Can Dogs Eat Brussels Sprouts? Nutrition Facts & Safety Guide

Brussels sprouts are a nutritious vegetable that we should all eat more often. Whether you love them or hate them, they are packed with essential vitamins and minerals that promote overall health. If you are in the group that enjoys a brussels sprout side dish, you may have wondered whether you can share this veggie with your pup? To save you some suspense, YES! You can definitely feed your dog Brussels sprouts.

In the article below, we will not only give you the answer to this question, but we will also outline the benefits and drawbacks of feeding your dog this food.

Giving Your Dog Brussels Sprouts

Brussel sprouts are filled with a lot of nutrients that your dog needs to be healthy. That being said, there are some provisos in how you feed your dog this vegetable. Before we get into that, though, let’s take a look at the benefits of this leafy green food.

Vitamins and Nutrients

As mentioned, Brussels sprouts are packed with vitamins and minerals that your dog can utilize to keep them healthy. They are part of the cruciferous vegetable family and are close to broccoli. Let’s take a look at some nutrients below:

• Antioxidants: Antioxidants are important in a dog’s diet as they promote their immune system health. They are also known to fight free radicals that have been linked to cancer. Serving up these tasty antioxidants will reduce your dog’s risk of contracting this and other serious illnesses.
• Vitamin K: Vitamin K is important for bone growth and helps with overall health. It will also keep their teeth healthy and their joints from becoming brittle and breaking down.
• Manganese: If you are not familiar with this nutrient, it is important for protein. Manganese helps your dog’s body absorb the protein it needs to be strong and active.
• Fiber: Fiber is important for your pet’s digestive health. Not only does it keep everything circulating correctly, but it also promotes solid stools that are important for healthy dog BMs.
• Vitamins: As not to make your head spin with the number of vitamins in Brussels sprouts, we will only mention a few more. This vegetable has vitamins C, A, B1, and B6. These combined nutrients reduce inflammation, promote healthy blood circulation, immune support, and healthy skin and coat.

How to Prepare Brussels Sprouts

If you have decided that your pet should partake in cruciferous vegetable night, you want to be careful about how you prepare the food. The best way to do so is by either steaming, microwaving, or boiling the vegetable. Steaming and microwaving are both quicker, plus boiling Brussels sprouts can remove some of the vitamins and minerals.

You first want to make sure that you have ripe Brussels sprouts. The leaves should not have any white or wilting to them, and you should cut off the stems before you cook them. That being said, you also do not want to add any salt, pepper, or other spices to the vegetable. If you prefer them fried with bacon and butter, you may want to skip giving them to your pet.

The added fat and calories that can come from the grease, bacon, butter, and other ingredients can cause your pet to have stomach upsets, and it can cause weight gain and obesity.

The Downside of Brussels Sprouts

If you regularly eat this vegetable, then we don’t have to tell you what the main downside is to feeding them to your pup. To put it bluntly, farting. Sprouts cause a lot of gas in both humans and canines. They contain a substance called isothiocyanate that helps the body process food and waste through the digestive tract. The side effect of this is gas.

Unfortunately, your dog is not likely to politely excuse themselves if they need to break wind. This means that you may spend a noxious odor evening with your pal. That being said, gas is actually a healthy side effect of the body as it means everything is moving in the right direction.

Something else you want to consider, however, is an upset stomach and diarrhea. Some dog’s stomachs are not a fan of sprouts, and they will result in an upset stomach. You should always start your pup out with half a brussels sprout to see how their system responds. If you notice signs of diarrhea, upset stomach, vomiting, or any other sign outside of the norm, you should discontinue the food right away.

You should also know that even if your pooch’s stomach reacts well to the vegetable, they should still be given in moderation. Your pet should consume no more than three Brussels sprouts per day. What’s more, if your pet suffers from any food sensitivities or allergies, you should consult your veterinarian before trying out this gas inducing veggie.

Conclusion

When all is said and done, Brussels sprouts are a very healthy snack for your pet. One other thing that we wanted to mention, however, is the simple fact that your dog may not be interested in eating this vegetable. You can try to serve it to them in different forms such as boiled or steamed, plus you can add it to their normal food, but there is no guarantee that your pooch will take a bite. What’s more, you should never give your pet these sprouts raw.

Although Brussels sprouts are rich in a lot of healthy nutrients, they are not essential for your pet’s diet. There is no need to rush out and buy yourself some leafy green balls. Do not be concerned if your pup turns their nose up at them or prefers to play catch with the vegetable instead.

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