When it comes to our dogs, there’s a scene we know all too well. You are eating, and your dog is begging for some food. They might be next to you, their head in your lap, or with a paw hitting your arm until you give in.
You want to. You want to give your dogs little treats and bits of human food, but that nagging voice in your head asks, is it safe? The last thing you want to do is accidentally poison your dog, especially with something as simple as a vegetable!
One of these vegetables is cauliflower. The white vegetable you usually have to bargain and bribe your children to eat is all your dog fixates on. But can dogs eat cauliflower? You find yourself up late at night wondering about it, and the different cauliflower recipes you use, which ones are dog-friendly, you wonder.
But wonder no more! Today, we are here to tell you if your dog can eat cauliflower and all the dishes you enjoy adding cauliflower too. So sit back, relax, and get your cauliflower at the ready!
Can dogs eat cauliflower?
Let’s get straight into it: yes, your dog can eat cauliflower! We will cover a range of health benefits later on, meaning cauliflower is a healthy and nutritious treat to feed your dogs.
While dogs can eat cauliflower, you must be mindful about how much cauliflower you feed your dog. Small quantities are best to avoid any health complications or upset tummies. You will also need to be careful about preparing the cauliflower for your dogs, as some added ingredients can be toxic.
Now, we know what you are thinking, it all sounds a bit overwhelming, and you aren’t sure how to proceed. But we have you covered; we will discuss the health benefits of cauliflower, its dangers, and whether some popular dishes (cauliflower rice, cheese, and pizza) are safe for dogs to eat. Get ready to go from cauliflower novice to expert!
Is cauliflower dangerous for dogs?
Cauliflower in the appropriate amount is not dangerous for your dog to consume! There are no toxins, minerals, or ingredients in cauliflower that pose a poisonous threat to your dogs, so that you can offer them some cauliflower (in the correct amount), worry-free!
Not only is cauliflower not dangerous for your dogs, but there are also even some health benefits to eating cauliflower. It turns out; it’s not just a vegetable our parents forced us to eat; cauliflower is also packed full of healthy nutrients!
You will find fibers, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, folate, and calcium in your cauliflower. For humans, cauliflower provides us with nutrients that work as antioxidants in our body to fight illness, promote weight loss and digestion, and help our brains function and develop. Surely, some of these will also apply to our beloved canines?
In small doses, the fiber in cauliflower will aid your dog’s bowels and digestion, along with weight and colon-related issues. What’s more, the vitamins in cauliflower can help your dog’s immune system, blood, vision, and muscles! It’s hard to think of a reason not to feed your dog cauliflower!
The calcium and potassium in cauliflower can also help your dog’s bone development and strength! Perfect for growing dogs or active dogs that need to keep their strength up. As always, if you have more questions or any concerns about feeding your dog cauliflower, be sure to speak to a vet for further information and guidance.
How much cauliflower should I feed my dog?
However good cauliflower can be for your dog, we recommend only feeding them small portions of it. Too much cauliflower can cause some issues for your dogs!
Eating large amounts of cauliflower can cause digestive problems in your dogs. You might notice that they fart more, but this can lead to further digestive complications, especially in smaller dogs. Include small amounts of cauliflower into their diet and ensure it is spaced out throughout the day or week.
When serving your dog cauliflower, avoid using frozen or canned cauliflower too. These are often preserved with salt or other preservatives, which can be bad for your dog. Remember, they have much smaller stomachs and bowels than us; the last thing we want to do is overload them and cause health problems!
Prepare the cauliflower yourself so that you can control the portion size, and importantly, what’s in it. You should never feed your dog cauliflower that has been prepared with onion and garlic as these are toxic to dogs. While they often go hand in hand in recipes, onion and garlic are dangerous for your dogs to consume and must be avoided at all costs.
Can my dog eat cauliflower rice?
As long as there is no seasoning or spices in it, cauliflower rice is safe for your dogs to eat. It’s best to avoid commercial brands or store-bought cauliflower rice as they can contain additives and preservatives that can cause problems for your dog.
Instead, feeding your dog cauliflower rice that you have prepared yourself is best. Pulsing the vegetable to make the rice with no seasoning, spices, or other vegetables added will be safe for your dog to enjoy.
When prepared this way, cauliflower rice is a low-calorie dish that can help dogs on a weight loss diet. If you have any concerns or questions about this, speak to a vet for further advice and guidance.
Can my dog eat cauliflower cheese?
You can feed your dog cauliflower cheese, but you will need to be careful when doing so as some dogs can be lactose intolerant (just like us humans), so feeding them cheese can cause some gastrointestinal issues.
It’s a personal choice whether or not to feed your dog some leftovers or a small amount of cauliflower cheese, and one many dog owners make. However, you will need to be very careful not just because of the cheese but also because of the onions and garlic typically used in the dish.
As we mentioned earlier, onion and garlic are toxic for dogs and can make them very unwell. Combined with the cheesy sauce used, you run the risk of giving your dog garlic poisoning, which can lead to expensive vet bills!
Unless the cauliflower cheese is completely free from onions and garlic and contains minimal cheese, we would probably avoid feeding it to our dogs. Remember, if you have any concerns, speak to your vet before feeding your dog cauliflower cheese.
Can my dog eat cauliflower pizza?
Most dog owners do not feed their dogs cauliflower pizza. While the base is made with blended cauliflower that on its own is safe for dogs to eat, the amount of cheese, sauce, and toppings used on pizza can be tricky for dogs to digest and can lead to health complications.
Sure, we have all given our dogs a small bite of a pizza crust to nibble on, but would we sit them down with a full slice teeming with toppings and cheese? No. It’s best to steer clear of feeding your dog cauliflower pizza.
