Are green beans and plain vegetables all right as treats?

What you might notice at home

Frozen beans, a slice of cucumber, a bit of pumpkin. People use them at test time and between meals. Some owners say the glucose didn't jump, but every dog is different.

Most vets worry more about starchy treats than a green bean. How much still counts, though. Once the 'free' veg is half his bowl, it isn't a treat any more.

What to write down for the vet

• Which vegetable, cooked or raw.
• How often, and instead of what.
• Weight trend.
• Any gas, stool change, or refusal of the main meal.

What to take with you

Tell your vet about the vegetables the same way you'd tell them about biscuits. They're easy to forget because they seem healthy.

Are carrots, apples, sweet potato and other fruit or veg OK?

Fruit and veg still count as part of the diet, and they aren't free foods for every diabetic dog. Ask your vet which ones suit your dog, how to prepare them and where they fit in the feeding plan. A plain carrot is very different from a seasoned dish or a sweetened chew.

There's no list of snacks you can give as much as you like, and something not tasting sweet doesn't make it safe. If you agree a treat with your vet, keep it the same and write it down with the food. Other illnesses can change what's OK.