Asparagus, both green and white, are vegetables from the Mediterranean coast that are very common in people's diets, and are included in many preparations and recipes due to their flavor and nutritional benefits. But do you know if dogs can eat asparagus? If you want to know the answer, don't miss the following article on our site, in which we will explain everything you need to know about asparagus in the diet of dogs.
Is asparagus good for dogs?
First of all, we must remember that there are two types of asparagus: white and green. The main difference between both varieties lies in the way of growing them:
- White asparagus: they are grown underground, which keeps them white until harvest time.
- In contrast, green asparagus: they are left to grow naturally in the open air, allowing the process to take place of photosynthesis and the vegetable acquires a green hue.
Regardless of whether they are green or white, you should know that asparagus is a vegetable suitable for dogs, since it provides numerous nutritional benefits and do not contain any substance that is toxic to your body. In fact, there are several commercial feeds that include asparagus in their list of ingredients.
However, it should be borne in mind that not all preparations are suitable for our pets Therefore, we recommend that you continue reading the following sections to find out how dogs can take advantage of the benefits of this vegetable, without producing any unwanted effects on their he alth.
Benefits of asparagus for dogs
As we have already pointed out, asparagus are vegetables that provide numerous nutritional benefits. Among them, the following stand out:
- It is a very low-energy food: its high water and fiber content makes asparagus a very low-calorie vegetable, which barely provides 18 kcal per 100 grams of product. Therefore, they can be an advisable option for the diet of overweight dogs or dogs with a tendency to obesity. We leave you other Recipes for overweight dogs.
- They provide a moderate amount of fiber: Although the digestive system of dogs cannot digest fiber, it is a essential nutrient in your diet. In other things, fiber adds volume to the ration, creates a feeling of satiety, contributes to the maintenance of the intestinal microbiota, regulates intestinal transit and stool consistency. We leave you this other article about Fiber for dogs: its importance, food and supplements so that you have more information.
- Contains inulin and oligofructose: both compounds can modify the bacterial flora of the colon and promote the growth of beneficial bifidobacteria, thus preventing the development of other potentially harmful species.
- They provide significant amounts of vitamins C and E: in general, green asparagus is richer in vitamins than white, since the The treatment to which the latter are subjected to make preserves entails a loss of part of the vitamins. To learn more about Vitamin C for dogs, dosage and what it is for, you just have to read this post that we recommend from our site.
- They contain beta carotene (precursors of vitamin A) and lutein: both compounds have antioxidant activity and boost the immune system.
- They provide minerals: these include iron, although they also contain small amounts of phosphorus and potassium.
- They have a diuretic effect: they stimulate urine production in the kidney because they contain an amino acid with a diuretic effect, asparagine. For this reason, they are especially beneficial in the diet of dogs with pathologies that produce edema, since they help reduce fluid retention.
Dose of asparagus for dogs
Once we know that asparagus is safe food for dogs, we must point out how much it should be included in their diet.
Vegetables should be part of the dog's ration, although in a moderate way, since the main protagonist of the diet should always be protein. Therefore, when you decide to include asparagus in your dog's homemade ration, you must do it in such a way that does not represent an excessive amount
Depending on the size and thickness of the asparagus, you can include 1-2 stalks in the daily ration for small dogs, or 3-4 for large dogsHowever, it is important that whenever you include a new food in your dog's diet you do so gradually and carefully observe the appearance of any negative effects on his he alth.
How to feed a dog asparagus?
When you decide to include asparagus in your dog's diet, whether green or white, it is important that you offer the vegetable naturally, since preserves usually have high s alt content and other additives that can be harmful to your pet.
However, it should be clarified that offering them “natural” does not mean that they should not be cooked, since raw asparagus can be difficult for dogs to digest. Therefore, once peeled, they should be boiled or steamed until soft.
Once cooked, they should be cut into small pieces and mixed with the rest of the animal's homemade ration, in the quantities that we have indicated in the previous section. Although dogs should always have clean and fresh water at their free disposal, it is especially important that they have it when consuming asparagus, due to its diuretic effect.
Finally, it's important to note that asparagus can cause cloudier, stronger-smelling urine and greenish-colored stoolsHowever, it is completely normal and should not be a cause for concern as long as the dogs have consumed these vegetables in moderation.
Contraindications of asparagus for dogs
Although asparagus is a food suitable for dogs, there are some situations in which it can be counterproductive to include it in your diet:
- Kidney disorders: such as nephritis.
- Food allergy: in these patients, who must follow strict diets, it is important not to provide any food other than their usual food based on of hydrolyzed proteins.
- Dogs with a digestive system especially sensitive to changes in diet.
- Alimentary intolerance.
