Many of us have heard of Endive. It can be found in health stores, as well as many grocery stores.
While endive is great for us humans, can dogs eat endives?
Let’s take a look at what you should know about endive,
What is Endive?
Curly endive and endive are both members of the chicory family.
Some other vegetables in this family include:
- Radicchio
- Frisee
- Escarole
Both raw and cooked preparations bring out its best qualities: a crisp texture, a sweet and nutty taste, and a pleasingly moderate bitterness.
Endive is one of the hardest vegetables to grow because it needs to go through two stages of growth before you can eat it.
First growth takes around 150 days, when chicory develops from seed into a leafy, deep-rooted plant.
At harvest, the leafy chicory plant’s tops are chopped off, the roots are dug up, and then they are kept in cold storage for a period of dormancy.
Roots are taken out of cold storage and placed in forcing rooms that mimic mushroom farms in terms of lighting, temperature, and humidity for a second growth period of around 28 days.
The ability to regulate the start of this second growth phase permits endive to be grown at all times of the year.
Can Dogs Eat Endive?
Yes. You shouldn’t have any problems feeding endive to your dog.
It has very little fat and is an excellent source of vitamins A, B5 and K.
They are also a great source of beta-carotene and folate.
The two varieties of endive are frisee, sometimes known as curly endive, and broad-leaf endive (escarole).
Both are fine to consume in moderation, but your dog could turn up its nose at the bitter flavor.
Health Benefits
Endives provide a multitude of benefits to a dog’s overall health.
Spinach for example, is an endive that includes vitamins A, B, C, and K.
Even though too much can cause some issues, spinach overall is safe for dogs.
Also beta carotene is found in lettuce.
This is a great source of fiber for dogs and is also found in endive
Can Dogs Eat Belgian Endive?
Belgian endive, also called witloof or witlof, is a type of chicory grown in gardens.
It also contains:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
- Folate
Your dog can safely eat Belgian endive cooked or raw.
But keep in mind not to add any seasonings or oil to it that could be harmful to them.
Can Endive Hurt Dogs?
Despite having a lot of vitamins, spinach also includes oxalic acid.
As previously mentioned too much of this acid can cause your dog issues.
It inhibits calcium from being absorbed by dogs’ bodies, which can harm their kidneys.
Too much kale can also cause issues.
The kidneys and bladder can form stones due to the calcium oxalate in kale.
Dogs also have a hard time digesting lettuce and other types of endive.
The dogs should be sliced into smaller pieces before being served.
So although endive is safe for your dog, as you can see there are potential issues.
Feeding Endive to Dogs
There are a few things to keep in mind when giving your dog endives.
Before feeding them to a dog, it’s best to clean them thoroughly first.
Endives, like lettuce, are difficult for dogs to digest, thus they should be served to them in little portions.
To top it all off, endives given to dogs should be prepared for optimal outcomes.
Also, endives given to dogs should be cooked right for the best results.
How Many Endives Can You Feed Your Dog?
Although there isn’t a certain number, do not overfeed your dog endives.
It is best to give small amounts of different healthy vegetables.
Mix it up.
There is no exact number of endives, but a minimum amount is safe for dogs if it is cooked and washed well before serving.
Endive Alternatives
Dogs can eat a lot of different things instead of endives.
For example:
- Honey
- Olives
- Chicken breast
You can feed your dog a variety of other foods if you are aware that he is sensitive to endives.
Are Dogs Allergic to Endives?
Not every dog has an allergy to endives.
Dogs may also be affected by a variety of veggies.
It is advised to watch the dogs after giving them endives; if the dog starts to exhibit symptoms, discontinue feeding them endives.
If their condition worsens, it is best to contact your local veterinarian.
What if Your Dog Eats Endive?
If your dog ate a small amount of endive, there is no need for concern.
Dogs who eat endives in the right amounts and prepare them properly don’t normally have any troubles.
But if they ingest too much endives, they may have digestive problems and discomfort in their digestive systems.
Conclusion
Hopefully we have helped answer your question ‘can dogs eat endive’.
As you can see, endives can generally be a good healthy choice for your pet.
Sure, too much of it can cause issues – but really you can face that problem with any foods.
Even for humans, the key is moderation.