Sunflower seeds are widely used in vegetable dishes such as roasting Brussels Sprouts as well as in milk products such as yogurt. As I was cooking my dish of vegetables yesterday I accidentally dropped my bags of Sunflower seeds onto the floor. My Chihuahua is a scavenger for food and was able to eat seeds of Sunflower seeds. I was not sure whether this seed was safe for dogs to consume and that’s what has led me to create this post.
Can dogs take in Sunflower seeds? Yes, dogs can consume Sunflower seeds, but in moderation. The seeds offer a variety of advantages for dogs’ health However, pet owners must be sure to prepare the seeds properly prior to serving them to pets. The shell needs to be cut off and the kernels should be unflavored and plain. It’s recommended to crush them into pieces and sprinkle them on the dog’s main food.
What are Sunflower seeds? Can dogs consume them?
Dogs are able to enjoy Sunflower seeds because they are stuffed with minerals, vitamins, and healthy fats. When dogs eat Sunflower seeds, they get these health benefits.
It is important to note that the proper preparation of the seeds prior to feeding them to your pet is vital. The Sunflower seeds are surrounded by a tough outer shell that isn’t edible or safe for dogs. Make sure you remove the shell first, and then only give the Sunflower seed kernels to your dog.
Intentionally eating the shell of the Sunflower seeds may cause vomiting and severe stomach distress in dogs.
Make sure your seeds are unadorned and with no salt added. If your four-legged companions consume excessive amounts of salt, they may develop high blood pressure. We do not want this.
What exactly do you think of Sunflower seeds? Conical-shaped Sunflower seeds are a middle part of the herbaceous plant known as sunflower or Helianthus annuus. It is possible to find sunflowers all over the United States, especially in dry regions that have open meadows, plains, and prairie lands. They are also located within Central America, Northern Mexico as well as Canada.
Sunflowers come in different sizes. Some are small, while some are larger. It is recommended to purchase Sunflower seeds from larger varieties of sunflower since they are the ones the best to eat.
There are 3 varieties of Sunflower seeds. The most popular kind is Linoleic sunflower seeds. The other two varieties are sunflower oil seeds as well as high-oleic Sunflower seeds. Each of these three varieties has its specific levels of polyunsaturated saturated, and monounsaturated oils.
Sunflower seeds can also be distinguished by the color of their shells or husks. In the event that the shell appears entirely black, it will be the black sunflower seed. This kind of Sunflower seeds is not suitable intended for consumption, rather, they are used to extract oil. The most nutritious type to eat is the shell with stripes of Sunflower seeds, are striped, meaning that there are stripes of white and black in the shell.
What are the benefits to health that come from Sunflower seeds for canines?
Simple Sunflower seeds and Sunflower kernels offer a variety of health benefits for our pet family members. They are full of vitamins and nutrients.
But, they’re an extremely calorie-dense food which is the reason your pet should only be allowed to eat Sunflower seeds on occasion in moderation.
Because Sunflower seeds are rich in calories, they’re recommended to limit your serving size down to 1/4 of a cup each time.
The nutritional Profile from Sunflower seed kernels ( 1 cup = 33g or 1/4 of Sunflower seeds kernels)
Name, Unit | Amount |
Calories, kcal | 193 |
Protein, g | 7 |
Total fat grams | 17 |
Sodium, mg | 3 |
Carbohydrate, g | 7 |
Fiber, g | 3 |
Sugars, g | 1 |
Calcium, mg | 26 |
Iron, mg | 2 |
Vitamin A, ug | 1 |
Vitamin B-6, mg | 1 |
Vitamin C, mg | 1 |
Vitamin E, mg | 12 |
Folate, ug | 75 |
beta-Carotene, ug | 10 |
Magnesium, mg | 108 |
Phosphorus, mg | 218 |
Potassium, mg | 213 |
Zinc, mg | 2 |
Copper, mg | 1 |
Manganese, mg | 1 |
Selenium, ug | 18 |
Thiamin, mg | 1 |
Riboflavin, mg | 1 |
Niacin, mg | 3 |
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids, Total G | 6 |
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Total grams | 8 |
Tryptophan, g | 1 |
That means that a cup of 33g of Sunflower kernels is about 193 calories 17 grams of nutritious fat and 7 grams of carbohydrates (1 teaspoon of sugar).
