Can Dogs Eat Cabbage? Veggies Dogs Can or Can’t Eat!

Can dogs eat cabbage? This question pops up into most dog owners’ minds when they think about serving some green vegetables to their dog. So the answer is yes. Dogs can eat cabbage, and it also offers different health benefits to your dog. However, you need to know a couple of things before serving cabbage to your dog.

In this article, we will focus on how you can serve vegetables to your dog and the amount you should serve. Moreover, we will also talk about different benefits that dogs get from cabbage and how you can prepare them before serving.

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Can Dogs Eat Cabbage?

The answer to this question is yes. Dogs can eat cabbage; even some dogs love eating it. Eating cabbage is safe for your dog, and it even provides a lot of health benefits. It helps your dog in fighting cancer, many skin problems, and promotes digestion as well. However, there are some side effects too.

You need to know a couple of things if you want to serve cabbage to your dog. If the dog eats cabbage in the excess amount, it can cause different problems like gas. It is always essential to give small portions of cabbage in the beginning. Moreover, slightly cooked cabbage is more beneficial than raw cabbage. Let’s move forward to further know about the question asked that dogs can eat cabbage.

How to Serve Cabbage to Dogs?

There are three different ways in which you can serve cabbage to your dog

• Cooked cabbage is more comfortable to digest for your dog
• You can add it into a homemade meal and balance it with a protein-based meal
• It can also be served as a topping on dog food.

No doubt that dogs love to eat raw cabbage because raw cabbage’s crispiness is fun for the dog. However, it always best to serve cooked cabbage instead of natural. The reason is that raw cabbage contains a compound called thiocyanate, which can clamp down the thyroid gland. Especially if the raw cabbage is served daily in large amounts, it can cause hypothyroidism.

Cooking cabbage slightly deactivates that compound and eliminates the risk of hypothyroidism. You can either boil or steam the cabbage a little, and it is perfect to be served. Moreover, do not add any seasoning to it.

How much cabbage should my dog eat?

Whenever you try new food with your dog, it is always best to serve it in small portions and see your dog’s reaction to it. Similar is the case with cabbage. If you are serving it for the first time, make sure that you serve just a small cabbage portion.

Notice your dog’s reaction once he has finished his meal and look if he is happy and comfortable after eating cabbage. Also, it would help if you didn’t serve anything to your dog excessively. Moderation is always the key. Do not feed cabbages to your dog daily; instead, serve it as a supplement or just a part of their meal.

4 Surprising Health Benefits of Cabbage For Dogs

Most people have this question in their mind that can dog eat cabbage or not.  Well, you can feed cabbage to your dog, and it even offers a lot of health benefits if served in a moderate amount. Let’s have a look at the benefits that your dog can get from cabbage.

1. Fiber Content:

Cabbage has a lot of fiber in which helps indigestion. It helps to promote digestive system of your dog and makes it function properly. Ideally, there are 2 grams of fiber in every cup of cabbage and just 22 calories.

2. Ideal for Overweight Dogs:

Cabbage helps in maintaining the ideal weight of your dog. There are just 22 calories in one cup of cabbage, as mentioned before. It bulks out your dog’s meal and makes their stomach feel full without too many calories. In this way, you can reduce the amount of food without leaving your dog hungry.

3. Minerals & Vitamins:

There are a lot of essential minerals and vitamins in cabbage. It contains high amounts of vitamins C and K, which are very important for your dog’s health. Moreover, many antioxidants support the overall health of your dog. According to some research, vitamin C has been very effective in reducing the risk of different cancer.

4. Potassium in Cabbage:

Potassium is an essential element found in cabbage and healthy for your dog. It is necessary because it improves muscle contraction, nerve signals, and fluid regulation in the body.

Harms of Feeding Cabbage to Dogs

There are not too many disadvantages of feeding cabbage to your dog. It’s always about the amount and serving method that you are using. One of the most significant drawbacks of cabbage that has been found yet is that it can cause a lot of gas, especially if it is served raw. It can upset the stomach and disturbs the digestion process.

Too much gas in the stomach can cause bloating and flatulence. It will make your dog excessive farting, and you definitely wouldn’t want the smell all-around your home. This problem only occurs if you serve cabbage in a excess amount daily. Small portions of this food will not cause any trouble.

Can Cabbage Cause Gas in Dog’s Stomach?

Cabbage can cause a lot of gas in your dog’s stomach that will disturb the whole digestive system. It is especially common if the cabbage is served in raw form. Gas can cause bloating, which can ultimately leave your dog farting all around. Some of the symptoms that you can notice of tummy woes are mentioned below

• Frequent flatulence
• Watery stool
• Bellyache

 Therefore, it is always better not to serve raw vegetables to your dog.

What should I give to my dog in case of gas?

If your dog has an upset stomach or digestive system, you can give him some natural things to solve this problem. Three ingredients have been proved very effective in treating or reducing flatulence. These are yogurt, ginger, and peppermint oil.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Cabbage?

