Can Dogs Eat Asparagus?

Asparagus, while certainly not one of the most popular vegetables out there, is one that’s frequently questioned when it comes to whether dogs can eat it or not.

Asparagus is rich in many essential nutrients, making it a healthy snack for humans; but what about dogs? Can dogs eat asparagus?

Can Dogs eat Asparagus?

Well, it depends…

Like previously stated, asparagus is full of vital nutrients. This includes: Vitamins C, E, and K, Copper, Folate, and various antioxidants.

Plain asparagus is non-toxic and is perfectly fine for your dog in moderation; this means no seasonings such as butter and garlic. These seasonings are toxic to dogs. Tiny amounts of buttered asparagus will be fine but when we say “minimal” we mean minimal. Only a very slight amount to help with digestion. Too much butter could lead to stomach aches for your dog. And although your dog may not show any immediate discomfort, overtime, it could lead to pancreatitis, which is very painful. If you’re not entirely sure whether or not you’ve put too much butter on your asparagus, it’s better if you just don’t serve it; better safe than sorry.

The asparagus fern, the flowery tips at the top of the plant, is also extremely toxic and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea if ingested.

How to Serve Asparagus to your Dogy

Humans find raw asparagus hard to eat, which is why we cook it; the same goes for dogs. Even though they have much stronger teeth and more power in their jaws than us humans, they too find asparagus too fibrous to munch down on when raw. The asparagus must be cooked if you want your dog to eat it safely.

The asparagus must also be sliced into small chunks, no bigger than an inch long. If the stalks were any longer, there’s a possibility that your dog could choke on the stalk, especially if your dog is a small breed or a breed that is known to have breathing difficulties associated with it, such as a French Bulldog or a Pug.

Be aware that cooking a food makes its nutrient content decrease. If your dog reacts negatively to the asparagus, you may want to substitute the asparagus for some other fruit or veg such as a cucumber or celery. These other veggies have similar levels of nutrition but don’t come with as many of the same risks as asparagus.

Well now you know the facts, you can go and treat your dog to a nutritious, crunchy veggie, that your dog is sure to love…

Originally published at https://patterdaleterriers.co.uk on July 30, 2020.