Can Dogs Eat Artichokes? Yes… But With Some Caveats!

Beloved by many, the artichoke comes from a plant you’d think we couldn’t eat. But what about your pooch… can dogs eat artichokes?

I don’t eat artichokes very often, but I absolutely love them. Artichokes can liven up almost any savoury dish and they compliment almost anything from salads to a simple slice of cheese! 

Since we occasionally keep artichokes at home and use them from time to time, they do arouse the interest of our Whippet Misty. As a responsible dog owner, it’s good to know if the food you keep at home is safe to have around a sneaky canine snout!

So… in this post I’m going to discuss the artichoke and whether it’s a food that dogs should avoid.

Can dogs eat artichokes? More importantly, should you be worried if your dog eats an artichoke when your back is turned?

(For those of you looking for a straight answer right at the start of this post, dogs can eat artichokes… but with some caveats.)

I’ll be focussing on the following areas:

What Are Artichokes?

Artichokes are not a vegetable as many people think… they actually come from a type of thistle plant. The edible part of this thistle plant is the globe-shaped flower bud, which is cultivated before the flower blooms, after which it becomes tough and inedible.

People often confuse these “globe” artichokes with Jerusalem artichokes, which are not the same things. Jerusalem artichokes are the edible part (the tuber or root) of a variety of sunflower.

Can Dogs Eat Artichokes?

The answer to this is yes, dogs can eat artichokes and they are not poisonous to them. However, like most foods dogs can eat, you have to be careful.

Although in general dogs can eat artichokes, it’s worth remembering that they can come in a variety of forms, some of which are better not to feed to your dog:

• You can prepare artichokes yourself by boiling or steaming them. Freshly cooked artichoke has a delicate flavour and no added food ingredients that are dangerous to dogs in large doses.
• Tinned artichokes will likely have additional ingredients, such as preservatives, oils and salt.

If your cook artichokes youtself, you can be sure they won’t contain fats or salt (unless you add them yourself!) both of which can be very harmful for your dog over time.

Artichokes from a tin are far more likely to contains oils, sugars and salt, which can lead to canine obesity and other health problems if you feed your dog large amounts over a prolonged period.

Is Artichoke Good for Dogs?

As long as you’re not feeding your dog artichokes that have been soaked in oils or that have been heavily seasoned or sweetened, artichokes can be good for a dog’s health.

The Nutritional Benefits of Artichoke

According to the US Department of Agriculture, globe 100g of artichokes contain the following nutritional elements, among others:

Artichokes are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. They contain a number of nutrients essential to canine health, that support muscle growth and conditioning, the immune system and metabolic function:

• Vitamin C
• Potassium
• Niacin
• Folic Acid

Artichokes may also help to maintain a healthy pressure, lower cholesterol and improve liver function.

So… not only can dogs eat artichokes, but prepared in the right way and in small doses, they can actually be good for dogs. As with all food though, you have to be responsible about giving treats to dogs.

Are Artichokes Bad for Dogs?

Any food in excess is bad for dogs. Canine obesity is a growing problem and it’s very easy to fall into the trap of allowing your dog additional treats because the treats are deemed “healthy”.

All dogs require a balanced diet that’s high in protein and that provides sufficient calories to give them the energy they need. Treats such as artichokes can form a part of a dog’s daily needs, but they shouldn’t be given over and above their calorie requirements.

This article on the AKC website says that “treats should not make up more than 10 percent of your dog’s diet”. This should apply to any food you give to your dog outside of regular meals.

Can Whippets Get Fat?

How to Include Artichokes into Your Dog’s Diet

It’s probably best to avoid giving your dog artichokes that are preserved in oils and with seasonings likely to be harmful, such as salt, onions and garlic (onions and garlic are toxic to dogs).

If you’d like to give your dog artichokes, the best thing to do would be to prepare them yourself.

People imagine that artichokes are difficult to prepare, but they really aren’t. You need to trim the inedible parts of the globe but this isn’t as difficult as you might imagine, as this helpful guide to preparing artichokes shows.

Once you’ve trimmed the artichoke globe, you need to cook it. Artichokes can be steamed for 30 to 40 minutes or simmered in boiling water for 15 to 30 minutes.

Once cooked, dice into small, bite-sized chunks easy for your dog to eat. But remember… don’t add seasoning such as salt!

Summary

Can dogs eat artichoke?

I think we’ve established that dogs can eat artichoke. Artichokes offer numerous potential health benefits to dogs, as long as they haven’t been preserved in oils and seasoned with ingredients that are potentially harmful.

Always remember though that even healthy treats are not good for your dog’s health if you overfeed them.

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• What Happens if a Dog Eats Raisins?
• Can Dogs Eat Salami?
• 17 Foods Poisonous to Dogs
• Can Dogs Eat Pepperoni?
• 5 Healthy Dog Cake Recipes
• Dog Carrot Treats Recipe

Do you feed your dog artichoke? Why not let me know how you prepare it for your dog in the comments section at the bottom of the page?