Petra’s Dog Resource Center

01/29/2026

01/25/2026

01/25/2026

Callie loving the snow!!❄️❄️

01/24/2026

01/22/2026

🤣🤣 a likely story

01/21/2026

Max said "OMG it's another husky!"

01/17/2026

Snow day zoomies and fun!

01/17/2026

Yup, happened twice when Koru was a puppy 😝

01/15/2026

lol

01/13/2026

playtimes are always the best time :)

01/08/2026

What a handsome little devil :) 😍

01/06/2026

Did you know??

🥕🥦 Dogs should have their vegetables steamed and pureed to properly absorb the nutrients fruits and vegetables provide.

There are three main reasons why:

1) Jaw Structure
Dogs do not have the jaw structure needed to grind plant matter. Their jaws move up and down only, and their teeth are designed to rip and tear meat—not chew fruits and vegetables. Chewing and flat molars are essential for breaking down plant cells, and dogs simply aren’t built for it.

2) Digestive Tract
A dog’s digestive tract is much shorter than animals that eat mostly vegetation. This allows food (and potential pathogens) to move through quickly, but it also means plant matter doesn’t have much time to break down. Without proper preparation, many nutrients pass right through unused.

3) Salivary Amylase
Most mammals produce amylase (the enzyme that starts breaking down carbohydrates) in their saliva—but dogs and cats do not. Their bodies are designed for a diet primarily made of meat and organs. For dogs, carbohydrate digestion doesn’t begin until later in the pancreas, and too much unprocessed plant matter can put unnecessary strain on it.

So what’s the best way to feed your dog fruits and veggies for the nutritional value?
--> Steam them to break down tough plant fibers, then puree them so your dog can easily digest and absorb all those beneficial nutrients.

A little prep goes a long way in keeping our pups healthy and thriving! 🐾💚

Please note: If you’re offering fruits and vegetables to your dog simply as an occasional snack, steaming and pureeing isn’t necessary. Dogs usually receive their complete nutritional needs from their regular meals, so the vitamins from fruits and vegetables are not essential in this case. This information is most helpful for pet parents who prepare homemade meals from scratch, feed a raw diet, or want to add extra vitamins to their dogs diets.