Can Canines Eat Kale? Is Kale Secure For Canines?

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Can Dogs Eat Kale? If you’ve included kale as a regular ingredient in your own meal planning sessions, you may have wondered if your dog buddy can eat kale too. If humans can eat kale, can dogs eat it safely?

There is no short yes or no answer whether dogs can safely eat kale. In very small amounts, kale is unlikely to be toxic or harmful to most dogs, and it can also bring some positive nutritional benefits. However, in certain cases and amounts, this can also upset your dog’s stomach, causing bladder and kidney stones.

As always, You need to ask your regular veterinarian before sharing human food with your valued pooch, including kale. Here’s what you need to know about kale and dogs.

When is kale okay for dogs to eat?

A small amount of kale shouldn’t be harmful to most dogs. It contains a good amount of Vitamins A, C, and K as well as helpful antioxidants. It also contains iron, which can be beneficial for the health of your dog’s bones.

If you do consult with your veterinarian and do decide to add kale to your dog’s diet, make sure that you are only serving your dog a very small amount. As a general rule, stick to the Ten Percent Method: If the food makes up less than ten percent of the dog’s daily diet, it shouldn’t have too many negative effects.

Also, consider the option of using other green vegetables, including green beans and peas, to add more vitamins than just kale to your dog’s meals.

When is kale bad for dogs?

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In small amounts, kale shouldn’t prove toxic to your dog. However, kale contains calcium oxalate and isothiocyanates, both of which can be harmful to your dog.

In the case of calcium oxalate, too much of it can cause dogs to suffer from kidney stones and bladder stones.

When it comes to isothiocyanates, they can cause gastrointestinal problems for your dog.

Either way, when adding kale to your dog’s diet, it’s important to always follow the ten percent rule above, and to ensure that you only do this in very small amounts.

If you suspect your dog has managed to sneak into too much kale, watch out for symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and problems urinating as all of these can indicate the appearance of bladder stones.

Has your dog ever eaten any of your kale? Which healthy vegetables does your dog like to eat? Tell us all about it in the comments below!