Taro

What is taro?

Taro belongs to the arum family and is also known as water bread root, colocasia or eddo. The plant originally comes from South East Asia and is now mainly cultivated in the Caribbean and Africa. The tubers can reach the size of a turnip and have a rough skin with ring-shaped scars. The flesh is soft and white with purple speckles.

Taro cannot be eaten raw as it contains oxalic acid, which can cause irritation in the mouth and digestive tract. Taro must therefore always be cooked or roasted to break down the oxalic acid. Taro can be prepared as a side dish or as a main course. It tastes similar to potatoes or sweet potatoes, but has a creamier texture.

Benefits of taro for dogs

Taro has several benefits for dogs when fed in moderation. For one thing, taro is rich in carbohydrates, which provide energy. Taro also contains fiber, which can aid digestion and increase satiety. In addition, taro provides some vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium and magnesium.

Taro can therefore be a good addition to your dog's diet, especially if he is allergic to other carbohydrate sources such as wheat or corn. Taro is gluten-free and hypoallergenic and can therefore be an alternative for sensitive dogs.

Disadvantages of taro for dogs

Despite its benefits, taro also has some disadvantages for dogs. For one, taro is very high in calories and can therefore lead to obesity if fed too often or too much. Taro also contains a lot of starch, which can increase your dog's blood sugar levels. This can be a problem for dogs with diabetes or other metabolic disorders.

Secondly, raw taro is poisonous to dogs because of its oxalic acid. Therefore, you must make sure that your dog does not eat raw or undercooked taro. Oxalic acid can cause severe discomfort such as burning in the mouth, salivation, vomiting or diarrhea. In the worst case, oxalic acid can even lead to kidney failure.

How do you feed taro to dogs?

If you want to give your dog some taro from time to time, there are a few things you should bear in mind:

• Choose fresh and firm tubers from the supermarket.
• Peel the tubers thoroughly with a knife or peeler.
• Cut the tubers into small pieces.
• Boil or roast the tubers until they are soft.
• Allow the tubers to cool before giving them to your dog.
• Only give your dog small amounts of cooked taro as a treat or as an addition to their food.
• Avoid giving your dog spices or other ingredients along with the taro.
• Monitor your dog after feeding taro for possible signs of intolerance or poisoning.