure to remove the core and seeds after slicing up an apple.
2. Bananas
Peel a banana, slice it up, and you have yourself a set of healthy dog treats. Rich in fiber, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins B6 and C, this fruit can alleviate gastrointestinal problems and help your dog absorb more vitamins. Like any treat, feed your dog bananas in moderation.
3. Blueberries, Strawberries, Blackberries
Certain berries are poisonous to dogs. The good news is that the berries that you commonly have in your apartment double as safe, healthy, and easy-to-chew dog treats. Strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins that are good for you and your dog.
4. Cantaloupes
Made up of 90% water, cantaloupes make for refreshing snacks to treat your dog with. Packed with antioxidants, potassium, niacin, magnesium, and other essential vitamins and minerals, they serve as a tasty superfood that your dog will surely love. Remove the rinds and seeds and cut the cantaloupe into bite-sized pieces before feeding it to your dog.
5. Watermelons
Another fruit with a high moisture content, watermelons are great hydrating treats for your dog. While seedless watermelons are the best option, you can always remove the seeds from regular watermelons. Of course, don’t forget to remove the watermelon rind as well.
6. Carrots
What’s great about carrots is that the entire vegetable (including the leafy top) is safe for dogs to eat. Carrots are rich in essential vitamins and minerals–and they’re low in calories too. To make nutritious, low-calorie dog treats, you can serve them raw or cooked and cut them into bite-sized chunks.
7. Cucumbers
If your dog prefers the crunchiness of carrots, it’ll surely love cucumbers. Another low-calorie, low-fat snack option, seeded cucumbers (whether sliced or diced) are great treats for overweight dogs. Plus, they’re 96% water, so they make for tasty, hydrating snacks for hot summer days.
8. Green Beans
For a fiber-rich, low-calorie treat, green beans are the perfect snacks for dogs. Packed with calcium, iron, potassium, vitamins A, B6, C, K, and many more, these crunchy veggies can boost your dog’s health. As long as these green beans don’t come with other ingredients, you can serve them chopped, canned, steamed, or raw.
9. Pumpkins
Containing fiber and essential micronutrients, pumpkins serve as a nutritious superfood for dogs. They’re also rich in probiotics and essential nutrients, and they help relieve constipation and diarrhea. You can feed your dogs plain canned pumpkin, but make sure to check that it has no salt, sugar, xylitol, or any fillers and additives.
10. Sweet Potatoes
An excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, sweet potatoes offer a healthy snack choice for your canine companion. Avoid feeding your dogs raw sweet potatoes as they may cause intestinal blockage. Instead, peel the skin first, then cook them by boiling, baking, or steaming.
Just as we need to eat our fruits and vegetables to get vitamins and minerals that our body needs, our fur babies benefit for them too. Sharing these 10 fruits and vegetables certainly gives you both something to enjoy!
Oxford at Tech Ridge Apartments in Austin, TX