Lettuce is perfectly okay for dogs to eat. The fact lettuce consists mostly of water, makes it a vegetable safe for dogs to nibble on.
However, if it is the first time you have fed your dog lettuce, you may want to only give him a little bit to start with. Lettuce also contains plant fiber and this can upset your dog’s tummy if they eat too much.
Dogs eating lettuce – Any Benefits?
Because lettuce is mostly water it is actually pretty low on the nutritional value scale. All your dog will get from some lettuce leaves is a little hydration along with some essential fibers.
While these fibers are good for the digestive system, and can help your dog poop more regularly, as we have said they may also upset him if he consumes too much.
For higher nutritional value from vegetables, crunchy root vegetables such as carrots are much better.
If you want something lighter for your dog to eat, then plant based vegetables such as broccoli will pack more nutritional punch.
All the same, the fact lettuce is low in calories means it can be added to your dog’s diet without any threat of weight gain.
Furthermore, if you dog already has constipation from another source, a little bit of lettuce may help loosen the bowels and free your pet from discomfort.
Can Dogs Eat Lettuce – Any Precautions
Just the aforementioned precaution on moderation. Lettuce can cause diarrhea and other digestive problems if a dog eats too much and their stomach is a little sensitive to it.
Lettuce is not on the toxic food for dogs list however, so you should not expect any other adverse issues. There have been no reported allergies of dogs to lettuce either.
Lettuce for Dogs – Serving Suggestions
Obviously the lettuce should be washed first. Some dog owners actually like to prepare a little salad for their pets. This can be used in addition to their normal diet, (i.e fed in between meal times) and can provide some really healthy dietary benefits if the correct vegetables are chosen.
A salad will help add an extra boost of vitamins to your dog’s diet. Lettuce can be used to fill out the meal, however, other vegetables such as spinach, carrot chunks, broccoli, cooked green peppers could be chopped and added to the mix. These types of vegetables will supply the extra vitamins and minerals that are not present in lettuce.
Under know circumstances should tomato be used. If you decide to feed your dog a little fruit salad, ensure to read our articles on the dangers of fruit pits and cyanide first. Most fruits with a core do present a danger to your dog.