I was really worried because my labrador was suffering from arthritis. To be honest, I didn’t want to give him those steroids and medicines that I know would bring more harm than good. So, the other day, I came across a natural animal healer who suggested me yucca root for my dog. He told me to feed my dog yucca capsule daily; it will, for sure, heal him and that also without any risks involved.
But I was really skeptical and wanted to know more before giving it to my pup. So, can dogs eat yucca? I dug in, and here’s what I found out:
No, dogs can’t eat yucca as it’s really poisonous for them in raw form. However, yucca can be used as a medicine for arthritis, hip and knee dysplasia, digestive problems, and skin problems. You should always feed commercially processed yucca that is specially made for dogs as a medicine. This way, you can keep a check on yucca dosage as overdosage can cause various problems and even death. Don’t try to make yucca medicine at home as you don’t know when the dose exceeds and becomes lethal to your dog.
What is yucca?
Yucca is a plant that grows typically in dry, barren lands. It grows in the deserts of Mexico and Southwestern United States.
Yucca is a vegetable that is consumed by humans by cooking it with other veggies. Actually, it’s the root part that is eaten.
Yucca is packed with vitamins and minerals. Yucca root contains copper, magnesium, selenium, zinc, iron, potassium, Vitamin A, C, and B complex. Now you can guess why it’s considered healthy.
Yucca has many health benefits. Herbalists extract the minerals and vitamins by drying it and making a powder. This powder can be used as a tea. Yucca is also being used in cosmetic products to heal different skin conditions. Yucca is great for soothing joint pain.
But all these benefits are for us humans. We can cook and eat yucca without any risks involved. But what if your pup also eats yucca from outside when you take him on a walk? Or what if your dog eats your cooked yucca? Although the taste of yucca is quite bitter but dogs don’t care. So, can dogs eat yucca without any health problems? Let’s find out.
Can dogs eat yucca root?
No, dogs can’t eat yucca as a food or as a treat. Yucca is really poisonous for them. If eaten, your dog can experience vomiting, diarrhea, and other conditions. In case your dog has eaten lots of yuccas, you’ve to rush to the vet. Intervention is a must; otherwise, you might lose your dog.
So, what’s in yucca that makes it really poisonous for dogs? Actually, raw yucca root contains cyanide that is poisonous to dogs. Cyanide is lethal, and a large intake can literally kill a dog. That’s why, yucca is a big no-no for your dog.
Now, if you live in an area where yucca is cultivated, it’s really important to keep an eye on your dog. Prevent him from eating yucca, and don’t let him go out without any supervision.
Having said that, small amounts of yucca can be fed to your dog if he’s suffering from arthritis, dysplasia, skin problems, and digestive issues. So, yucca has Medicinal benefits for dogs. But you have to be careful about the quantity you’re feeding to your dog. Also, make sure you buy yucca capsules from a reliable pharmacy to avoid any harmful effect of yucca on your dog.
Health benefits of yucca (Video)
Is raw yucca poisonous for your dog?
Raw yucca shouldn’t be given to a dog whatsoever. Raw yucca root contains cyanide, which is a poison for dogs. Cyanide is lethal, so much so that it can cause the death of dogs as well.
Yucca plant also contains cyanide. It’s possible that your dog eats some while running outside. You have to supervise your dog if you have yucca plants nearby.
So, it’s better to prevent your dog from eating raw yucca altogether. But what if he has eaten it accidentally? Let’s find out the symptoms of yucca poisoning.
Symptoms of yucca poisoning
If your dog has eaten yucca, then just stay calm and look out for the symptoms. If the following symptoms appear, then consult the vet ASAP.
Also, note that yucca poisoning occurs usually from raw yucca that is grown outside your house because that yucca found in nature has maximum cyanide in it.
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
- Dilated pupils
- Rapid heart rate
- Loss of coordination
- Loss of appetite
- Bloating
Is cooked yucca safe for your dog?
Some people suggest that cooked yucca doesn’t cause any harm to a dog. Well, cooked yucca is also not good for a dog as a meal or treat. Cooked yucca, although it doesn’t contain cyanide, but it does have steroid saponins that make cooked yucca unsuitable as a dog’s meal. Saponins are natural steroids that aren’t good in large quantities.
But cooked yucca can be fed to a dog as a medicine. That means, only a small amount should be given orally and that also one or two times a day. Also, don’t try to cook and feed it to your dog by yourself.
Commercial yucca for dogs
You can always buy yucca capsules for your dog and feed them as your vet prescribes.
But before buying yucca capsules, make sure you’re buying from a reliable pharmacy. Yucca capsules contain an optimum amount of yucca for your dog that heals your dog instead of making him sick.
Benefits of yucca for dogs?
