Can dogs eat Spinach? Naturally, dogs are carnivores. 70 to 80 percent of a dog’s diet should be meat-based. As a pet parent, these questions can cross your mind: Is spinach good for dogs? Does this vegetable even make sense as a portion of food that dogs can consume! “Yes, dogs can eat spinach.” Spinach is loaded with beneficial nutrients which are vitamins A, C, E, and K along with calcium, fiber, iron, manganese, and potassium. Consumption of spinach helps in boosting the immunity, prevents cancer, and benefits the heart.
Nutrients in spinach:
Contents
According to USDA, 100 grams of raw spinach contains the following:
- 23 calories
- 2 grams of dietary fiber
- 63 grams of carbohydrates
- 86 grams of protein
- 39 grams of fats
- 9380IU vitamin A
- 1 mg Vitamin C
- 03 mg Vitamin E
- 79 mg Magnesium
- 558 mg Potassium
Benefits of spinach for dogs:
- Vitamins
Vitamins are really good for the health of dogs and they’re well being. Spinach contains vitamin A which improves eyesight, skin coat, and hair. It also helps in preventing growth retardation. There is vitamin B complex in Spinach which has B1, B2, B5, and B12, and these help in preventing hair loss, loss of appetite, loss of nerve control, and loss of reflexes. Vitamin C involves in fastening of the healing process. Moreover, vitamin E saves from reproductive diseases and brown bowl syndrome. Lastly, vitamin K helps in proper and timely clotting of blood. Altogether, all of these vitamins save dogs from poor eye growth, weakness, swollen gums, macrocytic anemia, skin lesions, etc.
- Dietary fiber
Dietary fiber in spinach helps dogs relieving from constipation. It aids in bowel movement. It is indigestible, hence, should be given in a limited quantity.
- Strengthens bones
One of the most important benefits of spinach for dogs is spinach’s nutritional values for bones. It improves and strengthens the health of bones. It is very beneficial for growing puppies as well as old age dogs.
- Iron
Iron is one of the most important components of the spinach. Iron improves blood circulation in the body of the dogs. Moreover, it is helpful for the relief from diseases like anemia.
- Proteins
The protein present in the spinach is helpful for the thriving health of the dogs. Protein is necessary for cellular functions.
Can dogs eat spinach and kale?
Spinach is believed to have numerous health benefits when provided in small amounts. You can give steam spinach to your dogs to restore its nutritional value. On the contrary, kale is said to be harmful for dogs. The later contains different harmful compounds such as isothiocyanates and calcium-oxalate. Calcium oxalate causes stones in the kidney and bladder.
Isothiocyanates can cause mild to severe gastric irritation. Kale could be given to the dogs in very small quantities and should is prohibited as a regular treat.
Can dogs eat spinach cooked?
It is good to bestow your dog with cooked spinach. This is because, raw spinach carries a lot of germs, dust, or maybe traces of pesticides. When cooked, spinach becomes hygienically good for the dog as well to maintain its health. It is recommended to just steam the spinach without adding any spices like onions, garlic, salt, pepper, or any other herbs in it. Since the later can be venomous for your pet.
Can dogs eat spinach leaves?
Pros:
Spinach is rich in vitamins A, B, C, and K. It also contains antioxidants, beta carotene which revitalize the digestive tract. It contains a lot of iron and is cancer-fighter. It should be used sparingly as too much ingestion can cause health issues.
Cons:
Spinach has a high concentration of oxalic acid which can block the ability of the dog’s body to absorb calcium eventually leading to kidney impairment. Small amounts can be given. However, long term consumption can cause severe health issues.
The best way to serve your dog with spinach is steamed spinach. Do not add any spices or pepper, onions, garlic, or herbs since these can be toxic for the dog. If you boil it, it will lose all its nutrients.
Hazards of feeding spinach to the dogs:
- There are oxalates in spinach. It is found in some other vegetables as well. Oxalates interrupt the calcium absorption in the body. Moreover, it can cause renal problems and bladder issues.
- Although spinach does not harm dogs it can cause complications in dogs that are already facing some kind of illness or disease. Otherwise, quite a lot amount of spinach does not harm dogs.
- Daily and long term consumption of spinach can cause muscle weakness, abnormal heart rhythm, respiratory paralysis, and kidney stress. Healthy dogs can eat a small portion of spinach once or twice a week.
- If spinach is being served to the dog without washing it can cause troubles in the digestive system of dogs because spinach can have pesticides with it. Moreover, adding spices and vegetables like onion, garlic, etc in the spinach can be hazardous for your dog.
- Feed a moderate amount of spinach to the dog because the efficiency and deficiency of most of the things are not suitable. Feeding spinach massively to the dog can lead to tummy problems in dogs like diarrhea, vomiting, and digestion issues.
How to give spinach to the dogs?
- Try to buy organic spinach for your dog because it is free from pesticides.
- Wash the vegetable thoroughly because spinach is widely known for pesticides attached to it.
- Chop the leaves. The digestive system of dogs is not as efficient in digesting vegetables as humans.
- Introduce spinach to your dog slowly and gradually. Giving too much spinach at once can cause several digestion issues.
- You can mix spinach in the food of the dog to add extra nutrients in the meal.
- Spinach can be cooked for the dog but never add onion, garlic, or salt.
- Spinach is not poisonous for dogs yet it should be given in a limited amount.
- Small portions of spinach once or twice a week are enough for the dogs.
Which one is better? Raw spinach or cooked spinach?
It is good to bestow your dog with cooked spinach. This is because, raw spinach carries a lot of germs, dust, or maybe traces of pesticides. When cooked, spinach becomes hygienically good for the dog as well to maintain its health. It is recommended to just steam the spinach without adding any spices like onions, garlic, salt, pepper, or any other herbs in it. Since the later can be venomous for your pet.
It is a common belief that raw spinach should be given to the dogs because most of the nutrients are retained in raw form. But as a matter of fact, eating raw spinach can be problematic for the dogs. Dogs cannot digest raw spinach easily. It is also evident as per the experience of a lot of pet owners. Cooking spinach will definitely affect the quantity of the nutrients of spinach; however, the ease of digestion is more important than the full dose of nutrients.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of rolled oats
- Half cup of water
- A cup of whole wheat flour
- One and a half cup of frozen cup
- One tablespoon of olive oil
- One cup of grated carrots
- 2 spoon nutritional yeast
Preparation:
- Start by cooking the spinach until it is warm.
- Preheat the oven at 350 degrees of Fahrenheit.
- Mix rolled oats, whole wheat flour, and nutritional yeast in a bowl.
- Puree spinach, carrots, and water in a bowl.
- Mix both items: puree of carrot & spinach and wheat & yeast.
- Add olive and stir the mixture with a fork.
- Prepare a non-stick baking sheet.
- Make and place a rounded portion of the mixture.
- Place the rounded portions on the non-stick baking sheet
- After placing all the rounded portions on the non-stick baking sheet, place it in the oven.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
- After baking the biscuits, cool them off.
- Once biscuits are cooled down, serve the biscuits to your dog.
Conclusion:
Spinach is a healthy treat for dogs. However, special care should be taken while feeding it to the dog. It should be clean and thoroughly washed. Don’t feed spinach to the dog in bulk quantity. Spinach should not exceed 10% of the total dog food. Spinach is packed with vitamins, iron, minerals, and fibers. It can help dogs in fighting multiple bone-related diseases. Cook or boil spinach before feeding it to the dog. Raw spinach is not stomach-friendly for dogs. Cook delicious spinach cookies for your dog and reap the reward in the form of better health of your dog.