Pet Information > ASK Experts > Dogs > Dog Breeds > Labrador Retrievers > fresh vegis for lab puppy

fresh vegis for lab puppy

20 9:40:11

Question
Hi, We have a 4 month old, female yellow lab.  She is not spayed yet.  My question is if it ok for her to eat fresh vegi's ie: broccoli, peppers, green beans.  We do know not to give her grapes, raisens and nuts.  She also seems to have a taste for dirt, can this harm her?

Thanks for your help

Answer
At the worst, most of that will only cause gas and loose bowels.  If you are feeding her a decent chow, it will do absolutely no good.  Most vegetables pass through undigested.  What is good for dogs and people is a complete and balanced diet and not too much of it.  Even if somebody made a people food as good for them as dog chow is for dogs, it would never sell.  People demand a variety and often insist on eating too much carbohydrates, salt, and fats rather than veggies that has things they need too.  So the things we don't eat enough of are ''good'' for us.  If your puppy was eating a diet short in the limited vitamins and minerals available to dogs in veggies, then veggies would be ''good'' for it.  If your puppy is eating a complete and balanced puppy chow, then veggies or anything else that isn't a complete and balance diet really does not improve its diet.  I know of no reliable source that says dogs need fruits and vegetables.  Just stick to a dog chow.

And make that an adult one now.  Switching to an adult chow for the larger breeds at 4 months, slows growth and helps develop sturdier joints.

Dirt shouldn't hurt.