Can Border Collies Eat Vegetables? 28 Vegetables They Go Crazy For
There is always a debate when it comes to whether or not it’s necessary (or even a good idea) to give vegetables to your dogs. Same of course, is true for collies. Can Border Collies eat vegetables?
Here’s the thing…if you give your dog the option to choose between meat or veggies, you’ll most likely have your furry companion opting for the delicious animal-based protein source 9 times out of 10, while leaving the veggies somewhat intact.
With that said, many of you reading this, already know that dogs can eat vegetables with almost no issues and are already probably adding veggies to your Border Collie diet anyways.
But which vegetable is the best for the Border Collie? How much can we actually give them, and which vegetables are a complete no go? Some are better than others, and some can be downright dangerous.
In this post, we’ll be going over whether or not Border Collies could or should eat vegetables, as well as give you a list of the vegetables that are a green flag, and which ones should be avoided.
Can Border Collies Eat Vegetables
Let’s answer this question right out of the gate: Yes, Border Collies can eat vegetables.
Dogs are not Carnivores, they’re in fact Omnivores, meaning that they can digest both animal-based proteins as well as plant-based proteins. This goes back to their ancestors, the Wolves, which we know digest seeds. Their prey (squirrels, foxes, etc.) ate plants, and, by being eaten themselves, indirectly gave wolves the plant-based proteins which they would eventually evolve to digest and use.
As a result, Border Collies (just like is the case with many other dogs) have no issues consuming most vegetables. Some of the more common vegetables that you yourself are likely to eat, won’t harm them in any meaningful way. It’s mostly just a question of which one and how much of each you’ll be giving your dog.
“While vegetables are not necessary for a dog to be healthy, there are actually quite a lot of nutritious advantages that come from including them into your dog’s diet”.
Some of the benefits of giving your dogs vegetables, include:
- Hydration. Vegetables are an excellent source of water.
- Rich in Vitamins. Raw veggies provide dogs with vitamins A, C, E and K.
- Antioxidants. Vegetables have antioxidants that bind to free radicals which cause oxidation in your dog’s body.
- A massive source of fiber. Vegetable fibers help with digestion and detoxification.
Raw vegetables, give your dog a rich source of both vitamins and minerals, that work alongside the amino acids from other sources, to build up and maintain a healthy body and immune system.
Which Vegetables Can Border Collies Eat? Which Shouldn’t They Eat?
We’ve already established that Collies, just like most other dogs can eat vegetables to a certain extent. That they’re beneficial to them and in most cases won’t harm them. But with that said, exactly which vegetables can Border Collies eat and which ones should be avoided?
Remember that not all veggies are safe for dogs and some are even toxic. Always speak to a Vet with nutritional experience before coming up with your own diet for your dog.
Some of the vegetables that Border Collies can eat include:
- Pumpkin
- Carrots
- Tomato
- Cucumber
- Broccoli
- Brussel Sprouts
- Cabbage
Some of the vegetables that Border Collies shouldn’t eat, include:
- Avocados
- Chives
- Onions
- Leek
- Mushrooms
- Garlic
The main reason vegetables like Avocados, Onions and Garlic, shouldn’t be eaten by dogs, is because they contain toxins that can’t be digested and that can cause anemia and even organ failure. If possible, you’ll also want to avoid starchy vegetables like potatoes, and in the case of fruits grapes and raisins are a huge nono.
Below, you’ll find a table with 35 of the more common vegetables and an indication of whether or not, that specific vegetable is should or should not be eaten by your Border Collie.
| Vegetable | Can Eat | Shouldn’t Eat |
| Alfalfa | ✅ | |
| Artichoke | ✅ | |
| Asparagus | ✅ | |
| Avocados | ❌ | |
| Beet | ✅ | |
| Broccoli | ✅ | |
| Brussel Sprout | ✅ | |
| Cabbage | ✅ | |
| Carrot | ✅ | |
| CauliFlower | ✅ | |
| Celery | ✅ | |
| Chives | ❌ | |
| Corn | ✅ | |
| Cucumber | ✅ | |
| Eggplant | ✅ | |
| Garlic | ❌ | |
| Green Beans | ✅ | |
| Kale | ✅ | |
| Lettuce | ✅ | |
| Leek | ❌ | |
| Mushrooms | ❌ | |
| Onion | ❌ | |
| Parsnip | ✅ | |
| Peas | ✅ | |
| Pepper | ✅ | |
| Potato | ❌ | |
| Pumpkin | ✅ | |
| Radish | ✅ | |
| Rutabaga | ✅ | |
| Shallot | ❌ | |
| Spinach | ✅ | |
| Sweet Potato | ✅ | |
| Squash | ✅ | |
| Tomato | ✅ | |
| Zucchini | ✅ |
What Is The Best Food To Feed Border Collies?
Based on what we mentioned in this post, the best food to feed Border Collies, will be one that resembles that which their ancestors would be used to. This means, a diet that is mainly made out of animal-based proteins, with around a 10% exposure to plant-based sources (give or take) which include both fruits and vegetables, but of course, exclude the ones that are toxic.
Now that you know what the amount of meat to vegetable ratio should be in each meal, that your Collie can in fact eat veggies and you know exactly which veggie it can and cannot tolerate, it’s up to you to come up with a good solution for your pup.
When it comes to feeding your dog, you can either give your dog:
- A raw diet, which you can make yourself depending on your dog’s needs and should include raw meat, bones and organs as well as a few veggies or fruits and plenty of water on the side.
- Canned food which is high in water content and dogs usually like, but might be nutritionally limited (depending on the brand) and might have to be complemented.
- Kibble/Dry Food which is the go-to option for most owners, but that might leave out nutrients in exchange for being so practical.
Our Recommendation
When it comes to finding the perfect food for your Border Collie (especially if you don’t want to make it yourself) you want something great.
- You want something cheap but not too cheap.
- Something with a high quantity of water but that’s not a puddle.
- That can be stored without refrigeration but won’t spoil easily.
- Something that has all the nutrients that your dog needs, without you having to feel like you’re missing anything.
- And of course, you want something that is actually tasty so that your dog will eat it.
One of our most recommended foods for Border Collies (and dogs in general) that check all of these requirements, are the Kibbles produced by YumWoof.
Based in Nevada USA, YumWoof produces Kibbles with actual hydrated fresh meat and vegetables, staying away from dry unhealthy food coloring and artificial flavors that you’d find in the more standard brands.
The 14 ingredients for their “Perfect Kibble” is human grade and sourced from local suppliers in the USA, and are made using only real food ingredients that meet the AAFCO standards.
If you want to learn more about YumWoof, you can check out their website here.
Other Articles You Might Like
