Can Dogs Eat Radishes?
Many people enjoy eating and cooking with radishes, and you may wonder if it’s OK to share the peppery root vegetables with your dog. But can dogs eat radishes safely, and are radishes good for dogs?
Here’s what to know before tossing a bite to your hungry pup.
Are Radishes Good for Dogs?
It is safe to feed your dog a radish root—though, not all dogs will appreciate the sharp taste! If your pup is begging for a bite, offer them only a small portion first to see if they like it.
Radishes are loaded with vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and fiber while being low in calories. But because your dog will only be eating small quantities of radish, there are only minimal health benefits, if any. But if your dog has a taste for radishes, it’s perfectly fine to share some.
The radish leaves, however, can cause gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, and diarrhea in your dog. Therefore, these are best avoided.
Can Dogs Eat Radishes Raw?
Radishes can be shared with your dog raw or cooked—as long as the veggie has been washed and diced into small pieces with the greens removed.
How To Prepare Radishes for Dogs
If you would like to share some radishes with your dog, select roots that are firm and healthy. The white variety tends to be less “peppery” than the darker radishes and more likely to be accepted by your pup.
Wash the root carefully. Remove any root fibers and trim off the leaves, which can cause an upset stomach. Large pieces of radish can be a choking hazard and may even result in intestinal obstructions, so be sure to grate or dice the veggie into very small pieces before feeding it to your dog. Do not add any spices or cooking oils to the radish.
Keep in mind that products that have “radish” in the name may not be safe to serve to your pooch. For example, horseradish isn’t even a radish! Wild radishes are also not safe to share. Only feed your dog domestically grown radishes, and not radish products.
How Many Radishes Can a Dog Eat?
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Extra-small dog (2–20 pounds) = 1/4-inch cube of diced or shaved radish
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Examples: Yorkies, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Pugs
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Small dog (21–30 pounds) = 1/2-inch cube of diced or shaved radish
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Medium dog (31–50 pounds) = 1-inch cube of diced or shaved radish
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Examples: Basset Hounds, Border Collies, Australian Cattle Dogs
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Large dog (51–90 pounds) = Two 1-inch cubes of diced or shaved radish
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Examples: Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Australian Shepherds
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Extra-large dog (91+ pounds) = Three 1-inch cubes of diced or shaved radish
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Examples: Newfoundlands, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Saint Bernards, Great Pyrenees
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What Other Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?
If your dog doesn’t care for radishes, that’s totally fine. There are other dog-safe vegetables you can consider trying, such as:
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