Can Dogs Eat Eggplant?
In moderation. Eggplant that is boiled, baked or steamed with no oil or salt is safe in small amounts. Raw, fried or in dishes with garlic and onion, no.
What it gives your dog
Eggplant is very light: about 25 kcal per 100 g, lots of water, some fiber, potassium and anthocyanins in the skin. Cooked, it turns soft and mixes well into their food. It provides nothing essential, but it can add volume to a meal without adding calories.
It belongs to the nightshade family, like tomatoes, peppers and potatoes. Raw, and especially when green or underripe, it has some solanine and other alkaloids that can irritate the stomach; the leaves and stems of the plant have more. Cooking it and choosing ripe ones reduces that risk. The other problem is how it is prepared at home: it soaks up oil like a sponge when fried or breaded, and in ratatouille, baba ganoush or eggplant parmesan it usually comes with garlic, onion and salt. Some dogs also do not tolerate it well and get diarrhea.
How to serve it
- Ripe, steamed, boiled or roasted with no oil or salt
- Finely diced or pureed, mixed into their food
- With the skin if well cooked, or peeled if your dog digests it poorly
- The first time, just a teaspoon
- Never raw, fried, breaded or in ratatouille, baba ganoush or eggplant parmesan
How much can they eat?
As an occasional extra: small dog (under 10 kg / 22 lb), 1 tablespoon (15 g) of cooked eggplant; medium dog (10-25 kg / 22-55 lb), 2-3 tablespoons (30-40 g); large dog (over 25 kg / 55 lb), 3-4 tablespoons (50-60 g).
Risks
- Raw or green: solanine and alkaloids that irritate the stomach
- Leaves and stems of the plant in the vegetable garden
- Fried or breaded: lots of oil, risk of gastroenteritis and pancreatitis
- Ratatouille, baba ganoush or eggplant parmesan: garlic, onion and salt
- Intolerance in some dogs: vomiting or diarrhea
Frequently asked questions
Can dogs eat raw eggplant?
Better not. Raw eggplant is bitter and contains some solanine, an alkaloid that irritates the stomach in quantity. A small piece that falls while you are cutting it is nothing to worry about, but do not offer it raw. Steamed or baked with no oil, it digests better and loses part of those compounds. Choose ripe eggplants that are firm with shiny skin.
Can I give my dog ratatouille or eggplant parmesan?
No. Even though the vegetables themselves are not dangerous, ratatouille and eggplant parmesan come with onion, often garlic, plenty of oil and salt, and the parmesan adds fried breading and cheese. Onion and garlic damage a dog's red blood cells even when cooked. If you want to share, set aside a few cubes of plain roasted eggplant or zucchini before seasoning.
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.