You may have been cooking with this root vegetable and wondered, can dogs eat turnips? The answer is yes, bu you’ll need to be sure you’re serving them safely.
Turnips are low-carb vegetables with numerous health benefits. You’ll find turnips in most healthy dishes. They’re served roasted, steamed, mashed, or even raw!
But can dogs eat turnips? In this article, we’ll go over whether or not turnips are safe for dog consumption as well as the various benefits this vegetable can offer.
Yes! Dogs Can Safely Eat Turnips
Dogs can eat dog turnips in any form; raw or cooked, chopped up or blended, you name it! As long as you serve them in moderation, they’re completely safe for dogs to eat.
There are just a few considerations when feeding turnips to dogs:
- Digestive Issues: We recommend you feed your dog half a turnip a day to avoid any digestion issues.
- Choking Hazards: Always cut turnips into small pieces to avoid your dog choking on them.
- Thyroid Conditions: If your dog suffers from a thyroid condition, it’s imperative that you cook the turnips first. Raw turnips contain a type of goitrogen that weakens the activity of the thyroid glands.
Health benefits of turnips for dogs
Here are four reasons why turnips are great for your dog.
1. Packed with Vitamins
Turnips are especially rich in vitamin C and vitamin B6. They’re two vitamins that are necessary for proper growth and function.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects your dog. It prevents cognitive aging, eliminates free radicals, and boosts immunity.
Vitamin B6, another antioxidant, is one of the most important vitamins for your dog’s health. It’s responsible for the metabolic pathway that regenerates glucose, the body’s fuel for the brain and tissues.
It also maintains hormone regulation and enhances your dog’s immunity. Why buy vitamin B6 supplements when you can feed your dog turnips?
2. High in Fiber
When cooked, one turnip contains about four grams of fiber. Fiber is extremely beneficial to your dog’s digestive tract.
First, the fiber undergoes fermentation and turns into fatty acids. These fatty acids aid in digestion, prevent bad bacteria, and even help in colon injuries. If your dog suffers from diarrhea, constipation, or stomach upsets, half a turnip can work wonders in the intestines.
It’s important not to feed your dog too much fiber since it can reverse the positive effects and actually cause bloating and stomach upsets.
3. Rich in Manganese
Manganese is essential for dogs because it goes into energy production. Manganese metabolizes carbs and proteins to produce fatty acids. We’ve already gone over the benefits of fatty acids, but manganese doesn’t stop there.
A lot of enzymes that are involved in bone growth need manganese to work properly. Manganese also helps in supporting the cartilages in your dog’s joints. Veterinarians recommend manganese for arthritic dogs for their protective effects.
4. High in Potassium
Potassium is an electrolyte found abundantly in turnips. Electrolytes are responsible for the electrical charges throughout your dog’s body. They’re beneficial for the heart, muscles, and nervous system.
Your dog can get its daily dose of potassium from half a turnip. It’s enough to give your dog a boost of energy, maintain weight loss, and increase muscle mass.
FAQs
Yes, dogs can eat raw turnips, although they may be a little more difficult to digest than cooked turnips.
Yes, dogs can eat washed turnip greens!
In Conclusion
Turnips are one of the best root vegetables you can feed your dog. Not only are they completely safe, but they’re also packed with nutrients for a healthy diet.
Make sure you chop up the turnips for better digestion, especially for older dogs. A vegetable puree is delicious and also easy on the stomach!