We know kohlrabi primarily as a source of vitamins and fiber on our plates. We, humans, like vegetables as a casserole, in soups, as pesto, raw in slices, or even as a smoothie.
You can buy the versatile tuber almost all year round and process it in a wide variety of ways. In addition, healthy vegetables are also easy to digest.
That’s not so typical of cabbage. And that’s why your dog tolerates kohlrabi just as well as you do. We can already reveal that much. Below you will even find a delicious recipe for kohlrabi biscuits as a treat.
Is Kohlrabi Poisonous to Dogs?
It happened quickly. They are in the kitchen. And while preparing your vegetables, a piece of kohlrabi falls on the floor. Before you know it, your dog has eaten the piece and is just looking at you guiltily.
But do you have to worry now? No, don’t worry.
Basically, kohlrabi is healthy and digestible for dogs. Vegetables even provide your dog with many important nutrients.
What Nutrients Does Kohlrabi Contain?
Kohlrabi is a real all-around talent and offers some great ingredients. These have a positive effect on the health of your four-legged friend.
Here you will find an overview of the essential vitamins, minerals, and trace elements:
- Vitamin C: strengthens the immune system
- Calcium: good for teeth and bones
- Magnesium: particularly valuable for the nervous system and muscles
- Folic acid: supports the metabolism
- Fluoride: works with calcium to strengthen teeth
Kohlrabi also contains potassium, phosphorus, B vitamins, iron, copper, and many amino acids. Kohlrabi is therefore an all-around healthy supplementary food for your dog.
Is Kohlrabi Better Raw or Cooked?
You can feed your dog kohlrabi both raw and cooked. Lightly cooked, however, it is often easier for your dog to digest.
The leaves in particular are very tasty and contain far more vitamins than the tuber itself. So don’t throw them away, but definitely use the leaves as well.
Can Dogs Eat Kohlrabi Leaves?
When feeding the kohlrabi leaves, however, check their compatibility at the same time. Because the leaves of the kohlrabi are more difficult to digest than the tuber and can sometimes lead to stomach ache in your dog.
So it is best to test how your dog reacts with a small amount beforehand.
If your dog tolerates the nutrient-rich leaves well, you can chop them finely and add them to the food, for example. The peel also contains many nutrients. You are therefore welcome to feed them to your dog.
By the way, pureed kohlrabi can be easily mixed into your four-legged friend’s meal.
Does Kohlrabi Cause Gas in Dogs?
If your dog has eaten kohlrabi, you as the dog owner will usually not notice any side effects in your animal. However, some dogs react to too much kohlrabi in the form of bloating, diarrhea, or discomfort.
Here, too, simply test in advance with a very small portion whether your dog tolerates the cabbage well. If your dog has an intolerance, the problems are not too big with such a small amount. Then use other types of vegetables instead.
How much kohlrabi can a dog eat?
If your dog gets a kick out of turnip greens, be careful not to eat whole bulbs. It is better to only give your dog the cabbage as a reward. Most dogs love to eat it.
Of course, kohlrabi does not replace the main meal for your dog. However, it is a great choice as a healthy treat between meals.
Tip: It is best to buy organically grown kohlrabi that has been treated without chemicals if possible.
Characteristics of kohlrabi nutrients
- Vitamin C: 65 mg, twice as much in leaves
- Vitamin B3 (niacin): 1.8 mg
- Vitamin A (carotene): 0.2 mg and 20 mg in kohlrabi leaves
- Vitamin B1: 0.05 mg
- Vitamin B2: 0.05 mg
- Calcium: 70 mg, 10 times more in kohlrabi leaves
- Iron: 0.9 mg and 9 mg in kohlrabi leaves
Make Dog Biscuits With Kohlrabi Yourself
Does your dog love dog biscuits? Then bake a healthy kohlrabi treat for your four-legged friend. It’s child’s play and you can create a small supply right away.
Because the treats do not spoil as quickly as fresh kohlrabi. Your dog can therefore enjoy it for longer.
Kohlrabi Cookie Recipe
- 1 kohlrabi
- 170 grams of flour
- 80 grams of rolled oats
- 50ml of water
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
For the delicious crunchy biscuits, grate a bulb of kohlrabi and mix the graters with 170 g flour, 2 tablespoons sunflower oil, and 80 g oatmeal.
Then stir the ingredients together with the dough hook. Pour in 50 ml of water and stir the dough again. Now you can roll it out and cut out small squares.
Then place the pieces of dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. The treats are baked at 180 °C for 35 minutes until they are lightly brown.
The healthy dog biscuits for your four-legged friend are ready.
The biscuits are ideal as a souvenir, for training, or just for in-between.
Would you like to bake the recipe without conventional flour? Find many more grain-free cookie recipes here.
How Does Kohlrabi Last Longer?
Kohlrabi stays fresh for several days in the fridge. It is best to leave the kohlrabi leaves on the tuber. This way the vegetables will last longer.
Kohlrabi freezes great. So you can use it for your dog at any time. If you blanch the vegetables briefly before freezing, the kohlrabi will retain its color after thawing.
Where Does Kohlrabi Come From?
Kohlrabi is a true European. It is mainly grown and harvested for the Austrian and German markets. To this day, Germans eat the most kohlrabi in the world.
The cabbage plant was first mentioned in the 16th century. Back then it was shaped a little differently than it is today.
The typical round shape of the kohlrabi only emerged in the past few centuries. Kohlrabi has always been a popular vegetable in German cuisine. And even today, the juicy tuber is very interesting for humans and dogs.
Kohlrabi is a healthy choice for your dog. In addition to vitamins and minerals, vegetables also provide fiber and secondary plant substances. So your dog gets many important nutrients to stay healthy.
Whether boiled, baked, or raw, you are more than welcome to include kohlrabi as a small reward. It will enrich your dog’s diet.