Blog Posts

Asparagus is one of the world’s healthiest foods and a favorite low calorie, nutrient dense snack of many. Delicious raw or cooked, asparagus is commonly found in kitchens as a multipurpose ingredient used in salads, juices, main courses in more. Due to its incredibly health benefits, I often wonder if asparagus is safe to share with my dog, as well. I decided to conduct some extensive research on the super-food, and discover once and for all if dogs can eat asparagus.

Verdict: Asparagus, in moderation, is a welcome addition to any dog’s diet!

Asparagus can safely be given to your dog as a treat or simply as a nutritious snack. The veggie can be served raw or lightly cooked, and can provide an array of health benefits to your dog.

Benefits

Vitamins and minerals

As one of the words healthiest foods, asparagus is absolutely loaded with vitamins and minerals. It is an excellent source of vitamin K, folate, copper, vitamin B1, selenium, vitamin B2, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Asparagus is also a good source of manganese, phosphorus, vitamin B3, potassium, choline, vitamin A, zinc, iron, protein, vitamin B6, and pantothenic acid.

Asparagus’ complete vitamin and mineral profile will help ensure that your dog stays and looks healthy, promoting proper immune and organ function as well as healthy skin, teeth, eyes and coat.

Selenium, often supplemented in high quality dog foods, is hailed for its ability to prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and thyroid disease.

Antioxidants

Many of the vitamins in asparagus boast antioxidant properties and assist with immune health and warding off chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer.

One antioxidant in particular, glutathione, is exceptionally adept in combating free radicals that damage healthy cells and lead to inflammation, arthritis, and cancer.

Digestive health

Asparagus, high in dietary fiber, is an excellent way to maintain digestive health in your dog. For dogs dealing with constipation, asparagus can help induce regular bowel movements.

Fiber also adds to the bulk of the food, causing fullness quicker. This means asparagus can also be used to assist a dog struggling with weight gain or one recently placed on a diet. The end of the asparagus spear is the most fibrous part of the vegetable.

Asparagus is also an excellent source of inulin, another ingredient that is often supplemented in high quality dog foods. Inulin is a unique carbohydrate that, once it arrives in the large intestine, becomes a digestive aid known as a prebiotic.

Prebiotics are excellent food sources for healthy bacteria that coat the digestive tract. These bacteria are essential to nutrient absorption and the reduction of allergies, and also lower the risk of colon cancer.

Things to consider

Asparagus ferns are toxic to dogs

If you are the proud owner of an asparagus plant, be sure that your dog does not snack on the leaves. Asparagus ferns, the inedible portion of the asparagus plant, are toxic to dogs and cause moderate to severe intestinal discomfort, vomiting, and diarrhea.

While most likely not lethal, asparagus ferns can cause some serious pain for you dog, and you should contact your family veterinarian immediately if ingested.

Asparagus is very tough

Asparagus stalks are extremely tough, even tough enough to be used as a chew toy if you are certain your dog will not attempt to swallow the stalk whole. Due to its difficulty to chew, some dogs may attempt to swallow even small pieces whole as opposed to chewing them up first.

While asparagus can certainly be enjoyed raw, many veterinarians recommend cooking asparagus lightly before serving to your dog in order to increase digestibility and to decrease choking hazards. Keep in mind that cooking vegetables will decrease their nutrient value, so it is best to keep cooking times to a minimum.

Smelly by-products

If you, like me, are a fan of asparagus, then you are likely well acquainted with the unique odor the veggie can impose on your urine. Well, dogs are susceptible to asparagus’ aromatic powers as well.

More than a tiny amount of asparagus can cause your pup to have some extremely odorous urine, and possibly even green stools. There is no definitive answer to why this happens, but we know that it is not a cause of concern.

Although, if your dog is not housetrained, you may want to hold off on the asparagus until it is. You don’t want a horror story of asparagus scented urine plaguing your house for days on end.

You may also like:

Stuffed or sliced, raw or cooked, red peppers are delicious! Red peppers are ingredients in a variety of cuisines, and their health benefits are immense. They are packed with vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotenoids, which are powerful antioxidants that protect against chronic disease in humans.

You may be enjoying a slice of pizza topped with red pepper right now. Should you give your dog a bite? Well that depends on what you mean by red pepper. If you consider a red pepper to be a red bell pepper or sweet pepper, then you can definitely share your red pepper with your dog. But if you think of red pepper as cayenne pepper, then tell your dog no! Cayenne pepper can burn the skin, mouth, esophagus, and stomach of your dog.

What Are Red Peppers?

Red pepper is defined as the ripe red fruit of a sweet pepper. Okay, then what’s a sweet pepper? That’s easy; a sweet pepper is a bell pepper. Bell peppers are vegetables that have a tangy, mild taste. Unlike many peppers, they are not considered to be spicy or hot in flavor.

The problem is that some people use the term red pepper to refer to cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper is defined as a pungent, hot-tasting red powder prepared from ground red chili peppers. Cayenne pepper has the hottest taste among other common pepper powders. It is significantly hotter in taste than both paprika and chili powder.

