Can Dogs Eat Ginger?

Can dogs eat ginger? Yes! However, as with everything, it should be given to your dog in moderation. After giving it to them for the first time, they should be closely monitored for any allergic reaction symptoms. Ginger can help dogs with nausea, muscle pain/soreness, motion sickness, chronic indigestion, and blood circulation.

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• What Is Ginger?
• Can Dogs Eat Ginger?
• How To Give Your Dog Ginger
• Other Nutritional Fruit And Vegetables Fo Dogs
• FAQs

WHAT IS GINGER?

Ginger is a flowering plant often referred to as the ginger root or ginger. This plant is commonly used as a spice or ritual medicine. Ginger offers traces of many beneficial vitamins and minerals; these include; vitamin B3 & B6, iron, potassium, vitamin C, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and folate. 

India is the highest developing country of ginger, with around 1,109,000 tonnes produced every year. Ginger is typically grown in soil, either in the ground or a pot. If you’re not growing your ginger, it can easily be purchased at a local supermarket for a small fee. 

CAN DOGS EAT GINGER?

As previously mentioned, dogs can eat ginger, but as with any other foods, it should be in moderation. Ginger offers many health benefits to dogs and can easily be added as an extra ingredient in their healthy foods or treats. 

Ginger contains many antioxidants that help your dog with motion sickness, blood circulation, digestive problems, nausea, inflammation, and bloat. 

Health Benefits

Nausea 

There can be several influencing factors that cause nausea/car sickness, feeling under the weather, treatment for an underlying issue. Whatever may be the reason, fresh or powdered ginger can help your dog with nausea. 

The most common cause of nausea is a long old drive in the car. A high percentage of dogs will suffer from motion sickness at some stage in their life. A little added spice of ginger in their meal a few hours before setting off on your trip will help to reduce the chances of car sickness and nausea, give it a try! 

Inflammation

A common problem in older dogs is inflammation of the joints, commonly known as arthritis. As dogs get older, the cartilage within the joints can become easily damaged, and this makes their bones, joints, and muscles sore and stiff, ultimately affecting their ability to move or jump.  

It is essential more than ever that your dog is getting the nutrients they need. Adding a fresh or powdered ginger root to their daily diet will help to reduce the inflammation around the joints, thus helping to improve their mobility.
 

Digestion/Bloat

Bloat, also scientifically known as gastric dilation volvulus, can be a life-threatening illness in dogs and therefore needs to be treated straight away or completely avoided from the beginning. This condition is the stomach expanding caused by a buildup of food and gas that cannot be expelled. 

Scientific research suggests that ginger can help reduce the build-up of foods and gases as it accelerates the emptying of the stomach. 

In regards to digestion, ginger has been proved to promote saliva flow and other gastric juices, which enhance nutrient absorption and the breakdown of food. 

Health Concerns

Thins The Blood

If your dog has a surgery planned or may go into labor, you should avoid giving them ginger as ginger root has been shown to thin the blood of dogs.

Ginger may also reduce the blood sugar levels and blood pressure in dogs, therefore if your dog has any underlying health issues such as diabetes, they should avoid having ginger. If you’re unsure about this, you should seek advice from your local veterinarian regarding what your dog can and can’t have. 

Gingerbread

If you’re considering feeding your dog gingerbread, you should think otherwise. The gingerbread itself isn’t dangerous or toxic, but the nutmeg is. Nutmeg is often included in gingerbread recipes and can be highly toxic to dogs. Furthermore, gingerbread can also be high in sugars and fats, which is not suitable for a healthy dog’s diet. 

HOW TO GIVE YOUR DOG GINGER

Ginger comes in various forms; these include; powder, capsule, tincture, raw root, and tea. 

If you include the raw form of ginger in your dog’s diet, you’ll need to cut the outside (skin) off and finely chop the yellow part of the root, and this can also be minced in a blender. Research suggests that ½ tsp should be administered for dogs below 35lbs and ¾ tsp for larger dogs. If you want to seek further advice regarding portion size, ask your local veterinarian who will assist you further. 

* Guidelines Supplied By Ottaway Valley Dog Whisperer  *

OTHER NUTRITIONAL FRUIT AND VEGETABLES FOR DOGS

Carrots

Carrots are an excellent snack for dogs due to them being super nutritious and easily affordable. Cooked or raw carrots are full of nutritious vitamins and minerals, including; vitamin A & B6, fiber, potassium, and biotin. 

Frozen carrots are a great teething tool for young pups who have discomforting teeth pain. You can also give frozen carrots to older dogs; this will act as a chew toy and improve their dental health. 

Broccoli

Broccoli is an excellent source of nutrients for both dogs and humans. It provides us with vast amounts of protein but at the same time has low levels of fat, carbohydrates, and sugar. Broccoli also provides dogs & humans with vitamins A, B-6, and C as well as iron and calcium. 

Vitamin A

Incorporating vitamin A into a dog’s diet will help maintain your dogs’ shiny coat, muscle strength, and visibility through the night. Broccoli provides 12% of vitamin A towards your dogs’ daily recommendation (22 to 47 IU per KG of dogs weight). Other foods that include vitamin A are; carrots, spinach, and cooked sweet potatoes. 

