Short answer: Safe favorites: carrots, green beans, broccoli, cucumbers, zucchini, sweet potatoes (cooked), peas, pumpkin, spinach (small amounts), celery. AVOID: onions, garlic, chives, leeks, raw potatoes, mushrooms (some), avocado (in large amounts), corn cobs (choking).
What you should actually do
- Top calorie-friendly treats: green beans, carrots, cucumber – all <10 kcal per serving.
- Sweet potato: cooked, well-tolerated, vitamin A source.
- Avoid: all Allium (onion, garlic, chives, leeks), raw potato (solanine).
- Pumpkin (plain canned): excellent fiber source – 1 tsp per 10 lb for stool quality.
- Veggies should be <10% of daily calories.
Fresh vegetables make great healthy treats for overweight dogs – a baby carrot has ~3 kcal vs a biscuit at 30 kcal. Many dogs love frozen green beans on hot days.
Wash thoroughly, cut into appropriate size to avoid choking, and don’t add salt/butter/seasonings. Whole-food, plain vegetables only.
Dig deeper
⚕️ Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is intended for educational purposes only and does not replace a hands-on veterinary examination. Drug doses depend on your dog’s complete clinical picture, concurrent medications, and the exact product formulation. Always confirm dosing with your veterinarian before administering any medication, and contact a 24-hour veterinary emergency service or animal poison control immediately if you suspect a medication overdose or adverse reaction. Editorial standards: every drug dose published on PuppaDogs is cross-checked against multiple authoritative veterinary references and reviewed by PuppaDogs Veterinary Editorial Team before publication.