How should I give my dog cauliflower?
We’ve covered how much cauliflower, what type of cauliflower, and its benefits; now, let’s look at how you should give your dog cauliflower.
The best way is to steam, cook, or boil your cauliflower before serving it to your dog. Raw cauliflower is okay but tends to make dogs gassier. In small doses, raw cauliflower is fine to give your dog, but it can impact their digestion, which is unpleasant for your dog (and you smell the results!). Raw cauliflower is also a lot harder to chew than cooked cauliflower, which your dogs might not enjoy!
Some owners choose to roast the cauliflower before feeding it to their dog. This method means you won’t need to worry about gases, but you will need to ensure that the cauliflower is roasted without any oil or butter.
Oil and butter are bad for dogs and can upset their stomachs and digestion. It’s best to avoid these and keep the cauliflower as bland as possible when cooking and serving it to your dog.
As we mentioned earlier, you can branch out and introduce cauliflower rice, cheese, or pizza to your dogs, but you will need to be mindful of the other ingredients used. The harmful additives, seasoning, or cheese, can cause digestive problems for your dog that can lead to an uncomfortable night for them or long-term health conditions in some cases.
When preparing cauliflower for your dog in any capacity, be mindful of the ingredients and other vegetables being added to the cauliflower. As we mentioned before, certain vegetables are dangerous for your dog to eat and must be avoided. It’s always worth chatting to your vet if you have any concerns before feeding your dog cauliflower.
Is cauliflower good for dogs to eat?
We mentioned it briefly earlier, but let’s touch on it again before you go today! Cauliflower can have a range of health benefits when given to your dog correctly and in small portions.
Alongside the vitamins and minerals, cauliflower is packed with, it also contains isothiocyanates, that many people claim prevents cancer in dogs. It’s similar to broccoli in this sense, as it is also rich in isothiocyanates.
While we wouldn’t recommend feeding your dogs cauliflower or broccoli as a treatment method, it’s always nice to know there are bonuses to these vegetables.
Another benefit cauliflower has to offer is its low-calorie content! Feeding cauliflower can be beneficial if your dog has been placed on a diet. Its high fiber content also leaves humans and dogs feeling fuller for longer, again helping with weight loss.
Cauliflower is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties. For dogs with joint or inflammation problems, cauliflower can be a welcome addition to their diets. If you have any concerns or questions about these properties and the benefits of cauliflower, be sure to speak to a vet beforehand so that you have the most current information before feeding your dog.
As we have mentioned, small quantities of cauliflower are best when it comes to feeding your dog. These can be included in their diet instead of their usual treats, stalks included! Prepare the cauliflower using the methods we discussed earlier, and your dogs are sure to enjoy the healthy snack!
Are there vegetables my dog can’t eat?
Throughout the article, we’ve mentioned certain vegetables and ingredients that your dog will need to avoid. Their digestive systems aren’t the same as ours, especially smaller dogs, and we need to take care to ensure we do not cause any health problems for our beloved pets.
To help you, we have compiled a list of all the vegetables you shouldn’t give your dog. Never again will you need to wonder what you can and can’t give your dog.
- Garlic – Garlic is incredibly toxic; even in small quantities, it can cause diarrhea and vomiting in your dogs. If they manage to eat large amounts, the red blood cells can be broken down, causing your dogs to develop anemia.
- Onions – Onions contain N-propyl disulfide, a chemical that can be toxic to dogs. Similar to garlic, it can break down the red blood cells and cause anemia. Even foods with small amounts of onion should be avoided.
- Tomatoes – Tomatoes are part of the nightshade family, which some dogs can be allergic to. Tomatoes also contain solanine, a chemical that can be toxic to dogs. You often find solanine in raw green tomatoes, but it can also be found in green potatoes and should be avoided where possible.
- Eggplant – These also belong to the nightshade family, and some dogs can be allergic to them. If you want to feed your dog eggplant, we recommend starting with small portions to ensure there are no allergies and is safe for your dog to consume.
- Radishes – Radishes are safe for dogs in the smallest of slices imaginable. Your dog can suffer bowel-related complications if swallowed whole or in large chunks. Due to these risks, many owners opt not to feed their dogs radishes.
- Beet – Raw Beet is fine, but be mindful of the size as it can be a choking hazard. When cooked, beets contain oxalate, which can cause bladder stones in your dogs. They are also acidic, which can wreak havoc on your dog’s guts.
- Mushrooms – Store-bought mushrooms are usually okay for dogs to eat and come in a range of varieties. However, you need to be careful with wild mushrooms as they can be poisonous for dogs. Yes, even the ones that are safe for humans!
- Corn – Corn is fine to give to your dog, but never on the cob as they can swallow them whole. Corn cobs can cause life-threatening complications, so make sure it is prepared correctly before giving it to your dog.
- Kale – Kale is high in oxalate, which can cause bladder stones in your dog and should be avoided. It also leads to excessive gas, which is never pleasant for the dog or owner!
- Brussel sprouts – they aren’t the worst on the list but can lead to excessive gas. It’s best to give in small amounts and speak to your vet if you have any concerns.
- Cabbage – Cabbage contains vitamins and antioxidants that are beneficial to your dogs but should only be consumed in small quantities. Too much cabbage can lead to excessive gas.
Final thoughts
And like that, we have reached the end of our journey together! Providing you follow the guidance set out today, cauliflower can be a healthy addition to your dog’s diet.
Be sure you only feed them small amounts without other ingredients and remember to speak to your vet if you have any concerns!
