Can Dogs Eat Cabbage?
In moderation. Cooked cabbage with no salt is safe in small amounts, but it causes a lot of gas, and large amounts of raw cabbage are not advisable. Red cabbage, the same.
What it gives your dog
Cabbage is very low in calories (about 25 kcal per 100 g) and provides fiber, vitamin K, vitamin C and potassium. Red cabbage is the same plant in a purple version, with more anthocyanins. Cooked and chopped, it can be mixed into their food as a bulking vegetable.
Like the other cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts), it has sulfur compounds that ferment in the gut: it is one of the vegetables that cause the most gas. It also contains glucosinolates, which in large, sustained amounts, especially raw, can interfere with how the thyroid uses iodine. With small, cooked portions, that is not a realistic problem in a healthy dog. Sauerkraut, kimchi and other fermented or pickled cabbage are very salty.
How to serve it
- Boiled or steamed with no salt, until tender
- Finely chopped and mixed into their food
- Outer leaves well washed, or discarded
- Start small to see how much gas it gives your dog
- Never sauerkraut, kimchi, pickled cabbage or cabbage cooked with sausage
How much can they eat?
A few times a week: small dog (under 10 kg / 22 lb), 1 tablespoon (10-15 g) of cooked cabbage; medium dog (10-25 kg / 22-55 lb), 2 tablespoons (20-30 g); large dog (over 25 kg / 55 lb), 3-4 tablespoons (40-50 g).
Risks
- Gas, bloating and soft stools
- Raw in large amounts on a regular basis: possible effect on the thyroid
- Sauerkraut and pickled cabbage: lots of salt
- Cabbage cooked with sausage, bacon or onion
- Dogs with hypothyroidism: ask your vet before giving it often
Frequently asked questions
Can dogs eat raw cabbage?
A little raw cabbage is not toxic, but it is harder to digest and causes even more gas. Raw cabbage also keeps more glucosinolates, which in large amounts and every day could interfere with the thyroid. Boiled or steamed, it is easier to digest and safer. If you give it raw now and then, keep it small and very finely chopped.
Can my dog eat red cabbage?
Yes, with the same conditions as green cabbage: cooked, with no salt and in small amounts. Holiday braised red cabbage, on the other hand, usually has apple, raisins, vinegar, sugar and sometimes wine or onion. Raisins are toxic to dogs even in small amounts, so do not give them any of that.
General information reviewed against veterinary sources. If your dog has eaten something that worries you, call your vet or a 24-hour emergency vet right away, without waiting for symptoms.