Grow These 14 Plants To Feed Your Pets

While the benefits of growing organic vegetables are well known this always assumes that the crops will be eaten by humans. As you will discover below there are several vegetables and herbs that can be fed to our pets. There are suggestions of suitable plants for dogs, cats, rabbits and goats plus a warning of a few plants that are toxic and should be kept away from the animals. The information is contained in an article by Tricia Drevets which I found on Dave’s Garden website.

Feed your gardening hobby and your pets all at the same time!
Fresh vegetables are an important part of our human diet, but they also are essential for the health of our animals. They provide essential vitamins and minerals and protect their cells from disease. By growing some of your own plants for your pets, you cut down significantly on your pet food costs, and your animals will gain the health benefits of fresh veggies. An added bonus is that most pet-friendly plants are easy to grow.
Here are 14 garden plants that you can safely grow to feed your furry friends.
Note: Always check with your vet before making major changes to your pet’s diet.

All Animals

1. Wheat and Barley Grass

These all-purpose grasses are easy to grow and maintain, and they are an excellent source of antioxidant nutrients, vitamins A, B-complex, C, E, K, minerals, amino acids, and even a bit if calcium. But the best part? Most animals love them. Cats will nibble grass right out of a container in a sunny windowsill, or you can feed it in clumps to your rabbits.

Dogs

Dog close-up
Although they love meat, dogs are omnivores, so a dog?s healthy, balanced diet will always have vegetables make up about a third of the meal. Dogs and also be fed some fruits and vegetables for easy, nutritious treats.

1. Melons

On a hot summer day, my dog begs for watermelon. Turns out, she knows what is good for her. Watermelon is a good source of lycopene for dogs and provides thiamin, vitamins A, B-6, and C. Plus, it is hydrating!
Cantaloupe is packed with vitamin A and beta-carotene, both of which are good for your dog?s health. However, if you feed either of these melons to your pooch, just make sure to remove the rinds and seeds first.

2. Green Beans

Steam these easy-to-grow garden plants before offering them to your dog. Green beans provide important omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A, C, and K, and since they are low in calories, yet high in fiber, they are great for dogs that need to lose a little weight.

3. Spinach

The boost of iron gained from adding spinach to your dog?s diet helps your pet fight any inflammatory and cardiovascular problems and may help prevent certain forms of cancer. Spinach also is a natural source of calcium.

Go to the next page to see what vegetables are recommended by Tricia Drevets for cats.
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