Ideally, dogs’ food or diet should contain a high quantity of protein and fiber with less quantity of fats and veggies.

This implies that your dog should be fed with little or no amount of cooked food or table scraps. However, our furry friends can be tempting sometimes, the looks they give you while cooking are enough for you to give them what they are not supposed to eat.

As a good dog owner, you should be concerned about your dog’s health. Feeding your dog with some foods such as coleslaw can be toxic and harmful.

In this article, we have revealed the answer to the question “Can dogs eat Coleslaw?”

Without further ado, let’s begin!

What Is Coleslaw?

Coleslaw is also known as Cabbage salad, it is a processed food made from shredded cabbage and it is mainly served as a side meal to fried chicken, grilled meat, or barbecue.

Coleslaw can be prepared locally at home and it can also be obtained commercially from the store. Regardless of how this food is gotten, it still contains the same ingredients which include cabbage, mayonnaise, carrots, onions, water, white wine vinegar, double cream, salt, sugar, and certain preservatives and flavors.

Looking at all these ingredients, you can easily infer that this food is harmful to dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Coleslaw?

Dogs can eat coleslaw in little quantity without harming them but it is better not to allow your dog to eat this food at all.

The ingredients contained in coleslaw are harmful to dogs and they provide no nutritional benefits for them.

Apart from the main ingredients, the preservatives and also the flavors can cause indigestion and discomfort to your dog.

Why Is Coleslaw Unsuitable for Dogs?

Apart from the main ingredient of this meal which is cabbage, all other ingredients can be harmful to your dog.

To be more explicit, below is a breakdown of all ingredients present in this food:

Onion

Although onion is present in a small amount of this food, it is still not suitable for dogs. This is because a very small quantity of onion is enough to hamper your dog’s health.

Onion is a member of the Allium family; other members of the Allium family include garlic and chives. All members of the Allium family are very harmful to dogs because they contain a chemical compound known as N-propyl disulfide, this compound causes anemia in dogs by depriving the red blood cells of oxygen and thereby making them die.

Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise contains egg yolk, vinegar, and oils. These components are not directly harmful to dogs. However, they tend to increase the level of fats in the dog’s body.

Mayonnaise can lead to indigestion or pancreatitis in dogs. It can lead to obesity or being overweight. Obesity in dogs can further lead to joint and bone problems such as hip dysplasia, arthritis, and elbow dysplasia.

Cream

Cream or milk is a dairy product. It can be consumed by dogs, but it is not advisable to give it to your dog. This is because not all dogs have the enzyme lactase which helps to break down the lactose present in cream for easy digestion.

You can easily detect the adverse effects of milk or cream in your dog. Some of the issues that arise as a result of cream consumption in a dog include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach upset
• Inflammation of the Gastrointestinal tract.

Sugar and Salt

Another reason to avoid the food is the excess sugar and salt it contains.

Excess salt in a dog’s diet will lead to salt poisoning and the presence of excess sugar in your dog’s diet will lead to obesity, weight gain, stomach upset, diabetes, and diarrhea.

Flavors and Preservatives

Artificial flavors and preservatives help to increase the palatability of foods and also make them look more enticing and delicious. However, the presence of these preservatives and flavors in coleslaw makes this food unhealthier for dogs.

Preservatives such as BHT, BHA, and ethoxyquin are very toxic and they also trigger allergic reactions in dogs.

What are the Nutritional Values of Coleslaw?

Coleslaw doesn’t have many nutrients that are useful to dogs, to say less, most of the useful nutrients are present in a very minute quantity while the toxic nutrients are present in high quantities.

What Will Happen If Your Dog Consumes Coleslaw?

A small quantity of coleslaw might not affect the dog’s health. however, the best thing to do as a good dog owner is to never allow your dog to eat this food.

There are so many health issues or ailments that can arise as a result of feeding your dog with coleslaw.

Some of these health issues include:

• The problem of indigestion in the digestive tract.
• Allergic reactions
• Anemia due to the presence of onion in the food.
• Diabetes is a result of the sugar in food.
• Stomach upset and diarrhea
• Being overweight or obesity which can further lead to heart problems and arthritis.

Healthy Alternatives of The Coleslaw Meal for Dogs

As a responsible pet owner, you should be concerned about your dog’s diet. Be aware of the food you feed your dog and ensure you make inquiries about the nutritional content before going ahead to feed your dog.

Dogs are expected to eat foods with a high quantity of protein and fiber and also a moderate quantity of carbohydrates.

It is best to avoid highly processed foods for your dogs, these meals usually contain high levels of fats which can lead to a lot of health issues in dogs.

Ensure you feed your dog with clean and healthy fruits and veggies. However, fruits and veggies like onion, avocado, chives, garlic, and citrus should be avoided at all costs.

Talking about healthy alternatives for coleslaw, few processed foods are healthy for dogs. However, you can consider feeding your dog with the foods listed below.

Fruit Salad

Fruit salad involves the chopping and combination of varieties of fruits that are useful to dogs. You can prepare this food by chopping bananas, watermelon, apples, blueberries, and strawberries together.

Antioxidant rich salad

This salad is the incorporation of carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, and blueberries. These veggies and fruits are healthy and useful to dogs. Simply mix these fruits and veggies and dress them with a little bit of olive oil and lemon juice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Cabbage Safe for Dogs?

Yes, cabbage is safe for dogs. However, dogs should eat it in a very low quantity. This is because excess cabbage in dogs’ diet can lead to stomach upset and diarrhea in dogs.

Can Dogs eat Rambutan?

Yes, Dogs can eat the flesh of rambutan but not the spiny peel and the seeds. This is because the peel can lead to the blockage of their digestive tract and the seed contains cyanide which is harmful to dogs.

Conclusion

Coleslaw which is popularly known as cabbage salad is very harmful to dogs and the typical and only answer to this query “Can dogs eat coleslaw?” is NO.

Before you go, you can also read this related article: Can Dogs Eat Rambutan?