Lettuce is a safe, healthy, low-calorie snack for dogs. It is also great for their digestive health. But because this green leafy vegetable is often eaten raw (uncooked), you must always wash it thoroughly to get rid of diarrhea-causing germs before giving it to your pet
It happens each time you take a bite of your salad. Your pet looks at you with those big puppy eyes, ears standing at alert. It’s that delightful crunch of lettuce leaves! What dog can resist?
You’re not alone, either.
The Twitter-verse is abuzz with dog parents like Daniel Joyaux and US Marine Rick proudly posting videos of their pets munching away on pieces (sometimes whole heads) of lettuce.
Nutritionists will tell you that eating leafy green veggies is good for you, but is it also good for your dog? In the case of lettuce, the answer is yes!
Wondering why?
Because it contains 90% water, this vegetable is healthy for dogs, especially the dehydrated ones. Besides being a refreshing snack for your pet, lettuce is also a powerhouse of nutrients, as it turns out.
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Check out the nutritional content of the most common kinds of lettuce below:
Serving size: 1 cup (75 g)
| Iceberg | Red Lettuce Leaves | Butterhead |
|---|---|---|
| Calories: 10 | Calories: 4 | Calories: 7 |
| Protein: 1 g | Protein: 0 g | Protein: 1 g |
| Fat: 0 g | Fat: 0 g | Fat: 0 g |
| Carbohydrates: 2 g | Carbohydrates: 1 g | Carbohydrates: 1 g |
| Fiber: 1 g | Fiber: 0 g | Fiber: 1 g |
| Sugar: 1 g | Sugar: 0 g | Sugar: 1 g |
Lettuce contains a boatload of good stuff and can prove beneficial for dogs when given in small portions.
Romaine lettuce is the most nutrient-dense member of the family. Iceberg lettuce, kale, arugula, and spinach are other types of lettuce known for their nutrition-packed profiles.
Apparently, your dog can benefit from most of the good stuff they offer. Let’s have a look at what those are.
These vitamins have antioxidant properties that protect the body from free radicals brought on by toxins, stress, disease, or the environment.
They help your dog fight off inflammation, protect them against heart disease, promote healthy eyesight, and keep the effects of aging at bay.
The Vitamin K in lettuce encourages your dog’s body to produce prothrombin. This essential protein regulates calcium in the blood, promotes blood clotting for wound healing, and builds bones.
A powerful mineral that can guard against a stroke, help reduce blood pressure, regulate fluid in the cells, and prevent kidney stones and osteoporosis.
Like humans, dogs need adequate levels of calcium to maintain strong bones. Lettuce contains enough of it to help regulate their heart’s rhythm, support strong teeth, promote a healthy nervous system, and improve muscle function.
One of the B vitamins, folate plays an essential role in the development of the body. It is the main vitamin responsible for converting carbohydrates into energy and producing blood cells in the bone marrow.
Considered nature’s treasure, the pigment gives plants their lovely green hue and also absorbs nutrients and energy from sunlight.
This phytochemical offers valuable perks with every serving: reduces inflammation associated with arthritis, relieves constipation, transports oxygen to the body, boosts energy, and promotes weight loss.
Chlorophyll can help eliminate bad breath in dogs, which can only mean more doggy kisses!
Dr. Liz Hanson, a veterinarian at the Newport Animal Hospital and Corona del Mar Animal Hospital in California, concurs. She adds, “It also improves digestion, which is the most likely cause of bad breath, even in dogs with healthy teeth and gums.”
It’s essential to not only wash but also store and prep lettuce with care prior to feeding it to your pet.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Lettuce is grown on farms where it can come in contact with animals and other contaminants like fertilizers or pesticides. That’s why you should place each leaf and stem, front and back, for several seconds under running water.
When you don’t wash lettuce thoroughly, it may retain disease-causing E. coli strains and listeria (infection-causing germ). The bad strains of E. coli can cause unpleasant side effects like diarrhea and digestive issues.
Not really!
Although they’ve earned a bad rap for being a dangerous microorganism, most E.coli strains aren’t deadly.
