Feeding your dog the right kind of food should be a priority as the owner of a canine. It is important that your dog is given a consistent and varied diet, while still making sure they get the essential food(s) they need to live well. When you want to give your dog a bit of a treat, though, you might look to foods that you eat yourself. Take chia seeds, for example. Many dogs love a chia seed – but is it safe for them to eat? Can dogs have chia seeds?
This is a nutritious and enjoyable snack that many humans have taken to their hearts in recent years. The quality of a chia seed is in the rich and varied nutrients and minerals that are found within. For many humans, they make an enjoyable, must-have snack. These small black seeds are taken from a plant in the mint family that grows across various parts of the Americas.
Regarded as being extremely useful for everything from boosting energy to soaking up liquid when cooking, chia seeds have a place in all of our kitchens. Yet when it comes to our dogs it pays to understand what they can – and cannot – eat. So, what about chia seeds?
Can dogs have chia seeds?
The simple answer is that yes, your dog can have chia seeds. Like almost anything else you feed a dog, though, it has to be done with intelligence and it has to be done in moderation. Giving your dog a chia seed is fine – giving them cups of the stuff each day is probably not a good idea!
Typically, you should look to try and add a small amount into a serving of other foods. Then, watch for after-effects and see how they handle the intake of chia seeds in the first place. You should probably also get your dog checked out by the veterinarian beforehand. This can give you a better idea of how they can handle chia seeds. You can also build up a plan to understand quantity a little bit easier than you would beforehand.
Dogs benefit from the high fiber counts, the high quantity of protein, and the omega-3 fatty acids found within. However, at the same time, some dogs can have issues with chia seeds due to an allergic reaction – this would be something you need to keep a close eye on.
Also, another problem is that chia seeds are, as noted above, highly absorbent. This is a good thing but it can mean that if your dog has lots of water in their intestines it could mean the chia seeds soak them up, grow in size, and create internal blockages. Always ensure that your chia seeds are soaked before your dog eats them, as this can help to reduce and/or manage the risk of them swelling up in their stomachs.
So, yes, your dogs can have chia seeds. You just need to make sure that you take the typical precautions that you would normally.