Can Dogs Eat Broccoli

Can Dogs Eat Broccoli?

yesThe Answer

In short, if you are wondering if your dog can eat broccoli, the answer is yes. However, like other types of food, you should not over feed your dog broccoli. Overfeeding your dog broccoli can be lethal! However, it can make a great snack for dogs in small amounts.

More Information

Even though broccoli is packed with nutrients, dogs cannot digest broccoli in the same way that humans can. Due to this, large amounts of broccoli can be lethal to dogs.

Broccoli contains something called isothiocyanate which is a gastric irritant. In dogs isothiocyanate is toxic in large amounts. It is because of this that dogs can be poisoned if they eat too much broccoli.


How Much Broccoli Is Safe For Dogs?

broccoli 2The amount of broccoli that your dog can eat depends on your dogs size. While a stock of broccoli can be dangerous to a small dog such as a Chihuahua or a Teacup Poodle, to a large dog such a German Shepherd or a Lab would be fine.

It has been said that it is safe to feed broccoli if it amounts to less than 5% of your dogs food intake. Over 10% can cause serious stomach aches, and above 25% can be fatal.

Benefits Of Giving Dogs Broccoli

broccoli 3Even though large amounts of broccoli are bad for dogs, small amounts can be healthy.

Broccoli is an amazing source of fiber, which is needed for intestinal health. Fiber helps to regulate your dogs bowl movements.

Broccoli is also full of antioxidants. These help to reduce the occurrence of chronic diseases in dogs. It also contains a compound called bioflavonoids which help prevent cancers.

Broccoli And Dog Treats

Some companies use broccoli inside dog treats to give them added health benefits. If you have or make dog treats that use broccoli, make sure you give them to your dog in moderation.

Broccoli Stalks And Florets For Dogs

Both the stalk and the Florets are healthy for dogs in moderation.

Dogs Are Omnivores

dog 10This means that although a dog needs meat to survive, they also need to eat fruits and vegetables. Broccoli is a good way to give your dog some greens, as long as it is in moderation. There are also many other ways to give your dog some extra vegetables. For example giving your dog some zucchini can also be a good way to add vegetables to your dogs diet.

How To Serve

broccoli 4There is no special way broccoli needs to be served. Raw, steamed, or cooked broccoli are all ok. If you are giving your dog cooked broccoli, you should be aware of any sauces that the broccoli was cooked with. Some seasonings commonly used to cook human foods can be toxic to dogs.

Broccoli And Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Broccoli is a rich source of phytonutrients, which act as an anti-inflammatory. Because of this, broccoli is a natural way of treating inflammation.

Broccoli Nutritional Information

broccoliOne spear of broccoli is approximately 5 inches long and is 30g.
One spear has the following nutritional information:
Calories: 11
Fat: 0.1g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 10.2mg
Potassium: 98mg
Protein: 0.9g

Debating The Pro’s And Con’s

If you are still debating on if you should give your dog some broccoli, it ends up being your choice. It can be very healthy in small amounts, and has tons of health benefits, but over feeding it to your dog can be lethal. Just make sure that if you do give your dog broccoli, only give a small amount.

In Conclusion

dog 9Dogs can eat broccoli, and you should not be scared off of feeding your dog broccoli because too much can be dangerous. It has a lot of nutrients that dogs need, and dogs love it. If you do give your dog any, make sure you only give small amounts. It is recommended to give less than 5% of your dogs daily diet. You also should not give your dog broccoli every day. There are other foods you can give to your dog that may be safer than broccoli.

Dogs Like The Taste

Dogs enjoy the taste of broccoli. Because of this if you let your dog eat it, they will eat as much as they can. It is important that you keep it out of reach from your dog so they do not over eat it.

Here is a funny video of a dog who cannot hold in its excitement over seeing that it gets to have a piece of broccoli.



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About the author

Elizabeth

I have owned dogs my entire life, and could not live without them. I adopted my dog Daisy three years ago, and she brings joy and happiness into every day. I enjoy making home made dog treats for my baby, and I take care to make sure my dog has the best food possible!

19 thoughts on “Can Dogs Eat Broccoli?”

  1. I usually give my dog a branch of broccoli when I am having it. It is good to note that I should not give a large amount of broccoli to my dog. Thanks!

  2. I would advise using another vegetable for dogs instead of broccoli after reading this. Even though its fine in small amount, I have a small dog so I don’t want to take the chance.

  3. I have an eleven year old lab that I have given broccoli to whenever I had any. My boy has never had an issue. I have never given more than one branch at a time. I heard some people talking about broccoli being toxic to dogs, and I was shocked. I see now that its not toxic in small amounts, which makes sense… Ill keep giving some to him when I have, but i’ll make sure not to give too much!

  4. I wonder if there is a difference in toxicity of the broccoli flowers/buds vs. the stem for dogs. I would have thought that broccoli was healthy for dogs, so it is a good thing I read through this. I think I will stick to other foods and I wont be giving my dog any broccoli. Even with it being healthy in small amounts, there are other vegetables that contain healthy ingredients that are not harmful in large quantities… Thanks a lot for the information!

  5. Thanks for the info! I was looking for info on if I could give my dog broccoli, and this article has the most info on it by far! Very useful to all dog owners!

    1. If you have a puppy, they can still enjoy broccoli, just a smaller amount. You should always feed in moderation.

  6. I give my dog a bit of broccoli when I have some. I heard somewhere that it was toxic, and I couldn’t believe it. Now I can see what the person was talking about. Broccoli is only toxic to dogs if given in large amounts, in moderation it is healthy.

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Disclaimer

The information on this website has been taken from various sources. We simply do research and regurgitate information. Please ask your vet before altering your pets diet. The information on this website is in no means a full scientific study, it is simply a guide.