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Ingredient file // Fruit or vegetable

Dehydrated Kale

A little fiber, a lot of label appeal

Dehydrated kale is kale leaf dried and usually ground into powder. It adds fiber, minerals and plant pigments, but the amount in a dog food is rarely disclosed. Eye, immune and digestive benefits from that addition have not been shown in dogs.

What it is
Kale leaves with most of their water removed, usually milled into a dry powder.
Made from
Washed kale leaves
Main job
Fiber and label appeal
Typical amount
Not published
Watch for
Extra powder with prescribed urinary diets
Not the same as
Kale extract

Straight answer

Is Dehydrated Kale safe for dogs?

Read the main recipe before the greens

Read the meat, fat and starch before kale. Ingredient order shows relative weight, not kale's percentage. Near the end, it is a modest fiber and color addition. Choose the food for its complete recipe and nutritional adequacy, and pass over eye or immune promises pinned on kale.

Why it is in the food
Fiber and label appeal

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 30 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

3%

108 of the 3,205 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 10 brands. 91 dry dog food, 11 wet dog food, 6 dog food topper.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 21. In the top five of 2 foods, so it is usually a minor ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

18%

Usually listed after the salt, which caps it at roughly 1% of the recipe in 82% of foods.

Price per lb

Foods with it $2.68
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 68 priced foods, 18% below the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

34%

of the foods that list it are from Nutro. 10 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Fresh kale has a short shelf life and is awkward to store in bulk. Drying gives processors a powder that travels and stores more easily. Hot-air drying offers a relatively simple route to production at scale.3,4,8

  1. 01 // Source Kale leaves Processors start with harvested leaves and remove damaged material before preparing the kale for drying.
  2. 02 // Process Washed and cut Leaves are washed and chopped so moisture escapes more evenly during drying.
  3. 03 // Process Dried Hot air removes water; processors may steam or blanch the leaves first, which changes nutrient retention.
  4. 04 // Output Kale powder The dried leaves are ground and packed for use in foods, treats or toppers.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

28-35

% fiber

Dietary fiber measured in steamed, hot-air dried kale powder. Its contribution to a finished food depends on how much powder the recipe uses.

Dietary fiber 27.8-34.9%3
Ash 7.8-9.9%4
Potassium 15,750-22,030 mg/kg4
Calcium 11,380-12,560 mg/kg4
Carotenoids 60.6-159.6 mg/kg8

These are measurements of kale powders made under different conditions, not a specification for every supplier. Blanching changed mineral levels, while drying method changed carotenoid retention.3,4,8

Why it is in the bag

What the manufacturer gets

  1. 01

    Adds some fiber

    The dried leaf contains substantial dietary fiber. Its contribution to the finished food still depends on an inclusion amount that the ingredient list does not disclose.3,6

  2. 02

    Puts kale on the label

    Kale supplies green pigments and a recognizable ingredient name. Sellers attach eye, immune and digestive claims to it, although those promises outrun the evidence in dogs.8,10

  3. 03

    Stores and ships dry

    Drying turns a short-lived leaf into a product that stores and travels more easily. Hot-air drying is relatively simple and suited to processing at scale.3

How much A typical kibble amount was not published; one dog dental snack lists kale powder at 2% of its recipe.6,9

Our read // The claims

What the evidence supports

Strong: controlled studies in dogs agree. Some: small or mixed dog data. Thin: mechanism or lab work only. None: nothing, or the evidence points the other way.

  1. Brands say

    Dried kale adds fiber to dog food

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A drying study measured 27.8 to 34.9% dietary fiber in kale powder on a dry basis. Adding the powder adds fiber by arithmetic, but an ingredient list gives no amount from which to judge its effect on stool.3,6

  2. Brands say

    Kale keeps a dog's digestion regular

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A supplier-funded crossover study gave 24 women kale powder at 14 g daily and found more frequent stools. No comparable dog trial shows that the amount used in pet food changes digestion.2,10

  3. Brands say

    Kale carotenoids protect dogs' eyes

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A drying experiment measured carotenoids in kale and found less after hot-air drying than after infrared drying. Measuring pigments is not a vision outcome; no kale feeding trial has shown eye protection in dogs.8,10

