With the growing awareness of alternative and sustainable ingredients, quinoa has emerged as a promising addition to canine nutrition. This ancient grain is recognised as an excellent source of protein and fibre. Sometimes referred to as a superfood, this “golden grain” is also renowned for its exceptional nutritional content and its antioxidant, antimicrobial and other properties.

And just to dot the i’s and cross the t’s, although known as a grain (and even referred to as a grain in the scientific studies cited below), quinoa isn’t botanically a grain but a seed from the amaranth family. Like amaranth and buckwheat, it is known as a pseudograin, because of its botanical similarity to cereal grains.

Key benefits include:

High Protein Content
Quinoa stands out as a plant-based protein powerhouse, containing essential amino acids (dogs require more amino acids than humans to make necessary proteins). Protein is vital for building and repairing muscles, immune function, and overall vitality in dogs.
Rich in Fibre
Quinoa is a good source of dietary fibre, aiding in digestion and promoting a healthy gut microbiome.
Essential Vitamins and Minerals
Quinoa is packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium, potassium, selenium, zinc, phosphorus and magnesium. These nutrients support various physiological functions, such as bone health, energy metabolism, and immune system function. Quinoa is rich in vitamins. B Vitamins such as B1, B2, B6 and B9 are great for the metabolism as they play a part in converting food into energy, and support the immune system.
Gluten-Free
Quinoa is naturally gluten-free, making it an excellent option for dogs with gluten sensitivities or allergies. In fact, quinoa offers higher nutritional content than wheat, having a broader spectrum of vitamins and minerals.
Sprouting
Studies have shown that the phenolic content of quinoa seeds more than doubled when they were sprouted.[1]

We have tried red quinoa, black quinoa and white quinoa as well as quinoa flakes, which are really handy. I recently sourced locally-grown white quinoa, so I managed to reduce the carbon footprint as well!

(See https://nederlandsequinoa.nl)

Nutrition facts (per 100g, cooked v uncooked)
Energy                       120 kcal               368 kcal
Protein                       4.4 g                     14.1 g
Carbohydrate            21.3 g                  64.2 g
Fibre                         2.8 g                            7 g
Starch                       17.6 g                     52.2 g
Calcium                       17 mg                  47 mg
Magnesium                     64 mg           197 mg
Phosphorus                   152 mg           457 mg
Potassium                    172 mg             563 mg

For full nutrient content see Food Data Central on quinoa: cooked and uncooked

 

Want to know more about quinoa? These studies might be of interest:

[1] Laus, Maura N., et al. “Antioxidant capacity, phenolic and vitamin C contents of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) as affected by sprouting and storage conditions.” Italian Journal of Agronomy 12.1 (2017).
Pathan S, Siddiqui RA. Nutritional Composition and Bioactive Components in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Greens: A Review. Nutrients. 2022 Jan 27;14(3):558. doi: 10.3390/nu14030558. PMID: 35276913; PMCID: PMC8840215.
Angeli V, Miguel Silva P, Crispim Massuela D, Khan MW, Hamar A, Khajehei F, Graeff-Hönninger S, Piatti C. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.): An Overview of the Potentials of the “Golden Grain” and Socio-Economic and Environmental Aspects of Its Cultivation and Marketization. Foods. 2020 Feb 19;9(2):216. doi: 10.3390/foods9020216. PMID: 32092899; PMCID: PMC7074363.
L. Scanlin, K.A. Lewis, Chapter 14 – Quinoa as a Sustainable Protein Source: Production, Nutrition, and Processing, Editor(s): Sudarshan R. Nadathur, Janitha P.D. Wanasundara, Laurie Scanlin, Sustainable Protein Sources, Academic Press, 2017, Pages 223-238, ISBN 9780128027783

Important Considerations:

  • Always consult your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes, particularly where there are pre-existing health conditions or dietary restrictions.
  • As some commercial foods contain cauliflower as an ingredient, check the label to see whether it’s in your dog’s food before giving more. Excessive intake of any foods can have adverse effects.
  • Ensure (where possible) that you use high-quality, organic products specifically formulated for pets (or better still, human grade ingredients) to avoid any potential adverse effects.
  • Introduce new foods gradually to avoid adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea.
  • I provide nutritional information purely as a helpful guide. Nutritional information on ingredients is obtained from the US Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central site (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/index.html) and any nutritional information provided in recipes is based on an online calculator: calories and other information will vary based on brands, ingredients and other factors.
  • Check nutrient levels and recommendations for your dog’s weight, age and activity. For example this nutritional guideline produced by FEDIAF.