So today I was chopping up some eggplant for ratatouille and my dog Cooper started doing that sad-eyed stare thing at my cutting board. Got me wondering – is eggplant good for dogs? Figured I’d test it myself instead of just Googling stuff.
Starting Simple
First thing I did was hit up my vet’s website. Couldn’t find a straight "yes" or "no," just some fuzzy "moderation" talk. Annoying. Dug through my dog nutrition books next. Same vague answers. Everyone seemed scared to just say "feed it" or "don’t feed it."
My Kitchen Experiment
Alright, time for action. Grabbed one small eggplant from my fridge counter. Rules I set for my test:
Rule 1: Plain cooked only. No salt, oil, spices. Just peeled and boiled a tiny piece.
Rule 2: Super small portion. Like, pinky-nail size for Cooper (he’s a 70-pound mutt).
Rule 3: Watch him like a hawk after. Poop patrol, energy levels, the works.
Chopped that boiled bit into crumbs and mixed it into his regular kibble. That dog vacuumed it up in two seconds flat. Okay… phase one complete.
The 24-Hour Watch
This is where things got boring but necessary. Took Cooper out every few hours checking for:
- Diarrhea? Nope.
- Vomiting? Nothing.
- Acting weird? Still begged for squirrels like normal.
Felt kinda silly staring at his poop with a flashlight, but hey, commitment. Everything looked… fine. Basic dog business.
Double-Checking With The Vet
Even though things seemed okay, called my vet Dr. Patel. Told her exactly what I did. She sighed – probably used to me – but confirmed:
- Yes, cooked plain eggplant is technically non-toxic.
- BUT: Nightshade family plant. Some dogs have sensitive tummies.
- Leaves/stems? Absolutely not. Solanine poison risk.
- Cooked flesh? Small amounts usually tolerated, but watch for itching or upset stomach.
She gave me the "you’re extra, but fine" tone. Typical.
The Final Scoop
So can dogs eat eggplant? Yes, technically. But after testing it myself? Honestly? Just… why bother? It’s got minimal nutrition for them. Cooper didn’t care about the taste. And worrying about solanine traces ain’t worth the hassle. Safer treats are way easier. My ratatouille stays human-only now. Cooper gets a carrot instead. Less drama.
