While most of us want to share human foods with our Basenjis, we all know that Basenjis have a different metabolic system than ours. While we can eat things like grapes and bacon with no problems, it’s important to consider that these foods may not be safe for your Basenji.
That’s why I’ve compiled this list of 37 fruits, vegetables & other snacks Basenjis can (and can’t) eat. Below are the most common 37 fruits, vegetables & other snacks Basenjis can (and can’t) eat.
List of fruits Basenjis can or can’t eat
Wondering which fruits your Basenji can eat or not? Here is a list of some common fruits your Basenji can or can’t eat:
Apples
Basenjis can eat apples, but they should be sure to remove the seeds and core first.
Apples are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, as well as fiber for your Basenji. They’re low in protein and fat, making them the perfect snack for senior Basenjis. However, processed apples like applesauce and apple pie filling can contain added sugar that may not be good for your Basenji’s health.
Avocado
Avocados are not safe for your Basenji to consume. The avocado fruit, pits, leaves, skin and the actual plant all contain persin, which is potentially poisonous to your Basenji.
Avocado oil is safe in small amounts, but it’s important that you don’t give your Basenji large amounts of avocado oil because it can cause diarrhea and vomiting.
Bananas
Yes, Basenjis can eat bananas. In moderation.
The banana is a great low-calorie snack for your pup, with lots of potassium and vitamins as well as biotin, fiber, and copper. But it’s high in sugar—so you should only give them bananas as an occasional treat, and remove their peel before giving it to them.
It’s important to avoid processed bananas like banana chips and banana puddings because they may contain added toxic ingredients like hydrogenated oils that are unhealthy for your Basenji.
Blackberry
Can Basenjis eat blackberries?
Yes! Blackberries are low in calories and sugar, high in vitamins and minerals, and full of antioxidants. Fresh or frozen, either is fine.
Blackberries are safe for Basenjis to eat. They can be a great addition to your Basenji’s diet if you’re looking for something low-calorie to give them as a treat or as part of their regular meal plan. Just make sure you avoid processed blackberries like blackberry jam, jelly, blackberry-flavored ice cream—these may contain harmful chemicals that could harm your pup.
Two blackberries per 10 pounds of body weight is a safe limit for your Basenji to eat each day.
Blueberry
Can Basenjis eat blueberries?
Yes, if they’re fed in moderation. While blueberries are high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, they’re also high in sugar. So feed them to your pup in moderation—about four to five blueberries per 10 pounds of body weight. Frozen, fresh, dried, or mashed blueberries are all fine for most Basenjis. Just avoid processed blueberries like blueberry muffins, blueberry yogurt and blueberry pie, as these may contain harmful preservatives and food additives for your Basenji.
Cantaloupe
Yes, Basenjis can eat cantaloupe! It’s low in calories but high in many other nutrients, including fiber and moisture. However, it does contain sugar, so give your Basenji this fruit in moderation. Make sure you remove the rinds and seeds before feeding it to your Basenji—they can be a choking hazard.
Cherry
No, Basenjis can’t eat cherries. Although the fleshy part around the seed is safe, the plant contains cyanide, which destroys cellular oxygen transport in your Basenji. This can cause dilated pupils and vomiting or diarrhea.
If you think your Basenji has eaten cherries, contact your vet immediately.
Grapes
Can Basenjis Eat Grapes?
The short answer is no. Grapes are very toxic to Basenjis, and even a small amount of grapes can cause sudden kidney failure in your Basenji.
Symptoms of grape poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and lack of appetite. Seek veterinary help immediately if you suspect your Basenji ate grapes.
To prevent accidental ingestion, keep the grapes out of your Basenji’s reach and educate your family about the danger of grapes as well as other potential toxins that could harm your pet.
Mango
Can Basenjis eat mango?
The answer is yes! Mangoes are a healthy fruit that can provide your Basenji with vitamins A, B6, C and E. They also contain potassium and fiber, which help keep your Basenji’s digestive system running smoothly.
Mangoes do have a few drawbacks, though: they are high in sugar and acidic content. If you feed your Basenji too much of it, it may cause diarrhea or vomiting. Also, remove the mango skin and pit before feeding the fruit to your pet.
It’s also important to avoid processed mango products like mango sorbet or popsicles as they may contain harmful ingredients like xylitol (a sweetener found in many sugar-free products).
As with all foods you feed your Basenji, be sure to monitor their intake of mangoes. One-quarter cup of fresh ripe fruits once per week should be sufficient for most Basenjis.
Oranges
Yes, your Basenji can eat oranges in moderation.
