It’s true that your dog can eat broccoli. Maybe your darling has already snatched a piece from you and eaten it. However, there are a few things you should consider before feeding, as this is a cabbage vegetable and can cause gas and indigestion.
Short and sweet: Can dogs eat broccoli?
Broccoli is considered a safe vegetable for your dog. However, it may be that he does not tolerate this cabbage very well and gets flatulence from it. However, this is usually only the case if you give them raw to eat. By feeding your pet a serving of broccoli every now and then, they can reap the health benefits of broccoli.
Caution: Why your dog shouldn’t eat raw broccoli
While raw broccoli is not toxic to your dog, it is difficult to digest.
Because it is one of the cabbage varieties. As with all other cabbage vegetables, feeding them raw can cause severe flatulence. It’s not just uncomfortable for your dog.
For this reason, you should preferably feed broccoli in a cooked state.
Reading tip: You may ask yourself if dogs are allowed to eat red cabbage. Find out everything you need to know about this topic in our article on «Can dogs eat red cabbage».
Cooked broccoli for dogs
Cooked broccoli is easily digestible and healthy for your darling.
You can cook broccoli for your dog once in a while. The easiest method is to cook it in unsalted water.
If you can’t get fresh broccoli right now, you can buy frozen broccoli and steam it after thawing.
Then you can chop it up a bit and mix it with the dog food. Make sure it’s cool so your pet doesn’t burn their tongue on it.
If your dog doesn’t like these green collards that much, you can simply puree the collards after cooking. Some meat broth rounds off the taste.
Prefer organic quality (intolerance)
Always prefer organic quality, because conventional broccoli can be contaminated with pesticides and other impurities. There’s a chance he’ll react to them.
While these can be washed off with baking soda, to be on the safe side, it’s best to opt for organic broccoli.
But even if you don’t know exactly where the cabbage comes from, you should wash it thoroughly.
It is also advisable to add some baking soda to the water. In this way, the pollutants can be removed as far as possible.
You can buy broccoli in stores during the high season from mid-May to the end of October.
Note that this is one of the cabbage varieties that wilt quickly.
Therefore, keep it in the refrigerator for a maximum of two days after purchase and do not leave it out in the sun.
This will prevent the roses from turning yellow. This will make the broccoli lose its flavor.
If you want to do something extra special for your dog, I recommend buying wild broccoli. Although this is a bit more expensive, it offers the highest proportion of valuable vitamins compared to conventional broccoli.
Tip:
You can feed your four-legged friend both the green florets and the stalk. However, you should remove the shell first. The taste of the stalk is reminiscent of kohlrabi and is just as healthy for your dog.
Reading tip: You may wonder if dogs can eat cauliflower! Find out all about it in our article on Can Dogs Eat Cauliflower? Click here to read more!
This is why broccoli is healthy for your dog
The green cabbage, which is related to the white cauliflower, contains valuable ingredients. It offers health benefits to your dog.
At the same time, it is a low-calorie vegetable and low in fat.
Incidentally, it is also known as crumbly cabbage.
Rich in vitamins & minerals
Broccoli contains numerous vitamins. These include vitamin A, some B vitamins, vitamins C, E and folic acid.
Furthermore, this cabbage vegetable is full of minerals such as calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium and zinc.
Another interesting point are the phytochemicals. Contains broccoli
Flavonoids, glucosinolates and quercetin. It is also rich in polyphenols.
Vegetable dietary fiber
The fiber contained in broccoli is particularly good for a healthy gastrointestinal tract for your dog. So you are doing your dog a favour, if you give him a small amount of this vegetable every now and then.
Don’t overdo it, though, as dogs aren’t as good at digesting plant-based fiber.
immune system
The vegetables are said to support a healthy immune system and thus keep your dog fit and healthy. At the same time, it can help to eliminate free radicals
It is also said to be beneficial for cardiovascular health.
cancer prevention
This cabbage vegetable can help prevent cancer by stopping abnormal cells by inhibiting their growth.
hormones in balance
Broccoli is said to have a positive effect on hormone metabolism. The reason is the contained phytoestrogens.
Tip:
As you now know, broccoli is very healthy for your dog. But whether he likes it is another matter. Some four-legged friends despise this cabbage vegetable. However, if you want to, I recommend hiding it in the food bowl.
Chop up the broccoli well and mix it with your favorite food.
Reading tip: You should definitely find out if dogs can eat Brussels sprouts! Find out everything you need to know about this topic in our article on «Can dogs eat Brussels sprouts» and receive valuable information on the right nutrition for your four-legged friend.
Conclusion: Can your dog eat broccoli?
Yes, your dog can eat this delicious cabbage vegetable. Broccoli contains many vitamins and is therefore very healthy. Because raw broccoli can be flatulent and cause indigestion, you should always feed it cooked broccoli. Of small amounts
If you still have questions, please leave a comment below.