Can my dog eat Rhubarb?
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Rhubarb resembles celery, but it has red stalks instead of green. We think of this plant as a vegetable, but it’s actually classified as a fruit and is used in many sugary desserts. It has a tart, bitter flavor that makes adding sugar a necessity for some. This fruit/veggie is full of nutrients including vitamins C, K and B, along with calcium, potassium, manganese and magnesium. Rhubarb is healthy, but it should be noted that the leaves of the rhubarb plant are poisonous. They contain extremely high levels of a substance called oxalic acid. The entire plant contains this toxin, but only very low levels of oxalic acid are found in the stalks. The main concentration in rhubarb leaves.
Can my dog eat rhubarb? Can my puppy eat rhubarb? No, rhubarb is not generally recommended for dogs, because of the oxalic acid found in the entire plant. Oxalic acid can cause pain when ingested. First the mouth and then other parts of the body after the veggie is swallowed. Oxalic acid poisoning can lead to other severe medical conditions including kidney failure. What if my dog ate a lot of rhubarb in the garden? If you suspect your fur baby’s eaten even a little bit of rhubarb, take your dog to the vet right away.
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
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