As pet lovers, we often shower our beloved four-legged friends with ‘love’ in the form of table scraps like the last mouthful of wors roll (because, puppy eyes), a piece of chicken that ‘accidentally’ fell on the floor or a particularly fatty steak off-cut.
We may be feeding our pets table scraps out of love, but the truth is it’s probably doing more harm than good. In fact, pet obesity is a growing problem with 1 in 3 dogs and 1 in 4 cats in the UK classified as overweight! In South Africa, the problem may be even worse, with vets estimating that over 50% of the dogs they see are overweight or obese.
You may think that your porky pet is just extra lovable, but actually there are real consequences of packing on those pet pounds. Sean Wensley, a senior veterinary surgeon notes, “It leads to a general loss in quality of life.”
Pet owners are literally killing their animals as Wensley points out, “The health implications we’re increasingly diagnosing as a result of obesity include diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and certain types of cancer,” he said. “As in humans, pet obesity can also reduce life expectancy.”
Superfoods not scraps
If, like us, you’d like your dog to hang around for as long as possible, swap the greasy table scraps for healthier, superfood alternatives.
Your precious pet might actually enjoy some fruit and vegetables instead of leftovers that are better off going into the fridge than in their bowls. Steer clear of some ingredients that can be harmful to dogs like grapes, raisins, avocados and other items that can lead to a vomiting dog with an upset stomach, but they can also cause gastric distress and in some cases, could be deadly.
Here is a list of the best fruit and vegetables for dogs AKA pet superfoods!
Many dogs actually enjoy eating this healthy orange vegetable and it has much to offer in benefits including lowering the risk of heart disease and cleaner teeth. To encourage your dog to chew on one of these, try throwing a carrot instead of a stick — they’ll get used to it in no time!
Highly active dogs will see the most rewards from these little blue berries since they help to control blood sugar levels. Rich in antioxidants, blueberries also help to repair cell damage.
This nutrient-rich vegetable has cancer-fighting properties. It also helps to repair skin damage, aids in digestion and detoxification. A lot of dogs (and kids!) turn up their noses at this green veg, but if you can get them to eat it, the rewards will be huge!
4. Fish oil
Ok, it’s not a fruit or vegetable, but it’s so good for dogs we had to include it. Fish oil can easily be added to dog food, both wet and dry, in fact, you could even use it to get your fur babies to wolf down their broccoli (sadly we don’t think this method will work on kids…)
Fish oil delivering some of the same benefits to dogs that it offers to humans — better heart health and lower cholesterol levels. But canines get other rewards, like a shinier coat, and it can even help dogs with allergies, reducing itching and scratching.
5. Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes with purple skin have the highest levels of antioxidants and therefore offer the best health benefits. They can be chopped up, pureed, served sliced or dehydrated as a tasty treat.
Top tips for feeding your dog fruit and veg
As always, check with your vet before changing your dog’s diet or exercise regime. Keep in mind that dogs may not adjust to this change very well at first and start them out slowly on some of these new ingredients to ensure they are digesting them properly.
Read more: 21 dog-friendly restaurants in Johannesburg