Vitamin B6

This helps dogs to control their hormones, specifically those related to thyroid issues. Moderate consumption levels of B6 helps dogs with regulating their weight and water levels as well as helping to maintain a healthy heart. Other foods that provide significant levels of B6 include; fish, turkey, chicken, and wholegrain rice.

Calories

Broccoli is a great treat for your dog, as it is very low in calories (34). The usual treats most owners buy from pet stores can be high in fat and calories. Therefore, this reduces the number of recommended treats your dog should have each day. If you replace these with broccoli treats, you can increase the number of treats or portions however they shouldn’t feel the need to eat more

Sugar

Just like most vegetables, broccoli has quite a low level of sugar. This is key; providing dogs with sugary foods can have serious implications. If you feel your dog has diabetes or a sugar-related illness, it’s advisable to seek assistance from a local vet regarding your dogs’ dietary requirements. 

Fiber

Monitoring your dogs’ fiber intake isn’t a necessity. However, moderate levels of fiber have shown to help with a dog’s digestive system. 

Blueberries

Due to their low-calorie count and high number of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants; blueberries are a great snack for dogs. Blueberries only contain around 0.6g of fat per 200g serving, making it a super healthy and nutritious snack for our furry friends. 

Due to the size of the blueberry, they can be taken out of the packet, washed and instantly served for your dog. In the summer months, try freezing them and making blueberry ice cubes as a refreshing treat!

Beets

Beets are non-toxic food for dogs and can provide dogs with a considerable amount of nutrients and vitamins. However, if you were to feed your dog this 88% water-based super-food daily, they wouldn’t reap the benefits as us humans would. 

If you’re cooking with beets and have some leftovers, by all means, this is a great time to give them to your dog. Incorporating beets into your dog’s daily diet can cause them to become obese as beets are rich in carbohydrates and natural sugars. 

Below we have outlined the health benefits and concerns of beets for your dog. 

Vitamin B9 / Folic Acid

This is a necessity in a dog’s diet as it helps to function the brain and intestine properly. A lack of Vitamin B9 / Folic Acid can lead to anemia in dogs. This vitamin is needed most before and during pregnancy. The required amount of folic acid for dogs is relatively low; the recommended allowance for dogs is 0.270mg/kg. 

Improved Digestive System

Beets are a great source of fiber. Fiber improves a dog’s digestion and excretion of food. Foods rich in fiber ensure a dog feels full while consuming a low amount of calories, perfect for an overweight dog following a strict dietary program. 

Research suggests that dogs need approximately 2.5%-4.5% fiber in their daily diet. One cup of beets provides 3.8g of fiber. 

Increased Immunity

Beets provide excellent levels of vitamin C, which helps with your dogs’ immunity; it also helps with the strengthening of their bones and muscles. If your dog has a deficiency of vitamin C, this can cause scurvy. Scurvy causes things such as anemia, urinal bleeding, swollen & discolored gums. 

Beets provide 6.7mg of Vitamin C per one cup. Unlike humans, dogs can possess the ability to make their own and, therefore, can live a healthy life without it. 

Rich In Iron

Dogs need iron in their diet to help develop their red blood cells. A lack of iron will cause the bone marrow to produce much smaller red blood cells, thus lowering the amount of oxygen intake. A deficiency in iron is known to cause anemia. In worst-case scenarios, anemia will cause your dog to need a blood transfusion. 

Beets provide 1.1mg of iron per cup. An average dog’s iron intake will be approximately 80mg/kg of dry matter. 

Helps With The Nerve, Muscle and Enzyme Functioning

Beets provide your dogs with proper levels of potassium. Potassium helps with the nerve, muscle, and enzyme function. Hyperkalemia happens in dogs when their potassium levels are lower than usual. Low potassium in dogs can harm their cell structure and eventually affect the organs, which can ultimately be life-threatening if untreated. 

Beets provide 442mg of potassium per one cup.

FAQS

Can Dogs Eat Turmeric? 
Yes, but in small quantities. Turmeric acts as a fantastic anti-inflammatory at the same time giving your dogs kibble a hint of flavor and added color. 

Can Dogs Eat Beets?
Yes! However, as with any other food, it should be given in moderation, and your dog closely monitored in case of any allergens. Beets are a great source of fiber, vitamin B9/ folate, manganese, iron, vitamin C, and potassium. For more in-depth information regarding beets, read our article “Can Dogs Eat Beets?”. 

Can Dogs Eat Zucchini?
Yes. Dogs can eat zucchini. Zucchini provides dogs with high levels of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. All of the nutrients that a dog needs. Zucchini is well known for its weight loss benefits due to its high levels of fiber but low levels of calories. It will keep your dog feeling full for longer without them eating vast amounts of food.

Can Dogs Get Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
According to scientific research, COVID-19 cannot harm dogs. COVID-19 is currently spreading across the world and is causing a high number of human deaths. However, like our clothes can carry the virus, dogs can carry the virus on their body e.g. if someone coughed or sneezed onto them, but they are not thought to be able to carry it internally. 

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Disclaimer: Each dog is different, and every circumstance is different. All efforts have been made to provide accurate information. However, it is not provided by a qualified Veterinarian, Veterinarian Surgeon, or Behaviorist. The information provided is purely educational. The information should not be used as an alternative or substitute for medical care. If you have any health or medical concerns, contact a qualified Veterinary Surgeon or Veterinarian immediately.