Kale

468 foods contain this ingredient

Vegetable

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About Kale

Kale is a leafy cruciferous green sometimes added to pet foods in small amounts for fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.

Kale is a cruciferous leafy green used in pet foods as a source of fiber, vitamins (A, C and K), minerals (such as calcium and potassium) and antioxidants, providing low‑calorie bulk and micronutrient support when added in small amounts. Because kale contains goitrogens, oxalates and other compounds that can cause gastrointestinal upset or, if fed excessively, interfere with thyroid function or contribute to urinary/kidney issues (and rarely hemolytic problems), it should be offered sparingly, prepared plain (cooked or finely chopped) and never seasoned with toxic ingredients like onion or garlic.

Derived from: Brassica oleracea (leafy green vegetable)
Primary role: fiber and micronutrient supplement

Why it's used

Kale contributes dietary fiber along with vitamins A, C, and K plus antioxidant compounds, and formulators use it in small inclusion rates to add plant-based micronutrients without significant calories. It is typically included as a minor component rather than a primary nutrient source in a balanced diet.

Common concerns

Goitrogenic compounds The Merck Veterinary Manual identifies kale, along with cabbage, rape, and turnips, as goitrogenic plants that can interfere with thyroid hormone production, though it notes these are less potent than the goitrogens in soybeans and that cooking or heating destroys the goitrogenic substances.
Oxalate content Kale contains oxalates, which are a documented contributor to calcium oxalate crystal and stone formation in some pets, making large or repeated raw servings a consideration for animals with a history of urinary stones.
Adult versus young or hypothyroid animals The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that goitrogen exposure is usually not clinically significant in healthy adult animals but is more relevant in young or nursing animals and in those with existing thyroid disease.

Also relevant

Any kale fed or included in a diet should be plain, without added onion, garlic, or seasoning, since those are separately documented as harmful to dogs and cats.

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