For dogs’ good health, the nutritional variety and safety of their diet are essential. So, when introducing new food to doggies’ diets, consider these two factors. Quinoa is a good choice if you want variety. But what about its overall safety? Is quinoa safe for dogs to eat?
Yes, dogs can have quinoa, especially if well-cooked, in moderation, and as part of a regular balanced diet. Raw quinoa can lead to diarrhea, and if your dog has a history of grain allergies, talk to your veterinarian before giving your furry friend quinoa. Still, a quinoa allergy doesn’t normally occur in dogs. But some dogs may get diarrhea when they overeat quinoa.
This article covers how much quinoa is safe for dogs and some recipes for preparing quinoa for dogs. We’ll also review whether dogs can have the less popular form of quinoa, red quinoa. But before that, let’s learn how exactly quinoa benefits dogs.
What Does Quinoa Do For Dogs?
Quinoa provides doggies with iron and vitamin B12, which help form new red blood cells in their blood and provide your furry friend energy.
Moreover, quinoa carries all essential amino acids, and this enables proper body-system functioning. Quinoa also has magnesium and calcium that aid proper muscle functioning, bone formation, and growth in canines.
Another nutritional benefit of quinoa is its many dietary fibers that allow for easy passage of food substances in doggies’ gastrointestinal tracts.
Benefits Of Quinoa For Dogs
When fed quinoa occasionally, doggies develop healthy red blood cells and a strong musculoskeletal system. These provide dogs with a healthy and active life. Your furry friend will become agile and robust.
Also, if your canine friend’s diet is mostly plant-based, quinoa offers a complete protein source. It contains all the essential amino acids usually sought in animal-protein sources.
Quinoa contains no cholesterol, zero saturated fats, and is low in calories, helping prevent cardiovascular diseases and obesity.
Lastly, antioxidants in quinoa improve your furry friend’s skin and fur, making them healthy and shiny.
Is Quinoa A Complete Protein For Dogs?
Yes, quinoa is a complete protein for dogs, providing all the essential nine amino acids. These include phenylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, isoleucine, methionine, histidine, leucine, and lysine.
Many dog foods include quinoa as a good source of protein, rather than corn, starch, or wheat.
Is Quinoa Better For Dogs Than Rice?
Yes, quinoa is better for dogs than rice because of its lower glycemic index, lower fats, and higher protein. You can get about twice the amount of protein and 5 grams more fibers from quinoa than from white rice.
The lower-calorie content of quinoa makes it a better food choice for maintaining your doggie’s healthy body weight. White rice can contain about 40 times more calories compared to quinoa.
Will Quinoa Give My Dog Diarrhea?
No, a moderate amount of well-cooked quinoa will not give your dog diarrhea.
But like every other dog food, if you serve too much or serve undercooked food, your canine may have diarrhea.
Is Quinoa Constipating For Dogs?
No, quinoa is not constipating for dogs because of its many fibers.
Quinoa allows for the smooth passage of food substances in your canine’s tummy and helps them poop without difficulty.
Is Quinoa Good For Dogs With Allergies?
No, quinoa is not good for dogs with allergies, especially grain allergies. If your dog is allergic to certain foods, talk to your veterinarian about giving your pooch quinoa.
That being said, quinoa is safe for doggies without any history of allergies. And generally, quinoa allergies are rare.
How Much Quinoa Can Dogs Eat A Day?
A daily serving of a ¼ cup of quinoa is okay for your furry friend. Giving your pooch ¼ cup of quinoa every day is recommended to prevent diarrhea.
How Do I Add Quinoa To My Dog’s Food?
To introduce quinoa to your doggie’s diet, mix well-cooked quinoa into their regular food. The first time, it is best to serve less than the recommended amount of quinoa (¼ cup).
It helps to increase the amount gradually in later meals until you reach the recommended amount of ¼ cup.
You should not add salt, garlic, or onions to quinoa or other ingredients toxic to dogs.
Can I Feed My Dog Cooked Quinoa?
Yes, you can feed your canine friend cooked quinoa. Homemade quinoa is beneficial because it can provide nutrients without fillers in commercial dog foods.
From one pack of quinoa, you could get about 4 to 5 cups of homemade quinoa. To avoid cooking stress, cook it in larger quantities and freeze it for later use.
How To Make Homemade Quinoa For Dogs?
To make homemade quinoa for doggies, you need fresh quinoa, coconut oil, ground turkey, and chopped carrots. Preparing quinoa is similar to the way you prepare other cereal grains.
To prepare quinoa for dogs, make the turkey sauce and quinoa separately.
Preparation of the turkey sauce:
- Heat the coconut oil until it melts entirely.
- Add the ground turkey and cook until it turns brown.
- Drain the excess fat when done.
Preparation of the quinoa:
- Take the quinoa to another saucepan and cook it.
- Follow the instructions in the quinoa pack to prepare the quinoa.
- When done, drain excess water.
Once the turkey and quinoa are set, mix the turkey sauce and quinoa and serve your furry friend about ¼ of a cup.
Can Dogs Eat Red Quinoa?
Yes, dogs can eat red quinoa. But cook red quinoa slightly longer because it is crunchier than white quinoa.
Red quinoa has the same nutrient class as white quinoa. But it is red and contains a higher quantity of nutrients than white quinoa.
Is Red Quinoa Good For Dogs?
Red quinoa is suitable for dogs, as is white quinoa. Moreover, your pooch will get slightly more nutrients from red quinoa than from white quinoa.
Red quinoa contains higher amounts of nutrients such as antioxidants, calcium, essential amino acids, fibers, iron, magnesium, and vitamin B12. It has slightly more protein and fibers, about 1 to 2 grams, than white quinoa.
On the downside, it is crunchier than white quinoa and needs an extra 5 minutes to cook.
