Collards are large green leafy vegetables with tough stems. These are usually cooked with salted and smoked meats, such as bacon and ham hocks, vinegar, onion, pepper, and salt. They can also be used for salads or wraps as a substitute for bread.
Collard greens offer a variety of health benefits to humans, but do you know that this vegetable also provides the same to canines? So by the next time you cook some collard greens at home, make sure to share some with your dogs.
Dogs can eat collard greens because they’re actually a nutritional powerhouse. Here are some of the health benefits your fur babies get to enjoy when you feed them collard greens:
Full of Nutrition
Similar to other green vegetables, collard greens are also packed with different nutrients. Serving your dogs one cup of boiled collard greens contains the following nutrients:
- 15 grams of protein
- 15 milligrams of iron
- 222 milligrams of potassium
- 268 milligrams of calcium
- 722 micrograms of vitamin A
Aids in Digestion
Collard greens contain high levels of prebiotic fiber that help your dogs maintain a healthy, regular bowel movement. This vegetable is also full of water, which prevents constipation and ensures that your four-legged friends stay hydrated.
Collard greens also have glucoraphanin, a compound known to ward off any unwanted gut bacteria and promote the reproduction of healthy ones. As long as fed in moderation, collard greens can lessen odorous stools and excessive gas among canines.
Keeps The Heart Healthy
Collard greens can lower blood pressure levels, which reduces your dogs’ risk of heart disease. They can also help reverse blood vessel damage, which is the leading factor for heart disease.
Due to its vitamin B content, collard greens can also control cardiovascular diseases and minimize the gravity of symptoms (if your dogs are already diagnosed with the condition). This can significantly increase your dogs’ energy levels.
Lowers The Risk of Cancer
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, almost half of the dogs worldwide over the age of 10 will develop some type of cancer. In fact, canines get cancer at the same rate as humans.
Feeding your dogs with collard greens is a great way to lower their risk of cancer. Collard greens prevent cell damage and help fight free radicals in their bodies. This vegetable is also rich in vitamin C, which strengthens the immune systems of your pets and helps fight oxidative damage.
Research also shows that the glucoraphanin compound found in collard greens can reduce your dogs’ risks of developing cancer. Although this vegetable will not cure cancer, feeding them to your dogs will go a long way in warding off the health condition.
Prevents Anemia
Collard greens are rich in iron and folate, nutrients that work together to prevent anemia and balance the hemoglobin levels in your dogs’ bodies. The vitamin C content of collard greens also helps their bodies digest more iron from the foods they eat and maintain their overall oxidative state.
Anti-Aging
Since collard greens fight free radicals in your dogs’ bodies, this vegetable can help your dogs stay youthful and fit even when they’re aging. This delays the aging process and minimizes your dogs’ risks of developing age-related diseases, such as arthritis and cancer. Moreover, the younger your dogs feel, the happier they’ll be every day!
Improves Skin and Coat Health
The vitamin C found in collard greens also impacts your dogs’ skin and coat health. Vitamin C naturally enhances the collagen production of their bodies, which nourishes your dogs’ skin and keeps their coats healthy. Collard greens also contain vitamin K that helps fight cell inflammation, and vitamin A which keeps your dogs’ hair strong and shiny.
Strengthens Bones
Collard greens contain vitamin K that keeps your dogs’ bones strong and healthy. Giving a diet rich in vitamin K to your fur babies will lower their risk of fractures, arthritis, and bone diseases. This is crucial as dogs are naturally energetic, and their bones support a lot of weight every day.
Low in Calories
Similar to other green leafy vegetables, collard greens are also low in calories. This is one of the reasons why collard greens make excellent treats or snacks for overweight or obese prone breeds. Feeding this vegetable to your pets will keep them full for longer periods, and you won’t have to worry about them putting on those extra pounds.
How Should You Feed Collard Greens to Dogs?
The best way to feed collard greens to your dogs is by steaming them fresh for about ten minutes or boiling them for five minutes. Never give your dogs raw collard greens as these can become choking hazards or cause intestinal blockages. Avoid feeding your dogs with canned collard greens because they’re made with too much salt, spices, and artificial flavorings.
Can Dogs Eat the Stems of Collard Greens?
No, you should never give your dogs stems of collard greens. This part of the vegetable contains too much fiber, which can cause gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, and vomiting when given to dogs.
Consult Your Vet
Collard greens are generally healthy for dogs but given that they have naturally sensitive stomachs and their bodies aren’t built the same way as humans, consult your vet first. Never feed any human foods to your fur babies unless approved by your vets. It’s better to be careful than put your dogs’ health and safety at risk.