Can Dogs Eat Broccoli? Explained

As you may already know, dogs are omnivorous animals. That means dogs can be benefited by eating both vegetables as well as meats such as beef, chicken, etc. That's the reason why many commercial dog foods often contain some quantity of fruits and vegetables in them. 

Apart from that, when you are planning to give treats to your dog, you should also keep in mind to include both meat and some fruits/vegetables that are safe for dogs on your list. 

For now, the topic is, Can Dogs Eat Broccoli? Is Broccoli Safe for Dogs?

We already know many nutrient facts about broccoli and how healthy it is for us humans. Now let's find out whether this green vegetable is safe for our dogs or not.

Can Dogs Eat Broccoli?

The quick answer is, yes, dogs can eat broccoli in small quantities. In general, broccoli is quite safe for dogs and nutritious as well. But you should limit the broccoli intake of your dog to 10% of the daily intake of food. 

Because the florets present in broccoli contain a substance called isothiocyanate. This element is known to cause mild to severe digestive issues to dogs. For this reason, if broccoli is served to your dog in an amount of more than 25% of the daily intake of food, it is reportedly considered toxic for your dog.

Is Broccoli Safe for Your Dog?

While a large amount of broccoli is generally considered risky for dogs, in smaller quantities broccoli can be more of a healthy vegetable treat for your dog occasionally. 

If you observe that your dog does not face any difficulty digesting broccoli and does not show any symptom of belly troubles, then broccoli is safe for your dog. Just keep in mind the 10% rule and make sure the broccoli is not hard especially the stems or stalks. you can make broccoli easier to digest and softer just by steaming them as usual . Another important thing you should remember is, you have to make sure that the broccoli you are giving to your dog is not seasoned with any additives or flavor enhancers and does not contain any extra oil. 

How Much Broccoli Can Dogs Eat?

In general, the rule of thumb is to feed your dog broccoli not more than 10% of the total food intake daily. You should give your dog broccoli as a treat sometimes but not every day as a regular element of the meal. 

Something that people often forget is, though broccoli is quite healthy food for growing puppies, the amount of broccoli puppies can eat should be much lower than that of an adult dog.

How Should You Feed Broccoli to Your Dog?

Well, as far as research goes, dogs can eat both cooked and raw broccoli. But our recommendation is, you should give steamed broccoli to your dog. That way, the broccoli becomes softer. Other than that, the stems or stalks of broccoli is harder and can probably cause choking hazard. To avoid this risk, you should cut the stems into small pieces so that your dog can digest them easily and the risk of choking hazard is gone.

Some suggest that if you occasionally feed your dog broccoli, then you may be able to eliminate some degree of the risk of some breed special diseases in dogs. Here are some tips you should follow when giving broccoli to your dogs.

🐾 Do not give any broccoli to your dog that has additional seasonings or oils in it.

🐾 Try to give steamed broccoli to your dog so that it becomes easier to eat and digest. Steaming or boiling the broccoli before serving make that softer and easier to eat if compared to the raw ones.

🐾 To avoid the choking hazard, but the stems or stalks of the broccoli into bite-sized or small pieces before serving them to your dog.

🐾 If you are in active contact with a vet, you can even consult with your vet before giving your dog broccoli for the first time.

Giving Broccoli to Your Dog the First TIme

When you're Giving your dog broccoli the first time, you may already know, some dogs can be allergic to certain types of foods. To find out whether your dog an allergic to broccoli or not, you may do the following:

First, you should give very small amounts of broccoli to your dog to eat and wait and watch carefully for any unusual reaction. If you do not notice any unusual reaction in your dog's body, then you can assume that your dog is not allergic to broccoli or any element present inside it. 

Health Benefits of Broccoli for Humans

Broccoli is considered a powerhouse full of very significant nutritious elements such as antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, minerals, etc.

Whether it is cooked or raw, broccoli remains a good source of multiple nutrients. According to Healthline, some of the health benefits broccoli offers include:

🥦 It contributes to reduced inflammation

🥦 It provides protection against some types of cancer

🥦 It boosts a healthy immune system