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Can Dogs Eat Broccoli And Cheese?
Before sharing your broccoli and cheese tray with your dog, you may be wondering if dogs can eat a broccoli and cheese bake? and if it is good for dogs?
The short answer is yes: giving your dog a small portion of broccoli and cheese is safe for your canine friend. However, there are a few things you’ll want to consider before offering this to your dog. Let’s go through the main ingredients of broccoli and cheese.
The ingredients of broccoli and cheese typically comprise:
- Broccoli florets
- Unsalted butter
- Flour
- Milk
- Mature cheddar
- Salt
- Black pepper
Giving your dog a small portion of broccoli and cheese every now and then shouldn’t be a problem, as long as your dog is fed a balanced, good quality dog food.
Is Broccoli Good For Dogs?
Broccoli is hailed as a superfood for humans because of its high nutritional value, one of the main ingredients of broccoli and cheese can benefit a dog in a number of ways.
It’s chocked-full of fiber, which is known to aid digestion and is good for weight management. It’s also loaded with vitamins — including A, B, C, D, E and K — that help to promote overall well-being. Broccoli also contains lutein, a nutrient that supports eye and heart health, and other antioxidants that help curb inflammation.
Although dogs are omnivores, a vegetable such as broccoli can be a healthy addition to their meal plan. However, cruciferous vegetables have been known for causing gas, so it could make your dog a bit gassy.
Are There Any Concerns?
Speaking of gas, this side effect after eating broccoli could be a cause for concern if you’re your dog is showing signs of excessive gas, this could indicate that they have a digestive issue. So, if you’re feeding your dog some broccoli and cheese for the first time and the resulting smell becomes downright unbearable, it’s best to give your veterinarian a call to rule out anything more serious.
Moderation
The saying too much of a good thing also applies to broccoli. While it’s OK for dogs to eat, giving your dog too much broccoli can cause your dog gastrointestinal distress. As broccoli contains isothiocyanate, which is a naturally occurring compound that along with fiber and complex sugars could cause mild or extreme digestive distress, including gas, stomach upset, diarrhea and blockages.
What About Cheese?
Although cheese is packed with nutrients, including calcium, protein, phosphorus, zinc and vitamins A and B12, these are nutritional benefits for humans; and what’s good for humans doesn’t necessarily serve your dog’s nutritional needs.
However, this doesn’t automatically mean that cheese doesn’t have its benefits. One advantage of cheese is that it can be a handy motivator for your dog, during training. Also, some dog owners use some cheese to help mask medicine if they’re struggling to get their dog to medication.
Is Cheese Bad For Dogs?
As cheese is the other main ingredient in broccoli and cheese, it’s important to know if it’s safe for your dog. So, can dogs eat cheese? Or is it a no-no? While there are some potential benefits of your dog eating some cheese, the truth is that it could also cause them lots of health issues, including obesity and pancreatitis.
The ASPCA notes that “because dogs do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other dairy-based products could cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.” So, the takeaway is to only give your dog small portions of broccoli and cheese as part of their regular meal plan or as a frequent treat. While the food seems innocent, it may end up giving them tummy trouble. Other than the issue of lactose, another problem with cheese when given to dogs is its high-fat content. Feeding your dog fatty foods regularly could lead to them gaining an unhealthy amount of weight and can even cause obesity, which in turn, could lead to further health problems. According to the American Kennel Club, eating cheese could trigger pancreatitis, especially for breeds that are prone to pancreatitis. i.e., schnauzers and cocker spaniels. Pancreatitis is a condition that could result in stomach upset, diarrhea and a painful belly. Some severe cases can even result in death.
Conclusion
You should know that not all cheeses are created equal. Therefore, Low-fat cheeses, such as mozzarella, cottage cheese and soft goat cheese, maybe healthier options for your dog than those with higher fat content. Therefore, when shopping for a broccoli and cheese bake, try to see if there are any broccoli and cheese bakes that have more dog-healthy cheeses, also make sure to take a close look at the ingredients.
NEVER give your dog broccoli and cheese that has chives or garlic, as both of which can be toxic to dogs.
If you’re still unsure on whether you can give your dog some broccoli and cheese occasionally, consult your local veterinarian. Your veterinarian will be able to help you figure out if it’s an appropriate treat and if so, what kind of cheese is best for your dog. Always remember that any food other than your dog’s normal food — including dog treats — should never account for more than ten percent (10%) of your dog’s overall daily caloric intake. Just like humans, too many calories will lead to weight gain, which can lead to a host of other health conditions.
