What happens if dogs eat sunflower seeds

Dogs cannot make essential fatty acids and needs to get them from the food they eat. Linoleic acid is supplemented in dogs with skin and coat issues. Essential fatty acids also help protect them against heart disease, arthritis, and cancer , but flaxseed oil or fish oil has shown better protection against these diseases in dogs. Dogs need protein to keep them active and energetic and to support muscle growth and repair.

A well-muscled active dog will have healthier bones and joints, which reduces the risk of muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries, as well as arthritis, as they age. Diets higher in fiber can also help dogs that are overweight by making them feel full sooner. Dogs without enough fiber in their diet can suffer from diarrhea. However, too much fiber can cause stomach upset or constipation, so you need to be careful before supplementing their diet.

Giving your pup the right vitamins and minerals will boost his immune system and protect him against illness. They are also needed almost anywhere in the body, such as the eyes, muscles, nervous system, bones, joints, skin and hair, and internal organs.

However, you have to be careful not to overdo it with supplements , as vitamins can be toxic to dogs in too-high amounts. We do not know if dogs can use all nutrients contained in them, or get the same health benefits as humans do. Without this information, it is impossible to know how beneficial it is to feed them to your dog. Instead of supplementing their diet, provide healthy, balanced meals that have been formulated with all their nutritional requirements in mind.

Ask your veterinarian for advice on the best diets for canines. A few seeds as a treat can be safe for your dog. However, there are dangers to be aware of. Some hazards are:. The husk does not digest in their stomach, and they have very sharp edges. They are also a choking hazard, so be sure to remove the husk or shell if you are tempted to feed any to your pup. Although packed full of nutrients, if Fido has too many, you could reverse the benefits. You can prevent the most essential minerals from being absorbed if too many are in the gut at the same time.

Vomiting or diarrhea may also occur if they eat too many. The high oil content can put them at risk of developing a painful and life-threatening condition called pancreatitis. If your pup is sick after eating them, contact your veterinary clinic for advice. Sunflower seeds are often used in bird feed either on their own or mixed with other grains or fats.

They can be bought as sunflower hearts the kernel , black oil sunflower seeds, or striped sunflower seeds. There are several dangers to dogs if they eat birdseed. Both black oil and striped seeds are sold in their husks, making them more hazardous. A large amount of birdseed can cause gut problems. The stomach can twist called gastric dilatation and volvulus or GDV , which is life-threatening, and requires urgent veterinary attention.

Your dog could also get a gut blockage, vomiting, or diarrhea. Birdseed can grow mold. These molds produce toxins, called mycotoxins, causing serious illness if eaten by canines.

The symptoms of mold toxicity are:. If your pup is prone to eating the bird waste that falls to the ground at the base of your feeder, this can also be a problem. However, it can kill other plants and may contain pesticide toxins. Your best bet is to buy shelled sunflower seeds or an organic, pesticide-free sunflower seed with the shell.

Opt for the salt-free version as well, as it is better for your little friend. To determine the appropriate amount of sunflower seeds that you can give your puppy, you should find out how many calories in general your puppy should be eating in a day. Either ask your vet or use a dog food calculator, such as the one found at dogfoodadvisor.

Once you have your calorie calculation, take 10 percent of that amount to get your daily allowance for puppy treats. Sunflower seeds have roughly calories per ounce, or 6 calories per gram. For example, if your calorie calculation allows your pet about calories of food a day, you could give your pooch about 5 grams of sunflower seeds, about 30 calories' worth.

It's a good source of healthy fats and other minerals and compounds that we'll investigate below. So, can dogs eat sunflower seeds without any issues? Yes, they can as long as you know how to feed them to your dog and avoid certain types.

Most importantly, remember that any seeds not just sunflower seeds fed to your pup should always be peeled and should not have any added salt as high sodium levels can result in health issues such as high blood pressure. A dog can eat sunflower seed kernel but should not ingest the actual black shell of the sunflower seed. If your dog eats the shells, severe diarrhea and gastrointestinal distress may occur. By themselves, sunflower seeds are very nutritious, and it's a powerful antioxidant PDF.

They're full of vitamins and minerals, too. Like most other seeds and nuts, sunflower seeds are considered great for the skin. While there is little research available on the effects of sunflower seeds on a dog's skin and coat, human trials show clear improvements. Can dogs eat sunflower seeds then and get the same benefits? It turns out that yes — sunflower seeds have been studied in dogs, and they do, in fact, improve a dog's hair coat and skin Rees et al.

It's important to note that dogs can, in fact, benefit from the components of sunflower seeds, and this has been observed in research, too.

For example, one study showed how linoleic acid from the sunflower seed oil affected Beagle puppies Campbell et al. That should answer the questions can dogs eat sunflower seeds, but let's take a look at some other potential benefits of sunflower seeds for dogs that haven't yet been observed in studies but are mostly based on theory.

As already mentioned above, studies show improvements in a dog's hair, coat, and skin after ingesting sunflower seeds for a period of time. Because they are high in essential fatty acids, continuous supplementation with sunflower seeds can help your dog maintain healthy skin and coat. These fatty acids will allow your dog to have a full, shiny, healthy coat that is less likely to exhibit roughness or skin ailments like rashes, hot spots, and dry skin.

The beneficial fatty acids within sunflower seeds also encourage the body to lower the production of bad cholesterol and promote good cholesterol. What this means for your dog is lower blood pressure and less likelihood of heart disease or stroke.

This mostly comes from a high level of Vitamin E in sunflower seeds. Other than managing cholesterol levels, this vitamin is essential for the formation of fat metabolism, the respiration of cells, and the creation of the membranes that surround cells.

Recent studies suggest that sunflower seeds, like their relative chamomile herb, can produce a calming effect in dogs who experience anxiety. The key ingredient is magnesium, a mineral that has been proven to alleviate fatigue and depression 6. Sunflower seeds are also chock full of B-complex vitamins, specifically niacin and pyridoxine, both of which can be credited with enhancing brain activity and reducing neurosis and anxiety. Additionally, sunflower seeds are high in tryptophan, an essential amino acid that increases serotonin in the dog's brain.

Sunflower seeds contain many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other vital nutrients, as noted above. All of these make sunflower seeds for dogs a great addition to the diet because they may promote healthy bone growth, hemoglobin production, brain function, hormone production, and immune system function, proper protein, enzyme, and carbohydrate use as well as reproduction, strengthen the immune system and help the development of red blood cells, collagen, connective tissue, and bone.

The answer is undoubted, yes, and there are proven benefits of feeding sunflower seeds to dogs. You only need to make sure you give them in moderation, peel the seeds and pick the ones with no salt on them.

Dogs usually love sunflower seeds to make a good-treat snack for them or be added to their meals. But are sunflower seeds bad for dogs in some other circumstances?