Want to Feed Your Dog Chia Seeds? Read This First!

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Can Chia seeds be fed to dogs?

It’s a great question because this protein-packed health food seems like a terrific treat for a furry friend!

Can I Give My Dog Chia Seeds?Here’s the deal:

Giving a small amount to your dog won’t be harmful, but undigested chia seeds may ultimately be the end result.

In other words, it is quite possible there will be no benefit.

Your Dog Can Eat Chia Seeds (though absorption is uncertain)

The vitamins and minerals are outstanding, but these nutrients may not actually be taken in — the only way to tell is to monitor your dog’s feces.

Chia seeds can be added to meals and doing so is smart if they are being properly digested. You may eventually see improvement in the quality of your canine’s coat!

Moderation is the right policy and, if possible, go with an organic brand.


Pro Tip: Sprinkling some chia over regular dog food is a fantastic idea!


Healthy For Hounds

Chia seeds are loaded up with valuable omega-3’s. Fiber, calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, protein and several other key nutrients are in there too.

What’s amazing is that these seeds contain about 3 times as much omega-3 fatty acids as salmon. It goes to show just how powerful chia seeds are!

Real World Benefits

From a practical standpoint, this fabulous fibrous food could help your dog with a bout of constipation as well as weight loss.

Chia, longer term, may reduce arthritic symptoms and the associated joint pain. They contain seriously potent antioxidants especially good for older dogs.

Portions For a Pooch

Chia seeds contain a relatively high amount of calories due to the rich fatty acids. That is one key reason to limit your dog’s consumption.

Determine how much chia to feed based on their body weight.

Here is a rule of thumb:

Provide approximately half of a teaspoon for every 20 pounds. You don’t need to be exact.

So if your dog is roughly 30 pounds that would be 3/4 tsp of chia seeds. Just avoid giving a lot in one meal.

Be conservative when introducing Salvia hispanica (scientific name). Doggie digestion can sometimes be tricky.

More On The Benefits

Chia seeds can contribute to blood sugar stabilization. Ask your vet about these seeds if your dog is diabetic.

Most all pet dogs could get an immune system boost. The brain may become a little sharper and better eyesight is even possible.

Realistically speaking, healthier skin and coat are probably the most noticeable effects of canine chia consumption.

Good For Active Dogs

Yet another outstanding benefit to feeding chia seeds with meals is a potential for an energy boost.

Share and see if you notice if your dog becomes a bit more active and excitable. Try it!

The Bottom Line

There are lots of reasons to add chia seeds to your dog’s diet.

They are obviously healthy, but stick to small portions — all the while checking to see if digestion is occurring.

We recommend sprinkling chia seeds onto quality dog food.

What Do You Think? Have Your Say Below…

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20 thoughts on “Want to Feed Your Dog Chia Seeds? Read This First!”

  1. Is the 1/4 teaspoon per 5 pound recommendation measured as dry seed (before the seeds are soaked) or as the gel with water added?

  2. My 20 pound dog is on prescription food and his feet are always itchy. Is this OK to give to him?

  3. I buy organic chia seeds and soak 2 tablespoons for each 6 ounce of water. Then, I let them gel for better digestion. I refrigerate them and add some to my yogurt my dog Max’s food daily.

    1. Can you tell me how much your dog weighs and how much soaked chia seeds you give? Thanks!

  4. I have a 7 pound Yorkie and she is a picky eater. I give her baby oatmeal cereal and add in some green smoothie and pumpkin. I am going to add some chia seeds too. I hope she doesn’t see them.

  5. WildGrits says:

    Other than the ratio of large intestines, people and dogs practically share the same digestive tract. The speed of the tract has nothing to do with the amount of nutrients they can extract from food. I am looking into Chia for my dog because I would like to add some fiber due to his soft stool causing anal sac problems.

  6. Many predictable views are given by doctors and vets who tend to have tunnel vision. Their viewpoint is supposed to be legitimized by their title. Like Doctors, vets learn very little about nutrition and many are living just as unhealthy as some of the worst of us.