Oranges are a great source of Vitamin C, potassium, and fiber—all things that can help keep your Basenji healthy. You should only give them the fleshy part of the orange and remove all traces of peel, skin, pith, and seeds before giving it to them. Only one or two sections are enough for most Basenjis. This is an occasional treat; too much could cause digestive upset.
Peaches
Peaches are a delicious, nutritious snack for your Basenji. They’re not only tasty and sweet, but they’re also high in fiber and vitamin A, which is important for your Basenji’s overall health.
However, remove the pit before serving it to your Basenji as it contains cyanide. Also, avoid processed peaches like peach cobbler or peach pie, as they may contain harmful chemicals.
Pears
Yes, Basenjis can eat pears.
Pears are a great snack because they’re high in copper, vitamins C and K, and fiber. They can help keep your Basenji’s heart healthy and reduce the risk of having a stroke significantly.
Just be sure to cut pears into bite-size chunks and remove the pit and seeds first, as the seeds contain traces of cyanide. Skip processed pears like canned pears as it may contain sugar syrups and other ingredients that aren’t good for your Basenji’s digestive system. One small slice is ok for most Basenjis as pears contain sugar.
Pineapples
Yes, Basenjis can eat pineapple.
Pineapple is a tasty treat for Basenjis that contains vitamins, minerals, bromelain, and moisture. The only part of the fruit that is safe for your Basenji to eat is the soft inner fruit. To prepare your Basenji’s pineapple, remove the spiky skin and hard inner pineapple core. Avoid processed pineapples like canned pineapple or pineapple cake, as these contain added harmful chemicals.
For a healthy treat, give your Basenji 2/3 small bites of raw pineapple mixed with his regular food.
Pumpkin
Yes, pure pumpkin itself is a great choice and a very healthy snack for Basenjis. Pumpkin helps with your Basenji’s skin and coat, and can also be used to help remedy both diarrhea and constipation in your Basenji.
Never feed your Basenji pumpkin pie mix. Canned pumpkin is ok for your Basenji but make sure it’s 100% pumpkin. Many pumpkin supplements and pumpkin pup treats are available on the market today. The amount varies with your Basenji’s size and activity level, but start with a teaspoon per day.
Strawberry
Yes, Basenjis can eat strawberries.
Strawberries are a sweet, juicy fruit that contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They are high in vitamin C and potassium, as well as manganese and folate.
Fresh or frozen strawberries have the same nutritional benefits for your Basenji. When serving fresh strawberries, cut them into small pieces before giving them to your Basenji. This will help prevent choking if your Basenji doesn’t chew his food well or gulps it down quickly.
Avoid processed strawberries such as strawberry jam or strawberry juice because they contain added sugar which may be harmful to your pet’s health.
Watermelon
Yes, Basenjis can eat watermelon.
Watermelon contains vitamins, minerals and lycopene, which help to lower the risk of heart disease.
To safely feed your Basenji watermelon, cut it into small chunks and remove the seeds, rinds and skin. Half a cup of diced seedless and rind-free watermelon is enough per 10 pounds of body weight.
List of vegetable Basenjis can or can’t eat
Wondering which vegetables your Basenji can eat or not? Here is a list of some vegetables your Basenji can or can’t eat:
Broccoli
Yes, Basenjis can eat broccoli. In fact, it’s a great source of fiber, which can help with digestion and your pup’s overall health.
Broccoli contains vitamins A, C, and K, folate and calcium. It also has antioxidants that can help fight free radicals in your Basenji’s body.
Broccoli stems and florets are both safe to eat—either cooked or raw—but always cut them into small pieces to avoid a choking hazard.
One-quarter cup of broccoli per 10 pounds of body weight is the recommended serving size for your pup.
Cabbage
Yes, Basenjis can eat cabbage.
Cabbage is a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It also contains fiber and moisture. All colors of cabbage—red, green, purple—are safe and healthy for Basenjis to eat. However, red cabbage is more nutritious than green cabbage; it has 10 times more vitamins than green cabbage does.
To keep your Basenji’s digestive system working well when feeding them cabbage, lightly cook or roast the vegetable. This makes it easier for their bodies to break down and digest the nutrients in the food. If you have any concerns about your pup’s diet, speak with your vet before making any changes.
Carrots
Yes, your Basenji can eat carrots. It’s an excellent low-calorie treat that’s full of vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber, so it will give your pup a healthy snack!
Carrots are best raw, frozen or cooked. If you cook them, make sure you add no harmful additives. If you’re using frozen or raw carrots, chop them into smaller pieces to keep your Basenji from choking on them.
For an average size pup, one or two baby carrots should do the trick.
Celery
Yes, Basenjis can eat celery. Celery is a great low calorie treat for your Basenji and contains vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and also high in moisture and fiber that helps with digestion.
