Can Dogs Eat Coleslaw?

It’s important that you know what kinds of human foods are considered dog safe and which ones are not.

Can dogs eat coleslaw?

Dogs can eat coleslaw. However, it should be a very small amount of it and it depends on the included ingredients. We’ll explain why later on.

Keep reading to learn more about coleslaw and address some of the concerns regarding feeding it to your dog.

What Is Coleslaw Made of?

Coleslaw is made from several ingredients.

It’s made of cabbage, mayonnaise, carrots, water, 2 percent double cream milk, a small amount of onions, white wine vinegar, sugar, salt, flavoring, and preservatives.

Now that you know what coleslaw is made of, the real question is: what kind of ingredients are considered toxic to dogs?

For one, there are onions. Onions can be bad for dogs and can cause onion poisoning if they eat them in large amounts.

There’s also raw cabbage and even mayonnaise.

It is not a good idea to geed a dog mayonnaise because it’s high in fat content. In small quantities it’s ok, but too much can cause your dog to put on weight similar to other high fat content foods.

Is Cabbage Toxic to Dogs?

Despite mixed responses to this question, cabbage can be safe for dogs. Once again, it can be given to them in a small amounts. The reason for this is that too much of it can lead them to suffer from gas along with some digestive issues that may follow as well.

A small amount of cabbage can still give them plenty of those important vitamins and minerals they’ll need to live a healthy lifestyle. This includes a good dose of vitamin c, dietary fiber, and more.

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How to Tell if Coleslaw Is Bad for Dogs?

It’s important to know what’s in your coleslaw. If there is a large number of ingredients in coleslaw, it may not be good for dogs.

This includes store-bought coleslaw or even KFC coleslaw. That’s because they can include ingredients such as onions, mayonnaise, and other products that cannot be consumed by dogs.

Coleslaw ingredients can be switched up using dog-friendly ingredients. You can get rid of the onions and replace them with more carrots if needed. Once again, you need to be careful with how much of the other ingredients you need to put in.

If you intend to feed your dog coleslaw, it may be a good idea to make it yourself. Homemade coleslaw can be made any way you want it. You decide what to include and what to leave out.

It may be an excellent side dish for dinner, but it can also be a great occasional treat for your dog as well. You and your family can gather at the dinner table and enjoy a good meal while your dog is just underneath waiting for what could drop.

If you accidentally feed coleslaw to a dog that may contain harmful ingredients, watch for symptoms such as gastrointestinal issues. If there appear to be serious symptoms, please contact your vet immediately.

Instead of coleslaw, you can feed them some of their favorites (which we’ll mention in the next section).

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Canine-friendly Alternatives to Coleslaw

There are plenty of coleslaw alternatives for dogs. Let’s take a look at what snacks you can feed your dog so they get the best nutritional benefits possible:

Healthy dog treats

You can find a wide variety of healthy dog treats that are available near you or online. You can grab one that is made from fresh vegetables like sweet potatoes. There are plenty of treats out there that you can get for them that are made from natural, even vegan-friendly ingredients.

Home-cooked meals just for them

This can include a mix of meats of your choice, brown rice, and veggies that are good for them. For example, you can mix venison with brown rice, carrots, and peas. This can be much better than canned wet food which can contain questionable, even controversial ingredients.

Before feeding any kind of human food to a dog, you’ll want to ask a professional vet whether or not it will be good for them.

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Final Thoughts

While coleslaw can be given to dogs, it has to be made a certain way. Any coleslaw that is store-bought or made from restaurants should not be given to them. So your best option would be a homemade alternative or any of the canine-friendly options we have listed above.

Your dog’s health is important and should be taken seriously. Don’t feed them something that won’t be good for their body. So it’s important to avoid feeding them certain ingredients that may be harmful no matter the dog’s age.