 Dogs
love their liver snacks, their wheat biscuits and their rolled
rawhide but they also like a change of pace from the cooked and
processed. Why not try some fresh, round fruits that are fun
to roll around, toss into the air and eventually eat?
Apples and tomatoes, when ripe
and in season, are favorites especially as they come in their own
organic, digestible packaging. We only give dogs sweet fruit
as anything bitter or sour can put them off fruit for a very long
time if not forever. Offer them at room temperature instead of
straight from the refrigerator to enhance the sweet sensation.
Tomatoes are best if you grow
them yourself. Those from the markets
sometimes resemble baseballs and require dressing prior to
consumption. Cherry tomatoes tend to be the sweetest and the
easiest to roll around. They're just the right size for
puppies and small dogs but make sure you watch them while they play
so they don't accidentally choke on them.
Consider sturdy Romas or Beefsteaks for larger
dogs. If you have the
space and time, Sweet100's, GreenZebras and other cherry varieties are easy to
grow, ripen quickly and are delicious to eat.
Friends swear by oranges for their dogs but we've
never had much success with citrus fruits ourselves. Although
it's not spherical per se, we and our dogs love raw broccoli
florettes. These are simply the half round tops snapped off
the broccoli heads. If you're more ambitious, buy a melon
baller and make round fruit balls from cantaloupes, honeydews and
seedless watermelons. If you have access to oversized zucchini
they can work as well.
Steer clear of grapes and raisins. Although
it's unclear what the mechanism is, grapes and their concentrated
cousins the raisins, appear to cause kidney failure in some dogs.
Although many dogs have eaten both with no apparent ill effects,
it's best to err on the side of caution.
 Puppies
especially like to roll fruit around the floor before sinking their
teeth into them. If you have carpets....don't do this inside.
Save them for the patio or spread a tarp or bed sheet down.
Some dogs are notoriously messy and some fruits, especially berries
and tomatoes leave bits behind.
Related Information:
Fresh Salad for
Dogs
Cooking
for Dogs While Cooking For People
Shredded Roasted Chicken for Dogs and Cats
Semi-Raw Beef For
Dogs and Cats
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