There are many ways of feeding celery to your Basenji. You can mix it with their regular food or base it on their favorite treat, such as peanut butter or even cheese.
However, always cut the celery into bite-sized pieces to avoid choking hazard. Start with one or two bite-sized pieces and see how they react to it first before increasing the amount given per day.
Cucumber
Cucumbers are a great snack for your Basenji.
Cucumbers contain vitamins, minerals, moisture, and fiber. They also provide phytochemicals that help freshen your Basenji’s breath. However, avoid processed cucumbers like cucumber pickles, as they may contain harmful food additives like salt or sugar.
Cucumber seed and peels or skin are safe as long as they are organic. Amount depends on the size of your Basenji but only one or two pieces of cucumber are fine per day.
Garlic
Garlic is toxic to Basenjis. The N-propyl disulfide, a sulfur compound found in garlic, causes hemolysis leading to anemia and other symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Raw and cooked cloves and bulbs of garlic are toxic to your Basenji. A toxic dose is 15 to 30 grams of garlic per kilogram of body weight. Contact the vet immediately if your Basenji ate garlic.
Onions
Can a Basenji eat onions?
No, Basenjis cannot eat onions. Onions contain N-propyl disulfide, which is a sulfur compound that causes hemolysis leading to anemia in Basenjis. The toxic dose is 15 gm/kg of the body weight of your Basenji. Every type of onion is bad for Basenjis – red, white whatever. Besides, all parts of the onion plant are toxic to Basenjis too, including the flesh, ring, leaves and juice. If you suspect your Basenji has eaten some onion, contact your vet immediately.
Zucchini
Yes, Basenjis can eat zucchini.
Zucchini is a low-calorie treat and full of vitamins and antioxidants.
It’s also high in fiber and moisture, which makes it an excellent choice for Basenjis with digestive issues or to help keep their coat healthy.
Plain raw, steamed, or cooked zucchini is safe for Basenjis to eat. If you’re cooking your Basenji’s food at home, be sure to steam the zucchini instead of boiling it so you don’t lose any nutrients.
However, raw zucchini provides more Vitamin A than cooked ones, so it’s best to give them a small portion of the raw vegetable if they need more of it.
List of some other snacks Basenjis can or can’t eat
Wondering which snacks your Basenji can eat or not? Here is a list of some snacks your Basenji can or can’t eat:
Bacon
No, your Basenji should not eat bacon. Bacon is an incredibly rich and fatty food with a high salt content. The combination of these two factors can prove to be too much for a Basenji’s stomach to handle.
Eating a large amount can cause pancreatitis, which is an acute inflammation of the pancreas. Pancreatitis must be treated by a vet immediately, as it can be fatal if not treated.
However, giving your Basenji small amounts of cooked bacon infrequently should not cause harm.
Beef
Yes! Cooked, unseasoned lean beef is safe for Basenjis in small amounts unless your Basenji is allergic to beef.
Beef is a good source of protein and many important vitamins and minerals. Beef broth, beef stew, specialized Basenji beef jerky without an excess amount of salt are also safe for your Basenji.
Never feed cooked bone to your Basenji, but larger raw beef bone can be a chew toy for your pooch. A 20 pounds pooch needs one cup of kibble or 0.3 pound of ground beef each day if you opt for a raw diet instead of kibble.
Bread
Yes, Basenjis can eat bread. However, only plain white and wheat bread is safe for Basenjis to consume. Other types of bread may contain ingredients that are toxic for Basenjis, such as chocolate or raisins.
Bread doesn’t provide that much nutrients in your Basenji, so offer them in moderation. Too much bread can cause digestive issues and bloating.
A crust is fine–don’t give your Basenji the entire slice!
Cheese
Yes, Basenjis can eat cheese. A small amount of cheese is actually good for them! The vitamins, fatty acids, and proteins in cheese are great for your Basenji’s health.
But be careful of what types of cheese you’re feeding to your Basenji. Mozzarella, cottage, swiss and cheddar cheeses are all safer than other kinds of cheese—like cheesecake, blue cheese, goat’s milk cheese or parmesan (which have a higher amount of fats and salt).
Monitor how much your Basenji eats at once. While a few small bites will be fine for most Basenjis, some can have allergy-like reactions or gastrointestinal upset if they eat too much too quickly.
Chicken
Yes, Basenjis can eat chicken. Chicken is a great source of protein and omega-6 fatty acids, which are beneficial for your Basenji’s coat and skin health. It’s also a good source of vitamins and minerals, including zinc, iron and selenium.
Boneless cooked breast meat is the best option to feed your Basenji because it has less fat than other parts of the chicken. Avoid chicken skin as it contains a high amount of fat that can cause diarrhea in Basenjis if they consume too much of it.
