Can Dogs Eat Sauerkraut? Sauerkraut, meaning “sour cabbage,” is a delicious treat for humans and is prepared with chopped cabbage that has been fermented with lactic acid-producing bacteria. Acid production during fermentation gives sauerkraut a strong flavor.
Due to the acidic nature of sauerkraut, a question usually comes to the mind of pet owners can dogs eat sauerkraut? Yes, dogs can eat sauerkraut. Sauerkraut is not only safe for dogs to eat but has a variety of health benefits for your little pooch.
How is sauerkraut made?
The main ingredients used in making sauerkraut are cabbage and salt. Caraway or fennel seeds are the additional ingredients. To make it, fresh, raw cabbage is finely chopped and mixed with a tablespoon of salt. This mixture is then placed in a mason jar and left for fermentation for up to four weeks.
Is sauerkraut safe for dogs?
Yes, a moderate amount of sauerkraut without ingredients like caraway seeds, free of spices and additives, is safe for dogs.
Though sauerkraut is a healthy addition to your dog’s diet, knowing the ingredients of sauerkraut and what it is made of is essential to understand its health benefits of sauerkraut.
Homemade sauerkraut free of additives is preferable over commercial ones, as the amount of healthy probiotics are usually reduced by heat or refrigeration in commercial sauerkrauts.
Can sauerkraut be harmful to dogs?
No, sauerkraut is not harmful to dogs. Overall it has a lot of health benefits, but certain toxic ingredients for dogs are; spices that can upset the digestive tract, garlic or onions that are lethal for dogs and can cause anemia and increased heart rate, and the fennel seeds which can induce vomiting and diarrhea.
Fermented cabbage can also cause flatulence in dogs, so avoid using them before traveling. Excessive salts can also induce dehydration or hypertension. Caraway seeds added to sauerkraut can cause low blood sugar levels, shivering, convulsions, and breathing problems.
Health benefits of sauerkraut
Being fermented food, sauerkraut is incredibly nutritious and loaded with many probiotics, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Did you Know?
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Probiotics
Probiotics are good bacteria with multiple health benefits; they fight off bad kinds of bacteria like salmonella in the stomach and prevent gut diseases, reducing the risk of food or seasonal allergies.
Probiotics absorb fat, keep cholesterol under control, and improve the cardiac health of dogs as well. They help to expel toxins and pollutants from the dog’s body.
Probiotics make the immune system strong and add to quick recovery from diseases. Probiotics may reduce stress and nervousness in dogs.
Vitamins and minerals
Sauerkraut is enriched with vitamin C, K1, B6, iron, folate, copper, manganese, and potassium. The vitamin A found in sauerkraut act as an antioxidant and help to reduce cataract formation beneficial for eye health. Vitamin A contributes to tissue growth and gives shine to your dog’s dull and itchy hair coat.
Vitamin K and phytonutrients shore up bone health. Phytonutrients are anti-inflammatory and are a great source to fight arthritis and lessen muscles and joint pain. Vitamin K prevents gum diseases and helps to have strong teeth.
Minerals in sauerkraut are good for developing and maintaining strong bones in puppies and adult dogs.
Fibers
High fiber content is an excellent addition to a dog’s diet and helps improve the dog’s gastrointestinal health. Fibers aid in preventing constipation, intermittent bowl syndrome, sensitive stomach, bloating, and excessive gas. Sauerkraut also helps to stop diarrhea or loose stools.
How can sauerkraut be fed to dogs?
Dogs may not like the pungent vinegary smell of the sauerkraut and turn their face away. Soak it in cold water or apple juice to reduce the aroma intensity.
To get your dog’s taste bud used to sauerkraut, place it in the dog’s regular meal or wet food, or mix it with some meat or fish item. Serving it with slices of apple can make it sweeter, crunchy, mellower, and palatable for your dog.
How often can sauerkraut be fed?
The delectable, sour cabbage dish has incredible healing powers for the digestive system. Raw, unpasteurized, free of additives and spice-free sauerkraut can be regularly fed to your dog in a small amount. On introducing, give a gap of one or two days in between feeding.
Conclusion – Can dogs eat sauerkraut?
With all the information detailed above, can dogs eat sauerkraut? Yes, sauerkraut is enriched with probiotics, vitamins, minerals, and fiber and can be consumed regularly in small amounts by your puppy.
