Is it okay for dogs to eat cabbage every day?

Surprisingly, many people love cabbage, and surprisingly, some owners say that they do not miss cabbage for their dogs. However, considering the nutritional balance of dogs, some foods are NG if given in large quantities. Therefore, this time, we will introduce the nutrients of cabbage and precautions when feeding cabbage to your dog.

Is it okay for dogs to eat cabbage every day?

Dogs can eat cabbage!

In conclusion, feeding your dog cabbage is not a problem. However, cabbage contains oxalic acid, which causes urethral stones, and goitrin, which can cause hypothyroidism, so it is best to refrain from giving it daily and in large quantities.

On the other hand, cabbage has the original sweetness and unique texture of vegetables, so it is a fun and excellent ingredient for cooking. So what kind of nutrients does cabbage contain?

Nutrients contained in cabbage | Vitamins

Cabbage contains several types of vitamins, and vitamin U and vitamin C are the most representative of them. Vitamin U can be expected to affect the gastrointestinal mucosa, so it plays a supporting role in digestion and absorption. Vitamin C has an antioxidant effect and can be expected to be effective in relieving fatigue.

Is it okay for dogs to eat cabbage every day?

Nutrients contained in cabbage | Minerals

Cabbage is also rich in minerals. Potassium, which has a particularly high content, is considered to be a necessary component for cells to function properly, so if it is deficient, it may harm health.

Oxalic acid

Cabbage is rich in oxalic acid. Oxalic acid combines with calcium in the body to form calcium oxalate, but when it crystallizes, it becomes a urethral stone. If these crystals get stuck in the ureter or urethra, you will not be able to urinate, which may cause deterioration of kidney function and renal failure.

Goitrin

Goitrin is abundant in vegetables belonging to the Brassicaceae family such as broccoli and radish. It blocks the absorption of iodine, which is needed by the body to make thyroid hormones, and excessive intake can lead to a disease called hypothyroidism.

Is it okay for dogs to eat cabbage every day?

Points to keep in mind when giving cabbage to dogs

There are four main points to note when giving cabbage to dogs, so I will introduce each of them.

1g for 1kg of body weight for 1 day

If you give a large amount of cabbage because it seems to be good for your health, it may cause an imbalance in nutrition and diarrhea, so you need to be careful. As a guideline, consider 1 g of cabbage for 1 kg of body weight as the amount that can be given per day.

Precautions | 1. Avoid every day for toppings

When feeding your dog cabbage, use only toppings for your staple food. Although cabbage contains various nutrients, it cannot replace the staple food. If your dog likes cabbage and gives it as much as you want, it can cause indigestion and poor nutritional balance.

Also, even if it is a small amount, it is not recommended to continue giving it every day. Only add it to your staple food, and try to keep it at most three times a week.

If you have a chronic disease such as thyroid disease or kidney disease, consult a veterinarian.

As mentioned above, cabbage contains oxalic acid and goitrin. If you have a medical history or are currently being treated for any illness, be sure to consult your veterinarian.

Precautions | 2. Should cabbage be raw or cooked?

When giving cabbage to dogs, many people are wondering whether it is better to give it raw or to heat it by boiling it. It doesn’t matter which one you use, but it is recommended to heat it when considering the digestive aspect.

However, since the nutrients contained in cabbage are water-soluble, important nutrients will flow out if they are soaked in water for a long time or boiled for a long time. When heating, it is recommended to boil the lightly washed one with a small amount of water and give the cold one together with the boiled juice.

Precautions | 3. Avoid the core but better

The cabbage core contains a small number of toxic components called sulfate ions. This is rarely a problem for healthy dogs, but it can also cause addiction in dogs with unstable gastrointestinal functions, such as puppies and senior dogs. Therefore, it is safer to avoid the core part.

Precautions | 4. Since cabbage became an adult dog

This does not mean that puppies should not be fed cabbage, but puppies are not yet fully developed. As a result, digesting cabbage can be gastrointestinal and can cause diarrhea and vomiting. In addition, some dogs do not fit the cabbage itself, so when giving cabbage for the first time, give a very small amount of finely chopped cabbage and check the state of excrement carefully.

Keep the right amount of cabbage for your dog

We introduced the nutrients that can be ingested by giving cabbage to dogs and the precautions when giving them. Not limited to cabbage, if you give too much one ingredient just because your dog is happy, the nutritional balance will be lost. Let’s support the health of your dog while keeping the appropriate amount.