by We as people have for many tens of thousand of years had a close connection to our pet dogs. 
They are often, for many, considered to be a member of the family. We pamper them, take them for walks in the park, and play with them. We also take them to the Vet when they are sick. One of the most recent things we have done is make sure they are eating more nutritious food and so we sometime provide them vitamins or food supplements. We also go as far as searching the internet to see what is the best nutritional supplements for dogs.
Do Dogs Need Fruit and Vegetable Supplements?
Dogs evolved from wolves. 
Wolves are carnivorous which means normally meat eaters. They don’t generally eat fruit and plants to survive but some have been known to on certain occasions. Dogs metabolism’s have some similarities to humans. Their digestive system has many of the microorganisms and bacteria that a human has. This means some of their nutritional needs are the same as ours and they digest some food the same way as we do. Some of their abilities for their bodies to produce certain vitamins through enzyme conversion is similar also.
On the other hand their are many things that are different from us. This falls back from the fact that they evolved from wolves. The common pet dog has evolved over time from the wolf because they have become more domesticated and eat much of the same food that humans do in some form or another.
In short, because of their similarities to humans, dogs also may require supplements for the same reasons a person would.
What Type of Supplements Should I Give My Dog?
This is a good question. Maybe your dog doesn’t need a vitamin or supplement. As I said in many of my previous posts, never take any type of vitamin or supplement without consulting your doctor. The same holds true with your beloved Fido. Please consult your pets veterinarian before giving them any kind of supplement also.
I said dogs have similarities to the human system but some things are very different. One vitamin supplement that is very common for a person to take is vitamin “C”. However, dogs actually produce this vitamin in their bodies. They only would need a supplement if they are not getting the food required to produce enough of this vitamin.
Dogs also do not digest fiber as well as humans for your should limit foods or supplements of fiber to a small portion of dose. Many natural fruits and vegetables are good for dogs and some are very good when the dogs are overweight or seniors.
Some common fruits and vegetables or supplements good for dogs are:
- sweet potatoe
- kale
- spinach
- green beans
- carrots
- brocolli
- pumpkin
- zucchinni
- apples
- pineapple
- seedless watermelon
My dog actually loves mango and papaya too.
Are Their Any Fruits and Vegatables Bad for Dogs?
Yes. Their are several fruits and vegetables that are not recommended for dogs. Some dogs don’t digest them well and some can be toxic to your dog. You should avoid these in the list below:
- mushrooms
- grapes
- cherries
- raw potatoes
- onions
- avacado
- asparagus
Some of the meat of the fruit or vegetable may be OK but the stems, seeds and peel of some have toxins such as cyanide which can cause harm to your dog.
Can Pet Dogs Take Vitamins and Supplements Made for People?
One of the most common questions pet owners have is, “Can I give my dog human vitamins?” Our dogs are our family and if we are taking a supplement to be healthier we figure we should give our dog one to make them healthier too. Not so fast. Again consult your dogs vet first. Once the vet says it is OK consult with them to see what is the right supplement to give them.
Most dog food producers already make sure the ingredients of the food they produce has the basic nutrients needed to keep your dog healthy. However, all dogs are different just like humans and some require for of a vitamin or mineral than what the food brand can provide. It is like a person eating a hamburger. It has protein from the meat, some vitamins from the tomato and lettuce, and maybe some dairy needed from the bread and cheese but is it going to meet your minimum daily requirements? I don’t think so. Eaten daily it can also make your least healthy or obese. Dogs eating the same do food every day can be in the same situation.
The Bottom Line
You can give a dog one of the vitamins or food supplements a person would take if it is approved by your dogs vet. I personally think their are a lot of products out their for dogs that are unproven or not as controlled as human supplements. Even human supplements are not that controlled bus some have been around for years and have a lot of history on the benefits and negatives of taking them. Dog vitamins and supplements just really came on board in the past few years by comparison and therefore your really need to research them carefully.
