Can dogs digest peas and carrots? Should I mash them for better nutrient absorption?

Hello. Dogs are definitely omnivores & can digest grains & vegetables just fine. Many pets enjoy chewing on raw carrots, but a little processing will not hurt with any vegetable. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

You may want to add some kibble (dry complete dog food) to make up the remaining 60-70% of her ration. I do not think mashing up the vegetables will make a difference. Pate canned food has the same digestibility as any other good quality food. 10 to 15% extras in form of treats is ok provided you only feed 85 to 90% of dog food, ie , your total should be 100% of her daily ration . You can give her boiled carrots/ carrot pieces or green beans as treats.

It's difficult for dogs to digest raw carrots, which is why you are seeing chunks of them in your dog's stool. You can puree them, which will help her digest them better, or you can very lightly cook them to make them easier for her to digest :-)

If you feed a high quality complete dog food for medium sized dogs, you do not need to supplement her food as it has everything your dog needs. You do not need to purree steamed vegetables. Dogs do not need extra veggies or fruit when they have a good quality complete food. They will digest what the body can use, and eliminate extra fiber and whatever ingredient the body cannot digest. As dogs are not herbivores, they do not have the capability of completely digesting vegetables and fruit, even if you steam and purree them.

The answer is controversial. Spinach is high in some nutrients, but also high in oxalates, which in sufficient amounts, can block the absorption of calcium and can lead to kidney damage. Most experts agree a dog would have to eat a lot for this to happen, but there is no definitive amount or answer as to how much is too much. Dogs don't require vegetables, but they do sometimes enjoy them. I would ask the advice of your vet about feeding your dog spinach. If they don't have a problem with it, you will have to prepare it especially for your dog for him to obtain the most benefit from it. It should be chopped fine, since dogs intestines are not made to process vegetable matter the same way we are. It should be steamed with nothing added to it at all, no salt, spices, or butter. Boiled spinach has lost much of its nutrition, and raw spinach is too hard for them to digest. Small, infrequent amounts are okay, only if your dog's kidneys are healthy.

You do not have to worry about too much vitamin A coming from a carrot. Your dog would have to eat a lot of carrots to ingest a toxic amount of vitamin A. Ccarrots are a good treat, however not good for teething. You will need to cook. the carrots and give them cooked. A raw carrot can cause an intestinal blockage. I do not think you need to give any teething aids at this age.

Carrots, squash, green beans and peas are all good choices, and a lot of dogs actually like them. Broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers are safe but generally not as "dog approved." Never feed onions, garlic, or chives, as these will cause red blood cell damage that will lead to life threatening anemia when ingested in large enough quantities. Also, never feed spicy peppers, as this will cause oral and stomach irritation. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!