Is It OK to Add Vegetables to a Nursing Dog's Food?

Nursing mother dogs require food that has more animal proteins, fats and calories than their regular diet to produce milk to feed their pups. Puppy food generally provides the ideal amounts of these ingredients for a nursing mom, but adding vegetables to your mama dog's diet is OK in moderation.

A canine nursing mother needs around two to four times the amount of calories as an adult dog of the same size, according to the National Research Council. The nutrient profiles of the Association of American Feed Control Officials food recommend that her food contain at least 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Unfortunately, vegetables are very low in fat, protein and calories but high in fiber, which can make your dog feel full. This isn't desirable for nursing moms who need to ingest high-calorie, high-protein foods to produce milk.

Including a small amount of vegetables in your nursing dog's diet won't hurt her but can upset her stomach and cause diarrhea, warns DogChannel.com. Added veggies aren't necessary for your nursing pooch's diet; if she experiences stomach issues or weight loss, discontinue them, keeping her only on a high-calorie puppy food.