The amount depends on the size of your Basenji, but give 1/8 to 1/6 cup of meat protein per 10 pounds of body weight per day if you’re feeding your Basenji a raw meat diet.
Chocolate
If you’ve ever wondered if your Basenji can eat chocolate, the answer is no. Chocolate contains both theobromine and caffeine that are toxic to pups. The darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is—which is why it’s important to educate yourself about what kind of chocolate is best for Basenjis.
Cocoa powder (most toxic), Unsweetened baker’s chocolate, Semisweet chocolate, Dark chocolate, Milk chocolate- all are toxic. If your Basenji ate chocolate, contact your vet immediately.
Eggs
Yes, Basenjis can eat eggs. Eggs are a great source of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. They’re also relatively easy to digest.
However, there are some things you should consider before feeding your Basenji eggs:
-Avoid raw eggs: they can contain bacteria that can cause food poisoning or other illnesses in your Basenji
-Make sure the egg is cooked well: uncooked eggs may still contain salmonella or other harmful bacteria that could make your Basenji sick. Make sure any yolks are cooked through and don’t have any raw whites showing through them.
-Make sure that you grind up the eggshells before feeding them to your Basenji so they don’t get stuck in their throat or esophagus. Also make sure that there aren’t any sharp edges left over from cracking open the shell before grinding it up.
Fish
Yes, Basenjis can eat fish. But it’s important to only feed your Basenji small, young, wild-caught fish that have short lifespans. These fish species are safe for your Basenji because they contain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that are good for their health.
However, all fish are not safe for your Basenji. Avoid longer-lived species like tuna and swordfish because they can contain heavy metals like mercury. It is also important to clean these animals properly before feeding them to your Basenji; debone the meat and cook it with no harmful additives. Feeding your Basenji one or two times per week in small controlled amounts is safe for them.
Icecream
Can Basenjis eat ice cream?
The short answer is no. Ice cream is unsafe for your Basenji to eat because it contains high amounts of dairy products and sugar.
Basenjis can become extremely ill from eating ice cream, especially if they consume a significant amount. Symptoms of ice cream toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and low blood sugar levels. If you suspect your Basenji accidentally ate ice cream, seek veterinary help immediately.
Peanut butter
Can Basenjis eat peanut butter? Yes, but only in moderation.
Basenjis can eat peanut butter and enjoy the many benefits it provides. Peanut butter is a great source of protein and healthy fat, which is essential for a Basenji’s diet. It also provides vitamins such as thiamine, niacin, and folate. However, you must be careful with the type of peanut butter you feed your Basenji. If there is chocolate or xylitol in the product, it can be toxic to Basenjis and potentially fatal if ingested in large quantities.
The amount of peanut butter you feed your pet depends on their size. For small Basenjis (under 10 pounds), start with a half teaspoon daily. Larger Basenjis should be fed around 1 tablespoon per day, spread out over two meals.
Popcorn
Can Basenjis eat popcorn?
Yes! Plain, air-popped popcorn is safe for Basenjis to eat in small quantities as an occasional treat. Popped corn kernels actually contain several minerals important to Basenjis, like magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc, along with fiber and trace amounts of vitamins.
However, don’t give your Basenji popped popcorn that’s been doused in butter or other toppings—those are not safe for your Basenji. Also, un-popped or partially popped kernels can be a choking hazard and may even cause damage to your Basenji’s teeth.
Turkey
Can Basenjis Eat Turkey?
Yes, Basenjis can eat turkey. As long as you provide cooked lean, white, unseasoned and boneless turkey meat to your Basenji, it is safe to feed him turkey. The best option is turkey breast meat because it contains more protein than dark meat and provides fatty acids and minerals that are necessary for your Basenji’s diet.
You should avoid feeding your Basenji turkey skin as it can cause gastrointestinal upset and pancreatitis in Basenjis. Also avoid processed turkey, as it may contain harmful additives or preservatives. Feeding your Basenji 20 grams of white meat turkey (or 15 grams of dark meat turkey) per 12 pounds body weight is recommended for good health in Basenjis.
Yogurt
Can Basenjis eat yogurt?
Yes, Basenjis can eat yogurt. Plain yogurt is a perfectly acceptable snack for Basenjis as well as humans. However, some Basenjis may have trouble digesting dairy products, so if you notice any digestive issues after your pet eats yogurt, discontinue its use immediately.
If your Basenji can digest it, the good bacteria in yogurt can help strengthen the digestive system and aid in digestion. Plain yogurt is the best choice for your Basenji because it has no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Avoid any yogurts with added sugar or artificial sweeteners as it can cause bloating and diarrhea in some Basenjis.
One teaspoon of yogurt a day is fine for most Basenjis but check with your vet before giving more than that amount per day.