Can dogs digest raw vegetables? Do they need processing for nutrients?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Female | spayed | 7 years and 7 months old | 17 lbs
Are dogs able to properly digest raw whole vegetables as humans can, or do the vegetables need to be broken down for them to digest the vegetables properly? For example can I give green beans and carrots raw and will they digest them well or is it necessary to purée or steam them beforehand for them to get the nutrients? there seems to be much debate over this and it seems to partly stem from whether or not people consider dogs omnivores or carnivores. please Explain, thank you.
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on February 3rd, 2020
Hello. Dogs are definitely omnivores & can digest grains & vegetables just fine. Many pets enjoy chewing on raw carrots, but a little processing will not hurt with any vegetable. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on February 1st, 2020
Dogs can digest small quantities of vegetables but they do not digest it as well as we do, for this reason it should be a minor part of their diet, dog's digestive system are mainly accommodated to digest meat.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on April 9th, 2017
You are welcome! I'm sorry you are confused! Your previous post was asking if she could still get nutrients from the veggies if they are cooked and whole. That's what I was answering. You are correct that raw veggies need to be pureed to be digested, and I meant to type whole or pureed in regards to the cooked veggies so that was my mistake! I apologize for that! I hope this clears this up :-)
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Thanks for answering my question Melanie! im confused I thought dogs couldn't digest raw vegetables at all. I thought they at least had to be cooked or if fed raw, puréed to be digested?
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