Can dogs eat artichokes? Many dog owners ask if dogs can eat artichokes. They seem to be afraid of the side effects that are said to come along with artichokes, and they just don’t understand whether or not it is healthy for their dogs to consume. Some even claim that artichokes contain many toxins that dogs can’t tolerate, and these fears have led to a surge of people trying to find a safe alternative to giving their dogs artichokes. While there are a few alternatives, some of them are riskier than others, but which one is best?
In order to honestly answer the question, can dogs eat artichokes? It is essential to understand the difference between artichokes and other types of vegetables. All vegetables have a root, up to four inches long, and are located in the middle of the plant. The reason that artichokes are considered to be bad for dogs is because of the large number of purines that are contained within the vegetable itself. Purines are one of the significant causes of kidney failure, and therefore, it is extremely important to limit the amount of artichokes you give your dogs.
Some foods that are low in purines are okay for dogs to eat. However, others should not be consumed as well. This includes dog food that contains a lot of onions, garlic, and Cayenne peppers, as well as artichokes. Many dog owners inadvertently turn their backs on their dogs when they feed them foods containing these ingredients, and in an attempt to make their dog healthier, they unknowingly poisoning their pets each time they eat these foods.
Can Dogs Eat Artichokes? Most Asked Question and Facts About This Topic
Luckily, there are some safe alternatives to artichokes that you can give to your dog. First, you can find foods that contain a lot less or even no purines, such as kidney beans, peas, carrots, spinach, turnips, and wheat germ. Also, these types of foods do not contain as many calories and do not cause your dog any problems. Chicken and beef are also safe alternatives to artichokes, as long as you make sure that you are only giving him chicken or beef that has been cooked thoroughly. You should never cook the artichokes until they have completely cooled off.
Unfortunately, if you decide to feed your dog cooked artichokes, you should make sure that you remove the artichokes from the heat source before serving them to your dogs. This will ensure that they will remain safe and healthy, but it will also help them retain the artichokes’ fresh flavor. If you decide not to remove the artichokes from the heat source after they have been cooked, you should let them cool down and then refrigerate them to prevent them from absorbing any of the cooking juices.
Now, back to the original question, “can dogs eat artichokes?” Although dogs do enjoy the flavor of artichokes, there is a chance that they could develop a condition known as “artichoke allergy” if they are overly exposed to them. Artichokes contain a type of protein found in very few dogs and could make your dog sick if it gets into its system. If you are concerned about the health of your dog, you should speak to your vet. They will be able to give you the best advice for feeding your dog and can even keep you informed about any recent studies regarding the dangers of artichokes for dogs.
