Yes, dogs can eat broccoli – as an occasional treat this is OK. Be cautious and avoid stems because they are a little firmer and could cause choking if your dog doesn’t chew fully. We’ve put a yellow “warning” label on broccoli because the leafs on the broccoli plant itself and uncooked broccoli may cause gastric discomfort in some dogs. As with many veggies, good points include the low calorie upside. For overweight dogs, you may consider broccoli or other veggies in lieu of higher calorie treats throughout the day.

Broccoli Preparation – Avoid Raw

In it’s raw state, broccoli is harder to digest for dogs. Lightly boiled, as you might prepare for your own dinner plate, a small floret of green stuff is super tasty to your canine companion. Avoid salt or other additives when preparing, keep it simple, green veggie only!

Serving Suggestion

After boiling (and cooling off), pull the floret of broccoli apart to serve individually. This is super easy to do with a boiled bit of the green happiness. Your dog will likely also appreciate the number of treats offered vs the size of each. Dogs might not be able to count… but any multiple number of servings beats one!

Some experts recommend keeping the total amount of fruits and veggies to not more than 10% of your dog’s total daily food intake. Your dog is a carnivore!

There is something interesting in the smell or taste of broccoli for the doggie palette. In conversation with other dog owners, we’ve noted that our own dog is not the only one who loves it!

What Other Fruits or Veggies Can I Feed My Dog?

Read more here about other fruits and vegetables you might be inclined to offer your dog as a treat, and some to avoid!

Disclaimer: As this article refers to health and diet related topics that affect your dog’s well being it should be pointed out that WagWagWoofWoof.com, and the authors here are NOT veterinarians. The information in this article and others on this site is based upon research we have found both online and in print, summarized here for convenience, discussion and a starting point for further reading. Use information found here at your own discretion and risk.