With the rise in buckwheat consumption, dog owners often ask, can dogs eat buckwheat? The fact is that buckwheat is quite a buzz food and comes with several health benefits and potentially harmful side effects as well.
Yes, you can offer your dog some buckwheat as long as it is prepared the right way. It is good for maintaining your pooch’s digestive tract health. Since it mostly contains seeds, they must be cooked properly into digestible seeds. Let’s take a closer look at what buckwheat is and how it may or may not help with your dog’s overall health.
What is buckwheat? How do I give it to my dog?
Before we dive deeper into the discussion, you need to understand what buckwheat actually is. Essentially, buckwheat is a type of seed that has been used by humans for centuries mainly due to its nutritional content.
It is most commonly found in pancakes and other food items, such as a substitute for gluten-heavy pasta and rice. Several studies have proved that adding buckwheat to your daily diet helps keep you trim, healthy, and fit.
From the exterior, the buckwheat seed is not a grain or wheat and is a triangle-shaped seed that contains a huge concentration of lysine, amino acids, and protein. It may also be used as a remedy to cure obesity, constipation, and hypertension.
With that said, if you were to prepare the buckwheat seeds the right way, you can offer them to your dog by adding them to its homemade dog food or commercial dog food.
Benefits of buckwheat for dogs
Here’s a look at some benefits that will help improve your dog’s health.
A fiber powerhouse
Buckwheat contains a significant concentration of fiber, which helps with slowing down glucose absorption. This is helpful, particularly for diabetic dogs, as it helps stimulate the digestive tract. Plus, fiber also helps the stomach prevent oxidative stress caused due to free radicals leading to cancer and infections.
Keeps the colon healthy
Buckwheat helps improve colon health due to the fact that it is a source of resistant starch, which escapes digestion in the small intestine. This type of starch contains both soluble and insoluble fibers. While most of the buckwheat is digestible, the resistant starch helps better colon health.
Packs essential vitamins and minerals
As mentioned earlier, buckwheat is full of essential vitamins and minerals that help regulate and improve everyday functions. For instance, it contains magnesium for teeth and both structure, muscle stability, and enzyme function. Vitamin B-complex for metabolism energy and glucose generation, and hormone regulation.
In addition to that, it also contains Rutin, which is a bioflavonoid, an anti-inflammatory, preventing and fighting cancer.
Fights diabetes
It has been found that buckwheat is recommended for both dogs and humans who suffer from Type 2 diabetes. The reason is that it features a low glycemic index. In addition to that, the blood sugar level is also decreased due to the high concentration of protein and fiber.
Furthermore, another reason buckwheat helps fight diabetes is due to a unique compound called D-chiro-inositol, which turns the cells more sensitive to insulin.
Potential side effects of buckwheat for dogs
With the health benefits in mind, you should also keep in view the potential side effects of buckwheat before including it into your dog’s diet.
Possible additives in store-bought buckwheat
If you are opting for store-bought buckwheat, you should know that it might contain unhealthy additives. Sugars and other additives can be harmful to your dog. With that said, you should read the ingredient list thoroughly and prepare it at home before feeding it to your dog.
Plus, you should always buy certified organic buckwheat. And, if your dog is allergic to grains, you should avoid it.
Buckwheat can lead to gastrointestinal stress
Buckwheat seeds contain a lot of fiber. This is why, apart from properly cooking it, you should introduce it slowly to your dog’s diet. If your dog is not used to consuming such an amount of fiber, it might lead to stomach aches and diarrhea. However, fiber has many benefits to offer but can turn problematic if consumed in excess.
Buckwheat can cause weight gain
If buckwheat has become a regular part of your dog’s diet, you need to make sure that you are not offering more than necessary. Buckwheat contains lots of calories that might increase your dog’s weight. Therefore, experts suggest offering buckwheat with breaks to avoid the risks of obesity.
Buckwheat can cause allergic reactions
Buckwheat is not recommended for dogs that are suffering from allergies. If you are offering buckwheat to your dog and observe an allergic reaction, you should immediately contact a specialist. In addition to that, if you are not aware of the food items that trigger allergic reactions in your dog, you should stick to the recommended diet.
Moreover, you plan on adding anything new to the dog’s diet, you should ask your vet so that any reactions, as a result, could be avoided.
What is buckwheat poisoning?
Now that you are familiar with the buckwheat seeds along with their health benefits and side effects, you should also be aware of the term “buckwheat poisoning”.
Buckwheat contains a toxin called fagopyrin, which can cause hypersensitivity to sunlight, death of skin tissue, and painful lesions if your dog consumes buckwheat in excess. This is why experts suggest being extra careful while offering buckwheat to pets, particularly dogs.
If unfortunately, your dog is experiencing buckwheat poisoning, you will need to keep it away from sunlight in the house and while traveling in the car. In the early stages, medication might be required, but in extreme cases, surgical debridement and necrotic treatment may be required to remove infected or damaged skin.
Plus, keep in mind that your dog will have to complete the medication course even if the symptoms have subsided. Meanwhile, the skin condition should regularly be monitored and re-evaluated to ensure the bacteria and infection do not lead to a relapse.
Related FAQs to dogs and buckwheat!
Is buckwheat poisonous to dogs?
Buckwheat is safe and healthy for dogs as long as it is prepared and cooked the right way. It can lead to several issues if ingested or consumed in huge amounts by your dog.
You can occasionally add it to your dog’s regular diet to help improve its vitamin and mineral intake.
Are soba noodles good for dogs?
Soba noodles are not harmful to dogs only if you offer them as a treat without any seasoning. However, if your dog has not tasted or consumed buckwheat before, you should offer a small amount to prevent any allergies or serious health issues.
Can dogs and puppies eat buckwheat pancakes?
Buckwheat flour is a good alternative to wheat flour as it is gluten-free, rich in vitamins, and low in calories. Therefore, it will be healthy for both mature dogs and puppies, especially with sensitive stomachs.
However, the quantity offered should be carefully considered.
Concluding my thoughts on can dogs eat buckwheat!
Given the information above, dogs can eat buckwheat in moderate amounts. There is no doubt that buckwheat seeds are loaded with essential nutrients and vitamins that help with digestion and other regular functions but can turn those benefits into complications if offered carelessly. Take care when feeding these seeds to your dog!
