Kale
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Backed by Dr. Susan Recker
BENEFITS
As a cruciferous vegetable, kale is a nutrient powerhouse. It’s full of sulforaphane with powerful cancer-fighting properties and carotenoids, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, that deliver antioxidant action for eye and brain support. Kale also helps balance a complete diet with its high potassium, beta-carotene, and vitamin K content. With a much lower oxalate content than spinach, it's a better choice for dogs at risk for calcium oxalate urinary stones.
Serving Size
XS dogs
(< 10 lbs)
¼ oz
S dogs
(10 - 20 lbs)
½ oz
M dogs
(21 - 50 lbs)
1 oz
L dogs
(51 - 90 lbs)
2 oz
XL dogs
(> 90 lbs)
3 oz
FREQUENCY
Kale can be fed daily, unless your dog needs a very low oxalate diet.
HOW TO SERVE
- Wash thoroughly and remove stems.
- Chop to activate myrosinase, the enzyme in kale that triggers conversion to sulforaphane.
- Kale can be served several ways depending on your dog’s preference:
- Feed raw if your dog enjoys it and tolerates it well.
- Steaming or blanching will make it easier for your dog to digest.
- Serve as a healthy treat or directly on your dog’s food as a meal topper.
IMPORTANT
If your dog needs a very low oxalate diet, limit feeding kale to once or twice a week.
arrow_rightReferences
Olayanju JB, Bozic D, Naidoo U, Sadik OA. A Comparative Review of Key Isothiocyanates and Their Health Benefits. Nutrients. 2024 Mar 7;16(6):757. doi: 10.3390/nu16060757. PMID: 38542669; PMCID: PMC10974736.
Jia YP, Sun L, Yu HS, Liang LP, Li W, Ding H, Song XB, Zhang LJ. The Pharmacological Effects of Lutein and Zeaxanthin on Visual Disorders and Cognition Diseases. Molecules. 2017 Apr 20;22(4):610. doi: 10.3390/molecules22040610. PMID: 28425969; PMCID: PMC6154331.