While there have been many pawrents who preach the benefits of an all-vegetarian diet for their Spaniels, not all vegetables are entirely safe for them. And one of such is the healthy and nutrient packed Asparagus.
While asparagus isn’t completely toxic for dogs, they do pose a choking hazard when offered raw. Therefore, boiling them appropriately and then offering is a better choice. However, even after that, many Spaniels have a hard time digesting the components, and therefore we don’t recommend feeding asparagus to your beloved companions.
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Is asparagus safe for Spaniels?
As discussed previously, Asparagus is neither completely safe nor toxic for dogs. This means that even if Spaniels can have the vegetable, prolonged or frequent consumption is never a good idea. To make it more simpler to understand, here are a few things that makes this veggies a not-so-good choice for woofers:
Choking Hazard
The vegetable in its raw form is very hard. Hence offering them as chew treats can prove to be a mistake. Small to medium breeds like the Spaniels can easily choke onto the smaller bits, jeopardizing their safety. The bits may get suspended in their throat, stomach, and even block intestines, leading to severe and painful regurgitation episodes.
This may even become a medical issue if the pooch isn’t able to throw out all pieces. So, feeding asparagus is definitely a risky choice.
Digestion issues
Secondly, even if they are able to munch it down without choking, the bits may not be able to get completely digested. Asparagus arrives with a nutrient-packed composition, which includes huge amounts of cellulose, fiber, folate, Vitamins A, C, and K.
And although all of these are highly nutritious for the little canine, the canine digestive system isn’t exactly made for digesting vast amounts of cellulose. This in turn can cause stomach bloating, gastrointestinal irritation, diarrhea, and so much more.
Toxin Poisoning
Finally, letting your dogs anywhere near the ‘asparagus fern’ will also lead to dangerous situations. Filled with many toxic elements, this part is highly poisonous for both humans and dogs alike, and therefore must be disposed of immediately.
Consumption of the fern will lead to severe canine fever, vomiting with blood clots, stomach pain, diarrhea, and even fatal seizures. The pooch will most likely wither in pain or may have a heart choke before further professional aid is available.
Are there any health benefits of administering asparagus to Spaniels?
When done properly and after a thorough checkup by a qualified veterinarian, administration of asparagus in Spaniels can be quite beneficial. This is because the yummy vegetable is loaded with many essential nutrients that the pup may be missing out from their daily diets.
Here are a few remarkable benefits of feeding asparagus to Spaniels in the right way.
Healthy stool formation
This green edible comes packed with soluble and insoluble dietary fibers which when offered to canines carefully can instigate a healthy bowel movement. This is quite beneficial for a pup that suffers from acute constipation or diarrhea problems.
Upon ingestion the soluble fibers help produce enough essential hormones to keep the stool soft and intact. This in turn prevents the pooch from suffering any discomfort or pain when trying to defecate. Simultaneously, the insoluble fibers add bulk to the stool, easing their removal.
Immunity against Oxidative Stress
Filled with plenty of antioxidants, such as Vitamin A, E, C, flavonoids, polyphenols and glutathione, asparagus reduces aging factors. These components work together to offer protection against free radicals within the canine’s body.
So, if they have been growing too weak and seem lethargic due to stress, illness or other environmental factors lately, this green veggie can come to rescue. But make sure that you aren’t overfeeding the same as it can leave serious repercussions.
Better blood circulation
Another benefit of introducing asparagus to your Spaniel is their ability to regulate proper blood circulation. As it consists of folic acids, reports suggest that a carefully monitored ingestion of the vegetable aids in increased growth of red blood cells. This is indeed beneficial to canines that are suffering from anemia or low iron levels in their blood.
Moreover, the presence of Vitamin K supports overall bone health while ensuring that the blood is rich in clotting agents. These clotting factors are highly necessary to ensure the survival of the pooch if they are injured. Without this the pup may suffer from severe blood loss and also risk a heart attack.
Manage overall health
Last but not the least, the presence of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, B-complex vitamins, and other essential micro-nutrients make the veggie a complete package for most canines. All these nutrients lend a big hand in ensuring that the canine is getting access to a complete balanced diet and hence controlled administration is considerably okay.
When should I not feed asparagus to my Spaniel?
Even though occasional feeding of asparagus is okay, pet parents should steer away from the seemingly harmless green edibles, in case:
The Spaniel has a sensitive stomach
Like we read earlier, the green vegetable is composed of vast amounts of cellulose. Thus, if your spaniel has been diagnosed with a rather weak digestive system, then asparagus is not something you should be feeding them.
Given its high amount of nutrients, it could easily upset their stomach, requiring you to seek emergency help. Not only this, it can also severely traumatize the pup. So, why risk their health by experimenting on things you should never do in the first place.
The pup suffers from underlying conditions
Even though asparagus has both soluble and insoluble fibers, directly administering them to puppies diagnosed with acute cases of diarrhea and constipation can prove to be a wrong move. You will need to consult with a vet or canine nutritional specialist before starting with the legume.
The same also applies in case the canine has had surgeries, or suffers from autoimmune diseases like kidney or liver problems. In such cases, offering them with the cellulose-rich edible may backfire pretty violently, risking their safety.
The canine is pregnant or breastfeeding
Another thing to keep in mind is that pregnant or lactating canids must be kept away from asparagus. The high nutritional content may cause disruptions in their hormonal levels, and therefore jeopardize both the mother and the puppies.
In such cases, always make sure to consult with the vet before introducing any change to their diets.
How do I feed the vegetable to my Spaniel?
While we don’t recommend offering asparagus to dogs, if you have a small to medium sized breed like the Spaniels, then extra care during feeding is a must. So, rather than offering them a raw, whole piece, make sure to chop the green edible into finer pieces.
It is better to chop them into appropriate bite-sized pieces, based upon your pooch’s snout size. Next boil them for 10-15 minutes under low flame to ensure that the bits are easy to chew and swallow. Finally, let the dish cool down prior to serving them to your Spaniel.
You may also like:
Can Spaniel Dogs Eat Dried Mango?
Reference:
- healthline.com/nutrition/asparagus-benefits
- msdvetmanual.com/dog-owners/digestive-disorders-of-dogs/introduction-to-digestive-disorders-of-dogs#:~:text=Signs%20of%20digestive%20system%20disease,the%20signs%20your%20pet%20shows.
- purina.in/diet-nutrition/are-dogs-omnivores-or-carnivores#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20dogs%20are%20omnivores,both%20plant%20and%20animal%20sources.
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