Fine as a treat
Can dogs eat quinoa?
Cooked plain quinoa is safe and is a complete protein — it appears in a number of commercial dog foods.
Why
Quinoa's saponin coating is a gut irritant, which is why it must be rinsed before cooking. Most commercially sold quinoa is pre-rinsed.
How to prepare it
Rinsed, cooked plain in water, no salt or seasoning.
Portion
About 120 kcal per 100 g cooked.
Also check for
- saponin coating if unrinsed
How confident is this
established
Well established in the veterinary literature and consistent across sources.
- USDA FoodData Central
Further reading
Check another food
Informational only, and not a substitute for veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and this page cannot account for your dog's age, size, health conditions or medication. If you are worried, phone a vet — that call is always the right call.