Artichokes are considered superfoods because they’re packed with high levels of antioxidants. Aside from being used in dips, soups, and pizzas, people eat artichokes because of their health benefits. Studies show that artichokes can protect humans’ livers and help liver cells regenerate.
Artichokes are safe and healthy for humans, which is why you’re probably thinking of giving some to your dogs. But is the vegetable healthy for dogs just as it’s healthy for humans?
The quick answer to the question thrown in this article is: yes, your dogs can eat artichokes. This vegetable is safe and healthy for your furry friends as it provides these health benefits:
Antioxidants
Artichokes have antioxidants that help fight against harmful free radicals in your dogs’ bodies. A diet that contains a sufficient amount of antioxidants can also keep your dogs healthy and lessen their risk of developing certain types of cancer. Antioxidants also prevent premature aging and boost your dogs’ immune systems.
Folate
Also known as vitamin B9, the folate found in artichokes can improve the red cell production in your dogs’ bodies, as well as their abilities to synthesize DNA. Folate is also responsible for your dogs’ normal blood formation, cell division, tissue growth, and immune function.
Fiber
Because of their high fiber content, giving artichokes to your dogs as occasional snacks or treats can benefit their digestive health. Fiber works by maintaining the balance of good and bad bacteria in your dogs’ guts.
If your dogs often have diarrhea, feeding them artichokes can help. Fiber helps absorb the excess water in your dogs’ bodies, so they can produce more formed and firmer stools.
Potassium
Potassium is both an electrolyte and mineral that’s highly reactive in water. Once it gets dissolved in water, potassium creates positively charged ions, allowing your dogs to carry electrical pulses in their bodies. In short, potassium plays a significant role in sending nerve signals and making muscle contractions in your dogs’ bodies.
Are There Any Risks Of Feeding Artichokes To Your Dogs?
Although artichokes are generally healthy for your dogs, overfeeding them with the vegetable can also lead to several health risks, such as:
Choking Hazards
When not prepared properly, artichokes can be a choking hazard to dogs. You can prevent this by cutting the vegetable into small bite-sized pieces before giving them to your furry friends. This will make it easier for your dogs to chew and swallow the vegetable.
Digestion Problems
As mentioned, artichokes contain fiber. When consumed in large amounts, fiber can cause an upset stomach and diarrhea in dogs. In extreme cases, feeding too many artichokes in one sitting to your dogs can cause dehydration.
How Much Artichokes Should You Feed Your Dogs?
When feeding artichokes to your dogs, moderation is key. It’s best to give them small amounts of the vegetable first and see how their bodies react. If they don’t exhibit any symptoms, such as diarrhea and vomiting, you can continue giving them more.
Ideally, you should give your dogs artichokes as occasional snacks or rewards during training. They should only consume around one to three bites of artichokes no more than twice a month. Feeding them more can put their health at risk.
Can Puppies Eat Artichokes?
No, you shouldn’t feed your puppies with artichokes. The digestive tracts of puppies are more sensitive than adults, and feeding them with unfamiliar food can cause stomach upset and vomiting. You need to wait until your puppies turn one year old before feeding them artichokes.
Can Dogs Eat Artichoke Hearts?
Yes, your dogs can eat artichoke hearts as they’re high in antioxidants and can help your dogs fight off illnesses and diseases. Artichoke hearts are also packed with folate and potassium.
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Artichokes?
Yes, your dogs can eat cooked artichokes as long as they’re cooked without salt and other seasonings. You can steam, boil, or bake unseasoned artichokes before feeding them to your dogs.
How About Marinated Artichokes?
No, you should never feed marinated artichokes to your dogs, as these usually contain excessive amounts of salts, spices, and preservatives. It’s best to give your dogs raw or unseasoned artichokes.
Can Dogs Eat Fried Artichokes?
No, you shouldn’t give fried artichokes to your dogs. Frying artichokes will require oil, an ingredient that contains a lot of fats and trigger weight problems and indigestion in dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Steamed Artichokes?
Yes, your dogs can eat steamed artichokes, as long as they’re unseasoned. This preparation method is ideal for puppies or small-breed dogs as it softens the vegetables. As a result, your dogs won’t have any problems chewing and digesting the artichokes.
Can Dogs Eat Artichoke Leaves?
No, your dogs shouldn’t eat artichoke leaves. You should only feed them the edible part of the vegetable.
Can Dogs Eat Artichoke Dips?
No, you should never offer artichoke dips to your dogs. These recipes often use a lot of cheese, which can trigger an upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting in highly sensitive dogs. Keep your artichoke dips away from your dogs and only feed them the actual vegetable.
Can Dogs Eat Jerusalem Artichokes?
Yes, your dogs can eat Jerusalem artichokes. Also known as sunchokes, this variety of artichokes can also help improve and maintain the digestive health of your furry friends.
Can Dogs Eat Canned Artichokes?
No, your dogs should never eat canned artichokes, as this variety is often marinated in garlic, oil, vinegar, and citric acid. All of these ingredients are harmful to dogs and can cause severe symptoms and even poisoning.
How Should You Serve Artichokes To Your Dogs?
To get the maximum amount of protein, feed your dogs with raw artichokes. Just make sure to wash the vegetable properly and cut it into small pieces before serving it to your dogs. Never add seasonings or spices to the vegetable as these can be harmful to your fur babies.
Work With A Vet
Before incorporating artichokes into your dogs’ diets, talk to a vet first. Yes, artichokes are generally safe and healthy for dogs, but abruptly changing their diets can also lead to several health risks. Your intent to keep your dogs healthy can become the reason why they’ll get ill.
Don’t take chances and ask for pieces of advice from your vet before feeding anything new to your dogs. This is especially important if your dogs are still young, were diagnosed with certain illnesses, or are already seniors.