Can dogs eat asparagus?

Who hasn’t tried asparagus? Let’s be honest, asparagus don’t look appetizing. It’s part of that group of vegetables that doesn’t really look like we want to eat it. However, like all vegetables eating some asparagus is good for our health.

But, what about dogs? is it safe for dogs to eat asparagus? will it hurt dogs?

If you haven’t read our post on our home page where we explain what we mean by eat in can dogs eat? we recommend you check it out.

If you don’t want to read the techy stuff, go straight to our conclusion
FAQ

What is an asparagus?

Asparagus is a flowering plant. Yes, that’s right it grows flowers and fruits if we let it grow to its mature state. However, those fruits are toxic to humans.

The asparagus we eat is not yet mature. It is commonly found green as pictured above or white.

Asparagus is packed with vitamins and nutrients.

What kind of vitamins and nutrients do dogs need?

A dog’s nutritional needs are different than ours, obviously. However, like us, the right amount and combination of vitamins and nutrients are essential to ensure that dogs are healthy.

Vitamins are organic substances that the body needs to grow naturally. Typically, they are required in dog food in minimal amounts, and vitamin deficiencies can cause many health problems.

The most important vitamins that the dog’s body needs are:

Vitamin A
Vitamin B family
Vitamin D
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
Choline

Whereas for nutrients, they need:

Calcium and phosphorus
Potassium, Sodium, and Chloride
Magnesium
Iron
Zinc
Copper
Selenium

For more details information on each of those vitamins’ benefit to your dog read this great article by the national academy of science engineering medicine

Nutritional benefit of asparagus to a dog’s diet?

So, how good are asparagus for dogs? you could read the complete analysis of 100g of raw asparagus on the the US Department of Agriculture. Alternatively, here is the summary table which is available on the nutritionix website.

Water makes up 93% of asparagus’s composition.

Asparagus is low in food energy and very low in sodium. It is a good source of vitamin B₆, calcium, magnesium, and zinc, and a very good source of dietary fibre, protein, beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, rutin, niacin, folic acid, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper, manganese, and selenium,^[21]^[22] as well as chromium, a trace mineral that regulates the ability of insulin to transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells.^[23]

How do you prepare Asparagus?

Feeding raw asparagus to dogs may cause some digestive issues such as diarrhea as they are loaded with fiber. It is better to trim them or cut them in small pieces as full asparagus are a chocking hasard due to their high fiber content.

It is best to prepare them cooked, either is boiling water or in a steamed. Do not add anything else, salt, butter or other sauce, cooked au naturel is what is needed.