Brussels sprout

Brussels sprouts are on AKC's yes list, described as loaded with nutrients and antioxidants that are great for humans and dogs alike. The answer comes with a few precautions, and the precautions are the useful part. Do not serve them raw. AKC is specific that raw sprouts are too hard for a dog to digest. Steam, boil or microwave them; steaming preserves the most nutrients. Cook them in plain water, with no salt, no butter, no oil. Mind the portion. AKC suggests starting with half a sprout to one sprout depending on your dog's size, and once they are tolerated, no more than three per serving, from time to time. This is an occasional treat, not a daily vegetable. Merck's feeding guidance keeps all treats under 10% of total caloric intake. Expect gas. Sprouts contain isothiocyanate, which improves the intestinal muscles' ability to push food and waste through the gut; that builds up extra bacterium, which leaves the body as gas. AKC's verdict is that this is uncomfortable for you and not harmful to your dog. If symptoms last longer than a few days, though, check with your vet. Cut them up. A whole sprout is round, firm and roughly airway-sized for a small breed or a dog who swallows without chewing. Halve or quarter them after cooking. Watch how they were prepared. Holiday sprouts are usually wrapped in bacon or roasted in olive oil with minced garlic and balsamic. Garlic is toxic to dogs — Merck reports clinical signs from 15-30 g/kg of raw onion and states garlic is 3-5 times more toxic — and bacon is a concentrated dose of fat and sodium that can trigger pancreatitis in a susceptible dog. Picking the sprouts out of a Thanksgiving side dish is not a safe workaround. Start with half a cooked sprout and watch the stool and the gas over a day or two. Persistent loose stool means cut back; diarrhea that does not settle in a few days is worth a call to your veterinarian.