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Many dogs love to snack on tasty fruits and vegetables—maybe because they’re curious about new foods or they just want to get in on whatever fun their pet parents are having. Foods like apples, blueberries, carrots and celery can be nutritious occasional snacks. But since their digestive tract is very different from ours, certain fruits and veggies can be inappropriate or even harmful for your dog.
Yes, dogs can eat asparagus. Asparagus can be a healthy occasional snack for dogs, providing vitamins K, C, A and folate, but it should only be fed in moderation as the high amount of fiber may cause stomach upset if given in large amounts.
While asparagus is not toxic to dogs—meaning they can eat it safely—there are some things to consider before offering it as a snack or treat. Asparagus contains several healthy vitamins and minerals, but it can be very tough for dogs to chew when raw and can become a choking hazard as a result. Plus, its high fiber content can make it difficult for your dog to digest.
If you do give your dog asparagus, make sure it's cooked plainly until soft, as raw asparagus may cause them to suffer a mild stomach upset or vomiting.
You can give your dog a small amount of asparagus as a treat by cooking it lightly, boiling it or steaming it to soften it a bit. Be sure to cut it up into small, easy-to-swallow pieces. Before introducing asparagus or any new food into your dog’s diet, consult your veterinarian about whether it’s a good idea, especially if your pet has any food sensitivities. And remember that treats and snacks should make up no more than 10 percent of your pet’s daily calories.
Since it’s safer to cook asparagus before feeding it to your dog, and because cooking removes many of the vegetable’s beneficial nutrients,your pup will not likely receive any significant health benefits from snacking on cooked asparagus.
» MORE: Learn about fruits and vegetables that dogs can and cannot eat.
When considering what to offer their dogs as a snack, most pet parents don’t think about dogs and asparagus together. Given the potential for choking and digestive issues that can occur from eating raw asparagus, if you do end up serving your dog a small amount of this vegetable as a treat, you’ll need to do it properly. A suitable serving method is to cook small bits of asparagus in unsalted bone broth with other vegetables, like carrots and sweet potatoes. Cook it thoroughly so it’s soft, easy to chew and digest, and cut it into small pieces that pose less of a choking hazard. You can serve up the other cooked veggies as treats as well and give your pet a little of the broth to lap up, too.
Another tasty way to serve this vegetable to your dog is to mix it in with a small amount of plain rice that’s been cooked in salt-free chicken broth. Rice is an excellent source of vitamin D, fiber and iron. Think of this mixture as a canine version of risotto.
If dogs eat asparagus as a treat, it should not be seasoned or cooked in oils. Some commonly used seasonings—particularly garlic—are toxic to canines. Additionally, cooking oils and butter add extra calories that can lead to obesity if fed too often.
While the inedible asparagus fern is toxic to dogs, the vegetable itself is not. If you grow asparagus in your garden, be sure to put a protective fence around it to help prevent your dog from accidentally consuming the fern. If your dog does eat the fern, contact your vet or pet poison control immediately.
No, small amounts of cooked asparagus will not hurt your dog. Dogs who eat too much asparagus may develop gastrointestinal tract upset and will not benefit much nutritionally from asparagus once it’s cooked, as cooking destroys many of the vegetable’s valuable nutrients. Can dogs eat cooked asparagus ? The answer is yes, as long as it is grilled, boiled or steamed without potentially toxic seasoning and not cooked in high-fat butter or oils that can add empty calories your pup’s diet.
No. Pickled foods of all sorts tend to be loaded with salt, which can cause dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination, kidney problems and even loss of balance and seizures when dogs ingest it in large amounts. Pickled foods are also commonly made with hot peppers, heavy spices, onions and garlic—all of which are toxic to dogs in varying degrees if ingested.
When it comes to dogs and snacks, most veterinarians live by the 10 percent rule. This means that treats—even vegetables—should make up no more than 10 percent of your pet’s total daily calories. Whenever you are considering introducing your dog to a new food, consult your veterinarian first, and start by offering a tiny amount to see how your pet reacts before slowly increasing their portion size.
No, your dog should not eat raw asparagus. Raw asparagus is a very fibrous vegetable that can be extremely tough to chew. Plus, raw asparagus can be tough for pups to digest and may cause stomach upset, excessive gas and even vomiting or diarrhea.
Offer your dog only small bits of cooked asparagus, and when you cook it, leave out the high-fat butter and oil and spices such as garlic and onions that may be toxic to your pet. None of these ingredients is good for your dog—no matter how small the amount.
Any new food you introduce into your pup’s diet has the potential to cause an upset stomach. To help avoid this problem, introduce new foods in small amounts, both in terms of the size of the pieces and the amount you feed. Small pieces are easier to chew and pose less of a choking hazard. Plus, small quantities of any new food are best to start out with in case your dog has an allergic reaction or sensitivity to the new food. By slowly introducing new food in this way, you may reduce the chances of your pet suffering from significant digestive upset if they have problems digesting that food or develop an allergic reaction to it.
Take a look at other articles in this series, including:
Petco’s ACE team is a passionate group of experienced pet care experts dedicated to supporting the overall health & wellness of pets. The ACE team works to develop animal care operations and standards across the organization and promote proper animal care and education for Pet Care Center partners and pet parents, while also ensuring regulatory compliance.