  7. Dogs benefit from all the health benefits chia seeds offer.

  8. I grind my chia in a coffee grinder used only for grinding dried seeds and kale. Then I add it to some organic yoghurt for me and the dogs. We love it.

  9. From what I’ve researched, it’s suggested to soak Chia seeds for 24-48 hours before adding to your dog’s food. This accommodates the difference in their digestion system (or grind the seeds). I’m looking for something that I can mix with my dog’s food that doesn’t have a strong odor or taste, to help with digestion, compacted anal glands and very importantly inflammation.

    As an aside, in one of the comments, I noted that they feed their dog only kibble. From what I’ve researched this isn’t very healthy and hard on the kidneys. I cook a batch of quinoa and mix with a high quality canned food, always adding probiotics, Gold Sea Meal and some ground flax seed which also has anti-inflammatory properties.

    He likes it topped with chicken and pieces of cheese. That’s for my senior Wheaten Terrier who came to us over a year ago, neglected food wise and emotionally very fragile. Darby is the picture of health now, and loves his marrow bones and raw chicken backs too. He loves being loved and part of our animal family.

    I adore my 6 pound Yorkipoo who is a pain in the ass with food. He’s pickier than a cat. Probiotics are virtually tasteless and I can get away with a sprinkling of ground flax seed. But I’m going to give Chia seeds a try, with my other pets too, hoping it will help with a luxating patella. Actually I’m going to start taking it again too.

    1. Marsh, have you ever tried giving your dog coconut oil? My dog loves it plain and he even licks it off the spoon. You can add a tablespoon to your dog’s food. It really is great for their digestion and also contains lots of vitamins.

    2. I give my little 15 pound Dachshund Chia seeds at each meal or 2 times a day. They are soaked in warm water first. Chia is tasteless so he doesn’t balk at me adding them to his homemade diet. I also add hemp seeds (2 tsp) to his meals. All in all, it has firmed up his poop considerably so I’m hoping that this has helped with the anal gland issue.

  10. I set my yogurt out with raw chia seeds and my dog ate half of it. From what I’ve read it won’t hurt her. But I am concerned. She only gets dry Blue Buffalo dog food, water and a dental bone. I guess I will have to wait and see how her body reacts. She’s a 16 pound Terrier-mix. Wish me luck!

    1. Dry dog food, especially only dry dog food, is really unhealthy. It leaves them in a constant state of dehydration.

  11. I just started giving my pug chia seed solely because it has more fiber and she has been having a problem with her anal glands. It seems I always have to take her to get them expressed and I just can’t stand seeing her scooting all the time. I mix the chia seed with pure pumpkin and she still gets her 1/4 cup of healthy dog food morning and night.

    It seems to be working, so I’m not going to change anything. I am not one of the health freaks (for myself or for any of my other pets) but I was trying so hard to find something with more fiber and I am just praying that this is the trick. I’m just glad to know that chia seed isn’t unhealthy for her.

    1. My Lhasa Apso has problems with bunged up anal glands. I found giving her a small amount of oat bran in her morning feed helps a bit. The glands still need emptying every three months but I hope the interval between emptying gets longer.

    2. I give my Golden Retriever pieces of the FruitChia bars from Get Chia. They’re really made for people, but she loves them! Her coat seems more lustrous and she scoots less when she has some in her diet. They’re gluten-free, vegan and the sugar is all natural.

    3. WildGrits says:

      Have you found success with Chia and the anal sac issue?

  12. I put chia seeds in my Nutribullet and blend them up and put them out for my pets. They usually eat them every night. They have come and barked at me and led me back to the kitchen when the chia dish is empty. If I’m in the kitchen, they just come in and stare at me if it’s empty and they want some.

    They must know what they need because they have good high quality food and water out at all times. They still demolish 3 tablespoons of blended chia every night between them.

  13. Anonymous says:

    I put Chia seeds in my juice overnight. In the morning it is supple and soft. It’s a great way to start the morning.

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