Can dogs eat swiss chard? This leafy vegetable is often added to grain bowls or served sautéed as a side dish. But is swiss chard safe for our dogs to consume the way that we do?
The short answer is yes, swiss chard is safe for dogs to consume cooked, not raw, and not with other ingredients known to be toxic to dogs, such as garlic. It’s also important to keep swiss chard as an occasional addition to your dog’s diet — mostly for your own sake, as it can cause excessive flatulence!
Before adding swiss chard to your dog’s diet, be sure to run it by your veterinarian. In the meantime, here’s everything you should know about how swiss chard can be a safe addition.
How Is Swiss Chard Good For Dogs?
Swiss chard is one of our many leafy greens and seems to only grow in popularity. As grain bowls have become all the rage, so has swiss chard, or really, any kind of chard.
This is a good thing, as swiss chard is packed with nutritional benefits. Occasionally, the dietary fads do get something right!
Chard contains plenty of dietary fiber, plus vitamins A, K, and C. All of which aid in your dog’s eye, colon, immune, and liver health, as well as aid in blood circulation.
Dietary fiber is essential for dogs, but also must be managed appropriately. In moderation, dietary fiber aids your dog’s digestive process and keeps their gut health in check. But too much fiber can cause significant stomach upset.
Proper preparation of swiss chard is important for your dog to benefit from it, though.
How Can I Safely Give Swiss Chard To My Dog?
For the most part, incorporating swiss chard into your dog’s diet is simple and straightforward. However, a bit of preparation is needed to keep it safe.
Swiss chard should always be served cooked — boiling or steaming is best.
Unfortunately, raw Swiss chard contains calcium oxalate, which can have a dangerous effect on your dog’s ability to absorb calcium. The cooking process, however, reduces the amount of calcium oxalate present in these greens enough for dog consumption.
Still, dogs should only eat it in moderation. A buildup of calcium oxalate can still adversely affect your dog’s kidney health and create bladder stones. Raw consumption of swiss chard will almost definitely add up to this over time.
Another reason to keep swiss chard to a minimum is its effect on the canine digestive system. It can cause excessive flatulence, and we’re all far too aware of how terrible that can be!
If you do decide to include swiss chard in your dog’s diet, make sure that it is well-blended or finely chopped into their food. Small amounts will give them the benefit, without any of the negatives.
Do you include swiss chard or any kind of chard in your dog’s diet? Do they like the taste? Let us know in the comments below.