Dogs can eat raw cabbage, but it is not always safe and can cause your dog problems such as gas. Many dogs have been seen to love the crispiness of cabbage and love to munch on it. However, raw cabbage contains a compound known as thiocyanate, which ultimately causes hyperthyroidism. If raw cabbage is served daily in large amounts, it can lead your dog to hyperthyroidism. Therefore, it is better not to serve raw cabbage to your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Cooked Cabbage?

Cooked cabbage is all safe for your dog. There is no harm in eating cooked cabbage because cooking the raw cabbage deactivates the compound thiocyanate. Therefore, if you want to feed cabbage to your dog in more massive amounts, it is always better to slightly cook it before. It will save your dog from many problems.

How To Cook Cabbage For Your Dog?

It is always a safe side and a good idea to cook cabbage before serving it to your dog slightly. Cooking cabbage is not difficult at all. You can either boil it or steam it to stay moist and cut it into smaller pieces so that your dog can easily eat it. Steaming and boiling are the two most common methods that you can do with other vegetables as well.

Do not add spices:

There is one crucial thing you need to keep in mind while cooking cabbage for your dog. Please do not add any seasoning or spices to the cabbage because they are not safe for your dog. Therefore, it is always better to serve the boiled cabbage without any seasoning.

Moreover, you cannot take out cabbage from your food and serve it to your dog. Cabbage as a part of some recipe or meal contains spices that are not healthy for your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Red Cabbage?

Dogs can eat red cabbage, and it has the same process as green cabbage. It would be best if you cooked it before serving it to your dog slightly. Red cabbage offers a lot of health benefits to your dog and contains many essential minerals and vitamins. Moreover, red cabbage is a crucial source of fiber, which aids digestions.

Red cabbage also contains vitamin C and K. These two vitamins are essential for the digestive system and provide immunity to fight different diseases. However, it is always important to serve cabbage in a moderate amount because excess amounts can cause gas and disturb the thyroid gland’s function.

Can Dogs Eat Cabbage Leaves?

Cabbage leaves are safe, and your dog can eat them. It contains a high amount of nutrients that maintain a healthy lifestyle for your dog. There are different health benefits of cabbage so let’s have a quick look at these.

Low Level of Calories In Cabbage Leaves:

Cabbage contains a short amount of calories, as mentioned before. One cup of cooked vegetable ideally contains 17 calories served to your dog. You can shred it so your dog can quickly eat it if you serve one leaf of raw cabbage; it has approximately six calories. So it’s a great option if you want to serve a low-calorie diet to your dog. It is beneficial for overweight dogs and helps them to maintain an ideal weight.

Healthy and Essential Nutrients In Cabbage Leaves:

Cabbage contains a lot of healthy nutrients that are important for your dog’s health and well-being. One of the most necessary elements is antioxidants found in cabbage, which give a happier and longer life to your dog. Moreover, cabbage contains fiber, which aids in digestion.

Cabbage is also a good source of vitamin C, which helps your dog in different ways. Vitamin C is helpful for bones, skin, and blood vessels.

Fighting with cancer: 

Cabbage contains sulforaphane, a compound known to fight cancer, and has many other benefits. It is useful in reducing the risk of heart problems and lowers your dog’s blood pressure.

So there are a lot of health benefits of cabbage if it is served moderately.

Harmful Vegetables and Plants For Dogs

Though fruits and vegetables should be a part of your dog’s diet, not all are healthy for your dog. Some vegetables and plants are toxic for our dog, and you should keep your dog away from them. These include

• Avocados
• Unripe tomatoes
• Mushrooms
• Grapes and raisins
• Broccoli
• Onions and garlic
• Nuts
• Pips, seeds, and stones
• Potatoes
• Nutmeg
• Rhubarb
• Persimmon seeds
• Hosta Plant

These are all toxic ingredients for your dog; therefore, don’t let them munch on these.

Safe Vegetable And Plants For Dogs

As we’ve discussed some of the plants, and vegetables that are complete harmful for dogs above, there are still some plants that can benefit your dog in many ways:

Broccoli: The vitamins, and minerals present in Broccoli can provide a various health benefit to your dog. 

Cauliflower: Cauliflower has many benefits for canines, but if your dog is not good with gas problems, please avoid feeding Cauliflower to your dog. 

Carrots: Carrots are perfect for the skin, and coat of dogs. 

Many vegetables are suitable for dogs, such as, Cucumber, Lettuce, and pumpkin, etc, but keep in mind; moderation is the key. 

Conclusion

Reading all the information mentioned above must have provided you with the answer to your question: Can dogs eat cabbage? Dogs can eat cabbage, and it is even safe for them. Cabbage offers different health benefits to your dog. Moreover, cooked cabbage is a better option than raw cabbage. Therefore, you can slightly steam or boil it before serving.

Also, always remember that moderation is the key. If you feed it for the first time, still serve a small portion and watch your dog’s reaction. Moreover, an excess amount of cabbage can cause gas in your dog’s stomach, so always serve it in a moderate quantity.