Compared to most other leafy greens, the arugula vegetable is quite peppery and full of flavor, and this has led to dog owners wondering whether or not this vegetable is safe for their canine buddies to eat.
So, can dogs eat arugula? Arugula is perfectly safe for dogs to eat as long as it is fed in moderate amounts. The nutritional content of the arugula vegetable, as well as the health benefits attached with the consumption of this vegetable, makes it the perfect choice for a canine treat or as a dietary supplement.
Now that we’ve established that arugula is safe for dogs to eat, this article will cover the best ways to feed this leafy vegetable to your canine buddy, as well as the health benefits attached with the consumption of this vegetable by dogs.
It is also important to note that arugula can be harmful to dogs when consumed in excess, and health risks associated with excessive consumption of this vegetable are also covered in this article. However, before we go into all this, let’s see why and when arugula is considered safe for dogs to eat.
Can Dogs Eat Arugula?
Arugula is a non-toxic vegetable; Hence, it is safe to feed to dogs in moderate amounts and without the addition of spices and seasonings that are harmful to pooches.
Arugula, often mistaken as lettuce, is an annual plant of the family Brassicaceae that is typically used as a leafy vegetable, no thanks to its fresh and tart flavor. Initially, arugula found its use in medicinal herbs but is now used extensively in cuisines, as well as a component of green salad diets.
How Much Arugula Can I Feed My Dog?
Arugula is best served to dogs as a dog treat or as a supplement to their main diet. The low calorie and low-fat content of arugula make it perfect for use as a canine treat, and if you are feeding this leafy vegetable to your Fido as a treat, you should ensure that it doesn’t constitute more than 10% of the pooch’s total daily caloric intake.
How Can I Feed Arugula To My Dogs?
Arugula can be fed to dogs both in its raw and cooked form. But to mitigate the chances of your canine buddy suffering gas build-up or a stomach upset, it is recommended that you slightly cook this vegetable before feeding it to your pooch.
Also, when preparing arugula for your dog to eat, you should chop the vegetable into bite-sized pieces to reduce the risk of choking, as well as to prevent gastrointestinal blockages.
And to ensure that your pooch gains maximum nutrition from eating this vegetable, as well as to prevent exposure to certain toxins, it is advisable that you only feed your pup with plain, unseasoned arugula.
What Are The Benefits Of Feeding My Dog With Arugula?
Arugula is perfectly safe for dogs to eat as long as it is fed in moderate amounts. The nutritional content of the arugula vegetable, as well as the health benefits attached with the consumption of this vegetable, makes it the perfect choice for a canine treat or as a dietary supplement.
Arugula contains several nutrients that help dogs with the formation of strong bones, as well as providing increased resistance to fight off diseases and infections.
Arugula Is Highly Nutritious
One of the reasons we advocate for the inclusion of arugula in the canine diet is the sheer amount of nutritional benefits that dogs stand to gain from being fed with this vegetable.
Arugula is noted for being rich in vitamins such as vitamin B and vitamin C, as well as containing minerals such as magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron and calcium. And the aforementioned nutrients can be beneficial to your canine buddy in the following ways:
Formation Of Strong Bones
The vitamin K content of arugula is noted for the formation of strong, healthy bones. And the formation of strong bones is made possible by an increase in the absorption of calcium due to the presence of this essential vitamin K.
Calcium is an important building block for bones in dogs, and with the increased absorption of this mineral, thanks to the vitamin K found in arugula, young and growing pooches can develop stronger bones.
Increased Protection Against Diseases
Arugula contains antioxidants such as vitamin K which help protect cellular membranes of the pooch’s body from damage caused by the presence of excess free radicals. Additionally, arugula contains alpha-lipoic acid, an antioxidant that lowers blood glucose level and increases insulin sensitivity, thereby helping to control diabetes in affected dogs.
Also, as with other leafy greens, arugula contains chlorophyll, which is notable for its ability to attach to, and get rid of harmful toxins that may be present in a dog’s body system.
Can Arugula Be Bad For Dogs?
Feeding a dog with too much arugula can result in stomach upset, a hormonal imbalance which can result in medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism, as well as poor nutrient absorption by the Fido.
Stomach Upset
As with most other food products, feeding your pooch with too much arugula is bad for the dog’s gastrointestinal health, and can result in the pooch suffering a stomach upset.
Signs that your canine buddy is suffering a stomach upset due to being fed with too much arugula include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, as well as a loss of appetite. And while this medical condition isn’t necessarily fatal to the affected pooch, it can cause great discomfort for the Fido.
Hormonal Imbalances
This is a less common concern, but leafy green vegetables, such as arugula, typically have goitrogenic properties which can inhibit the proper synthesis of the thyroid hormone, thereby resulting in the Fido suffering from a hormonal imbalance.
A hormonal imbalance in a dog can result in several medical conditions for the affected pooch, and the most prominent among these include conditions such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and goiters.
On a positive note, the aforementioned health disorders don’t occur from occasional and moderate consumption of arugula. And a dog would have to be fed excessive amounts of the arugula vegetable, over a considerable period, to develop a hormonal imbalance.
Poor Nutrient Absorption
Similarly, arugula contains minor amounts of oxalic acid, which is known for binding with essential nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. This binding reaction between oxalic acid and these nutrients prevents the absorption of the aforementioned nutrients into the pooch’s bloodstream, thereby resulting in malnutrition.
Once again, this issue of poor nutrition caused by blockage of nutrient absorption into the pooch’s bloodstream can be avoided by feeding dogs with moderate amounts of arugula vegetable.
What Should I Do If I Feed My Dog With Too Much Arugula?
Overfeeding your dog with arugula once or twice is unlikely to cause any major issues for the dog, but regardless, you are to monitor such a dog for signs of gastrointestinal upset.
And if you notice any signs that suggest your pooch is suffering discomfort from a stomach upset, you should consult your vet for the appropriate medical treatment.
Also, to prevent stomach upsets from feeding your pooch with arugula, it is advisable that you feed small bits of this vegetable to your canine buddy at a time.
And when incorporating arugula into your pooch’s diet, slowly introduce little amounts of this vegetable into the dog’s meals over a period of two weeks, and closely observe the Fido for signs of an allergic reaction to food.