As mentioned above, yucca is not good for dogs as a meal or treat. But yucca does have some great health benefits. So, you can use yucca if your dog is suffering from some major illnesses.
But be sure that you use the right amount and don’t exceed the limit. Also, don’t try to make your own yucca powder at home rather prefer commercially available yucca capsules.
You can feed your dog yucca capsule if your dog is suffering from:
- Joint pain
- Hip and knee dysplasia
- Arthritis
- Digestive issues
- Itching and other skin problems
Yucca is great for soothing joint pain and easing arthritis. Yucca is a great natural steroid that has no side effects if taken appropriately. Synthetic steroids are very harmful to your dog in the long run.
What makes yucca beneficial?
So, what’s in the yucca that makes it so beneficial? It’s the saponin that makes it a natural steroid. As it is a steroid, so you should give minute quantities to your dog one or two times a day.
Saponin is named so because it forms a soapy lather when mixed with water. Saponin is antimicrobial. That is why you can use it as a disinfectant for skin and for treating various skin conditions.
Saponin is very poisonous for dogs if taken in large quantities. So, be very mindful while treating your dog’s illness with yucca capsules.
Alternative natural remedies for arthritis and dysplasia
If you are not ready to treat your dog’s illness with yucca root, then you can go for some great alternative natural remedies.
The remedies that you can use safely for your dog are:
Ginger
Ginger is great for humans, but is it beneficial or poisonous to dogs? Yes, ginger is beneficial for dogs and can be used in small quantities to treat joint pain, upset stomach, arthritis, dysplasia, and even cancer.
Ginger contains antioxidants and has superb anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger acts as a stomach soother and a healer.
Be sure to use ginger in the right way to treat your dog’s illness. Ginger is, for sure better than other medicines and synthetic steroids.
Turmeric
If you want to add spice to your dog’s life, then add turmeric in his meals. Turmeric is an amazing spice with lots of health benefits for dogs.
Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial. That is why you can use it to treat various illnesses in your dog.
It is great to cure stomach upset, joint pain, arthritis, dysplasia, skin diseases, cancer, and allergies.
Turmeric also has some side effects if you give too much of it to your dog. Too much turmeric can cause constipation, stomach upset, or kidney stones.
Please note that turmeric isn’t harmful to dogs at all. But still, it should be used carefully. Turmeric should be added to your dog’s meal after consulting a vet.
The basic formula is to give your dog 1/8th teaspoon of turmeric for every 10 pounds of your dog’s weight.
Vegetables that dogs can eat safely
Now, as we’ve established that yucca is not a veggie for a dog to eat-in meals. We should also know vegetables that are actually healthy for your dog, and you should add these veggies to your dog’s diet without any risks involved. Generally, you can feed your dog all the vegetables that are low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals.
These vegetables are:
Roots and stalks
The roots that are healthy for your dog are beetroot, carrots, and yams. The stalks that are safe and healthy are celery and asparagus.
All these roots and stalks are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibers. These veggies are very low in calories. So, you can use them without any doubt.
Allow your dog to munch on them or boil them to make yummy and healthy treats for your pooch.
Inflorescent vegetables
Cabbages, cauliflower, and broccoli are great for your dog’s health. They are packed with fibers and vitamin K and Vitamin C.
Iceberg lettuce is good but doesn’t provide much nutrition. You can allow your dog to munch on it for some time.
The best way to give these vegetables is to steam them and give your dog as a meal. He’ll enjoy it for sure.
Beans and peas
The beans and peas you eat are generally safe for your dog as well. Beans and peas are great sources of fibers and vitamins. They have fewer calories, and are safe and healthy for your dog.
So, what are the ways to feed your pup beans and peas? You can simply boil them and add some with their daily meals. They will make your dog’s meal wholesome with all the nutrients they need.
All the vegetables mentioned above can be given as a meal but remember: an excess of everything is bad. You should give just the right amount of veggies to your dog. Add some with their kibble, and that’s all they need.
The Takeaway
There are many vegetables that are healthy for your dog. Is yucca one of them? Well, no. You cannot feed your dog yucca, as yucca is very poisonous due to the presence of cyanide in uncooked yucca. Also, yucca contains steroidal saponins that are lethal when taken in large quantities.
So, yucca isn’t for the dog’s meal, but yucca is a great natural medicine for dogs. Yucca can cure arthritis, soothe joint pain, ease digestive problems, and cure skin issues.
You should first consult a vet and then feed your dog yucca capsules that are commercially available. In this way, you’ll not overdose your dog. Overdosage of yucca is very dangerous and can lead to even death.
If you think yucca capsules will risk your dog’s life, then you can also treat your dog with other natural remedies like ginger and turmeric. The pros and cons are mentioned above.
We’ve also listed healthy vegetables for your dog so that you don’t consider yucca as a meal option for your dog.
