Can my dog eat kohlrabi?
Can dogs eat kohlrabi?In moderation
Peeled, unseasoned, ideally cooked or finely grated.
Yes, dogs can eat kohlrabi – peeled, unseasoned and in small amounts. As a member of the cabbage family, it can cause wind; steamed or boiled, it is easier to digest than raw. One to three small cubes are enough as a snack; if your dog has a sensitive stomach, start with one piece.
How much kohlrabi can your dog eat?
Enter the weight – the amount updates straight away. You can adjust age, activity and neutering below.
How the calculator works
- Daily requirement: Resting energy requirement 70 × 15 kg^0.75 ≈ 534 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 855 kcal.
- Treat allowance: at most 10% of that = 86 kcal for all treats combined.
- Calorie limit: 86 kcal ÷ 27 kcal/100 g = 319 g of kohlrabi.
- Guide value for dogs 10–25 kg: 2 × kohlrabi cube (approx. 2 cm) at 8 g each = 16 g (cautious guide value set by our editors).
- Recommendation: the smaller of the two, rounded down to half portions → 2 × 8 g = 16 g ≈ 4 kcal.
Sources: 10% rule from the WSAVA guide to treats · kcal value: USDA FoodData Central. Daily requirement as in the dog calorie calculator.
Result · 15 kg · Adult
Up to 2
× kohlrabi cube (approx. 2 cm) on a snack day
(≈ 16 g, 4 kcal)
How often: Occasionally as a snack or in small amounts in the food, not every day in large amounts. If your dog is prone to flatulence, only rarely.
Treat allowance 86 kcal (10% of 855 kcal) · 1 kohlrabi cube (approx. 2 cm) ≈ 8 g
Limited by: guide value
Here the guide value for dogs 10–25 kg sets the limit (cautious guide value set by our editors): at most 2 × kohlrabi cube (approx. 2 cm). In terms of calories, up to 319 g would be possible.
A cautious rule set by our editors, based on PetMD's amounts for cooked cabbage (one teaspoon to two tablespoons, depending on size).
This applies if it's the only snack that day – if your dog gets other treats too, give correspondingly less.
The app calculates recipes in grams, kcal and portions to suit your dog's weight, age, activity and allergies.Kohlrabi for dogs: amount by weight
| Weight | Maximum per snack day | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kg | 1 kohlrabi cube (approx. 2 cm)≈ 8 g | ≈ 2 |
| 10 kg | 1 kohlrabi cube (approx. 2 cm)≈ 8 g | ≈ 2 |
| 20 kg | 2 × kohlrabi cube (approx. 2 cm)≈ 16 g | ≈ 4 |
| 30 kg | 3 × kohlrabi cube (approx. 2 cm)≈ 24 g | ≈ 6 |
| 40 kg | 3 × kohlrabi cube (approx. 2 cm)≈ 24 g | ≈ 6 |
- All snacks together no more than 10% of daily calories (WSAVA recommendation). If your dog gets other treats too, give correspondingly less.
- Guide value per weight class – small up to 10 kg, medium 10–25 kg, large over 25 kg: A cautious rule set by our editors, based on PetMD's amounts for cooked cabbage (one teaspoon to two tablespoons, depending on size).
What's in it
- Low in calories (around 27 kcal per 100 g) and high in water – also suitable for dogs that need to watch their weight.
- Provides fibre, potassium and vitamin C.
- Cooked and mashed, kohlrabi is easy to mix into your dog's food.
What to watch out for
- Kohlrabi belongs to the cabbage family and, like other brassicas, can cause flatulence, tummy ache or diarrhoea – especially raw and in larger amounts.
- If your dog is prone to gastric torsion (bloat) – for example a large, deep-chested breed – or already produces a lot of gas, talk to your vet first.
- Brassicas contain substances such as thiocyanates, which can affect the thyroid in very large amounts. If your dog has a thyroid condition, check with your vet first.
- The skin and woody parts are hard and fibrous; large raw pieces can cause choking.
- Prepared with butter, sauce, seasoning or onions, kohlrabi isn't suitable – onions and garlic are toxic, and a lot of fat can contribute to pancreatitis.
How to prepare kohlrabi
How to do it
- Wash thoroughly and peel
- Cut away any woody parts
- Steam or boil without salt or seasoning
- Leave to cool, then dice small or mash
- Give it raw only finely grated and in small amounts
- The first time, give only one piece and keep an eye on digestion
Better not
- Kohlrabi side dishes from the table with butter, cream sauce or seasoning
- Kohlrabi cooked with onions or garlic
- Large raw pieces for small dogs
- Large amounts at once
How often?
Occasionally as a snack or in small amounts in the food, not every day in large amounts. If your dog is prone to flatulence, only rarely.
Frequently asked questions about kohlrabi
Can my dog eat raw kohlrabi?
Yes, but only a little, finely grated or cut into small cubes. Raw kohlrabi is harder to chew and digest and more likely to cause wind; steamed or boiled, it usually agrees better with the stomach.
Can my dog eat cooked kohlrabi?
Yes, steamed or boiled without salt or seasoning is the most digestible form. Kohlrabi from the table with butter, cream sauce, seasoning or onions, on the other hand, is off limits.
Can my dog eat kohlrabi with the skin on?
Better to peel it. The skin is hard and fibrous and difficult for dogs to digest.
Can puppies eat kohlrabi?
Only in very small amounts and cooked. A puppy's digestive system is more sensitive; if in doubt, ask your vet first.
Can my dog have kohlrabi every day?
Not in large amounts. Brassicas can cause wind and contain substances that affect the thyroid in very large amounts. Small amounts now and then are no problem for healthy dogs.
Is kohlrabi good for overweight dogs?
It's low in calories and therefore suitable as a snack for dogs that need to lose weight. Introduce it slowly so that it doesn't cause wind, and discuss the diet as a whole with your vet.
What should I do if my dog has eaten too much kohlrabi?
Kohlrabi isn't toxic. Expect flatulence, tummy ache or diarrhoea, and keep an eye on your dog. If it retches without bringing anything up, drools heavily, is restless or its belly looks visibly bloated, go to your vet or an animal hospital immediately – these can be signs of gastric torsion.
Which vegetables cause less wind than kohlrabi?
Carrots usually cause less gas than brassicas. Courgette and cucumber are also good low-calorie alternatives.
Similar foods
- YesVegetablesCourgetteRaw or cooked, without oil or seasoning; never feed courgettes that taste bitter.See the answer
- YesVegetablesCucumberRaw in thin slices, unseasoned; not bitter-tasting cucumbers or pickled gherkins.See the answer
- In moderationVegetablesBell pepperRipe bell peppers without seeds or stalk, cut small; never hot varieties.See the answer
- In moderationVegetablesTomatoOnly ripe, red tomatoes without any green; never unripe fruit or plant parts.See the answer
Sources
- Can Dogs Eat Kohlrabi? Is It Safe for Dogs? – Dial A Vet (veterinary telemedicine)
- Can Dogs Eat Cabbage? – American Kennel Club (AKC)
- Can Dogs Eat Cabbage? – PetMD (vet-reviewed)
- Gastric Dilation and Volvulus in Small Animals – Merck Veterinary Manual
- Kohlrabi, raw (SR Legacy, FDC 168424) – USDA FoodData Central
- Feeding treats to your dog – WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee (10% rule in the calculator)
Reviewed on · DoggoMeal editorial team
This page is no substitute for veterinary advice. Dogs with pre-existing conditions – for example of the kidneys, liver or pancreas, or with diabetes – and dogs with allergies often need their own rules. If your dog has symptoms or you're unsure, ask your vet.
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