Is it OK to add vegetables to my dog's food every day?

Commercial dog foods labelled complete are formulated to meet all of a dog's nutritional needs on their own. Vegetables add variety, texture, fiber and interest, but they do not fill a gap. If vegetables make up a large share of the bowl, your dog eats less of the balanced food and may miss out on protein, fat, calcium and vitamins.

A spoonful or two per meal is a sensible topper for most dogs.

Green beans, carrots, courgette, cucumber, cooked pumpkin and small amounts of cooked sweet potato or peas suit daily use. Rotate between a few rather than using the same one every day. Brassicas like broccoli and cabbage, and high-oxalate greens like spinach and kale, are better kept to once or twice a week.

Start with a teaspoon for small dogs or a tablespoon for large dogs, mixed well into the food. Increase over five to seven days if stools stay firm. Soft stools or gas usually mean the portion rose too fast or that particular vegetable does not agree with your dog.

Reduce the main food slightly to keep total calories steady.

Feeding a fully homemade diet with meat, grains and vegetables is a bigger step. Homemade recipes found online are often unbalanced in calcium, vitamins or fats. If you want to cook for your dog, ask your vet about a recipe designed by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.