As you can see, eating just the smallest amount of Sunflower seeds could increase your calories and carbohydrate consumption. This is why your dog should only consume a one-quarter cup or less of Sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds.
But, your dog will get 7g of protein and 3g of fiber, and 75ug folate. According to the nutritional profile for sunflower seeds, it is evident that Sunflower seed is loaded with nutrients and minerals like Vitamin A B, C, and E and folate, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus manganese, zinc selenium, niacin, as well as riboflavin.
We’ll break this down to discuss in detail how vitamins and minerals can benefit our furry companions:
Vitamin E offers antioxidants that improve the dog’s immune system.
In just 1/4 cup of Sunflower seeds, there are 12 milligrams of Vitamin E. Our canine companions require Vitamin E every day since it’s an antioxidant that aids in strengthening their immune system as well as building muscles.
In addition, your furry companions will benefit from these health benefits of Vitamin E:
- Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and helps protect your dog’s body from free radicals, both in the skin and in other cells.
- This essential fat-soluble vitamin enhances canine liver and heart health.
- Help protect nerve cell membranes.
- Cell membranes are what make cells.
- Control the cell’s respiration.
- Offers pets with healthy skin and fur.
- Control your levels of cholesterol.
- Essential for the metabolism of fat.
Fatty acids are essential to healthy cholesterol as well as normal blood pressure as well as healthy skin and hair in dogs.
Every dog needs the five essential fatty acids:
- Linoleic acid: Omega-6 fatty acids.
- Arachidonic acid is an Omega-6 fatty acid.
- Eicosapentaenoic acid is Omega-3 fatty acids
- Docosahexaenoic Acid: Omega-3 fatty acids
- Alpha-linolenic Acid: Omega-3 acid fatty acids
Sunflower seeds are rich in linoleic acid which is a form of fat that is unsaturated and assists in lowering blood pressure in dogs. In turn, this omega-6 fatty acid can help reduce the chance of suffering from strokes and heart disease in dogs.
Additionally, this healthy and beneficial fat can help keep your dog’s cholesterol levels in check to increase good cholesterol levels and reduce the production of bad cholesterol.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that canines have healthy coats and skin following the consumption of Sunflower seeds for a period of time. These essential fats found in these nuts give your pet a shiny, healthy, and full coat. soft skin.
Magnesium can decrease depression, anxiety, and stress in dogs.
Sunflower seeds have more than 108 mg of magnesium which is ideal for nervous pets or dogs who are anxious. This vital mineral aids canines to remain calm and at peace.
In addition, if your pet puppy is suffering from seizures, spasms muscles tension or spasms, giving your pet some Sunflower seeds can be beneficial.
Vitamin B is excellent for the health of your dog
Sunflower seeds are full of B vitamins.
This seed’s B-6 vitamin that is found in this seed aids dogs by assisting them in the following ways:
- Activating genes.
- Niacin synthesis.
- Immune response.
- Regulating hormones.
- The function of the nervous system.
- The function of red blood cells.
- Generating glucose.
Vitamin B-12 aids your furry companions by providing the following benefits:
- Improve their digestion and intestinal health.
- Enhance brain functioning.
- Growth and development of new blood cells.
Niacin Vitamin B-3 helps reduce your dog’s anxiety levels as well as neurosis and increases your dog’s pet’s brain activity. It also aids in the process of metabolizing proteins in dogs.
Tryptophan, an important amino acid found in Sunflower seeds. It is particularly useful for dogs that have low levels of serotonin in their brains and serotonin present in this seed can help decrease aggression and stress in dogs..
