Can dogs eat Luffa?

Overview

Yes, dogs can safely eat young luffa gourd. Luffa, also known as Loofah, is enriched with vitamins minerals. When luffa becomes fully matured, it becomes highly fibrous and no longer edible. Do not feed it to dogs as it can cause fatal stomach obstruction.

Benefits

Luffa is a type of gourd that is edible when young.
Luffa gourd is a good source of vitamin A, carbohydrates, vitamin B5, manganese, potassium, copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and magnesium for dogs.

Risks

As the luffa gourd matures, it becomes highly fibrous and inedible. If your dog doesn't chew it into small pieces, luffa can get balled up in the stomach and cause intestinal obstruction.
Luffa seeds are astringent due to cucurbitacin B, which may be poisonous to dogs.

Servings

Mature luffa should never be given to dogs as a treat.
Remove the seeds of young loofah, chop the gourd into small pieces, cook, and serve in moderation.
The calcium to phosphorus ratio of young loofah is 1:2.5, which is not suitable for dogs with kidney issues.