Spinach
CautionSpinach is very high in oxalic acid, which blocks calcium absorption and stresses the kidneys in quantity. Small amounts suit a dog with healthy kidneys; dogs prone to stones should not get it at all.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Difficult or painful urination
- Blood in urine
- Lethargy
- Weakness
More about this food
Spinach is not toxic, but the American Kennel Club is lukewarm about it: dogs can eat spinach, though it is not one of the top vegetables you will want to be sharing with them. The reason is oxalic acid. Spinach is very high in it, and oxalic acid blocks the body's ability to absorb calcium, binding with calcium and magnesium and lowering their availability.
AKC explains the mechanism further: calcium oxalate is excreted through the kidneys, and a large amount can cause kidney damage or even kidney failure. The dose matters, though. A dog would have to eat very large quantities of spinach for that, and dogs with healthy kidneys easily process small amounts of soluble oxalates. So the practical question is which dog is eating it. Dogs prone to kidney or bladder stones should not be given spinach at all, and no dog needs it daily.
Preparation matters too. AKC calls steaming the best method, since boiling strips most of the nutrients and raw spinach is difficult for a dog to digest. Chop it so it goes down easier, and add nothing: no spices, herbs, salt, oil, onion, or garlic.
That last point is where most American exposures go wrong. Creamed spinach, spinach-artichoke dip, and sauteed spinach are built on butter, cream, salt, onion and garlic, and onion and garlic damage canine red blood cells. Picking spinach out of a side dish is not a safe workaround. If your dog ate a garlicky spinach dish in quantity, or if after eating spinach it strains to urinate, passes bloody urine, or turns lethargic, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Do not induce vomiting at home.
Frequently asked questions
- My dog ate some spinach. Should I worry?
- A small amount in a dog with healthy kidneys is usually uneventful; AKC notes healthy kidneys process small quantities of soluble oxalates easily. If it came from a dish with garlic, onion, cream, or salt, note the amount and call your vet.
- My dog has had bladder stones. Can he have spinach?
- No. AKC advises against spinach for dogs prone to kidney or bladder stones, because the oxalate load is what feeds calcium oxalate stone formation. Ask your veterinarian which vegetables fit a stone-prevention diet.
- What is the best way to prepare spinach for a dog?
- Steam it. AKC notes boiling washes out most of the nutrients and raw spinach is hard for dogs to digest. Chop it small, serve it plain with no salt, oil, spices, onion or garlic, and keep it to an occasional small portion.