Good strains of this bacteria, in fact, can protect the stomach from colonization and mutation of bad bacteria.
They feed on sulfoquinovose sugars in leafy greens and then use the energy they obtain to build a barrier against bad bacteria.
Despite this, it is still important to wash lettuce thoroughly before giving it to your dog. Actually, it’s a good practice even when you’re the one having it.
The CDC shares some super helpful tips on washing and handling lettuce and following them will ensure your dog is eating clean, germ-free leafy greens.
Lettuce is best consumed on its own or mixed with dog food, says Lexie, a volunteer at Dog Rescue.
But that doesn’t mean you can share your bowl of greens with your dog.
Salad staples such as grapes, onions, certain nuts, and garlic can be toxic to dogs. So avoid feeding them lettuce directly from your bowl.
Toxic ingredients can also appear in some form in salad dressings, so it’s best to keep condiments of any sort away from your pet.
Toxic food can cause or aggravate health issues like indigestion, salt toxicity, kidney malfunction, and pancreatitis in the long haul.
Since lettuce is fibrous and can cling to the insides of the stomach, large portions can be difficult for your dog to digest.
Chop them into tiny, bite-sized pieces or shred the leaves entirely before feeding it to your pet.
Quantity matters, too. Too much lettuce can lead to flatulence, indigestion, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal problems.
Moderation is key.
Start with small portions a few times a week, gradually increasing your dog’s intake.
While this leafy green is generally harmless, it can involve certain risks if you don’t do it right.
Not all dogs have a tolerance for lettuce, unfortunately.
Lettuce isn’t easily digestible and can cause your dog to barf. It’s bulky and fibrous, can bunch up, and make them choke if wolfed down quickly.
So, how much is too much or too little?
A piece is fine, says Rachel Neumeier, Hobby Breeder, Illinois, “Too much might in theory irritate the stomach and cause the dog to throw up, but I’ve never actually seen that with lettuce, just with grass.”
And while on the matter of greens, even leafy vegetables, like kale and spinach, can do more harm than good when eaten in large quantities or too often.
But more on that later.
Both raw and cooked lettuce are fine.
But steer clear of making it the sole or main ingredient in any meal. Instead, consider it a side dish.
It can also make a great replacement treat for overweight dogs.
A question common amongst pet parents is, ‘can dogs eat romaine lettuce?’.
The answer is yes, they can!
In fact, any type of lettuce is perfectly safe for dogs. Lettuces are about 90% water, have fewer calories, and have a crunchy texture, making them a perfect doggy treat.
Dogs can consume lettuce varieties like Romaine, arugula, iceberg, little gem, rocket, and butter.
You can actually give your dog lettuce everyday because it’s not harmful. In fact, it’s a refreshing snack or treat with a crunch your pet will enjoy.
But keep these points in mind: Lettuce must never replace a meal. Smaller pieces are easily digestible. Serve small portions only. Too much may cause your dog to vomit.
While lettuce is fairly rich in fiber and nutrients, it isn’t a replacement for a wholesome meal. Treat it as a snack, a hydrating ingredient to enhance meals, or a crunchy munchy that your pet can enjoy a few times a week.
Jamie Freyer, DVM agrees that the various varieties of lettuce offer a satisfying crunch to a dog, particularly when the weather is warm. She cautions, though, “that iceberg lettuce is mainly water, and has little nutritional value.”
Can dogs eat lettuce?
The experts have spoken: absolutely!
Still, it’s wise to go easy on the serving size and frequency. When in doubt, speak to your vet.
Meanwhile, let’s take the cue from agronomist Anika Livo: Cold, crunchy, sweet, and juicy. What’s not to like?
Lettuce eat, doggy!
A digital marketing expert by profession, Andrews is a gifted writer and animal lover at heart. A self-confessed "pawrent", Andrews is well-versed in all things dogs. He uses his years of experience of raising puppies into show-quality dogs to help guide first-time pet parents. He believes in spreading the joy that comes with being a dog dad and advocates more families to adopt pets.
