Yes. Plain cabbage is safe for dogs in moderation, according to AKC chief veterinarian Dr. Jerry Klein in the AKC's cabbage guide. Green, red, Savoy and Napa cabbage and bok choy are all fine in limited amounts. The main side effect is gas, sometimes a lot of it, so keep the serving small and chop it fine.
If your dog ate a few shreds of cabbage and is acting normally, there is nothing to do. If they got into coleslaw, sauerkraut, a dish cooked with onion or bacon fat, or chewed a wild plant called skunk cabbage, read on.
Key takeaways
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- Plain cabbage, raw or cooked, is safe for dogs in small amounts.
- Boiled or steamed cabbage is less likely to upset the stomach than raw, according to the AKC.
- Remove the tough core and stem, and chop the leaves fine.
- Too much brings gas and can cause vomiting or diarrhea. Dogs prone to bloat should skip it unless the vet says yes.
- Coleslaw, sauerkraut and kimchi carry onion, garlic, salt or fat, and skunk cabbage is a toxic wild plant.
If your dog already ate cabbage
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| What they ate | What to do |
|---|---|
| What they ateA few pieces of plain cabbage | What to doNothing. Some gas is likely. |
| What they ateA large amount, raw | What to doWatch for gas, belly discomfort, vomiting or diarrhea. Call your vet if they keep up. |
| What they ateA whole core or a big chunk of stem | What to doWatch for gagging, trouble swallowing, vomiting or a painful belly, and call your vet if any appear. |
| What they ateColeslaw, sauerkraut, kimchi or cabbage cooked with onion, garlic or fatty meat | What to doCall your vet or a poison line with what was in it. |
| What they ateA wild plant called skunk cabbage | What to doCall your vet or a poison line now. |
Pet Poison Helpline advises moving your pet away from whatever it got into, then calling a vet or the helpline when an exposure might be harmful. It also warns against home antidotes. Have your dog's weight, the dish and roughly how much they ate when you call.
Go to a vet right away for choking, trouble breathing, collapse, vomiting that does not stop, or swelling of the mouth and tongue.
Which kinds of cabbage are okay
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| Kind or form | Okay for dogs? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Kind or formGreen, red or purple cabbage, plain | Okay for dogs?Yes, a little | What to knowCooked is gentler on the stomach |
| Kind or formSavoy and Napa cabbage, bok choy | Okay for dogs?Yes, a little | What to knowThe AKC includes them as safe in limited amounts |
| Kind or formLeaves, chopped | Okay for dogs?Yes | What to knowFibrous; cut them small |
| Kind or formCore and tough stem | Okay for dogs?Remove them | What to knowHard to chew and a choking risk |
| Kind or formCabbage cooked with butter, oil or fatty meat | Okay for dogs?No | What to knowFat can bring on pancreatitis |
| Kind or formCabbage cooked with onion or garlic | Okay for dogs?No | What to knowBoth are toxic to dogs |
| Kind or formSauerkraut, kimchi, curtido and coleslaw | Okay for dogs?Usually no | What to knowSalt, onion, garlic, chili, sugar or mayonnaise |
| Kind or formSkunk cabbage (a wild plant) | Okay for dogs?No | What to knowToxic; unrelated to the vegetable |
Cabbage has fiber, vitamins C and K, magnesium and beta-carotene, and the AKC points out that dogs do not need vegetables as a major part of their diet. A complete dog food already covers what they need.
How much cabbage to give, and how to serve it
The AKC does not give a serving size, only "small quantities." A few bite-sized pieces on top of the bowl is plenty for most dogs, with less for a small dog. See how your dog's stomach takes the first serving before offering more.
To prepare it:
- Wash the leaves and cut out the core and thick stem.
- Boil or steam the cabbage plain until soft.
- Let it cool and chop it into small pieces.
- Leave out the butter, oil, salt, onion, garlic and spices.
- Mix a few pieces into the regular meal.
Some dogs are prone to bloat, a serious swelling of the stomach. The AKC says those dogs may not handle the extra gas from cabbage, so talk to your vet before offering it. The same goes for a dog on a prescription diet.
Signs to watch for after cabbage
The usual signs are digestive: gas, an uncomfortable belly, a loose stool, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea. The AKC notes that raw cabbage is more likely to cause these than cooked. Too much fiber of any kind can cause flatulence, bloating, diarrhea and vomiting, according to the AKC's guide to fiber. Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea goes on, or if your dog seems in pain.
Skunk cabbage is a different plant with different signs. The ASPCA lists mouth irritation, swelling of the mouth and tongue, drooling, vomiting and trouble swallowing, caused by insoluble calcium oxalates in the plant.
"My dog gets cabbage scraps all the time and is fine"
Some dogs handle cabbage with no fuss, and that is true of your dog. It does not carry over to every dog. A handful of scraps is a much larger meal for a small dog than a big one. Cooked cabbage sits easier than raw, and plain cabbage is a different food from coleslaw or cabbage stewed with sausage and onion. The AKC notes that some dogs do not tolerate the gas cabbage produces, and a dog prone to bloat is in a different spot from one that is not. Keep the amount small and the cabbage plain.
Coleslaw, sauerkraut, kimchi and skunk cabbage
- Coleslaw: mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar, and sometimes onion or garlic. Skip it.
- Sauerkraut: usually very salty, and some recipes add onion or garlic.
- Kimchi: usually made with garlic, chili and salt. Can dogs eat onions? explains why garlic and onion matter.
- Cabbage rolls, soups and stir-fries: check for onion, garlic, fatty meat and salty sauces.
- Brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli and cauliflower: relatives of cabbage with their own answers. Can dogs eat broccoli? covers that one.
- Skunk cabbage, also called swamp cabbage, meadow cabbage, polecat weed or skunk weed: a plant the ASPCA lists as toxic to dogs and cats.
- Cabbage palm and other plants with cabbage in the name: not the vegetable. Take a photo to your vet if your dog chewed one.
Check what you learned
Quick check
Questions about dogs and cabbage
How much cabbage can I give my dog?
Only a small amount: a few chopped pieces for most dogs, fewer for small ones. The AKC keeps it at "small quantities" without a set number, and gas is the sign you gave too much.
Can dogs eat raw cabbage?
Yes, chopped fine. Raw cabbage is more likely than cooked to upset the stomach, according to the AKC, so steaming or boiling it plain is the gentler choice.
Can dogs eat red cabbage?
Yes. Red and green cabbage are both safe in limited amounts, as are Savoy, Napa and bok choy.
Why does cabbage give my dog gas?
Cabbage is a fibrous vegetable, and the AKC notes it can produce a large amount of gas that some dogs do not tolerate well. Smaller portions and cooked cabbage help.
Can dogs eat sauerkraut?
It is best skipped. Sauerkraut is usually high in salt, and some versions include onion or garlic.
Sources
Checked September 24, 2026.
- American Kennel Club, Can Dogs Eat Cabbage?
- American Kennel Club, What Is Fiber and Why Does Your Dog Need It in Their Diet?
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, Skunk Cabbage
- Pet Poison Helpline, 24/7 Animal Poison Control Center