Can Dogs Eat Parsnips?

What would a holiday roast be without honey-glazed roasted parsnips? This aromatic veggie is definitely my fall favorite. But my dog doesn’t like it very much, which is fine, but if your dog does, you’d be happy to know that dogs can eat parsnips!

Parsnips are safe for dogs, and they can eat them just like they eat carrots or beets! Although not typically eaten raw, parsnips are a healthy, low-calorie veggie with lots of minerals.

So if you want to cook some for your dog, you’ll be glad to learn that parsnips are healthy, nutritious, and easy on their stomach.

Are parsnips good for dogs?

Parsnips are definitely good for dogs. They are full of vitamins and fiber, but like with any other veggie, it’s best to include them in moderation combined with some healthy protein like cooked chicken or turkey.

Parsnips are also low in calories, so if you’re managing that with your dog, you can serve cooked parsnips along with lean meat to replace one whole meal. That way, your dog will stay full for longer, but please consult your vet, as they can prepare a diet plan for you!

The nourishing and nutritive benefits of parsnips for dogs

I love looking at food as fuel for my body and all its functions, which is why I want to emphasize the nourishing aspect of every healthy food.

While parsnips are not a typical dog veggie, like zucchini or cooked pumpkin, you can still share some before you glaze them for your holiday roast.

Parsnips offer several health benefits for dogs:

Can dogs eat raw parsnips?

I’ve never heard of anyone eating raw parsnips, but if your dog happens to eat some, don’t worry.

Even though they taste really strange raw, parsnips are safe to eat fresh!

I wouldn’t suggest that you share raw parsnips with your dog, as cooked parsnips are softer and easier to digest. But if your dog somehow ends up eating raw parsnips, there’s no need to worry—it’s perfectly fine.

Can dogs eat cooked parsnips?

Dogs can eat cooked parsnips, but it’s important to give them plain ones without too much salt, oil, or seasonings. I have already mentioned how amazing honey-glazed parsnips are, but when we share parsnips with dogs, we need to be careful about how we prepare them.

How to safely feed parsnips to your dog

The best way to do this is to make oven-baked veggies and set aside some carrots, parsnips, beets, or sweet potatoes. Just don’t add any garlic powder, olive oil, butter, or spices that you usually use.

Cut everything into small pieces, and then enjoy! I make seasonal oven-baked veggies once or twice per week, and this is how my dog tried most of the new vegetables.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to feed your dog vegetables all the time!

Dogs don’t actually need much fiber in their diet, so it’s important not to overdo it. While fiber can have some benefits—like helping with digestion, absorbing toxins, and even helping diabetic dogs—it can also cause problems. Too much fiber can bind to important nutrients, so your dog won’t absorb them very well. That can lead to nutrient deficiencies! Not to mention, too much fiber will mess up their digestive system.

Another thing I want to stress is that some vegetables are simply not meant for dogs. I mentioned this when I wrote about whether dogs can eat jicama. Even though something is not toxic to dogs (though jicama peels are!) and contains healthy nutrients that are good for you, you don’t need to share everything with your dog.

Honestly, you can skip parsnips if you want to, but I know they’re popular over the holidays, so it’s good to know that they are safe for our dogs.

Love, life, and fur forever!

FAQs

Are parsnips okay raw?

Parsnips are okay raw—they’re not toxic, and there’s nothing harmful in them, but they taste odd, and it’s simply better to cook them. However, some recipes include shredded parsnips in salads, which I imagine taste zesty and fresh, so it’s not impossible to eat raw parsnips. When it comes to sharing with your dog, if they eat some raw parsnips, it’s perfectly fine, but it’s not typically how we eat them.

How to cook parsnips for dogs?

Dogs can eat steamed, boiled, roasted, or oven-baked parsnips. It’s best not to add any salt, seasonings, or oils to their portion of parsnips, as they should only eat them plain. Keep that in mind this holiday season.