  4. Brands say

    Kale's vitamin C boosts canine immunity

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    In a crossover trial of 15 healthy dogs, vitamin C capsules produced no clear improvement in measured immune responses. Kale was not tested, and dogs make their own vitamin C. The immune promise is unsupported.1,5,10

  5. Owners say

    Kale in kibble causes bladder stones

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    No cited study fed kale to dogs and measured stone formation. Veterinary guidance for dogs with calcium oxalate disease addresses their whole diet and urine conditions. A kale listing alone does not show stone risk.7

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    Kale powder contains measurable fiber and minerals, so it makes a nutritional contribution. A small amount is unlikely to define the food. Judge the recipe by its main ingredients and nutritional adequacy statement.3,4,6

  2. Q02

    Will it replace vitamin supplements?

    No

    An ingredient name does not tell you how much of each vitamin survives processing or reaches the bowl. Look for a complete and balanced nutritional adequacy statement when choosing a main food.4,6

  3. Q03

    Could it cause bladder stones?

    Not shown

    No study cited here shows that kale in kibble causes bladder stones in dogs. If your dog eats a prescribed urinary diet, keep added kale powder and other toppers within that treatment plan.7

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Nutro 37 / 71
  2. Simply Nourish 20 / 44
  3. Nature's Logic 15 / 32
  4. Wysong 11 / 20
  5. Blue 8 / 186
  6. Koha 7 / 29
  7. Wellness 3 / 118
  8. The Honest Kitchen 3 / 36
  9. Purina 2 / 186
  10. Evanger's 2 / 30

Foods that list it / all the brand's recipes we track.

Amazon best sellers that list it

  1. #76 Nutro Natural Choice Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food

Rank on Amazon's dog food best seller list, checked October 2026.

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Mixed Tocopherols 74%
  2. Chicken Meal 53%
  3. Chicken Fat 52%
  4. Chicken 49%
  5. Natural Flavor 46%
  6. Brown Rice 33%
  7. Dried Plain Beet Pulp 32%
  8. Flaxseed 31%
  9. Brewers Rice 25%
  10. Oatmeal 24%
  11. Peas 20%
  12. Dried Egg Product 19%

On the shelf

Foods that list Dehydrated Kale

108 foods in our catalog list it. These 60 list it highest on the label.

