Radishes are a root vegetable that is commonly used in salads and other dishes. They are low in calories and fat, and contain vitamins and minerals that can be beneficial for human health. But can dogs eat radishes and are they beneficial for dog health?
Can Dogs Eat Radishes?
Yes! Radishes can be enjoyed by dogs in moderation. Radishes contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber to support your dog’s health and digestive system.
Radish leaves are not toxic to dogs, but are spicy and could upset your dog’s stomach.
While horseradish is technically safe for dogs to eat, the spiciness can upset their digestive system and should be avoided.
Wasabi, which is made from horseradish, is technically dog safe, but should be avoided due to the spicy nature of the food, which can upset your dog’s stomach. More about wasabi for dogs here!
A daikon radish, also known as a white or winter radish, is safe for dogs to consume.
While they share a name, wild radish are unrelated to the vegetable. These wild flowers contain seeds that are toxic to dogs, and you should never feed them to your pup.
Radish Health Benefits For Dogs
Radishes are a good source of fiber, which can help to promote digestive health. They also contain vitamin C, potassium, and other nutrients. In addition, these root vegetables are a great low-calorie snack that provides carbohydrates and protein while maintaining a low glycemic index making them great treats for overweight dogs and diabetic dogs.
Radishes are also great for dental hygiene. They naturally are dry and rough in texture which helps to remove plaque from your pup’s teeth. This also helps improve dog breath, which (if your dog is anything like mine) is always needed. Lastly, they are very high in water content (like watermelon) making them tasty little hydration bombs for our pets.
Risks of Feeding Radishes To Dogs
Radishes are pretty safe to feed to dogs. The main concern when serving radishes is your dog having an adverse allergic reaction and a choking hazard.
To start, feed your dog a cut-up raw radish. Dogs should never be given seasoned (even salt and pepper) radishes as they are not easily tolerated by dogs and can also cause an allergic reaction. If your dog seems to be ok after a couple of hours with no upset stomach or other symptoms, then you should be in the clear with serving radishes.
When serving radishes, I prefer to always cut them in half since they are round and can easily be choked on. Plus, most dogs I know seem to have a tendency to skip every other chew so I always want to be cautious. This is even more important if you have a smaller dog. When in doubt cut the radishes into quarters or shave them into slices.
How Many Radishes Can Dogs Eat?
This depends on the size of your dog. As with any treat, they should not make up more than 10% of a dog’s diet by calories (here’s how many calories your dog needs). This is also true with radishes since they are likely not a normal part of your furry friend’s diet.
How To Feed A Dog Radishes
Radishes can be enjoyed in many ways but should never be served with seasoning, always plain. You may have to try a few different ways to see what your dog prefers.
Fresh: Radishes are great served fresh. They can be diced finely and topped on your dog’s food or they can be quartered and given to your dog to crunch on. They can also be used to top fun treats like these dog-friendly banana splits or pup cups
Frozen: Frozen treats are great for summer time and since radishes have such a high water content they turn into little popsicles when frozen. Making frozen treats can take a bit of prep, but it is worth it to help our pups cool off! Radishes can be added to a KONG with peanut butter and then frozen, they can be pureed and added to celery for dogs, or they can be added to these frozen watermelon dog treats.
What About Our Other Furry Friends?
Most pets can eat radishes. We are asked about a few specifically fairly often.
Can Hamsters Eat Radishes?
Yes. According to the American Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), most pets, including hamsters, can eat radishes in moderation. They caution that too much can upset a hamster’s digestion. If you notice anything unusual with your hamster, don’t give it to them again.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Radishes?
Yes, but be sure to wash the radishes and leaves before giving it to them, and moderation is important! You also want to be careful to cut the radish into small bites your guinea pig can easily eat. The ASPCA advises that the majority of a pets diet should come from pet foods designed for their needs.
Can Rabbits Eat Radishes?
Yes, According to the Animal Humane Society radishes are an acceptable rabbit food. They are high in Vitamin C beneficial to most pets.
Can Cats Eat Radishes?
Yes.The ASPCA lists no ill effects from feeding radishes to cats, but we just have to ask…really? You think your cat will eat radishes?