Yellow Dock
1 food contains this ingredient
This is an alphabetical list, not a ranking. Add KL+ to rank foods for your pet in the Food Finder.
About Yellow Dock
Yellow dock (Rumex crispus) is a weedy field herb whose root shows up in some pet formulas as a traditional tonic rather than a core nutrient.
Yellow dock is an herbal botanical sometimes added to pet formulas or supplements as a source of plant fiber, trace minerals (notably iron) and traditional digestive support, with the root historically used as a mild laxative or tonic. While it may help with gut motility and provide some micronutrients for dogs and cats, yellow dock contains oxalates and laxative compounds that can cause gastrointestinal upset or contribute to kidney stone risk, so it should be used sparingly and only under veterinary guidance, especially in pregnant animals or pets on certain medications.
Related ingredients
- Derived from
- Rumex crispus (curly/yellow dock root, sometimes leaf)
- Primary role
- traditional tonic herb and minor iron/fiber contributor
Why it's used
Herbalists have long turned to yellow dock root as a bitter tonic thought to support gut motility, with anthraquinone compounds in the root behind its traditional laxative reputation. The leaves also carry vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and iron, which is part of why the plant has a folk history as an anemia remedy.
Common concerns
- ASPCA toxicity listing (as Dock/Rumex) The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control plant database lists Dock (Rumex sp., also called Sorrel) as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, naming soluble calcium oxalates as the toxic principle and kidney failure (described as rare in dogs/cats), tremors, and salivation as reported effects.
- Oxalic acid content The plant's leaves are recognized as high in oxalic acid, which is documented to irritate the urinary tract and raise the likelihood of kidney stone formation with significant intake.
- Livestock toxicity precedent Veterinary weed-toxicity references describe curly dock foliage and seed causing gastric disturbance and dermatitis in cattle and toxicity in poultry, which is part of the basis for its classification as a toxic weed species generally.
- Laxative effect during lactation Herbal references note the root's laxative compounds may pass through milk and affect nursing offspring, a consideration cited for use during lactation.
Also relevant
Yellow dock is not a significant source of calories or protein in pet diets, and any nutritional contribution (iron, potassium, vitamins A and C) is minor relative to formulated pet food; a veterinarian should be consulted before using it therapeutically, especially for pets with a history of kidney or urinary issues.
3 sources cited
- ASPCA toxicity listing, toxic principle (soluble calcium oxalates), and clinical signs for Dock/Rumex sp. in dogs, cats, and horses
- Oxalic acid content of Rumex crispus leaves, its association with urinary tract irritation and kidney stone risk, and traditional use of the root as an iron-rich anemia remedy and mild laxative
- Curly dock toxicity in livestock (cattle, poultry) via oxalate/nitrate accumulation
Common Questions
What category is Yellow Dock?
Yellow Dock is categorized as a herb ingredient in the KibbleLab database.
Is Yellow Dock part of an allergen group?
No allergen group is linked to Yellow Dock in the KibbleLab database.
Which foods contain Yellow Dock?
1 food in the KibbleLab database contain Yellow Dock, including Earth Animal.
Foods with Yellow Dock
Alphabetical by brand. Scores run 0 to 10, higher is better, on published veterinary science.
Find the right food for your pet
Sign in free to sort and filter by score, and avoid or require Yellow Dock in the Food Finder. Add KL+ to see these foods ranked for your pet's breed, age, and health focus.
Continue with Google
Continue with Facebook