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Can dogs eat broccoli? The obvious answer is yes, but not everyone agrees. I received an email from a passionate pet parent warning me about feeding broccoli. “Everyone knows that broccoli is toxic to dogs.” I respectfully disagree but was intrigued. Is there something about broccoli that I don't know? I took this opportunity to educate myself about the benefits (and possible risks) of feeding broccoli to our dogs.

Can My Dog Eat Broccoli?

If you ask anyone in the raw feeding community if dogs can eat broccoli, the answer will be “yes.” Of course, our dogs can enjoy broccoli. But, in my opinion, moderation is essential. While humans are encouraged to get their daily dose of fruits and vegetables, I don't believe the same is necessary for our dogs. Thus, I feed broccoli and other vegetables to supplement my dogs' diet, not as the central part of their diet.

Benefits of Broccoli for Dogs

Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable with collard greens, kale, bok choy, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. It's a great source of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, and potassium. It also boasts more protein than most other vegetables.

Nutrients in Broccoli

FIBER: supports gut health and aids in weight loss, and can be a great addition to the bowl for dogs that need to lose weight.

VITAMIN C: a powerful antioxidant that boosts the immune system, supports cardiac (heart) health, improves iron absorption, and supports cognitive health.

VITAMIN K: assists in creating the proteins necessary for blood clotting; it's used to prevent bleeding after surgery, metabolizes calcium in the bones, and Vitamin K therapy is often used to treat some poisoning.

IRON: supports healthy red blood cells, energy, digestive health, and the immune system.

POTASSIUM: is a vital nutrient that keeps the body moving. It regulates the heartbeat, keeps muscles and nerves healthy and working, and helps process protein and carbohydrates.

Why I Feed Broccoli to My Dogs

A nutrient breakdown is excellent, but that's not why I feed broccoli to my dogs.

I'm attracted to a compound found in cruciferous vegetables – sulforaphane (suhl·faw·ruh·fayn). Sulforaphane is initially in an inactive form called glucoraphanin. We get sulforaphane when glucoraphanin comes into contact with myrosinase, enzymes that protect the plant. When the plant is damaged (steamed, frozen, or pureed), the connection is made, and we get sulforaphane.

So, why is this a big deal?

Sulforaphane has cancer-fighting benefits, supports cardiac and cognitive health, and boosts the immune system. However, it's unclear how much broccoli I need to feed my dogs to get these benefits. I have read that the younger the plant, the more sulforaphane; 100 times more.

Broccoli Sprouts are Better

If your dog isn't a fan of broccoli, try broccoli sprouts. I've been adding them to my dogs' meals daily. You can get them from some grocery stores in the natural section or easily grow them yourself. I'll be starting my first batch soon.

Broccoli sprouts provide 100 times more sulforaphane than mature broccoli. Nutrients in sprouts are more bioavailable, and they're absorbed quickly,

Broccoli sprouts provide the same benefits as broccoli, just super-sized.

How to Prepare Broccoli for Dogs

Mature Broccoli

I prepare vegetables for my dogs in two ways: lightly steamed (for a few minutes) or pureed. Not only does this activate the cancer-fighting benefits, but the nutrients are also more bioavailable, and my dogs are more likely to eat the vegetables.

• Effects of different cooking methods on health-promoting compounds of broccoli.
• Steam cooking significantly improves in vitro bile acid binding of collard greens, kale, mustard greens, broccoli, green bell pepper, and cabbage.

I feed the entire broccoli, stem, and florets. The stem has the highest amount of fiber and sulforaphane. I chop the broccoli into small pieces to avoid choking or puree it with other vegetables to make a nutrient-dense blend that supports a healthy gut microbiome.

Broccoli Sprouts

The sprouts are easier to prepare. I use a mortar and pestle to crush half of a cup of broccoli sprouts (adding a small amount of water makes it easier) and split the sprouts between my four dogs, mixing them into their meals. The mortar and pestle step is optional – sometimes, I add a pinch of broccoli sprouts to their meals.

Broccoli Sprouts Shopping List

• Broccoli Sprouts Seeds
• Broccoli Sprouts Growing Kit (with jars, lids, and stands)
• Broccoli Sprouts Growing Kit (lids and stands only)
• Broccoli Seed Sprouting Kit (two-layer stand)
• Microgreen Grow Book – Becoming a Microgreen Master

Dehydrating Broccoli Sprouts

There are no consistent feeding recommendations for broccoli sprouts. Often people share that they add a pinch to their dogs' meals, which doesn't sound right – is “a pinch” equally effective in a Chihuahua and a Mastiff? Going down this rabbit hole gave me the idea to freeze-dry the broccoli sprouts. I saw myself making large batches and storing them as a powder supplement.

Dehydrating Steps

• When the sprouts are ready to harvest (ready to eat), line each dehydrator tray with parchment paper and evenly spread the sprouts on the paper.
• Dehydrate the sprouts for six to seven hours at 11o F (43.33 C).
• Grind the dehydrated sprouts into a powder and store them in a glass jar.

While dehydrating changes food, dehydrating food at low temperatures for a short time (closer to air-drying) has the least impact on the nutrient profile. It's important to know that dehydrated broccoli sprouts don't have an infinite shelf-life and can develop mold if not used quickly (within a couple of weeks).

Downsides to Feeding Broccoli to Dogs

It's hard to believe that broccoli has a downside, but it does. Consuming large amounts of cruciferous vegetables can be problematic because of isothiocyanate, which changes how the body absorbs iodine and may contribute to thyroid issues.

How much broccoli can your dog have?

Several online sources say broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables should make up no more than 10% of a dog’s diet. If your dog is new to broccoli and you're unsure if it'll be a good fit, start small to avoid digestive upset or feed broccoli sprouts.

Broccoli sprouts also carry the risk of food poisoning. They are grown in a humid environment and can become contaminated by bacteria attracted to the same environment. I keep store-bought broccoli sprouts in the fridge, and the above video shares how to grow them safely at home.

That being said, I haven't been able to find specific amounts that may lead to the above “downsides,” leaving me to believe that, similar to the risk of garlic, you have to feed a lot (far more than a pet parent would reasonably feed) to experience the risks. For now, my takeaways are:

• If you have a dog with thyroid issues, speak with your veterinarian (preferably someone with extensive experience in animal nutrition) about feeding your dog broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables.
• If you plan to feed broccoli sprouts, be smart about storage to avoid the growth of bacteria.

For now, I plan to feed broccoli to my dogs.

Read More About Raw Feeding

• Books to Help Dog Owners Feed Their Dog Better
• The Truth About Raw Feeding
• What You Don't Know About Chia, Hemp, and Flaxseeds
• Vitamin D Deficiency in Dogs: Symptoms and Solutions
• Is the Billinghurst Institute Professional Raw Feeding Course Worth It?