A Must-Read Before Giving Your Dog Vegetable Stock
As dog parents, we want our pups to be as happy and as healthy as possible. That is why feeding our canine friends commercial dog food is never enough. We want to feed them treats and healthy food options that boost their overall health and satisfaction, which makes us want to give them human food that we love ourselves.
However, because dogs do not have the same anatomy as humans, we should always be careful about the food we feed them. While some food items may be healthy and delicious for us, it doesn’t always apply to our pets. Some human foods can even be toxic to dogs, and we might end up hurting them instead of making them happy.
When it comes to vegetable stock, however, there’s no need to worry as it’s delicious and healthy for dogs to eat. But even so, there are a few things to consider because not all vegetable broth is safe for our pet canines. In this guide, we’ll talk about the nutritional benefits of vegetable stock and how to safely feed it to your dogs.
What is Vegetable Stock?
Vegetable stock is basically a soup made with a mix of vegetables. It’s hearty and nutritious and makes for a great addition to your dog’s daily diet. There is powdered vegetable stock available in any regular supermarket but you can just as easily make one on your own at home. If you’re making it for yourself or your family, simply add a few tablespoons to your dog’s meals.
It’s simple and easy to make, making it a great treat for dogs who may need a boost of nutrition or need help maintaining a healthy digestive system. Vegetable stock is known for producing healthy enzymes that boost digestive health in both humans and dogs.
Other kinds of broth including chicken and beef are also great for dogs.
Avoid Garlic and Onion in Vegetable Stock
This is one of the most important things to know when feeding vegetable stock to your dog. Avoid garlic and onions at all times because these are toxic to dogs. They add flavor but they can cause serious health problems in pet canines.
Every part of the onion and garlic is dangerous for dogs to eat because they contain N-propyl disulfide, which causes damage to the dog’s red blood cells. This chemical leads to the rupture of red blood cells in dogs, which leads to anemia, which can be dangerous. The n-propyl disulfide is safe for humans but toxic to dogs so avoid cooking vegetable stock with these seasonings.
If you buy store-bought vegetable stock, always make sure you check the ingredients. If there are any signs of garlic or onion, do not feed it to your dog. Even the smallest amounts of garlic or onion can be toxic. This also applies to garlic and onion powder or any form.
You must also minimize your use of salt when cooking vegetable stock. Dogs are prone to salt poisoning, so even if it’s safe for humans to use salt to flavor dishes, you must only use a little if you are intending to feed it to your dog. If you can, avoid using salt altogether.
Symptoms of salt poisoning can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, excess gas, and loss of appetite in dogs. When left untreated, it could lead to life-threatening dehydration.
Benefits of Vegetable Stock in Dogs
Vegetable stock is a healthy and nutritious food for dogs with plenty of health benefits your dog can take advantage of. It’s packed with vitamins and minerals, as well as healthy enzymes that boost your dog’s digestive health. Here are some of the benefits of vegetable stock for dogs:
- Boosts the Immune System
When you use tomatoes and potatoes in your vegetable stock, these vegetables contain nutrients that help boost your dog’s immune system. Potatoes are high in fiber and a great source of Vitamin B complex, while tomatoes are rich in Vitamins A, E, and K, as well as having riboflavin and high amounts of Vitamin C.
- Prevents Heart Disease
Vegetables help prevent the accumulation of fat, which helps to boost heart health. Fat is one of the factors that increase a dog’s risk for heart problems, which means vegetable broth is a great food addition if your dog has a high risk of developing cardiovascular problems.
- Prevents Cancer
Some vegetables commonly added to vegetable stock help to prevent cancer. Some of these vegetables include white potatoes, broccoli, bell peppers, and kale.
- Detoxifies the Dog’s Body
Vegetable stock can detoxify the dog’s body. With a mix of nutrients from a wide range of vegetables, the vegetable stock can help reduce the effects of free radicals, bacteria, fat, and other toxins present in your dog’s body.
- Boosts Digestive Health
Vegetable stock, being made of different kinds of vegetables that are high in fiber, helps to boost digestive health. It contains healthy enzymes that promote gut health, which is essential for an overall healthier body.
How to Make Vegetable Stock for Dogs
Making vegetable stock for your dog is easy. The first step is choosing what kinds of vegetables you want to use in your broth. This depends on what’s available as well as your dog’s preference in terms of flavor. Avoid adding seasoning to ensure your vegetable broth is safe for your dog to eat.
Some of the most common vegetables used in vegetable stock include carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, celery, broccoli, or string beans. You can also add apple cider vinegar to taste.
Start making your vegetable stock using the following steps:
1. Wash the vegetables thoroughly.
2. Fill a pot with water and add the applied cider vinegar.
3. Fill the pot with vegetables.
4. Once the vegetables have softened, take them out.
5. Dice the vegetables into bite-size pieces.
6. Place the vegetables back into the simmering broth.
7. Steam the broth for a few minutes, and bring it to a boil again.
8. Add a pinch of salt for more flavor (very minimal).
9. Turn off the stove, and let the broth cool.
10. Add two tablespoons of broth to your dog’s commercial dog food. If your dog wants to have more, add a few more tablespoons of vegetable stock.
For the remaining broth, you can put the rest in the fridge, and it will be good for a few more days. Put the broth in the freezer, which will preserve the broth and stay good enough to eat for two more weeks.
You can also fill an ice tray with the broth and give it to your dog as a healthy treat during the summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs eat vegetable stock?
Yes, vegetable stock is healthy for dogs to eat, along there’s no garlic or onion, which are toxic for dogs. The use of salt must also be kept at a minimum.
Can I feed vegetable stock to my dog every day?
Yes, it’s completely okay for your dog to eat vegetable broth every day. It’s a healthy food addition to your dog’s daily diet, it contains a host of nutrients and healthy enzymes, such as calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, and many other vitamins and minerals.
Can I feed store-bought vegetable stock to my dog?
Yes, as long as it doesn’t contain any garlic or onion in the ingredients.
Final Words
Adding human food to your dog’s diet is a great way to boost their overall health but they always come with certain risks. Vegetable stock is one of the healthiest and most delicious human food you can give to your dog, but you need to make sure it doesn’t contain any garlic or onion, which are toxic for dogs.
Making vegetable broth for your dog is simple and easy and as long as you use vegetables that your dog likes, you can rest assured your dog will love eating them.
Photo Credits:
Vegetable Soup (Unsplash)
Brown Toy Poodle (Unsplash)
