How to help your dog enjoy fall fruits and vegetables safely

By Charlotte Francesca Stiles, DVM

With the summer days behind us and the night’s drawing in, fall is the perfect time for wholesome cooking. The arrival of fall also brings some tasty fruits and vegetables, which help make some of our favorite meals at this time of year.

You may be wondering if it’s safe to let your dog enjoy some of the seasonal produce at this time. So, in this article, we'll go through some examples of fall fruits and vegetables you can let your dog have, and how to do it safely.

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Disclaimer: Please refer to the information in this article as a guide only. If your dog has eaten something they shouldn’t or you think they may be unwell, contact your veterinarian.

In the following sections, we’ll give some examples of fall vegetables and fruits your dog can eat. We’ll discuss them individually, however in general it’s important to remember:

• Never feed your dog moldy or spoiled products.
• Wash fruit or vegetables before giving them to your dog.
• When feeding for the first time, give a reduced amount and monitor for any signs of gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting or diarrhea.
• Only feed high-quality fruit and vegetables to your pet.

Which fall vegetables can my dog eat and how should I prepare them?

Beetroot

Known benefits:

• Antioxidants - decrease the effects of inflammation
• Vitamin C - can help with age-related changes
• Minerals - potassium and magnesium -; good for keeping your dog strong
• Fiber - helps to keep your dog regular.

How to prepare it:

• Carefully wash and peel the beetroot until soft.
• Allow to cool and give small cubes.

Carrot

Known benefits:

• Fun to chew - a great alternative to treats and can help clean teeth
• Fiber.
• Vitamin A - great for your dog’s eyes

How to prepare it:

• Wash thoroughly and peel.
• Can feed raw (whole, chopped or grated) or cooked (steamed).

Butternut squash

Known benefits:

• Fiber - great for the digestive system
• Vitamins A and C - good for your dog’s immune system
• Minerals - magnesium and potassium for your dog’s metabolism.
• Good for hair coat and skin.
• Soothing for tummy upset.

How to prepare it:

• Carefully wash, peel and take away the seeds.
• Cook the butternut squash by boiling it until soft.
• Allow to cool and give small cubes.

Pumpkin

Known benefits:

• Vitamins A - great for your dog’s eyes.
• Minerals. - potassium to help your dog’s blood pressure and their metabolism.

How to prepare it:

• Carefully wash, peel and take away the seeds.
• Cook the pumpkin by boiling it, allow to cool and give small cubes.

Sweet Potato

Known benefits:

• Fiber - helps keep your dog regular.
• Antioxidants - to help reduce inflammation.

How to prepare it:

• Carefully wash and peel.
• Cook the sweet potato by boiling it, allow to cool and give small cubes.

Spinach

Known benefits:

• Vitamin A - good for your dog’s eyes.
• Vitamin K - important for helping your dog’s blood clot.

How to prepare it:

• Wash thoroughly.
• Give a few cooked (gently teamed) or raw leaves.

Which fall fruits can my dog eat and how should I prepare them?

Pear

Known benefits:

• Fiber - helps keep your dog regular.
• Antioxidants -help reduce inflammation.

How to prepare it:

• Carefully wash the pear.
• Remove the core and seeds.
• Cut into bite-sized pieces.

Apple

Known benefits:

• Fiber - helps keep your dog regular.
• Can help clean your dog's teeth.

How to prepare it:

• Carefully wash the apple.
• Remove the core and seeds.
• Cut into bite-sized pieces.

Cranberry

Known benefits:

• Antioxidants - help reduce inflammation.
• Can help keep your dog’s teeth in good condition

How to prepare it:

• Carefully wash fresh cranberries.
• You can also add a few (without sugar added) to their food.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article and that it gives you all the information you need about how to safely prepare fruit and vegetables for your dog to enjoy.