Spinach for Dogs: How to Properly Feed This Vegetable

Can dogs eat spinach?

We hear from a young age that those little green leaves are healthy for us. Because anyone who wants to be strong like Popeye must eat spinach! Our dogs can also eat spinach in small amounts and properly prepared, and it is even found in many dog food varieties.

This green vegetable is rich in potassium, beta-carotene, magnesium, and iron. Additionally, spinach is quite low in calories and contains a lot of water, making it a very light addition to the bowl and ideal for dogs that need to →lose some weight.

We at Pets Deli also know how healthy this green vegetable is for your four-legged friend and use the healthy ingredients of spinach in our →wet food with veal and quinoa or our →dry food with salmon and dill.

Is spinach really full of iron?

Spinach has the reputation of being very →high in iron. But is that really true? Yes and no. In comparison to other foods like meat or legumes, spinach contains significantly less iron per 100 grams. However, when considering all plant-based foods that dogs are allowed to eat, spinach is among the iron-rich foods. The oxalic acid found in spinach, however, inhibits the absorption of iron and calcium, which is why the leafy vegetable should preferably be fed with a vitamin C-rich food.

By the way! Some →nuts and →mushrooms also contain valuable iron. When feeding fresh ingredients, you should inform yourself thoroughly beforehand. In the BARF concept, for example, all components, including meat, vegetables, fruits, minerals, oils, and more, are precisely weighed and tailored to your dog's needs.

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How do I properly feed spinach to my dog?

First, you should always feed your dog only a small amount of spinach, as it is considered hard to digest. Raw spinach leaves are therefore not a good idea - your dog could experience →stomach pain and digestive problems. Instead, you should always mix fresh spinach steamed and without spices into your dog's food. For even better digestibility of the vegetable, you can puree the steamed spinach beforehand.

If you want to give your dog spinach, you can combine it with a vitamin C-rich food. This ensures that the iron absorption is improved and the inhibiting effect of oxalic acid is reduced. Additionally, a bit of cottage cheese or quark can promote the digestibility of spinach.

In our vegetarian →wet food "Green Veggie", we also rely on the combination of spinach and cottage cheese. Quinoa and zucchini complete the [→plant power](/magazin/hunde/hunde-ernaehrung/den-hund-vegan-ernaehren-das-solltest-du-wissen) in the bowl.

Is spinach toxic to dogs?

To keep spinach a healthy addition to the food, you should avoid excessive consumption. The reason for this is the amount of oxalic acid contained in the vegetable, which inhibits the absorption of iron and calcium. If spinach is regularly fed in larger quantities, it can lead to kidney damage.

Even though spinach is not among the →most toxic foods for dogs, excessive consumption can lead to poisoning symptoms such as →vomiting, severe →diarrhea, and in severe cases, even seizures. In such cases, seek a veterinary clinic quickly, where your four-legged friend can receive help.