Are Sunflower Seeds Bad For Dogs Or Are They Non Toxic

Sunflower seeds are known to be one of the most popular healthy snacks, which are not only delicious but have great health benefits as well.They are crunchy, nutty, packed with healthy calories, and all in all, perfect for a nibble when you’re bored and need to pass time, great for long trips, and even make great salad toppings. They make great substitutes for unhealthy snacks like popcorn, potato chips, and the like, which are high in calories because they are nutritious, wholesome, and diet-friendly.Sunflower seeds are high in the necessary nutrients including protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, and are great for boosting the health of your immunity as well as regulating cholesterol levels. However, when it comes to pets, especially dogs, there are quite a few food items that should be kept away from them because of harmful and life-threatening side effects in your dog’s digestive system. Sunflower seeds, do not happen to be one of them. They are perfectly safe to give your furry friend and contrary to popular belief, aren’t poisonous if fed in moderation. Therefore, yes, dogs and pets can eat healthy sunflower seeds as a snack. Just like birdseeds are not harmful and poisonous to dogs as long as they are fed in small quantities, sunflower seeds can make a good treat for your pets.Sunflower seeds are very healthy as they are great sources of iron, vitamins, and minerals like vitamin E and copper, which help boost your dog’s immunity. If dogs eat healthy sunflower seeds as a snack, a treat, or even as an addition to their regular dog food, they help improve your dog’s skin and hair and are also great for managing cholesterol levels. Therefore, you can easily feed sunflower seeds to your dog as a small part of your dog’s diet as it will not result in any harm.In this article, you will know more about if dogs eat sunflower seeds, the benefits of eating sunflower seeds for your dog’s gastrointestinal health, as well as outer coat and skin, if sunflower seeds without the outer skin and coat are better for your dog’s health, and what sort of health hazards they might lead to if they are fed to pets with the outer shell. If you are looking for more information about sunflower seeds and it’s effects on your pets and how to safely incorporate sunflower seeds into their pet food, you can find all the information you need in this article.If you liked reading our article on the hazards and benefits of sunflower seeds for dogs, you will also like are roses toxic to dogs? And Victorian bulldog facts.What components are present in sunflower seeds?We get the sunflower seed from sunflowers. They are harvested from the disc floret or the flower head of the sunflowers. Sunflower seed shells obtained from sunflowers are the outer black covering that encases the kernel inside. Without the shells, they are white and are tender textured seeds. Sunflower seeds have a strong nutty flavor and have great health benefits as they are low in calories and rich in nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids.Sunflower seeds are also known to prevent various health hazards like heart disease and high blood pressure. Eating sunflower seeds will give you and your dog the essential nutrients to build up a strong immune system and high levels of energy. What complications might arise in dogs if they ate sunflower seeds?Not only do sunflowers provide us with a nutty snack but they are also the primary source of harvesting sunflower seed oil. Sunflower oil is widely used in the food business, and the medical field as well. Sunflower seed oil is also obtained from sunflowers and sunflower seeds. The sunflower seed oil also contains nutritious calories packed with fatty acids, vitamins, is highly beneficial for promoting heart health, skin and hair, good digestion, and also in the prevention of various diseases like Arthritis, Asthma, and Cancer, improving immunity.Sunflower oil is also beneficial for dogs as they help build up energy, immune function, and also a healthy heart, and organs. It is a superfood oil found in many pet food items as well as treats. It consists of omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential to your pet’s everyday diet and has lower levels of saturated fat than animal fats.Does eating sunflower seeds in moderation offer any benefit to your dogs?Sunflower seeds are coated with a black shell known as the husk, which is not harmful if eaten by a human. However, it is recommended to feed the kernel of the sunflower seed to your pet dog. The kernel is the white part inside this shell. To obtain the benefits of sunflower seeds like the healthy calories, vitamins, and minerals they should be de-husked and then fed to your dogs.It is safe to say that dogs can eat sunflower seeds, and it is recommended that the black striped shell that coats the seeds is removed before feeding them. To stay on the safer side, you can also opt for buying sunflower kernels, which are the sunflower seeds without the black husk, instead of shelled sunflower seeds. Dogs can eat sunflower seeds if you add them to their dog food or in their meaty treats or homemade biscuits for your dog. Sunflower seeds should be fed in moderation as well to your dog.Sunflower seeds in large quantities, even without the outer coat or the shells, can lead to severe side effects and any gastrointestinal