Fruit and vegetables for dogs: which snacks are allowed?
Which fruit dogs are allowed to eat is easy to narrow down: apple without the core, banana, pear, blueberries and seedless watermelon make suitable snacks in small amounts, as do vegetables such as carrot, cucumber, courgette or cooked pumpkin. Grapes, raisins, onions, garlic and avocado, on the other hand, are off limits. Here you'll find out which types make good treats, how to prepare them and how much makes sense.
Content: Fruit and vegetables for dogs: which snacks are allowed?
- Which fruit can dogs eat?
- Is banana good for dogs?
- Which vegetables make good treats for dogs?
- Which fruit and vegetables are off limits for dogs?
- How much fruit and vegetables make sense as a snack?
- Frequently asked questions about fruit and vegetables for dogs
- Conclusion: fruit and vegetables as a healthy change
Ready-made snacks with fruit and vegetables:
Which fruit can dogs eat?
Dogs can eat many local and some exotic types of fruit in small amounts, as long as pips, stones and skin are removed and the fruit is ripe. Fruit contains fructose, so it's more of an occasional treat than a daily main snack.
Fruit that makes a good snack
| Fruit | Preparation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | without core and pips, in pieces | crunchy, popular, easy to share |
| Banana | peeled, in slices | relatively high in sugar, so use sparingly |
| Pear | without core | feed when ripe |
| Blueberries | washed, whole | a small portion as a reward |
| Strawberries, raspberries | washed | in small amounts |
| Watermelon | without seeds and rind | high in water, ideal in summer |
| Mango | peeled, without stone | high in sugar, only a little |
What to watch out for with fruit
- Remove pips and stones: Apple pips and the stones of cherries, plums, peaches or apricots contain substances that can release hydrogen cyanide, and stones can block the gut.
- Only ripe fruit: Unripe fruit is harder to digest.
- Test slowly: Some dogs get soft stools from fruit – start with small pieces.
- Keep an eye on sugar: For overweight dogs or dogs with diabetes, only after consulting your vet.
Is banana good for dogs?
Banana is well suited to dogs in small amounts: it's soft, easy to portion and many dogs love it. Because of its comparatively high sugar content, however, it should only be an occasional reward.
How to feed banana correctly
- Peeled and sliced: The peel is hard to digest and shouldn't be eaten.
- Small amounts: A few thin slices are enough for small dogs, a small piece for large dogs.
- Dried as a training snack: Dried banana chips are easy to portion and take along – you'll find more products in the Banana category.
Banana or apple?
Both are popular fruit snacks. Apple is crunchier and a little lower in sugar, banana is softer and therefore pleasant for older dogs with sensitive teeth too. What matters for both: a little, and not in large amounts every day.
Which vegetables make good treats for dogs?
The best vegetables to use as treats for dogs are low-calorie types such as carrot, cucumber and courgette, as well as cooked pumpkin or cooked sweet potato. Some types may only be fed cooked.
Vegetables that work raw or cooked
- Carrot: raw for crunching or cooked, popular and low in calories
- Cucumber: high in water and refreshing
- Courgette: raw in small pieces or steamed
- Pepper: only ripe, red peppers without seeds and stalk
- Fennel: in small amounts, well tolerated
Vegetables to feed cooked only
- Potatoes and sweet potatoes: cooked only, never raw, and without green parts
- Green beans: raw they contain the toxin phasin, so feed them well cooked only
- Pumpkin: cooked and without the skin, mild and usually well tolerated
- Broccoli and cauliflower: steamed and only in small amounts, as they can cause gas
If you'd like to give your dog vegetables in treat form, plant-based snacks are handy. In the vegetarian and vegan snacks category you'll find, for example, chew bones with parsnip and carrot or Softies fruit and potato. Our post The best vegan dog treats has more ideas.
Plant-based treats for variety in the bowl:
Which fruit and vegetables are off limits for dogs?
