Feed Veggies to Your Pets for Better Health

Dogs and cats evolved as meat eaters. But their wild ancestors couldn't always find enough meat to eat, and so they had to resort to whatever was at hand: fruit, berries, herbs and grasses. They also consumed the partially digested plant food in the stomachs of their dead prey.

Despite their short digestive tracts, designed primarily for the digestion of meat, both dogs and cats benefit from eating vegetables and some fruits. The least processed and most organic produce is always best, because synthetic vitamins interact differently with minerals in the body than the natural variety. Though they may be the mirror image of natural vitamins, synthetic vitamins don't bind to receptor sites in body cells in quite the same way. Another reason to buy organic produce is to avoid contamination with pesticides, waxes, dyes, and irradiation. However, if you do purchase ordinary supermarket produce, washing it with dishwashing detergent will remove much of the toxic residue.

Vegetables that you can safely serve raw to your pet include chopped parsley, sprouts (alfalfa, lentil, and mung), wheat grass, and finely grated carrots or zucchini, cabbage, celery, greens, kohlrabi, and okra. To increase their digestion, it's a good idea to puree, finely grind, grate, blend, or use your food processor. However, some dogs enjoy chewing on whole raw carrots, which, like bones, exercise the mouth and clean the teeth and gums. You can easily grow your own sprouts and wheat grass from seeds bought at a health food store. A sprig of wheat grass added to drinking water increases its quality.

Corn, peas, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, rutabagas, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, peas, pumpkin, squash, turnips, yams, sweet potatoes, and potatoes (which are particularly high in protein and vitamin C) can be lightly cooked to help break down their cell walls for easier digestion.

Dr. Richard Pitcairn, DVM, and Susan Pitcairn in their classic book "Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats" warn against feeding spinach, chard, or rhubarb to pets because of their oxalic acid content. Oxalic acid interferes with calcium absorption. Other veterinarians advise against serving onions, which may cause adverse reactions in some animals.

Another way of introducing vegetal products into the diet is through powdered greens and herbs such as powdered algae, kelp (high in iodine and trace minerals), alfalfa, rye grass, wheat grass, and barley grass. But remember, a little goes a long way. One-sixteenth of a teaspoon is enough for the average cat and 1-2 teaspoons for a large dog. Powdered greens and herbs are rich in B vitamins, C, E, minerals, trace minerals, chlorophyll, and nucleic acids.

The herbs thyme, oregano, red clover, raspberry and blackberry leaves, basil, linden flowers, fenugreek, plantain, mallow, red clover, stinging nettle (a blood purifier), horsetail, calendula, and chickweed are gentle on the system and reputed to have healing abilities. Parsley is beneficial to the kidneys. Dandelion enhances both liver and kidney health. Both can be either nibbled raw, or served in a tea or as a powder. Garlic tones the digestive tract, is a natural antibiotic, and discourages worms and parasites, including fleas. Include a crushed raw clove or two in your pet's meal.

Other exotic plant materials include chlorophyll, which detoxifies, deodorizes, promotes a strong immune system, normalizes the digestive system, and prevents constipation by encouraging the growth of healthy bacteria in the intestine. Spirulina, or edible blue-green algae, is beneficial in the treatment of diabetes and liver, pancreatic, and digestive conditions. Chlorella has the ability to detoxify heavy metals and pesticides in the body and normalize digestion.

Fruit is high in sugar, and should be used sparingly. Dried fruits like figs, dates, prunes, raisins, and apricots are loaded with potassium, and dates are rich in folic acid. Apples, cantaloupes, and berries are also popular with some dogs and cats.

For dogs, one-third of the meal by volume should consist of vegetables. Cats do well on a 20% vegetable diet, according to Anitra Frazier in her book "The New Natural Cat".

If your pet is finicky, try mixing the new food with the canned food she's used to, or add tamari soy sauce, sea salt, or brewer's yeast for spice. And always introduce new foods slowly, so her digestive system can adapt to them. Watch what your pet eats first, and observe for any undigested material in the stool. If you find any, try to identify it, and consider preparing that food another way to increase digestibility. Check your pet's energy levels, hair coat, and overall health before and after you introduce vegetables into the diet. Some veterinarians and nutritionists also recommend adding a digestive enzyme supplement to the diet, which increases the absorption of nutrients.

The following is a short guide to veggie vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin A (good vision, healthy immune system, maintenance of soft mucous tissues, normal growth): Carrots, collard greens, beet greens, cress, mustard greens, broccoli, red peppers, winter squash, yams, sweet potatoes.

Vitamin B complex (healthy nervous system): Beans, peas, dark green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin C (antioxidant, repairing tissues, healthy immune system, improves collagen, helps prevent joint problems): Tomatoes, sweet potatoes, red and green peppers.

Vitamin E (antioxidant, fast healing of wounds and burns, assimilation of nutrients, healthy heart, slows aging process, improves skin and coat, enhances resistance to disease): Vegetable oils, dark green leafy vegetables, avocados.

Vitamin K (regulates blood clotting, kidney function, bone metabolism): Cabbage, turnip greens, dark leafy greens.

Minerals (assist with vitamin absorption, digestion, health of every body function): Found in all vegetables.