In this article, we will answer the question, “Can dogs eat rhubarb?” along with some other questions like are rhubarb healthy for dogs? Can dogs eat cooked rhubarb and rhubarb yogurt? And what are the benefits of rhubarb stalk?
Can dogs eat rhubarb?
No, dogs cannot eat rhubarb. Rhubarb is toxic for your dog. It is important to know that rhubarb leaves have a sour taste; that is why many dogs do not try to eat them. In case your dog manages to eat its leaves, gastrointestinal issues may occur.
Are rhubarb healthy for your dog?
Rhubarb is toxic for your dog because of many reasons. Following are some reasons why you shouldn’t give your dog rhubarb plant to eat:
Oxalic acid in the leaves
Rhubarb leaves are poisonous to your dogs. Rhubarb leaves have oxalic acid in them. Oxalic acid is a calcium binder.
Your dog’s body needs calcium to carry out many functions. These functions are as follows:
- Calcium is needed for proper muscle contraction in the body.
- Calcium is required for stronger bones and teeth.
- Calcium is needed for many intracellular processes.
- Calcium is needed for proper kidney functioning in the body.
As explained above, calcium is very important for your dog. Oxalic acid binds with calcium and removes it from the blood. The calcium level in the blood falls, which activates the body’s mechanism to compensate for this loss.
The body reabsorbs calcium from the bones into the blood and increases its absorption from the intestine. Too much reabsorption from the bones can lead to weaker bones, and it increases the risk of fracture of bones in the body.
The main organ failure is the kidney. If calcium drops from a certain level and it remains low in the blood for a long time, it can cause kidney failure.
What are the signs and symptoms of rhubarb leaf poisoning?
Following are the signs and symptoms of rhubarb leaf poisoning:
- Lethargy
- Drooling of saliva from the mouth
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
- Blood in urine
- Tremors
- Loss of appetite
So far, we have discussed the harmful effects of the rhubarb plant. Now let’s discuss what type of rhubarb a dog can consume.
Can dogs eat cooked rhubarb?
No, dogs cannot eat cooked rhubarb. There are many recipes for rhubarb which a dog owner should know. Any of these recipes are not healthy for your dog.
As we have discussed earlier, rhubarb has a sour taste which decreases its palatability. Luckily, it is a good thing, but most people do not understand it.
First is baked rhubarb. Baked rhubarb is as dangerous as raw rhubarb because it has a high quantity of sugar, salt, and spicy material. Salt and sugar are added to increase the palatability of rhubarb.
Rhubarb can be cooked with simple sugar to make it tastier for your dog. Remember that high sugar content is toxic for your dog. High sugar content has many harmful effects like obesity, cardiovascular problems, and diabetes.
Many people think it is advisable to add something refreshing to it. Many dog owners add lemon to it. Lemon makes it very hard for your dog to eat it.
Can dogs eat rhubarb yogurt?
Yes, your dog can eat rhubarb yogurt, but up to some extent. If you give your dog a small quantity of rhubarb yogurt, that won’t hurt your dog.
Dogs love yogurt because of its taste and consistency. It is soft and easy to digest. Yogurt has certain ingredients which are harmful to your dog.
The first ingredient is sugar. High sugar content has negative effects on your dog’s health. A small quantity of sugar is good because a dog’s body needs sugar.
The second ingredient in rhubarb yogurt is lemon. Lemon is not good for your dog’s health if it is consumed in large quantities.
In a nutshell, it is advisable to give your dog rhubarb yogurt but in small quantities, which is beneficial for your dog.
What are the Beneficial effects of rhubarb stalk?
As we discussed earlier, rhubarb leaves are toxic for your dog. Unlike rhubarb leaves, rhubarb stalks are not toxic for your dog, but it is not advisable to feed your dog rhubarb stalks.
Following are some benefits of rhubarb stalk:
Water content
Rhubarb stalk has high water content, which makes it good for the digestive system of your dog. It improves the digestion of your dog.
Fiber content
The fiber content in rhubarb stalk enables your dog to digest it easily as fiber improves the bowel movements in the body.
Potassium
Rhubarb stalks have a healthy level of potassium. Potassium performs many functions in the body. Water retention and controlling blood pressure are benefits of potassium content in rhubarb stalks.
Other FAQs about Rhubarb that you may be interested in.
Can you eat rhubarb without cooking?
Can you eat rhubarb without cooking?
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the query, “Can dogs eat rhubarb?” We also discussed other questions like what are the effects of rhubarb plants on your dog’s health? Can dogs eat cooked rhubarb and rhubarb yogurt? And what are the benefits of rhubarb stalk?
References
https://www.purepetfood.com/help/can-dogs-eat-rhubarb
https://wagwalking.com/condition/rhubarb-poisoning