Sunflower seeds also have thiamine, which assists in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism as well as energy levels in dogs. It also helps to activate the ion channels within the neural tissue of your dog.
Riboflavin is also called B- and helps to regulate the metabolic processes of carbohydrates as well as amino acids within dogs’ bodies.
Pyridoxine also known as Vitamin B-6 boosts the health of dogs’ bladders and helps to regulate the amino acid metabolism.
Are Sunflower seeds safe for dogs?
Although Sunflower seeds offer numerous health benefits for your dog However, it is crucial to keep in mind that pet owners should provide the seeds to their dogs in moderate amounts. Before giving Sunflower seeds to furry companions be sure that the shell has been removed and that the Sunflower seed kernel isn’t salted.
The dogs generally enjoy Sunflower seeds due to their nutty flavor, however eating too many of them could make dogs sick.
Here’s what you should be aware of.
Salty Sunflower seeds are dangerous to dogs.
The grocery store-bought Sunflower seeds are generally coated with salt in order to please the human appetite. However, the large quantity of salt found that is present in Sunflower seeds is particularly harmful to dogs. Consuming too much salt could cause sodium poisoning or salt toxicosis for dogs.
The symptoms that can be caused by sodium poisonous include:
- Frequent urine leaks.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
Sunflower seeds and their shells could cause dog gastrointestinal distress
The shell of Sunflower seeds is extremely dangerous for dogs as it is not edible. Dogs who get grip on the Sunflower seed that’s wrapped in its shell won’t be capable of chewing it correctly.
The shell could pose a choking risk in the event that your furry companions take a bite without chewing it correctly. The shell can be open and be sharp and sharp edges which could cause irritation to your dog’s throat or the esophagus. This can cause internal bleeding.
In addition, when Sunflower seed shells get into in the stomach area, they could cause stomach pain or become stuck in the digestive tract, which can cause internal bleeding or obstruction. Any of these scenarios could affect your dog’s health.
An excessive quantity of Sunflower seeds can be very harmful to dogs.
Sunflower seeds are rich in oil, and when dogs consume excessive amounts of Sunflower seeds, they’re inhaling large amounts of oil from the seeds.
The dog’s digestive system may struggle to break down fats, and as a consequence, your dog could suffer from diarrhea. Beware of feeding your dog or puppy too many Sunflower seeds, as this can increase the risk of pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas.
If you’ve accidentally fed your dog excessive amounts of Sunflower seeds, or if your pets take in more than they should of Sunflower seeds, it’s recommended to bring them to a vet immediately.
A handy tip: Since dogs have difficulty digesting fats, it’s vital to ensure that pet owners don’t give them food that is fatty, such as chicken Skin which is loaded with calories and fat, and has little nutritional value to dogs.
What is the recommended number of Sunflower seeds should you feed your pet?
If you choose to feed your pet a breakfast of Sunflower seeds, it’s crucial to keep track of the amount of Sunflower seeds you’re feeding them.
As you can see in the table below on the nutritional profile 1/4 cup of pure unflavored Sunflower seeds is packed with 193 calories. In that case, we suggest offering your pet 10-15 seeds and your larger canine companions only about 20-35 seeds per week.
We strongly suggest that pet owners don’t exceed this amount. It is possible to crush sunflower seeds into smaller chunks and then sprinkle the seeds on the dog food you feed them. Alternatively, you can include them in homemade dog snacks.
So, do dogs take in Sunflower seeds?
Your furry friend will definitely enjoy Sunflower seeds however, moderation is essential. If you feed your dog too many Sunflower seeds could cause various health issues in dogs.
A small portion of Sunflower seeds will suffice. They can provide a wealth of health benefits for your dog as they are a great source of vitamins and minerals.
Be sure to remove the shell first, and then ensure that you are able to see that the Sunflower seeds are unadorned without any added salt.