Why scientists say you should feed your dog these vegetables instead of ... trends now

It can be hard to resist those puppy dog eyes peering up at you when you're cutting up a piece of chicken or cheese.

But one expert says that sneaking your pup titbits of meat may actually be doing more harm than good. 

Georgia Woods-Lee, a canine nutritionist from the University of Liverpool, says that vegetables are actually the best snack for your pooch.

She says this is because dogs appreciate the act of being given a treat by their loved one more than the taste of it, so it is best to prioritise nutritional value over flavour.

'Food is fuel rather than anything else,' she said at the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Congress 2023.

'Dogs don't spend a whole lot of time tasting their food. It's normally swallowed very, very quickly.'

Ms Woods-Lee spoke about tackling pet obesity at the BSAVA conference in Manchester last week, according to The Telegraph.

A 2021 study from the Royal Veterinary College found that one in 14 dogs in the UK – 7.1 per cent – is obese. 

Research has shown that overweight dogs have shortened life spans, reduced quality of life and higher frequencies of some significant health conditions including arthritis, breathing problems, heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. 

Ms Woods-Lee therefore said that the best treats on the market actually come from the vegetable section of the supermarket, rather than the pet food section.

The veterinary nurse said: 'Courgettes are a favourite of mine because they are very, very high in water and very, very low in calories.

'They are accepted by most dogs and they can literally eat them until they come out of their ears. There are no detrimental effects to eating courgettes.'

She adds that other 'green, watery vegetables' should also do the trick, like watermelon, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumber, ice cubes and Brussels sprouts.

However, carrots are a big no-no, as they have around four times the amount of calories as courgettes.

'A small piece of carrot is fine but owners want to give volume, they want to give their pets loads of snacks so I would be choosing the green veg,' said Ms Woods-Lee.