Can Dogs Eat Cabbage? How This Common Veggie Can Transform Your Dog’s Diet!
Rocky Kanaka
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Crunchy, refreshing, and healthy, it’s no wonder that cabbage is so widely enjoyed by humans. And as with any human food favorite, you’re probably wondering if you can share a bit with your pup! After all, dogs will eat just about anything you give them, but that doesn’t always mean they should.
Aside from their widely-known chocolate allergy, dogs are unable to eat some human treats you may not expect. Fortunately, we’re here to help by answering all of your questions about whether or not dogs can eat cabbage.
Is Cabbage Okay for Dogs?
First of all, let’s get the biggest question out of the way: Can dogs eat cabbage?
Yes, cabbage is perfectly safe to feed your dog, and they’ll benefit from it just like we do! With all the nutrients cabbage provides humans, it’s an excellent choice for your pup’s new favorite snack! The color of the cabbage doesn’t matter, either, so whether you prefer green, white, or red cabbage, you can share your vegetable of choice with your best friend.
What About Puppies?
When you’re talking about giving cabbage to your puppy, things get a bit more complicated. As they’re still growing and developing, puppies need a different diet than adult dogs. Human food can disrupt this diet, especially in larger amounts, which has a possibility of upsetting a puppy’s stomach. As such, it’s probably best to hold off until they’re a bit older.
Health Benefits of Cabbage
As mentioned before, dogs reap the same benefits from eating cabbage as we do! Among these benefits are high antioxidant levels, plenty of vitamins, fiber to aid digestion, and even the potential to reduce inflammation! If you’re looking for a healthy supplement beyond your dog’s typical diet, cabbage is an excellent choice. However, this isn’t something you should be feeding your dog every day. A little bit of cabbage every now and then is a good source of fiber and vitamins, but not a good substitute for a complete diet.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are countless dog owners looking to diversify their pup’s diet, so naturally, there are several questions about cabbage that come up more often than others. We’ve answered a few of these questions to ensure you know everything there is to know about how to safely feed your dog cabbage!
Can Dogs Eat Cabbage Cooked or Raw?
It doesn’t matter what form they eat it in, cabbage is still perfectly safe for your dog to eat! Feel free to give them a taste of your salad, stir-fry, or anything else you enjoy cabbage in! As long as what you’re giving them doesn’t have any other ingredients that would be harmful, your pup will enjoy it just as much as you!
Will Cooked Cabbage Hurt My Dog?
Just like uncooked cabbage, cooked cabbage won’t have any adverse effects on your dog. However, be careful about what you’ve cooked the cabbage with, as many other popular ingredients for humans can be quite dangerous for dogs to consume.
Take the stir-fry we mentioned earlier, for example. If you’re the type who loads theirs up with garlic and soy sauce, you may want to hold off on sharing with your dog. Dogs can’t properly digest garlic, so they run the risk of getting sick, and as they aren’t adapted to the high-sodium diet of today’s humans, the soy sauce, while not toxic, could give them an upset stomach. As with anything else you feed your dog, just be sure to read up on what dogs can and can’t have before sharing your food with them.
How Much Cabbage Should I Give My Dog?
Assuming you’re giving your dog cabbage as a snack, and not part of a raw diet, moderation is key. Keep in mind that your typical 2,000-calorie diet is probably way more than your dog should be eating. In most cases, your dog is smaller than you, and as such doesn’t burn as much energy in day-to-day life. Because of this, what may be a small portion to you is much larger for your dog, so just a taste of cabbage here and there will be more than enough to keep them happy.
Can Cabbage Cause Diarrhea in Dogs?
As long as you don’t overfeed them as mentioned above, you should be in the clear. However, cabbage does cause gas in dogs, just like in humans, so if you give them too much, they may get an upset stomach and diarrhea.
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