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Are dogs allowed to eat spinach?

Are dogs allowed to eat spinach?

For a long time, spinach was considered an important source of iron. In the meantime, we now know that the iron content of the green leafy vegetable is not that high. Nevertheless, spinach is healthy and, at least for us humans, may land regularly on the plate.


But what about dogs? Are dogs allowed to eat spinach or can the vegetable possibly harm them? We will answer this question in the following paragraphs.

Is spinach healthy for dogs?

Vegetables are low in calories and at the same time rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre. For us humans, they, therefore, play a crucial role in a balanced diet and should be on the menu every day if possible.


Dogs, however, have different needs when it comes to their diet. As semi-carnivores, their digestive is primarily specialised in the utilisation of animal proteins and fats. In addition, some foods that are harmless to humans are not tolerated by four-legged friends or can even cause poisoning.


However, this does not apply to spinach. The vegetable is harmless for the four-legged friend. As a rule, you can let your dog eat spinach from time to time without any problems.

Spinach contains many nutrients

Although spinach does not contain as much iron as once thought, it is still a nutrient-rich vegetable. It contains magnesium, calcium and potassium, among other things, as well as beta-carotene and folic acid.


It is also very low in calories. 100 grams of spinach contain just 16 calories. So you don't have to worry about your dog's weight if you let him eat some spinach occasionally.

Spinach for dogs only in moderation

Although spinach is generally not harmful to dogs, you should only feed it to your four-legged friend in moderation. This is because the green leafy vegetable contains a relatively high amount of oxalic acid. Larger amounts of oxalic acid can inhibit the absorption of important minerals such as calcium and magnesium.


Oxalic acid also puts a strain on the kidneys. You should therefore generally avoid feeding spinach to dogs with kidney problems such as renal insufficiency or kidney stones, as well as to puppies.

Cooked spinach for dogs

To make it easier for your dog to digest the spinach and absorb the nutrients it contains, you should cook it before feeding it. In addition, it is recommended to puree the spinach leaves.


In principle, there is nothing to be said against using frozen spinach instead of fresh spinach. However, you should refrain from feeding creamed spinach because of the cream it contains.


Also, make sure that the spinach is as fresh as possible for your dog. If it is stored for too long, the nitrate it contains can be converted by bacteria into harmful nitrite. By the way, this also applies to cooked spinach, which should therefore always be eaten soon after preparation.

Spinach for dogs - our conclusion

As you can see, there is usually nothing wrong with letting your dog eat some spinach from time to time. This applies at least to adult dogs with healthy kidneys. However, because of the oxalic acid it contains, spinach is not suitable for feeding to dogs in large quantities.


Regardless of this, you need a good dog food anyway for a nutrient supply that meets your dog’s needs, as you will find in our shop. Our range offers you a wide selection of high-quality wet and dry food, well as various natural supplements, care products and dog treats. Try our healthy soft snacks, for example. We are sure that your dog will not be able to resist them and will prefer them to a portion of spinach without hesitation.

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