Can Dogs Eat Red Bell Peppers?

Feeding your dog some red bell pepper from time to time is a great idea because red bell pepper is rich in many nutrients that your dog needs for optimal health. As with any vegetable that you feed your dog, moderation is the key to success. While bell peppers are perfectly safe for your dog, too much red bell pepper could lead to an upset stomach or diarrhea. There is no inherent problem with dogs and bell peppers, but a dog’s digestive tract is geared for meat consumption, so you want to balance the amount of vegetables in your dog’s diet.

The health benefits of red bell peppers for your dog are numerous, and red bell peppers are more nutritious than green and yellow bell peppers. One of the best nutrients in red bell peppers is beta carotene. Your dog’s body converts beta carotene into vitamin A, which is great for your dog’s eyesight. Specifically, vitamin A is good for your dog’s retinas and his night vision.

Because beta carotene is used to make vitamin A, it is also important for the good health of your dog’s skin, coat, bones, and reproductive system. In addition, beta carotene is a powerful antioxidant, which means that it helps stop or prevent the cell damage that can cause immune disorders and many other devastating dog illnesses.

The health benefits of red bell peppers are not limited to beta carotene as bell peppers are also rich in vitamins. Red bell peppers are a great source of vitamin C for your dog, and vitamin C helps your dog’s body cope with physical stresses. Examples of physical stresses for dogs include vaccinations, injuries, illnesses, pregnancy, and nursing. Another nutrient in red bell peppers is vitamin E, which is good for your dog’s immune system, skin, joints, and muscles.

Can Dogs Eat Cayenne Pepper?

According to veterinarians, cayenne pepper is not toxic to dogs, but it is definitely harmful. When cayenne pepper comes into contact with a dog’s skin, it causes a burning sensation. Cayenne pepper can even burn the paws of a dog that walks on it!

The effects of ingesting cayenne pepper are even worse for dogs as it causes stomach upset, pain, and diarrhea. In addition, if a dog eats cayenne pepper, he can suffer internal burns to his mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines.

If your dog comes into contact with cayenne pepper by touching it or eating it, you may want to contact your vet. While your dog will not be at risk for any permanent damage, he will experience pain, and your vet can offer you the best advice for helping your dog feel better quickly.

The Verdict on Red Peppers

Red bell peppers are a great source of vitamins and antioxidants for your dogs. They are a safe and healthy option when fed to your dog as an occasional treat. On the other hand, cayenne pepper is never appropriate to feed your dog. You should make sure he never eats it and that his skin never comes into contact with it. The most important thing to remember when feeding your dog red peppers is that it has to be bell pepper, not cayenne.

 

You may also like:

Is there anything more refreshing than a lime? Limes and lime juice are a common ingredient in many delicious drinks. They have a vibrant, sour taste, and they are packed full of vitamins. Limes are probably best known as an abundant source of vitamin C, which is one of the most powerful and important antioxidants found in nature.

Does that mean you should add lime juice to your dog’s diet for an extra boost of vitamins? The answer is absolutely not! Limes are toxic to dogs, and you should never feed a lime or lime juice to your dogs. As a matter of fact, contact with the peel of a lime fruit and the leaves of a lime tree are dangerous to dogs too. For the safety of your dog, you should never allow him to come into contact with any part of a lime tree.

Why Limes Are Dangerous for Dogs

The leaves and fruits of lime trees contain aromatic oils and psoralen compounds, which are toxic to dogs. Psoralen compounds occur naturally in many common foods including figs, celery, carrots, cumin, and mustard. Safe for humans, psoralen is an ingredient in some skin treatment medications for humans.

But what about psoralen compounds and dogs? When a dog consumes any part of a lime, the psoralen compounds can cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and sensitivity to light. Additional symptoms include trembling, drooling, and loss of muscle coordination.

The severity of a dog’s symptoms depends on the amount of lime exposure, and whether the dog ate lime or absorbed psoralen compounds through his skin. Excessive and prolonged lime exposure or ingestion can lead to liver failure and even death in dogs.

Treating Lime Exposure in Dogs

If your dog consumes a small amount of lime or a small volume of lime juice, his symptoms will probably be mild. You should withhold food for 24 hours and only allow your dog to drink water. The water will help flush the fruit out of his system. But if your dog consumes an excessive amount of lime and begins to vomit or suffer from diarrhea, you should seek veterinary treatment immediately.

Skin exposure to lime leaves and lime peels requires treatment too as your dog can absorb the toxins in limes through his skin. Your dog may develop a skin rash, which will most likely affect his groin area. To treat skin exposure, you should wash your dog thoroughly with liquid dish soap and water. Repeat the bathing process until all traces of the citrus oils are gone and your dog no longer smells of citrus. You should dry your dog and keep him warm, as well as monitor him in case any additional symptoms arise.

Limes and Dogs Are Never Funny!

There’s been an alarming trend on the internet during the last few years. Videos of people feeding their dogs sour citrus fruits have been gaining popularity online. Unfortunately, many people find humor in dogs’ reactions to the taste of citrus fruits, and they do not realize the potential danger of their actions.

