Beetroot

Cats do not need vegetables, so a little cooked beetroot is at most a novel treat with a bit of fibre.

One small cube per serving without reducing main-diet intake.

Peel, steam or boil until soft, then dice very small with no seasoning.

Beets can tint urine and stools red, which is usually normal; contact a vet immediately if the cat is also dull, vomiting or off its food. Cats have almost no need for a sugary vegetable like beetroot.

Cooked beetroot provides fibre and a little potassium, so diced pieces work as an occasional vegetable treat.

1-2 small cubes per serving (one for a small dog), within roughly 10% of daily energy intake.

Peel, steam or boil until soft, then dice; add no sugar, oil, vinegar or dressing, and never feed pickled beetroot.

Beet pigments can turn urine and stools red, which is usually normal and settles a day or two after you stop feeding it; contact a vet immediately if it comes with lethargy, vomiting or diarrhoea. Beetroot holds more sugar than most vegetables, so keep portions small for overweight or diabetic dogs.