Can Dogs Eat Artichokes?
In moderation, and only the cooked heart. The tough outer leaves and the fuzzy choke do not digest and, if a dog eats a whole artichoke, they can get stuck.
What it gives your dog
A cooked artichoke heart has about 50 kcal per 100 g and provides fiber, mainly inulin, which feeds the gut bacteria, plus potassium, magnesium and folate. Artichokes are not toxic to dogs. A little cooked, chopped heart is a perfectly acceptable extra.
The problem is the rest of the artichoke. The outer leaves (bracts) are tough, fibrous and pointed; the fuzzy choke in the center is like a tuft of fibers. Dogs do not digest them, they can irritate the mouth and stomach and, if a dog steals a whole artichoke or a handful of chewed leaves from a plate or the trash, they can form a ball that gets stuck in the intestine. Jarred artichokes come with salt or oil and vinegar, and homemade ones are often cooked with ham or garlic, or breaded, or baked into a cheesy dip. Too much inulin causes gas.
How to serve it
- Only the heart, with no tough leaves or choke
- Steamed or boiled with no salt and finely chopped
- Mixed into their food, in small amounts
- Never jarred artichokes in oil or vinegar, or with ham or garlic
- Throw chewed leaves away where your dog cannot reach them
How much can they eat?
As an occasional extra: small dog (under 10 kg / 22 lb), half a cooked heart (10-15 g); medium dog (10-25 kg / 22-55 lb), one heart (25-30 g); large dog (over 25 kg / 55 lb), 1-2 hearts (40-50 g).
Risks
- Tough leaves and choke: choking and intestinal blockage
- A whole artichoke stolen from the kitchen or the trash
- Jarred artichokes in oil, vinegar or brine
- Artichokes with ham, garlic, breading or in cheesy dips
- Gas and soft stools from the inulin
Frequently asked questions
What happens if my dog eats artichoke leaves?
A few leaves usually pass in the stool with no trouble, although they can cause vomiting. The problem is when a dog eats many or a whole artichoke: the tough bracts and the choke do not digest and can get stuck. Watch for vomiting, not eating or not pooping, and if they ate a fair amount, call the vet even if they seem fine.
Can I give my dog canned or jarred artichokes?
Better not. Canned and jarred artichokes come in brine, in oil or with vinegar, almost always with salt and sometimes with spices or garlic. A small piece is not a poisoning, but there is no point. If you want to give your dog artichoke, cook a fresh one, remove the tough leaves and the choke and give a little of the chopped heart.
General information reviewed against veterinary sources. If your dog has eaten something that worries you, call your vet or a 24-hour emergency vet right away, without waiting for symptoms.