Can Dogs Eat Asparagus?
Dogs can eat asparagus, but it’s not a typical dog-friendly vegetable, or as we call it, the first-choice vegetable for dogs. Asparagus is a bit hard to chew and digest, which is why it’s not something we give to dogs too often. However, asparagus is safe for dogs, and if your dog likes it, you can share it with them. Just make sure you watch how much you give them and how often.
Some veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts are similar to asparagus—healthy for us, but tough to digest. These vegetables will often cause your dog some stomach discomfort, including horrible and smelly gas, which is why I said these are not the first-choice vegetables like cucumber, carrots, or zucchini.
Can dogs eat raw asparagus?
Dogs can eat raw asparagus, as it’s not toxic, but it’s not very easy to handle or digest. First, you have a tough texture that’s difficult to chew and swallow, especially for small dogs that have smaller teeth and can’t handle hard food.
Then there’s the risk of choking, as dogs may struggle to chew the asparagus into small pieces. Never a fun scenario, so please be careful!
And lastly, there’s the difficulty in digesting raw asparagus, as too much fiber will make it challenging.
This is more concerning for smaller dogs, as larger dogs may handle the chewing part a bit better, but even they will have issues with too much fiber.
Asparagus is high in insoluble fiber, which means that fiber doesn’t break down in the stomach during digestion. Insoluble fiber is good for us as it helps us feel full, move things around, and improve gut health, but this is not the case for dogs.
Some issues with dogs eating asparagus
Other than problems with too much fiber, there are some other issues when it comes to dogs eating asparagus. The main problem is the texture, which is quite stringy and tough to chew, so there’s a good chance your dog will eat it whole. That will make it even harder to digest and can cause issues for your dog.
If your dog usually doesn’t chew their food well, then you have to be careful, as some parts of asparagus, like the stems, are extra hard, so there’s a risk of choking.
The best thing you can do is not get your dog used to asparagus or let them steal your food! But if they snatch some, again, don’t worry. After all, asparagus is a healthy vegetable, full of vitamins like A, C, and K, and lots of antioxidants.
Can dogs eat steamed or cooked asparagus?
Steamed or cooked asparagus is the only kind your dog should eat! Cooked asparagus is better, as cooking softens the hard, stringy fibers and makes them easier to digest. Even though raw asparagus is not toxic or anything like that, it’s hard to chew and digest. Cooked is always better.
Now, you have to be careful how you cook asparagus. I like to bake it in the oven with lots of garlic and olive oil, but I would never give that to my dog, as garlic is really not safe for them.
When you cook asparagus, be careful not to share with your dog anything that’s drenched in butter, spices, onion, garlic, or other heavy ingredients that can upset their stomach.
Love, life, and fur forever!
FAQs
Can dogs eat asparagus ends?
Technically, they can, but asparagus ends are the worst for dogs as they are the hardest to chew and digest. If your dog eats a few, they will most likely be fine, but if they overeat, then they may end up with digestive issues.
Can dogs eat pickled asparagus?
While pickled asparagus is not toxic to dogs, it shouldn’t be on their menu. It’s salty, has lots of vinegar, and can irritate their stomach. Pickled foods are generally not recommended for dogs, so please don’t give them any.