The world is divided on whether they like brussel sprouts or not. For the people that do absolutely love them, then you might have had this question pass through your head “Can dogs eat brussel sprouts?”
It’s natural to want to share your food with your dog when that cute little face is staring up at you, just waiting to get a bite. So, can you share your sprouts?
I have the answer for you and much more. If you want to share some brussel sprouts with your dog, then I will teach you exactly how to do this!
Can Dogs Eat Brussels Sprouts?
Yes, brussel sprouts are safe for dogs in moderation. They contain a lot of nutrients and vitamins that are essential to your dog’s overall health.
If your dog is already eating a high-quality dog food, then your dog is probably already getting the necessary nutrients it needs without eating brussel sprouts.
If you feed your dog, homemade dog food, brussel sprouts would be a good addition to the dog food.
What Are Some Health Benefits of Brussel Sprouts for Dogs?
You may be shocked to know that brussel sprouts have a lot of nutritional benefits not only for your dog but also for you.
Here we will dive deeper into more information about specific nutrients and vitamins your dog will receive when eating a brussel sprout.
Fiber
Brussel sprouts contain a lot of fiber. Fiber is important to any human and dog as it will help maintain your gut health and obviously move things along when it comes to bowel movements.
There can be a downside of too much fiber, and that is your dog may have a lot of gas and sometimes even diarrhea.
Likely your dog will just get a great deal of gas.
Vitamins
There are so many vitamins inside brussel sprouts, such as vitamin A, K, C, E, and B.
Vitamin K – Vitamin K is very important to help create strong, healthy bones and help improve the body’s blood clotting function.
Vitamin A – Vitamin A is very essential for your dog’s coat health. It also works well to help your dog’s brain function and promotes healthy muscle growth. This is a very important vitamin for dogs and humans.
Vitamin C – Vitamin C is very important because it can give your dog an immune boost and also help guard your dog’s body against cell damage, which helps protect your dog from cancer.
Vitamin E – This vitamin works to protect your dog’s cells from free radicals, which would damage the cells.
Vitamin B1 – This vitamin is also called thiamine, which helps keep your brain, nervous system, and organ health. It will even turn the body’s carbohydrates into energy, which is important for dogs and humans.
Vitamin B6 – Vitamin B6 is another helpful vitamin that gives your dog energy. This will also keep your blood sugar in check, which is very important if you or your dog has diabetes.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are another key thing that your dog’s body needs to keep it healthy. Antioxidants help fight off diseases like cancers, free radicals, and cell damage. Brussel sprouts have a great amount of antioxidants inside of them.
Here are some things that antioxidants provide:
- Reduce inflammation in the body
- Fights off illnesses
- Promotes healthy circulation
- Fights free radicals
Can Dogs Eat Cooked or Steamed Brussel Sprouts?
Brussel sprouts are a very hard vegetable, and no one likes to eat them in the raw form. Cooking them for a slight period of time will create a softer to eat vegetable without losing all the nutritional content the vegetable provides. Below are some easy ways you can cook brussel sprouts:
Roasting: This is such an easy way to cook brussel sprouts. The only downfall with this method is it will take quite a long time, unlike the other methods that just take minutes.
Prep your brussels before cooking by cutting off stems and cutting the sprouts in half for faster cooking. Spread out on a baking sheet with a small amount of olive oil. Try not to use more than a teaspoon of olive oil, as it can be unhealthy if you use too much.
Dogs cannot have seasoning on their food, so it is imperative that you keep the brussels plain with no salt, pepper, onion, or garlic powder. If you want seasonings or other added flavors on your brussel sprouts, I suggest making a separate pan just for yourself.
You can either roast the sprouts on a baking sheet at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes or on a higher setting such as 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes. This option is truly up to you.
Boiling: Another simple way to cook brussel sprouts is by simply boiling them in a pot of water, almost like if you were boiling spaghetti, except don’t salt the water.
Add the sprouts to the water once it reaches a boil and cook for 4-5 minutes. This will get the vegetable soft without getting too mushy. When the brussels are too mushy, they lose all the amazing nutrition, vitamins, and minerals inside of it.
* The longer you cook the sprouts, the softer they get, so you can add additional time based on your preference.
Microwaving/Steaming: When you microwave your brussel sprouts, this will be another method that will quickly cook the brussels. There are a few ways you can do this.
The first one is to take your fresh brussels sprouts and prep them. Once they’re prepped, you can put them in a microwave dish with a little bit of water inside. Cover the dish with a paper towel and place in the microwave for two to three minutes. Drain any remaining water.
The second way to accomplish this method is by purchasing a frozen steamable bag from the grocery store that does not contain any seasonings. Place it on the microwave on the side of the bag that states “this side up”. Then follow the cooking directions on that corresponding back. When you take the bag out, cut a small slit where you can easily drain the water out before serving.
*Be careful not to over steam the brussels as this is the easiest way to lose viable nutrients and vitamins.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Brussel Sprouts?
While it is okay to give your dog, raw brussel sprouts, it is recommended that you don’t. Here are some reasons why you should avoid them in the raw form.
- The raw brussel sprouts are very fibrous and hard. This can make it challenging for your dog to digest. You don’t want to cause a blockage in your dog’s digestive system because that can harm your dog in so many ways.