disease like vomiting, diarrhea, choking hazard, sodium toxicosis, etc., if portion control is not maintained.To feed sunflower seeds to your dogs, soak them first to help remove any excess salt or seasoning. Too much salt can lead to dehydration and sodium poisoning in dogs. They are also high in copper content, hence, you should consult your veterinarian first before feeding your dog sunflower seeds to ensure their safety.Sunflower seeds are highly nutritious but should be fed to dogs in moderation. If they are fed more than a handful of sunflower seeds in a day it can lead to vomiting and diarrhea. An excess of sunflower seeds in your dog’s body can even lead to deadly diseases like pancreatitis, which requires critical care. Portion control is of utmost importance as even de-shelled sunflower seeds, if consumed in large quantities, will hurt your dog.It is also very important to check if the seeds are fresh as they tend to grow mold very fast even if stored in a safe environment. Mold can be extremely toxic to dogs and can lead to severe side effects if consumed by them.Benefits Of Feeding Sunflower Seeds To Your Pet DogsSunflower seeds contain high amounts of vitamin E, plant compounds, and flavonoids that have anti-inflammatory properties that help with bloating of both pets if they eat sunflower seed. Dogs can eat sunflower seeds up to five times or more each week, as studies have shown that they help lower inflammation levels. If your dog eats sunflower seeds in moderate amounts, it will help prevent chronic diseases.They can be added as an additional ingredient in your pet’s meal by sprinkling the seeds over them. To help your dog achieve maximum benefit from the sunflower seeds, you should grind them and refrigerate them so that they do not turn rancid and moldy. Always opt for unsalted and raw seeds as excessive salt or sugar can cause major health issues in your dog.The Number Of Sunflower Seeds You Can Add To Your Dog’s MealEven though feeding sunflower seeds are highly nutritional, high amounts of it are most definitely not right for your pooch. If you want to safely incorporate the goodness of sunflower seeds in your puppy’s diet, determine its physical activity and weight and consult with your vet.Each ounce of sunflower seeds consists of 165 calories (0.75 ounces); 5 g (0.17 ounces) of sunflower seeds have a calorie equal to 31 calories and are packed with fats as well. Since sunflower seeds are also loaded with essential fats you can give them dry granular dog meals throughout the day and also incorporate a treat later in the day.Therefore, a large number of sunflower seeds is also akin to feeding too much fat to your dog. This can cause serious gastrointestinal discomfort. Do not administer more than 0.5-1 tablespoon of sunflower seeds in one go.Birdseed As An Alternative To Sunflower Seeds In A Dog’s DietTechnically, not only is it safe if dogs eat sunflower seeds but even birdseed, which is a combination of mixed grain used for feeding birds, although, it is best to seek veterinarian advice.However, just like sunflower seeds, there are also quite a few health hazards that can happen if dogs eat too much birdseed as large amounts of it will cause problems in their intestines. Seeds tend to produce stomach gas during digestion and can result in bloating, which is often painful for them and can be fatal.In worst-case scenarios, it can additionally lead to gastric dilatation, which can cause serious illness that will require emergency vet care for your pet since it is fatal. Eating too much birdseed also causes vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and therefore should be fed in moderation if at all.What are other alternatives to sunflower seeds for dogs?Most seeds are quite healthful for dogs and can be a nutritious addition to your dog’s diet.They contain protein, amino acids, minerals, fiber, vitamins, fats, and various nutritional elements and work great as dog meal toppers as long as they are administered in moderation.Chia seeds are known to be immune system boosters and can help with your dog’s electrolyte balance. Flaxseeds are also rich in fiber and have anti-inflammatory properties. Sesame seeds are rich in minerals and consist of sesamin and sesamolin, which help increase vitamin E levels in animals and also help keep the liver safe from oxidative harm. Hemp seeds are also a great alternative as they are high in protein can be easily digested and they are good for the immune system.Pumpkin seeds, on the other hand, are an excellent source of zinc, which is very healthy for dogs that suffer from copper toxicosis, which is caused because of copper storage in their system. This is another side effect of consuming too many sunflower seeds within a short period. However, it is recommended that you feed your dog older store-bought pumpkin seeds or ones that are stored safely. This is recommended rather than feeding them fresh ones because their nutritional value is known to increase the more they get older. If you decide you want to feed seeds to your pet, it is advisable to contact your vet for information.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for are sunflower seeds bad for dogs? Are they really toxic for dogs? 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Sunflower seeds are known to be one of the most popular healthy snacks, which are not only delicious but have great health benefits as well.