Off limits for dogs are above all grapes and raisins, onions, garlic and leek, avocado, raw potatoes and raw pulses as well as the stones and pips of stone fruit. Even small amounts of some types can be dangerous.
The most important no-gos
| Food | Why it's dangerous |
|---|---|
| Grapes and raisins | can lead to kidney failure even in small amounts |
| Onions, garlic, leek, chives | damage red blood cells – raw, cooked and dried |
| Avocado | contains persin, and the large stone can also get stuck |
| Raw potatoes, green tomatoes | contain solanine |
| Raw beans and other pulses | contain phasin or hard-to-digest substances |
| Pips and stones of stone fruit | can release hydrogen cyanide and block the gut |
| Rhubarb | contains a lot of oxalic acid |
You'll find a detailed overview of dangerous foods, beyond fruit and vegetables too, in our big checklist of toxic foods. There are also big differences between nuts – read more in the post Which nuts can dogs eat?.
What to do if your dog has eaten something toxic
If your dog has got hold of grapes, raisins, onions or other toxic foods, call your vet or the emergency vet service immediately – even if they don't show any symptoms yet. Don't try to make them vomit yourself.
How much fruit and vegetables make sense as a snack?
Fruit and vegetables should only make up a small part of the daily ration as snacks – together with all other treats, no more than about 10 per cent of the daily energy. That's more generous for low-calorie vegetables such as cucumber and much tighter for sugary fruit such as banana.
Practical everyday tips
- Cut into small pieces: Bite-sized pieces to suit your dog's size prevent choking.
- One at a time: Introduce new types individually to check tolerance.
- Add, don't replace: Fruit and vegetables complement meat snacks but don't replace a balanced main food.
- Reward with few calories: Vegetable sticks are a good choice for dogs who need to lose weight. You'll find more ideas in our post Low-calorie dog treats.
- On the go: Dried or soft snacks such as Training Softies Coconut or other softies are more practical than fresh fruit in your jacket pocket.
Fruit and vegetables in training
Many dogs work just as eagerly for a piece of carrot or apple as for meat. Test what your dog likes and use higher-value rewards from the training snacks category for difficult exercises.
Frequently asked questions about fruit and vegetables for dogs
Which fruit can dogs eat?
Suitable in small amounts are, among others, apple without the core, banana, pear, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and seedless watermelon. Always remove pips, stones and hard skins and only feed ripe fruit.
Is banana good for dogs?
Yes, in small amounts banana is a well-tolerated, soft snack. As it contains relatively a lot of sugar, it should only be given occasionally and in thin slices. The peel doesn't belong in the bowl.
Which vegetables make good treats?
Carrot, cucumber and courgette are particularly suitable, as are cooked pumpkin and cooked sweet potato. Only feed potatoes and green beans cooked, and broccoli and cauliflower only in small amounts because they can cause gas.
Can dogs eat grapes?
No. Grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure in dogs even in small amounts. If your dog has eaten some, contact your vet immediately.
Can dogs eat raw carrots?
Yes, raw carrots are a popular, low-calorie snack to crunch on. Cooked, they are easier to digest for some dogs. Give them in suitable pieces so your dog doesn't swallow anything whole.
Conclusion: fruit and vegetables as a healthy change
Many types of fruit and vegetables are allowed for dogs and make a nice change from meat snacks – provided you remove pips, stones and skins, feed small amounts and introduce new types one at a time. Carrot, cucumber, apple, banana or cooked pumpkin are tried-and-tested classics, while grapes, raisins, onions, garlic and avocado are off limits. If your dog has a pre-existing condition such as obesity, diabetes or kidney problems, it's best to agree the selection with your vet. You'll find ready-made snacks with fruit and vegetables in our Vegetarian and vegan category.
Further reading on this topic:
- Which Foods Are Poisonous to Dogs? The Big Checklist
- The best vegan dog treats: Healthy, sustainable, and delicious
- Vegetarian and vegan chews for dogs
This post was created with the help of AI
