Can dogs eat cabbage?

Written by Dr Andrew Miller MRCVSDr Andrew Miller MRCVS is an expert veterinary working in the field for over 10 years after graduating from Bristol University. Andy fact checks and writes for Pure Pet Food while also working as a full time veterinarian. Pure Pet FoodPure Pet Food are the experts in healthy dog food and healthy dogs featured in media outlets such as BBC, Good Housekeeping and The Telegraph. Working with high profile veterinary professionals and nutritionists, Pure Pet Food are changing dog food for the better. - Our editorial process

Cabbage is one of the healthiest vegetables out there, which makes it easy to be-leaf it must be good for our pets too. You might wonder if dogs can eat cabbage if you’re looking to include healthy vegetables in their diet to give them some additional nutrition and substance without increasing their carbs. So can dogs eat cabbage?

Can dogs eat cabbage?

Yes, dogs can eat cabbage. Not only is cabbage safe for dogs to eat, but they will also benefit from many of the nutrients in this lovely, leafy vegetable. Dogs can eat cabbage raw, cooked or air dried. Additionally, dogs can eat any kind of cabbage that you can, so your pup can eat green, red, and white cabbage.

Can dogs eat red cabbage?

Yes, dogs can eat red cabbage. All the kinds of cabbage we humans eat are safe for dogs, be it red, green, or white. But, the different colours of cabbage have a slight variation in their nutritional benefits.

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Red cabbage is more nutritionally dense than green cabbage, containing around 10 times more vitamins. They also contain far more flavonoids, which are the paw-some cancer-fighting compounds found in cabbages and other cruciferous vegetables like kale, cauliflower, or broccoli. Red cabbage is also rich in antioxidants and has greater anti-inflammatory properties than it’s green and white counterparts.

Can dogs eat green cabbage?

Yes, your dog can eat green cabbage. Just like other colours of cabbage, green cabbage is perfectly safe and healthy for dogs to eat.

Is cabbage good for dogs?

Yes, cabbage is certainly good for dogs and has a number of paw-sitive health benefits.

The most impressive benefit of cabbage is its cancer-fighting properties. It has been proven by multiple studies that cruciferous vegetables, including cabbage, can reduce the risk of certain cancers in canines. Including cruciferous veggies in your dog’s dinner can also help to slow the spread of cancer and improve treatment response. This is thanks to flavonoids, a phytonutrient found in vegetables like cabbage.

Including raw cruciferous vegetables like cabbage can help to prevent cell damage, deactivate carcinogens, and prevent tumour cell formation and migration. If that wasn’t enough, it also has antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties too that will benefit your pooch.

As well as awesome phytonutrients and their anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory benefits, cabbage also contains a lot of vitamins and minerals. Red cabbage especially is packed with vitamin C, adding to the veggie’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

There’s also plenty of B vitamins and vitamin K. Vitamin K maintains the blood's ability to clot while B vitamins are im-paw-tent for their overall health, especially B6. B6 is vital for dogs as it plays a key part in healthy hormone regulation, immune response, gene activation, and the regular function of their nervous system and red blood cells.

That’s not all the good stuff you’ll find in a cabbage either. Cabbage is high in fibre which will help to keep your dog’s gut healthy and feed the good bacteria in their digestive system. There’s also folate to promote normal metabolic functions like blood cell creation, and the production of amino acids to make proteins. Meanwhile, there’s plenty of potassium to help keep your pup’s nerves and muscles healthy.

As you can see, not only can dogs eat cabbage, it can provide them with a lot of paw-some health benefits as part of a balanced natural diet. If you want to include more vegetables in your dog’s diet, you can use veggies as a healthy snack instead of treats. You could also transition your dog onto a fresh, healthy diet formulated to help your pooch live a longer, healthier life.

Recap: Can dogs eat cabbage?

Yes, dogs can eat cabbage. This nutritious veggie offers a heap of paw-sitive benefits for your pooch from improving their immune system to preventing cancer. It makes cabbage a great ingredient in healthy dog food, or as a healthy snack option for your pup.

Plenty of Pure recipes already contain cabbage for its paw-some health benefits, and our gentle air-drying means that none of the nutrients are destroyed and all that goodness is locked in. It’s even gentler than home cooking and uses much lower temperatures.

Dogs who eat natural food were found to decelerate cancer cell growth by 70-90%, so imagine the benefit of eating a healthy, natural diet every day! You can find out more about the benefits of a natural diet here. Pure offers several recipes on a plan tailored to your dog, all of which are packed full of every nutrient they need to stay happy and healthy. Cabbage is one of the ingredients in Pure recipes, so your dog gets to enjoy every possible benefit of this leafy green in every mouthful.