Kong ~ What can dogs eat?

here's the list the ASCPA puts out for foods to never feed:

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_poisonsafe

 You can use just about any veggie that's not listed and your dog will have fun digging out the tidbits (think baby carrots, etc) but s/he probably won't get any nutritional value out of them unless they are cooked or pureed.  You can do that (cook and puree) and then stuff it into a Kong (which you put into a cup) and then freeze.    I tend to use lowfat yogurt with a teeny bit of fruit (two or three blueberries or a comparable sized piece of mashed banana) and put that into the freezer.  

I'd avoid any type of human cookie / snack cracker (triscuits, as an example) especially anything that has onion or garlic ("real", flavoring, powder, etc).   You also want to watch the salt on those things.

If you do a search on "Kong Stuffers" you'll come up with lots of posts for other suggestions

Garlic isn't bad *in moderation* but yes, onion makes it difficult for their bodies to absorb calcium.

If you use veggies you have to chopd/cook/ or puree them in order for them to get any nutritional value from them -- but freezing such can be a favorite with dogs.

BE CAREFUL -- peanut butter is not wonderful for them.  They LOVE it but it's hard on the kidneys.  So be SUPER *minimal* with it.  And don't give it daily.

Try tahini instead (ethinic/Jewish section -- it's ground sesame) -- tastes similar and man, my dogs LOVE it.   Has to be stirred so it's kinda a pain.

The trick is variety -- if you are using a lot of veggies you have to look at the calcium/phosphorous ratio.  Carrots have a sucky cal/phos ratio so don't give them everyday or else offset them with something that has a GREAT ratio like kale.

If you are tossing a carrot to your dog it's not 'bad' because they don't digest much  of it.  It just goes thru them mostly.  Raw veggies generally -- they may like them, but nutrtionally they aren't adding much because their bodies can't break them down.

Try things like beef heart, chicken/turkey hearts, whitefish --

If you want a 'binder' use something like ricotta cheese or plain yogurt. 

I use pumpkin as the binder and sometime mix it with veggies (they like carrots) and then freeze.

 Thanks for the note about peanut butter as I often use that as well.

I use plain full-fat yogurt as our regular binder for the kibble that I then freeze. But I've also been known to use mixtures of bone marrow, peanut butter, and natural balance food roll. But I think the key there is that all of those things I use only 1 tablespoon per dog. Most of what is in the Kong is just their healthy regular kibble, with just a little something sticky and wet (and fatty!) that binds it all together to freeze.