Can I give my dog sauerkraut?

During summer many folks eat sauerkraut. It’s used as a condiment for hotdogs and sandwiches. This food can be surprisingly healthy, but what about for a precious pet dog?

Sometimes sauerkraut turns up when friends and family have a casual barbecue. Your dog will want to be included at these fun social gatherings. You may have a feeding decision to make.

There is nothing about this tasty topping that’s harmful for canines. That said, homemade sauerkraut is much preferred to the canned kind and for good reason. Find out more for your dog’s sake!

Can I Give My Dog Some Sauerkraut? Answer: Yes, homemade and raw is excellent

Without the additives and preservatives, this fermented food is healthier than regular cabbage.

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Dogs can eat quality sauerkraut, but your buddy may be gassy afterwards. This is also a condiment that tends to be high in sodium, especially canned kraut. Limit your dog’s portions. The good news is that raw sauerkraut has powerful antioxidants, lots of vitamins and excellent probiotic properties. So, fermented cabbage can be fed to dogs in moderation. Hot dogs are another story though!

The nutritional value in sauerkraut is fantastic, but this depends on where you source it.

Homemade vs Store-Bought

There’s a big difference between feeding a dog cheap pre-made, mass produced sauerkraut and grandma’s special kraut recipe. Unfortunately, Americans usually favor convenience over cooking and especially for condiments.

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There are so many reasons to make the extra effort. For one, if make your own, your beloved dog won’t be consuming too much salt (sodium). If you are into eating healthy then consider a sauerkraut recipe for both you and your dog!

Sauerkraut Health Benefits

If you make delicious sauerkraut at home then your finely cut fermented cabbage is likely to be high in vitamin C & K as well as good amounts of iron and fiber.

Did we mention that kraut also offers valuable antioxidants! Your dog can benefit from these great nutrients too, but what is really interesting about sauerkraut is the probiotic factor.

Pets & Powerful Probiotics

The fermentation process, for making sauerkraut, creates live bacteria that can be beneficial for your dog’s digestive health. That’s why heating up homemade kraut is such a bad idea. It will kill off these valuable microbes and enzymes.

Quality sauerkraut can enable the growth of very healthy bowel flora which can protect you and your dog against lots of different digestive tract diseases. Overall digestion may also improve.

In raw and unpasteurized form, sauerkraut is a super food with probiotic potential for pets!

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Fermented Foods for Fido

So now you know that properly prepared sauerkraut is a good veggie for your dog’s stomach health. Pickles are another fermented food that’s usually okay for canines. Plain cucumbers, however, are a much better choice.

Video: Hot dogs & sauerkraut

Another processed meat is salami, but we do not recommend it for dogs. Most vegetables, on the other hand, are healthy even after they have undergone a fair amount of fermentation.

Conclusion on Sauerkraut

Dogs can share in good ol’ sauerkraut on occasion. This condiment is best when homemade, unpasteurized and raw. A cabbage topping is great for gut health, due to fermentation, but it can also have nutritional benefits for dogs. While store-bought sauerkraut brands are likely harmless, in small amounts, they contain preservatives. They also lack valuable enzymes, vitamins and probiotic qualities.

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