Most dogs like to keep their owner company during dinner preparation, hoping for an extra bite. If a fresh salad is on the menu, you can ask yourself can dogs eat radishes. In general, your furry friend can safely eat this veggie, and you can freely treat it with some.
Suppose your dog enjoys running into a garden and digging up radishes directly from the ground. In that case, you should take advantage of its affinity and add this particular veggie full of vitamins and valuable nutrients to its diet. On the other hand, some canines avoid these vegetables’ pungent taste, and you should respect that.
Radishes Nutritional Value
Since a dog’s body can produce vitamin C, radishes are not essential, and there is actually no need to take them as a part of the daily meal. However, this veggie can be a great alternative to the usual treats you give your dog as long as you offer it in moderation.
Radishes are dietary vegetables with only 18 calories per cup. They are an excellent source of potassium, folate, sodium, and protein. Plus, they are rich in fibers that are essential for your dog’s proper nutrition.
| Radishes | |
| Calories | 18.6 per cup |
| Fat | 0.1 g per cup |
| Proteins | 0.8 g per cup |
| Vitamin C | 17.2 mg per cup |
| Folate | 29 mcg per cup |
| Sodium | 45.2 mg per cup |
Radishes Effects On Dog Health
The radishes’ nutrients are beneficial for overall canine health. Let’s see.
1. Boost Immune System
Vitamin C from radishes will improve your dog’s immune system, while antioxidants help its body eliminate free radicals. Some research has shown that certain radish varieties can reduce toxic effects on a dog’s bone marrow.
2. Affect Blood Pressure
Although it is impossible to regulate hypertension in dogs by diet alone, a Canadian animal study has shown that Vitamin C has a beneficial effect on reducing blood pressure. Therefore, vets recommend giving a dog that suffers from hypertension radishes rich in this vitamin.
3. Strengthen Gastrointestinal System
Radishes contain many fibers, so they will improve digestion and allow your furry friend to empty its bowels regularly. Plus, these natural diuretics can alleviate urination troubles.
4. Save Dog’s Teeth
The radishes’ rough surface and their complex, crunchy texture make this vegetable ideal for biting. The dog will remove plaque from its teeth by nibbling this veggie from time to time. Plus, radishes contain calcium and iron, both beneficial for dental health.
5. Potential Cancer Prevention
Early research indicates that some radishes’ ingredients may slow the growth of cancer cells.
Preparing Radishes For The Dog
Radishes will have a beneficial effect on your dog’s health, no matter how you serve them. Still, there are some precautions you need to take, depending on the preparation method.
1. Raw Radishes
If your dog enjoys eating radishes after digging them up directly in the garden, it may endanger its health. In this way, it will intake soil residues, pesticides, possible garden pests, and bacteria. A much safer option for your buddy is to eat the radishes after you wash them under a stream of cold water and chop.
2. Cocked Meal
If you cook for your pet, you will possibly add some radishes to the dish, along with meat and other vegetables. However, pay attention not to add salt, onion, or too strong spices that can upset a dog’s stomach and make digestion difficult.
The same goes for when you plan to serve the dog a dish prepared for your family. Although cooked radishes are not harmful, other meal ingredients can be.
3. Boiled Radishes
Boiling radishes is probably the safest method for a dog to eat them. You can prepare the rest of the dish separately and then add these veggies to the boiling water for a few minutes. Another option is to add boiled radishes to a fresh salad along with cucumber and carrot.
4. Pickled Vegetables
Many people enjoy pickled radishes, either as a side dish or in a salad. Still, refrain from the idea of serving them to your pet. Pickle juice often contains additives, sugar, and preservatives and may lead to poisoning or even animal death.
Can The Dog Eat Whole Radish Plant?
All radishes parts, including the bulbs, seeds, and leaf tops, are usable in human nutrition. Sadly, that is not the case when it comes to your canine friend. If you feed your dog with this veggie’s leaves or greens, they may irritate its stomach.
Unfortunately, these parts have a thick, hairy peel and a particularly intense taste. The dog’s stomach will process them slowly because of the heating enzymes, similar to strong spices digestion. As a result, that can cause bloat and stomach pain. Therefore, it would be best to cut and discard these parts before feeding the dog.
On the other hand, you can offer the dog some radish sprouts as an alternative. Prepare them by soaking radish seeds in water and leaving them to germinate for three to four days, depending on the room temperature. Then, mix sprouts with meat and other vegetables or serve them separately.
Radish Types For Dogs
There are many types of radishes, but you can see the round and French breakfast radish on the market most often. You can also find Daikon, well-known as white radish with specific white, long roots.
All of these species are entirely safe for your dog’s body. However, two types of radish may cause severe health issues if your dog consumes them.
1. Horseradish
Horseradish is an extremely spicy and pungent vegetable. Some people enjoy using it in the sauce or mustard form, but horseradish consumption will buy your dog a direct ticket to the vet.
The poor doggy will suffer from bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, gas, and abdominal pain after eating this veggie. Luckily, horseradish is not toxic to dogs to the extent that it may cause death but keep these roots away from it anyway.
2. Wild Radishes
Wild radish is one more vegetable you shouldn’t offer to your dog. This plant is white or yellow, less often the lavender color. If you spot your pet eating it, open its jaw, remove the plant remains, and rinse its mouth with water.
After that, a visit to the vet is mandatory because wild radishes may cause dangerous dog poisoning, with a potentially fatal outcome. The symptoms are the same as with horseradish consumption.
Dogs That Benefit The Most From Radishes
As I have already mentioned, radishes have many nutrients, and they are beneficial for dogs. Still, there are a few canine categories that will benefit from eating radishes more than others.
1. Puppies
Puppies begin to change teeth after about eight weeks. Their appetite often decreases in that period, but they can enjoy chewing everything they can get. Offer a small radish to your puppy as a healthy reward for good behavior, and nibbling this veggie will relieve pain in its gums.
2. Diabetic Dogs
Studies show that radishes have a hypoglycemic effect on the body. That makes this vegetable a perfect meal for your ill dog because of its limited nutrition options.
3. Obese Dogs
If your dog has added a few extra pounds, it will benefit from including radishes in the diet. This vegetable has a low caloric value and practically doesn’t contain fat, so it is a good substitute for food that contributes to overweight.
4. Dogs With Bad Breath
There are many reasons why your dog has smelly breath, and you should visit the vet when noticing this issue. In the meantime, you should offer it fresh radishes.
Risks Of Feeding The Dog With Radishes
In general, your dog can safely eat most types of radishes, and small portions of this vegetable can only benefit it. However, don’t forget that canines can choke with this round food, especially if you have a small breed dog. Therefore, it is better to cut large radishes into several pieces or slice them, so that your four-legged friend can enjoy them safely.
These veggies often have a tart and sometimes bitter taste, depending on the sort. That can cause nausea, and that is why you shouldn’t give large quantities at once to your buddy. Plus, it can spoil its stomach after ingesting too much fiber, resulting in digestive problems.
Besides, radishes contain isothiocyanate. Although minimal amounts are involved, this substance can be toxic when the dog swallows more than a couple of radishes in one day.
Most vets recommend giving radishes as a side dish to the main course. If you use vegetables as a dog’s treat for nice behavior, you should limit them to one or two a day. Finally, keep a track record of the number of radishes your dog ingests daily to avoid its health problems. Never offer these veggies to it every day or more than a couple of them on the same day.
Conclusion
Most radish types are allowed and desirable in a dog’s diet because they benefit its health in many ways. Still, wash the fresh radishes and cut the greens and leaves before offering them to your buddy. Never allow your pet to eat horseradish or wild radishes.
