Does broccoli make dogs sick? A Comprehensive Guide

Safe ways to feed your dog broccoli

When cut into bite-sized pieces, broccoli stems and florets are safe to eat – cooked or raw.

  • Raw: Cut raw broccoli into small pieces, feed it as a treat, or add it to your dog’s regular food. It should only be 10% of your dog’s diet to remain at safe levels.
  • Cooked: Whether it’s frozen or fresh broccoli, cooking, steaming, or roasting is fine so long as you’re not using seasonings or oils.
  • Pureed: Puree broccoli and dog-friendly fresh fruits and veggies with water or plain greek yogurt in a blender and freeze the mixture in ice-cube trays to make a pupsicle!
  • Does broccoli make dogs sick?

    Pet Pro Tip: If you have a dog that is prone to ‘snacksidents’ – you should consider getting a dog insurance plan as soon as possible. It can help you afford the best care in the future by covering eligible vet bills for digestive illnesses, toxic ingestion, and more.

    Health benefits of broccoli for dogs

    Not only is broccoli teeming with vitamin C, calcium, and potassium, but it’s also low in calories and high in fiber to keep your dog’s digestive system moving.

    Broccoli florets, and all cruciferous vegetables for that matter, contain small molecules called isothiocyanates, which provide health benefits like anti-inflammatory properties. However, it is these same molecules that can cause nausea, gas, bloating, and diarrhea, if your dog overeats broccoli.

    How to prepare broccoli for dogs

    Dogs can eat broccoli raw, fresh, frozen or cooked, as long as it’s chopped into small enough pieces. The best way to serve it to them is steamed or boiled, as this will soften the texture of the vegetable and make it easier to swallow and digest. While, to us, this may not sound like the tastiest way to serve it, don’t be tempted to add any seasoning, as this isn’t good for your dog and could even be toxic. Below you can find a little more information about how to feed your dog broccoli in its different forms. Mixing things up by serving broccoli to your dog in various ways can help keep this healthy snack exciting for them!

    Yes, dogs can eat frozen broccoli. As always, it’s just important that you chop it up into small pieces for them and you don’t feed them too much, as broccoli can be toxic for dogs in large amounts. Other than that, it’s a great ready-to-go, low calorie treat for your pooch. You’ll likely be surprised at the excitement your dog expresses at a few chunks of frozen mini trees!

    Yes, dogs can eat raw broccoli. Broccoli is chewier when it’s raw so it’s even more important than usual to make sure you don’t feed your dog large bits that they could choke on. If you serve broccoli to them raw, it’s also important to clean it thoroughly to make sure you remove lingering bacteria, such as salmonella, which can make your dog poorly.

    Can Dogs Eat Broccoli?