If given the chance I’ll attempt to eat anything that I can get my paws on….even vegetables!
There have been many times where my humans have caught me eating foods that I’m not supposed to. While some things tasted great… others didn’t and they left me feeling rather poorly afterward.
As a dog owner yourself, you are likely intrigued by what we can and can’t eat. This is where I come in.
I’ve gained lots of experience when it comes to human foods that are and aren’t suitable for our consumption so I guess you could call me a pawfessional.
Asparagus is a popular veggie that is commonly enjoyed by humans. Not only is it super tasty but it is nutritious too.
After using it in your own meals, you may be wondering whether the leftovers can be fed to us. To answer your question, yes we can eat asparagus permitting that it is prepared and fed to us correctly.
Although asparagus isn’t toxic to us, it should be fed to us in moderation. Asparagus can deliver the same benefits to us as it does to you humans.
First of all, it is full of fiber and this encourages regular bowel movement and can also renew the cells of our intestines.
The soluble fiber also supports our immune systems. Asparagus also provides us with lots of essential vitamins such as vitamin A, C, K, E, and B6.
These vitamins also help our immune systems and keep our coats looking lovely and healthy. Eating asparagus can also give us strong teeth and bones.
Feeding Dogs Asparagus
Raw vegetables can be very difficult for us to chew. To make it easier for us to consume, you should chop the asparagus up until smaller pieces beforehand.
However, this can still present a choking hazard so although it is better than giving it to us in full form, it isn’t recommended.
Instead, it should be cooked. Ensure that any rough sections have been cut off along with the end of the stalk. It should be boiled or steamed and shouldn’t be dressed with butter or oils as both are fatty and can lead to possible pancreas inflammation or weight gain.
The asparagus should be cooked until it is soft as this will make it much easier for us to chew.
We shouldn’t be fed asparagus directly off your plates, especially if it has been seasoned using garlic, onion, butter, or oil as they can all be dangerous to us.
If you do intend to feed us asparagus, it must be completely plain. As we get our nutrients from our dog food, anything like asparagus which we would not typically eat, shouldn’t be given to us too regularly, but instead as an occasional treat.
It’s also worth noting that asparagus loses some of its nutritional value when it has been cooked so you may prefer to opt for some other veggies that we can digest raw as this won’t be an issue.
While we enjoy eating asparagus as an occasional meal topping, I also enjoy it when my human hides it in my favorite toy as this keeps me stimulated as I attempt to retrieve it.
Will asparagus hurt my dog?
As we have mentioned, asparagus is quite a tough vegetable so it can be difficult for us to eat raw, just like it would be for you humans.
If we attempt to eat a whole asparagus raw there is an increased risk of us choking. There’s also a section of the plant called the asparagus fern, this is inedible and toxic to us. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain if we happen to eat it.
Although I don’t believe you can ever have too much food, my humans disagree. In fact, eating too much asparagus can lead to digestive problems and it can also make me quite gassy.
Although the fiber of asparagus provides many benefits, our system can become overwhelmed if we have too much and this can lead to similar issues with gas and an upset stomach.
Asparagus can also make our urine quite odor some, and while this isn’t a health-related issue and isn’t hugely problematic for those of us who are toilet trained, it is worth noting.
What vegetables can dogs eat?
Many different vegetables are suitable for our consumption and each has its own nutritional benefits.
These include Kale, spinach, carrots, green beans, broccoli, beets, celery, cucumber, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash.
As carnivorous animals, we live on a meat-based diet although some of these veggies provide a tasty treat from time to time and they all have some great health benefits for us.
What vegetables are bad for dogs?
While there are vegetables that are good for us, there are also several that you should avoid feeding us and this is due to their toxicity.
As we have already mentioned, garlic and onions can be dangerous to us and so can mushrooms, avocado, and rhubarb.
If you have any of these left on your plate after finishing your meal, you mustn’t feed them to us, although our puppy-eyed stared can make this difficult.
Because they are toxic to us, they can leave us feeling ill and in some severe cases, they can even be fatal.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it, while we can eat asparagus, you must be cautious in how you feed it to us.
If it was left to me, I’d eat everything at it is without hesitation but as asparagus is a tough raw vegetable, it presents me with many difficulties when attempting to consume it in its natural form.
It’s super important to remember to prepare it correctly before contemplating feeding it to us. It should be cooked and chopped into small chunks as this will make it much easier for me to eat.
Also, asparagus should only be included in my diet as a treat. Feeding me too much of it will make me feel rather unwell.
