Can pets eat broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower?
By animal
| Animal | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs | In moderation | Safe in small amounts. Isothiocyanates irritate the gut in quantity. |
| Cats | In moderation | Safe in small amounts. |
| Rabbits | Risky | Gas-producing. Rabbits cannot burp, so bloating is a real problem. |
| Birds | Safe | Well tolerated and nutritious. |
What it actually does
Brassicas contain isothiocyanates, which are mildly irritating to the gastrointestinal tract in quantity — the usual guidance is to keep broccoli under about ten per cent of a dog's intake. The rabbit case is more serious than it sounds: rabbits cannot vomit and cannot belch, so gas produced by fermenting brassica has nowhere to go, and gastrointestinal stasis in a rabbit is a genuine emergency rather than an upset stomach.
No reliable dose threshold has been published for this. Anything presenting a specific safe amount is extrapolating.
Body weight decides almost everything here, so what is trivial for a 40 kg dog can matter for a 4 kg one, and a bird is smaller again. Where a real published threshold exists this page gives it; where none does, it says so rather than inventing one.
Vegetables
| Food | Worst verdict | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onion, garlic, leek and chives | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Carrot | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Corn on the cob | Not safe | Not safe | Risky |
| Mushrooms | Risky | Risky | Risky |
| Tomato | Risky | Risky | Risky |
| Pumpkin | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Potato | Not safe | Risky | Risky |
| Lettuce and leafy greens | Risky | Safe | Safe |
| Peas, green beans and sweetcorn kernels | Risky | Safe | Safe |
| Rhubarb | Toxic | Not safe | Not safe |
Common questions
- Can dogs eat broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower?
- Fine in small amounts. Safe in small amounts. Isothiocyanates irritate the gut in quantity.
- Can cats eat broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower?
- Fine in small amounts. Safe in small amounts.
- What does broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower actually do?
- Brassicas contain isothiocyanates, which are mildly irritating to the gastrointestinal tract in quantity — the usual guidance is to keep broccoli under about ten per cent of a dog's intake. The rabbit case is more serious than it sounds: rabbits cannot vomit and cannot belch, so gas produced by fermenting brassica has nowhere to go, and gastrointestinal stasis in a rabbit is a genuine emergency rather than an upset stomach.
Related pages
- Can pets eat onion, garlic, leek and chives? Toxic — treat as an emergency
- Can pets eat carrot? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat corn on the cob? Not safe
- Can pets eat mushrooms? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
- Can pets eat tomato? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
- Can pets eat pumpkin? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat chocolate? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat onion, garlic, leek and chives? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat xylitol and birch sugar? Also an emergency
- Everything, for dogs 46 foods
- Everything, for cats 46 foods