Can dogs eat it?
What vegetables can I give my overweight dog as treats?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Cucumber, green beans, courgette, celery, carrots, bell pepper and lettuce are excellent low-calorie treats for overweight dogs. Most contain 15 to 40 calories per 100 g, compared with 300 to 400 for typical biscuits. Swapping some treats for vegetables can cut daily calories noticeably, but a full weight-loss plan should come from your vet.
The lowest-calorie options
Cucumber has about 15 calories per 100 g, lettuce around 15, celery 16, courgette 17, bell pepper 20 to 30, green beans 31 and carrots 41. By comparison, a single small dog biscuit can carry 30 to 40 calories.
A snack of ten cucumber slices or ten green beans comes to roughly 15 calories, which lets a dog enjoy lots of small rewards through the day.
Making the swap work
Keep a tub of pre-cut vegetables in the fridge so they are as easy to grab as biscuits. Use them for everyday rewards like coming inside or waiting at the door, and save higher-value treats for training that needs extra motivation.
Frozen green beans or carrot coins are popular in summer and last longer in the mouth.
Vegetables to limit when dieting
Sweet potato, parsnip, peas, corn and butternut squash are starchier and sweeter. They are still safe, but their calories add up faster. Keep them as occasional toppers rather than frequent snacks for a dog trying to lose weight.
Keeping it interesting
Dogs on a diet can get bored with the same snack. Rotate between cucumber, courgette, green beans and carrot, and vary the form: raw sticks, frozen coins, grated over dinner or hidden in a snuffle mat. Scatter feeding a small handful of vegetables on the lawn also adds sniffing time, which many dogs find as rewarding as the food.
The bigger picture
Vegetables help, but weight loss mostly depends on feeding the right amount of a complete food and measuring it accurately. Weighing food with kitchen scales rather than using a scoop is one of the most effective changes. A safe rate of loss for most dogs is about 1 to 2 percent of body weight per week.
Key takeaways
- Cucumber, green beans, courgette and celery are among the lowest-calorie treats.
- Ten cucumber slices or green beans total around 15 calories.
- Starchy vegetables like sweet potato and peas add up faster.
- Weighing meals matters more than any single treat swap.