How is cabbage good for dogs?
There are different ways that cabbage adds nutritional benefits to your dog’s diet. Cabbage is full of fiber, which can help your dog’s digestive system function correctly. Cabbage contains 2 grams of fiber per cup and only 22 calories. This makes it a good choice if you have an overweight dog, and you’re looking to bulk out their meals and help them feel full without piling on the calories.
Cabbage is also packed full of vitamins and minerals, including high levels of vitamin K and C. It also contains antioxidants that can help keep your dog healthy. Some research suggests that vitamin C may help reduce the risks of developing certain types of cancer in humans. It’s not clear if this would also be the case for dogs, but it’s certainly a potential plus point for this vegetable!
But before you go off and prepare a huge batch of cabbage for your dog, let’s take a look at what’s not so good about cabbage and why you might decide not to feed it to your dog after all.
Too much cabbage can cause a build-up of gas within your dog’s digestive system. This can leave them feeling bloated or with a sore tummy. The other unpleasant side effect is your dog might get a great deal of flatulence and end up leaving stink-bombs around your house!
Excessive gas is usually only a problem when you feed a large amount of cabbage in one go, so it’s best to stick to smaller portions of this vegetable.
What about leaving cabbage raw or cooking it up?
Is cabbage safe for dogs to eat?
You may be surprised to learn that yes, dogs can eat cabbage! It’s actually a good source of natural nutrients and fiber, along with a variety of other benefits. If you’ve ever eaten cabbage yourself, you’ll know that they can lead to a little gas and bloating—especially in sensitive people. It’s for this reason that you should know how to give your dog cabbage without him suffering the same way.
What are the Health Benefits of Eating Cabbage?
Cabbage is a great healthy treat for your dog because it contains tons of vitamins. Some of those vitamins include:
Vitamin K is important in regulating a dog’s ability to clot (1). If your dog incurs an injury, then vitamin K is responsible for stopping the bleeding. When a dog is deficient in vitamin K, then it may be prone to infections and blood loss.
Sometimes dogs accidentally eat rat poison. A common way vets treat that is through introducing more vitamin K. It fights the toxin and protects the organs. Feeding your dog cabbage regularly keeps their levels of vitamin K healthy. They’re always ready to help heal your dog in case it becomes injured or plays too roughly.
Vitamin C is just as important for dogs as it is for humans. It’s a powerful antioxidant for dogs (2). It scans their body for any free radicals that are floating around. Then it destroys them. This can keep your dog healthy and prevent premature aging and cognitive decline.
Interestingly, dogs can actually produce their own vitamin C. However, adding more to their diet can only improve their health. By adding more cabbage to their diet, you can continue to keep your dog youthful and feeling great.
B6 is one of the most important vitamins for your dog. It plays an important role in keeping their blood sugar normal. It generates glucose, keeps the nervous system functioning correctly, and generates red blood cells. It also helps the immune system respond to threats and regulates a dog’s hormones.
Without B6, your dog can have a difficult time functioning. By introducing cabbage to their diet, you can further keep their levels of B6 at an optimal level. Your dog may be happier and more energetic as a result.
Cabbage also provides plenty of fiber for their diet. This is ideal if your dog happens to have loose stools or problems with digestion. It also contains certain minerals like manganese, copper, and potassium that can also beneficial for the health of your dog.
Red cabbage has been suggested to help fight cancer. As such, feeding your dog red cabbage may also help them prevent the development of cancer. In particular, cabbage has phytonutrients. These are antioxidants that may get rid of free radicals in the body. Free radicals usually play a role in the development of cancer.
They can also help treat certain heart conditions.
As with all types of food, there’s always a danger when you eat too much of it. The same goes for cabbage. While cabbage can have great health benefits for your dog, it’s never a good idea to feed it only cabbage. You’ll want to keep the amount small. Before you feed your dog cabbage, it’s a good idea to check with your vet about their diet and if cabbage is good for them, specifically.
A sign that your dog may have eaten too much cabbage is being gassy. It can also cause an upset stomach. If you continue to feed your dog too much cabbage, then it may even result in hypothyroidism. This is a condition in which the metabolism slows down. It can make a dog lethargic and make them gain weight.
If dogs gain weight, then there’s a good chance that they can develop diabetes. This condition can be fatal in dogs. Weight gain can also introduce a series of other health complications that can decrease the happiness and health of your dog, so it’s always a good idea to try to keep them at a healthy weight.
Before changing the diet of your dog, you should consult with your vet first. They’ll be able to offer you tips and the proper amount of cabbage that you should feed your dog.
Yes, dogs can eat cooked cabbage. They may even enjoy the taste more.
Does cabbage make dogs fart?
Dogs are omnivorous and benefit from a diet consisting of animal and plant sources. Cabbage, a world-wide favorite, is a safe snack for your furriest bestie.
Wonderful news, considering how tough it is to crush canine hopes when those beef stuffed cabbage rolls get passed around…You know what I’m talking about right?…Those melt-your-heart, soulful, beseeching gazes, punctuated effectively by a desperate whine and dripping saliva?