Last Updated on February 24, 2022 by Griselda M.
If you give your Yorkie vegetables, you might have asked yourself “can yorkies eat broccoli?”, stay to get the answer. Having a Yorkie is a blessing that you have to keep and maintain. So you should identify the best food to feed a yorkie to keep it healthy. If you feed your puppy homemade food, you have to incorporate vegetables into their diet. However, if you feed them a commercial balanced diet that is approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (or AAFCO), you can serve vegetables as treats. Keep reading to figure out the answer to “can yorkies eat broccoli?” and different veggies to serve your Yorkie safely.
Table of Contents
Can Yorkies Eat Broccoli?
Broccoli is a safe vegetable to feed your Yorkie, however, with some precautions. If you feed your puppy certain quantities of broccoli and cook it in a certain way – we will talk about later-, It won’t harm it.
How Could Broccoli Be Dangerous To Yorkies?
Broccoli florets contain a substance called isothiocyanate that causes stomach disruption and gastric irritation if eaten in large quantities. Feeding your dog broccoli to be more than 25 percent of its daily intake would be toxic. Additionally, if you added oils or salts to broccoli while cooking, this would hurt your Yorkie’s stomach and cause weight gain.
Signs Of Yorkie Digestive Distress
- Gas
- Diarrhea
- Stomach upset
- Blockage
Some Precautions While Giving Yorkie Broccoli
It is okay to give your Yorkie broccoli as it has many benefits, however, there are some precautions that you should consider before serving
Amount Of Consumption
Broccoli is safe for your dog as long as the amount did not exceed 10 percent of its daily intake otherwise it will cause toxicity. This percent differs depending on the size of your Yorkie so I advise you to go back to your vet to ask about the right amount of broccoli for your puppy. Moreover, introduce the broccoli to your Yorkie gradually.
In other words, give it a small portion, in the beginning, to test how its stomach will react. If it loved the taste and stomach did not get upset, you can increase the amount slightly, however, not more than 10 percent of daily food intake.
The Way Of Cooking
You can give your Yorkie raw, steamed, boiled, or baked broccoli. However, do not add oils or salts as they may cause stomach upset and obesity in the long run.
Learn more about: Yorkie Food Allergy; Symptoms and Prevention
Choking Hazard
Broccoli stems are as edible as florets but they can cause choking by causing obstruction of the esophagus. To prevent this, cut down the stems into small pieces before serving so they can not block the esophagus.
Harmful Bacteria
If you feed your Yorkie raw broccoli, there will be a chance of getting cross-contamination bacteria to humans including salmonella. According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials, dogs may be more resistant than humans to this bacteria but they are not immune and can become sick. That is why I recommend steaming over raw broccoli to kill some harmful bacteria and do not lose the nutrients in the vegetable.
Signs Of Salmonella Infection
- Increased heart rate
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Appetite loss
What Are The Benefits Of Broccoli?
Broccoli is a great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that contains some powerful nutrients including vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K. It has another nutrient called lutein that is important in improving eye and heart health. Additionally, it is full of fiber that provides satiety and prevents obesity and constipation.
What Are Safe Fruits and Vegetables For Dogs?
If You Are Searching For “What Vegetables Are Good For Dogs?”, Here Is A List Of The Safe Vegetables To Feed Your Yorkie
- Carrots
- Cucumber
- Asparagus
- Green bell peppers
- Zucchini
- Celery
- Peas
- Corn
- Squash
- Green beans
- Sweat potatoes
- Canned pumpkin
- Brussels sprouts
- Spinach
List Of the Safe Fruits For Yorkies According To The American Kennel Club:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Cranberries and dried cranberries
- Mango
- Oranges
- Peaches
- Pears
- Pineapple
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
What Are The Benefits Of Fruits and Vegetables For Your Yorkie?
Despite vegetables and fruits are not the main meals for Yorkies, it is important to incorporate them into your puppy’s meals due to the following benefits
Treats
You can give your puppy some treats of vegetables or fruits instead of buying commercial treats. You would save spending money on buying treats that may contain colors and preservatives. So, it is money saving and health improvement.
Vitamins and Minerals
Veggies and fruits are good sources of vitamins and minerals such as potassium, sodium, vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K, and many more. All these nutrients improve your Yorkie’s immunity and overall health.
Help For Obese Dogs
Veggies and fruits contain a lot of fibers that make the Yorkie feel satiated and fill its stomach. Moreover, fibers take time during digestion so the puppy won’t feel hungry quickly.
Help In Constipation
Again, because of their fiber content, they help prevent and treat constipation. For instance, some vets would ask you to mix canned pumpkin with your Yorkie’s food for a few days to help in constipation treatment.
What Are Toxic Fruits and Vegetables For Dogs?
There are many fruits and veggies that could harm your Yorkie causing stomach irritation, liver damage, breathing problems, or allergic reactions. Some of these harmful fruits and veggies are
- Avocados
- Grapes and raisins
- Mushrooms
- Pips, seeds, and stones of the fruits
- Nuts including brazil nuts, walnuts, pecan nuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts and peanuts
- Unripe tomatoes
- Onions and garlic
- Rhubarb
- Nutmeg
- Persimmon seeds
Learn more about Can Yorkies Eat Cheese? A Comprehensive Review
Final Thoughts
In a nutshell, broccoli is generally safe to serve your dog. However, keep in mind to give it in small quantities not to exceed 10 percent of its daily food intake. Furthermore, do not add oils or salts while cooking so steaming is the preferable way of cooking. Do not forget to cut the stems and florets into small pieces to avoid choking. Broccoli is packed with lots of vitamins and minerals that would improve your Yorkie’s health. For further questions, please keep me posted in the comments below.
Read more about Yorkies Eating Chocolate – Good Practise Or Not?