- Also, brussel sprouts don’t taste very good when they are in the raw form. Your dog may not even like the crunchy taste. If you steam them just to cook them for a little bit, your dog may find it tastier.
- Brussel sprouts can give your dog extreme gas. They can give your dog gas even when they are cooked. When they are raw, your dog will experience more flatulence, so if you do not like dog farts, then this may be a vegetable you want to stay away from.
Can Dogs Eat Frozen Brussel Sprouts?
This question can be contradictory. Yes, you can buy frozen brussel sprouts and cook them thoroughly and then share them with your dog. No, you cannot give your dog a completely frozen brussel sprout to eat.
Frozen foods may be a nice treat on a hot day, but the brussel sprout is already a hard food, so it will turn into a hockey puck when it is frozen.
Are Brussel Sprouts Toxic to Dogs?
No, brussel sprouts are not toxic to your dog. The key is moderation; you don’t want to allow your dog to scarf down a lot of brussel sprouts, or they can become sick.
If your dog eats too much, your dog will likely have diarrhea. Brussel sprouts contain a high amount of insoluble fiber, which can make your dog use the bathroom quite frequently.
Brussel sprouts also make both humans and dogs have extreme gas. Now your dog may not mind having gas, but I’m sure you will be sick of having to smell your dog’s stinky farts.
If your dog is eating a dog food each day, the chances are you won’t even need to feed your dog human food. If you try to incorporate raw foods or human foods into your dog’s diet, then brussel sprouts would be a great vegetable option; just make sure you follow the feeding guidelines below.
How Much Brussel Sprouts Can You Feed Your Dog?
Serving size will all depend on the size of your dog. Obviously, a large dog breed could ear more brussel sprouts than a small dog breed would.
Moderation is the key, and your dog will not need very many brussel sprouts to get the provided nutritional benefits.
| Toy, Miniature, or Extra Small Dog Breed (Under 10 Pounds): | Half a brussel sprout at most |
| Small Dog Breed (Up to 20 Pounds): |
One brussel sprout per serving |
| Medium Dog Breed (Up to 60 Pounds): |
Two brussel sprouts per serving |
| Large Dog Breed (Over 60 Pounds): |
Three brussel sprouts per serving |
Can Dogs Eat Brussel Sprout Stalks?
Brussel sprout stalks are very fibrous and tough. It is even recommended that people shouldn’t eat the stalk as it is just too thick and hard to eat.
When you are preparing your brussels to cook, remove the stalk entirely at the bottom to make them easier to eat. Use the above cooking methods above to cook the brussels.
Are Brussel Sprout Stalks Bad for Dogs?
It isn’t that they are bad for dogs, but they are unsafe. Stalks are big, bulky, touch, and fibrous. These fibers can be very difficult to chew through.
If your dog does eat the stalks, it can become a choking hazard or even cause intestinal blockage in smaller dogs.
If you suspect that your dog has eaten the stems of the brussel sprout and is acting weird, you should consult your veterinarian and tell her or him about your dog’s symptoms.
Can Dogs Eat Brussel Sprout Leaves?
You may not know this, but brussel sprout leaves are usually thrown away and discarded. You can find them in the produce section. They look like cabbage leaves or a flat kale.
These leaves are rounded with a dark green color and a light green stem running through it. The leaves get gathered and sold. They can be sautéed, steamed, or even used on top of other recipes.
Dogs could certainly eat some of the leaves if they are cooked thoroughly and added to their food. You could add some chopped cooked leaves onto existing dog food to give your dog the extra vitamin or mineral benefits.
Other Alternatives to Brussel Sprouts
If you cannot find brussel sprouts or want to feed your dog other foods that are safe with great health benefits, then try some of these foods down below:
Asparagus
Asparagus is another great vegetable that will provide your dog with a great deal of fiber, vitamins such as A, B9, C, E, and K, potassium, iron, and antioxidants.
The bottom part of the asparagus cannot be eaten by your dog but chop the tops off and cook those, and your dog can enjoy the delicious taste.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is extremely popular to add to homemade dog food. Many people who make homemade dog food cook chicken, rice and add some organic pumpkin puree to it.
Pumpkin is classified as a fruit and contains fiber, iron, Vitamin A, and zinc. It can help your dog remain consistency with the bathroom and firm up things inside the GI tract.
Various Fruits
There are a lot of fruits that your dog can actually enjoy. Fruit can be used in replace of dog treats as their treat. Now not all fruits are safe, so it is important to know which ones are and are not.
Just to name a few that are safe for your dog to consume: Bananas, pineapple, strawberries, and even apples (except not the seeds of the apple).
Next time you want to praise or reward your dog try giving your dog one of these fruits.
Conclusion
Now you know the answer to the question, can dogs eat brussel sprouts. If you have an abundance of brussel sprouts and just can’t help but share with your dog, you can rest easy knowing it’s safe as long as you cook them properly and keep them plain.
Just keep in mind that moderation is the key, and your dog will likely only need one or two to satisfy this impulse treat.
Let us know in the comments down below if your dog has ever eaten brussel sprouts. Did your dog like it? How was your experience feeding your dog this delicious sprout? We look forward to replying to you.