Is it Safe for Dogs & Puppies to Eat Fried or Raw Okra
Most dog owners treat their dogs like a part of the family. And as such, they want the best for their dogs. This involves living in a lovely home, having fun, and eating right. If your dog must eat right and stay healthy, it is crucial you know the things it can eat freely and the foods that are not good for it. This has led us to the question, ‘can dogs eat okra?’
Many dog owners assume dogs can eat a meal because it is suitable for humans. Things, however, do not work that way. Foods that are perfect for humans might be dangerous for dogs. And could lead to death.
What Foods are Ideal for Dogs?
Some dogs do not care about what they eat. So long as you give it to them, they will eat it comfortably. However, some are picky. When dogs are picky, feeding them becomes a bit more challenging.
Generally, canine diets are made up of a wet feed, a dry feed, and some supplements. While supplements are usually suitable for dogs, not all dogs need supplements.
In addition to regular canine diets, there is foraging, as well as treats.
Beyond the general food given to dogs, different dog breeds do well with various diets. Therefore, you must know the right diet for your dog breed. When your dog feeds on the wrong diet, it could have challenges digesting its food. Also, absorbing nutrients might not be so easy. I am sure you do not want that for your dog.
At this point, we should know what okra is before finding out if it is something dogs can eat.
What is Okra?
Okra is a pepper-shaped vegetable that is green in color. It is a perennial plant. This means it can be cultivated year after year. Also, it has a tough texture and mild taste.
Okra gets cultivated in the United States for its white seeds and fibrous fruits. Additionally, it can be obtained in different colors, shapes, assizes, and has different tastes.
What are the Different Kinds of Okra?
The two types of okra are green and red okra. When the red okra is cooked, it is green in color. Also, the green okra and red okra have the same taste. The only difference is their color.
Okra Nutrition
Okra is a vegetable that is rich in nutrients. It contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, carbohydrates, fiber, and protein.
Contained in raw okra are 7% fat, 2% protein, and 90% water. It also contains some fat. USDA has made it known that in every 100 grams of okra are vitamin K, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. That’s not all. It also contains some magnesium, folate, and thiamin.
In okra, its seeds, and its pods are various antioxidant compounds. According to various research, these antioxidants can help lower the risk of one being affected by cancer.
Although okra is rich in various nutrients, the way it is prepared is a strong determinant of the nutrients it gets to offer. Since there are lots of nutrients in okra, dogs can get some benefits from eating it. Nonetheless, it should not be a replacement for a complete dog feed.
Ideally, every dog should get all it needs from its dog food.
Can Okra Cause Harm to Dogs?
Sometimes okra has pesticides on it. And the presence of pesticides on okra can cause a lot of harm to dogs. It could end up killing the dog. To keep your dog from being harmed by pesticides on okra, you must wash it thoroughly before giving it to your dog.
Dogs could choke on anything they put in their mouths. And okra is not left out. You, therefore, will have to give your dog seedless okra to keep it from choking.
Your dog is not also likely to choke on okra choking on okra, one that has parasites that can put your dog in danger. Once a dog eats okra that contains dangerous microorganisms, it could get sick.
That’s not all. When your canine feeds on so much vegetable, it could also get into trouble. After taking too many veggies, dogs could suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, gas, and stomach bloat. This could happen when a lot of vegetables is taken consecutively. Either over a period or at once in huge quantities.
Additionally, the way you prepare okra for your dog could put it in harm’s way. So, to prevent it from getting hurt, you must keep an eye on it after it eats okra.
To keep your dog from being harmed after eating okra, you should avoid giving it friend okra and pickled okra. When foods get fried, they are rich in fat, which might not be good for your dog.
When okra is pickled, it goes through a procedure that involves onions, garlic, and other spices that your dog should not consume. This means under no circumstance should you give your dig pickled okra.
Additionally, when preparing okra for your dog, it should not be salted heavily. That’s not all. It would help if you did not cover it with fatty flavor enhancers or add butter. When all these are done, they could harm your dog.
It is also important to note that dogs, just like humans, are sometimes allergic to food. So, in very much the same way as your dog can be allergic to other foods, it could also be allergic to okra. The implication of this is if your dog has been comfortable with certain foods in the past, things can change.
When your dog is allergic to a food, it experiences skin issues frequently. It also deals with gastrointestinal problems that can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, a lack of appetite, and lower energy levels.
Do Dogs Enjoy Eating Okra?
Similarly, as some people enjoy eating okra while others do not, not every dog is comfortable eating okra. The flavor of this vegetable, as well as its texture, can affect your dog’s interest in it.
If you have never given your dog okra, you will be unable to tell if it loves this vegetable. So, if you want to find out if your dog likes okra, you will need to give it some okra.
Is it Okay to Give Dogs Okra?
It is safe for dogs to eat okra. When looking to give your dog okra, ensure you give it one gotten from the store. This is because okra bought in stores are well washed and are free from insects, dirt, and chemicals.
When dogs eat okra, they can get folic acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin B and C. These nutrients are good for your dog’s bones, muscles, nerves. Metabolism, and immune system.
That’s not all. Okra is rich in antioxidants, and this can prevent cancer, as well as treat diabetes. Additionally, according to studies, it helps in regulating blood sugar levels.
According to research that was carried out in 2011 and put up in the Journal of Pharmacy & Bio Allied Sciences, okra contains insoluble fiber, which can come in handy in stabilizing blood glucose.
How Should Dogs be Served Okra?
Now that you know dogs can eat okra, you should know the best way to serve your dog okra.
So long okra is cooked and not fried, you can serve it to your dog. When cooking okra, you should not use ingredients like onions and garlic to enhance its flavor. It has to be plain.
If the slimy texture that okra is associated with does not put your dog away, you can give it some raw sliced okra.
Okra seeds have a slimy texture, and some dogs are not comfortable with this texture. Nonetheless, dogs can feed on okra seeds without being harmed.
What Quantity of Okra Can Dogs Eat?
Okra should be treated as a treat. This means you can give your dog okra one to two times every week. You must avoid giving it okra two days consecutively.
You should not frequently give this vegetable to your okra because taking so many vegetables could cause stomach upset in dogs. In addition to stomach upset, it could also cause issues such as dehydration.
Furthermore, when you feed your dog human food frequently, it could cause an imbalance in your dog’s diet. And they will not get the nutrients that they are supposed to get from their meals.
If dogs get full on a healthy snack, they might lose interest in eating dog food which was prepared to offer them their nutritional needs.
You can only get the best out of giving your dig okra when it takes okra as a treat and not a regular meal.
Types of Okra Dogs can feed on
So long as okra is bought in a store and can be eaten by humans, it is safe to feed it to your dogs. This should be done in moderation. Also, the okra should be plain and should not contain spices. When given in the right quantity and as rarely as possible, your dog will not have issues eating okra.