Can Dogs Eat Jicama?

Jicama is a wonderful prebiotic human food so asking yourself if dogs can eat jicama is a worthwhile question when thinking about what to feed your dog. Learn all the benefits and any potential downfalls of including jicama in your dog’s diet.

CAN DOGS EAT JICAMA?

Some dogs are the type that will eat anything and everything that comes out of the kitchen, eagerly awaiting a carrot or maybe even a piece of fennel while you prepare a meal.

While others seem to be total snobs and only want something more enticing such as a pork rib or something sweeter like mango.

We’ve had both types of dogs but even the one that typically turned her nose up to vegetables loved eating jicama.

Knowing that jicama is totally safe for a dog to eat, we happily indulged her in a few sticks when we’d snack on it between meals (usually with some hummus).

WILL JICAMA HURT DOGS?

Absolutely not. The jicama bulb is a safe vegetable to feed your dog and actually a great source of prebiotics (essentially food for the good bacteria in human and dog guts).

The plant itself that jicama grows from, however, can be toxic but that’s not something you’ll ever see sold in the store.

Jicama is a root vegetable sold as bulbs similar to turnips or celery root, but never with any greenery attached to it.

If you’re growing a jicama plant (unlikely if you’re in the U.S. as it grows naturally in Mexico and Central America) yourself at home, however, this is something to keep in mind and keep your dog away from.

HOW MUCH JICAMA CAN A DOG EAT?

As with any new food, it’s a good idea to start slowly when introducing a dog to jicama and serving size will depend on the size of your dog.

Cutting a peeled jicama bulb into sticks is the most common preparation of the root vegetable. A few sticks for your pup per day is a good place to start.

They’ll likely love the crunch and mild flavor!

IS JICAMA HEALTHY FOR DOGS?

All the health benefits of jicama for humans apply to dogs as well.

Jicama is full of prebiotic fiber as already discussed. Just one cup of it contains over 6g of fiber!

Prebiotic fiber is what feeds the healthy bacteria in the gut known as probiotics.

Combining the prebiotics from jicama with the probiotics from sauerkraut is a great way to keep your dog’s digestive system in good shape!

It’s also a great source of vitamin C, a natural antioxidant. Other antioxidants found in jicama include selenium, beta carotene and vitamin E.

CAUTIONS OF FEEDING A DOG JICAMA

Because of its high fiber content, jicama consumption can help aid digestive issues. Too much of it, however, can also cause excessive bowel movements in dogs.

As with any high-fiber food, moderation is key.

HOW TO PREPARE JICAMA FOR DOGS

Dogs can eat jicama in the same way humans do which is usually raw.

It’s often used on vegetable platters with dips at parties and while you’ll want to typically avoid dipping the jicama in anything for your dog, they can enjoy it raw just like you would.

Jicama fries are a common side dish in our house and I’ll often prepare a few unseasoned to give to the dogs as well.

Sautéing or roasting jicama is fine for dogs. As always though, be cautious of any spices used if you plan on either of these cooking methods.

If you find your dog loves the crunch of jicama, they may like cucumbers too!