Most dogs hate the smell of citrus, but your pet trusts you, and he expects you to offer him treats. If you attempt to feed your dog a lime, he will probably give it a try. As funny as it may seem to watch your dog’s face pucker from the sour taste of a lime, you should never make the mistake of feeding him a lime or any other citrus fruit.

The Verdict on Limes

While there is a long list of foods that are unsafe for your dogs, most of them are not harmful to your dog if they touch his skin. However, every part of a lime is toxic to your dog. Not only should you avoid feeding him a lime, you should make sure he never comes into contact with a lime tree period. And don’t forget that dogs love to raid garbage cans; make sure you safely dispose of your leftover limes and lime peels.

If you want to offer your dog a fruity, nutrient-rich snack, there are plenty of safe alternatives to limes! Seed-free applesauce is a healthy treat for dogs and a good source of vitamin C. Bananas are another safe fruit when fed in moderation. The bottom line is this. For the health and safety of your dog, you should always avoid limes and all other citrus fruits.

 

You may also like:

Hummus is a delicious dip that’s gained popularity beyond its Middle Eastern origins and is now a favorite in North American and Europe. People love hummus for its rich flavor and its designation as a superfood. The ingredients in hummus are rich in fiber, protein, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. For people, hummus can help lower cholesterol levels, aid in weight loss, and be part of a heart-healthy diet. Check out more healthy diets for dogs here: https://www.mybonesandbiscuits.com

Dogs love to eat their owners’ favorite snacks, and considering all the nutrients in hummus, dog owners may be tempted to share. But is it safe for dogs to eat hummus? The answer is no, not even in small amounts. Unfortunately, the ingredients list of hummus contains foods that are toxic to dogs.

Why Hummus is Dangerous for Dogs

Hummus is usually made from chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and garlic. Dog owners should avoid feeding their dogs any salty foods, but the big problem with hummus is garlic and lemon juice.

Of all the ingredients in hummus, garlic is the most dangerous for dogs as it is mildly or moderately poisonous to them. While garlic is a favorite spice of many people, it can cause serious health problems in dogs, and in large amounts, can even kill them. Raw, cooked, dried, or powdered, garlic is unsafe for dogs regardless of its preparation.

Garlic causes damage to the red blood cells of dogs, and once damaged, the cells cannot carry oxygen. A dog that eats garlic is at risk for anemia, which means a low red blood cell count. Severe cases of anemia in dogs can lead to internal organ damage, organ failure, and even death.

The symptoms of garlic poisoning in dogs include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, elevated heart rate, weakness, and collapse. Other symptoms are pale gums, red or brown urine, lack of muscle coordination, and excessive salivation. Sometimes the onset of the symptoms of garlic poisoning in dogs is delayed, and dog owners may not notice any health problems for several days.

Lemon juice is the other ingredient in hummus that can be problematic for dogs because citric fruit juices are too acidic for dogs. Moreover, lemon juice contains citric acid, which can cause abdominal pain and discomfort in dogs. Vets point out that dogs do not eat lemon juice in the wild, and that lemon juice is not a natural component of a dog’s diet.

Chickpeas: A Safe Alternative to Hummus

Chickpeas are the main ingredient in hummus, and they are safe for dogs to eat. In fact, dogs can benefit from the nutritional qualities of chickpeas!

Otherwise known as garbanzo beans, chickpeas are a convenient and inexpensive source of protein. That’s what makes them a great snack for dogs and puppies! In addition, the high fiber content of the beans makes them beneficial to a dog’s digestive system, and they are also effective for combating constipation in dogs.

Other valuable nutrients in chickpeas are potassium, lecithin, and vitamins A, B, and C. Lecithin is known to stimulate a dog’s memory and learning abilities, so chickpeas are a great choice for dogs that are in training. Vitamins are always essential for dogs as they are necessary for proper metabolism. And potassium is needed for the healthy function of a dog’s kidneys, heart, digestive system, and muscles.

Cooked chickpeas can be mashed and fed to dogs like a dip on carrot sticks, or cooked chickpeas can be added to a dog’s food for a healthy protein boost. Also, homemade hummus recipes can be altered to exclude salt, garlic, and lemon juice for a dog-safe version of hummus.

Help! My Dog Ate Hummus!

What should you do if your dog eats hummus? The first step is to figure out how much your dog ate. If it’s a small amount of hummus, then that means he ingested a small amount of garlic. Your dog should be fine.

But what if your dog eats a large amount of hummus? In this case, you have definite cause for concern. You should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Remember that garlic poisoning in dogs may not be apparent for several days, so it is not safe to assume your dog will be fine just because he doesn’t display any immediate symptoms.

The Verdict on Hummus

Hummus is a popular snack food for people because it tastes great and has many health benefits. However, it is never safe to share your hummus dip with your dog. The garlic in hummus and many other human foods is toxic to your dog, so you should refrain from sharing any garlicky snacks with your dog.