The Honest Kitchen Proper Toppers Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Dog Food TopperThe Honest KitchenThe Honest Kitchen Proper Toppers Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 4 on the labelThe Honest Kitchen Proper Toppers Grain-Free Turkey Recipe Dog Food TopperThe Honest KitchenThe Honest Kitchen Proper Toppers Grain-Free Turkey Recipe Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 4 on the labelNature’s Logic Original Pure Naturals Sardine Recipe Dry Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Original Pure Naturals Sardine Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelNature’s Logic Grain-Free Canine Chicken Meal Feast Dry Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Grain-Free Canine Chicken Meal Feast Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelNature’s Logic Distinction Canine Sardine Recipe Dry Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Distinction Canine Sardine Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelNature’s Logic Distinction Canine Pork Recipe Dry Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Distinction Canine Pork Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelEvanger’s Super Premium New! Gamebird Recipe with Coconut Oil for Dogs - Dry Dog FoodEvanger'sEvanger’s Super Premium New! Gamebird Recipe with Coconut Oil for Dogs - Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 11 on the labelEvanger’s Super Premium Game Bird Recipe with Coconut Oil Dry Dog FoodEvanger'sEvanger’s Super Premium Game Bird Recipe with Coconut Oil Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 11 on the labelSimply Nourish Original Grain Free Small Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Original Grain Free Small Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 12 on the labelSimply Nourish Original Grain Free Large Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Original Grain Free Large Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 12 on the labelPurina Beneful Superfood Blend Salmon Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Beneful Superfood Blend Salmon Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Duck Stew Wet Dog FoodKohaKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Duck Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 19 on the label
Show 48 more
The Honest Kitchen Proper Toppers Grain-Free Fish Recipe Dog Food TopperThe Honest KitchenThe Honest Kitchen Proper Toppers Grain-Free Fish Recipe Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 6 on the labelNature’s Logic Distinction Canine Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Distinction Canine Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelNature’s Logic Distinction Canine Beef Recipe Dry Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Distinction Canine Beef Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelNature’s Logic Original Pure Naturals Beef Recipe Dry Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Original Pure Naturals Beef Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 9 on the labelNature’s Logic Original Pure Naturals Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Original Pure Naturals Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 9 on the labelNature’s Logic Grain-Free Canine Beef Meal Feast Dry Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Grain-Free Canine Beef Meal Feast Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 9 on the labelNature’s Logic Distinction Grain-Free Land & Sea Recipe Dry Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Distinction Grain-Free Land & Sea Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 10 on the labelNature’s Logic Pure Naturals Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Pure Naturals Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 11 on the labelNature’s Logic Grain-Free Canine Duck & Salmon Meal Feast Dry Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Grain-Free Canine Duck & Salmon Meal Feast Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 11 on the labelNature’s Logic Distinction Grain-Free Canine Red Recipe Dry Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Distinction Grain-Free Canine Red Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 11 on the labelSimply Nourish Original Grain Free Adult Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Original Grain Free Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 12 on the labelSimply Nourish Original Small Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Original Small Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 12 on the labelNature’s Logic Original Canine Grain Free Dry Kibble: Beef Dry Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Original Canine Grain Free Dry Kibble: Beef Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 12 on the labelNature’s Logic Distinction Grain-Free Canine Fowl Recipe Dry Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Distinction Grain-Free Canine Fowl Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 12 on the labelSimply Nourish Source High Protein Grain Free Adult Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Source High Protein Grain Free Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 13 on the labelSimply Nourish Source Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Source Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 13 on the labelSimply Nourish Original Small Breed Senior Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Original Small Breed Senior Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelSimply Nourish Original Weight Management Small Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Original Weight Management Small Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelSimply Nourish Original Puppy Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Original Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelSimply Nourish Limited Ingredient Diet Limited Ingredient Small Breed Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Limited Ingredient Diet Limited Ingredient Small Breed Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelSimply Nourish Original Small Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Original Small Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelSimply Nourish Original Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Original Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelSimply Nourish Large Breed Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Large Breed Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelSimply Nourish Original Senior Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Original Senior Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelSimply Nourish Original Weight Management Large Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Original Weight Management Large Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelSimply Nourish Limited Ingredient Diet Limited Ingredient Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Limited Ingredient Diet Limited Ingredient Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelSimply Nourish Adult Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelSimply Nourish Original Adult Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Original Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelSimply Nourish Dry Puppy Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Dry Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelSimply Nourish Original Weight Management Adult Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Original Weight Management Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelPurina ONE True Instinct Muscle Support Beef Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina ONE True Instinct Muscle Support Beef Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 19 on the labelKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Chicken Stew Wet Dog FoodKohaKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Chicken Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 20 on the labelKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Turkey Stew Wet Dog FoodKohaKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Turkey Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 20 on the labelKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Grain-Free Beef Stew Wet Dog FoodKohaKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Grain-Free Beef Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 20 on the labelKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Rabbit Stew Wet Dog FoodKohaKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Rabbit Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 20 on the labelKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Pork Stew Wet Dog FoodKohaKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Pork Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 21 on the labelNutro Natural Choice Senior Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutroNutro Natural Choice Senior Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelNutro Natural Choice Small Bites Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutroNutro Natural Choice Small Bites Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelNutro Natural Choice Large Breed Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutroNutro Natural Choice Large Breed Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelNutro Natural Choice Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutroNutro Natural Choice Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelNutro Natural Choice Small Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutroNutro Natural Choice Small Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelNutro Natural Choice Small Breed Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutroNutro Natural Choice Small Breed Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelNutro Natural Choice Large Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutroNutro Natural Choice Large Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelNutro Natural Choice Adult Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutroNutro Natural Choice Adult Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelNutro Natural Choice Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutroNutro Natural Choice Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Lamb Stew Wet Dog FoodKohaKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Lamb Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 22 on the labelNutro Chicken Entreé topped with Bites of Real Chicken & Spinach Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodNutroNutro Chicken Entreé topped with Bites of Real Chicken & Spinach Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 22 on the labelNutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight Adult Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutroNutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight Adult Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the label

On labels as

Other names for this

Manufacturers do not all use the same wording. These all mean the same thing.

Dried Kale

Sources

What we read

Checked September 1, 2026.

  1. 1 The effect of vitamin C supplementation in healthy dogs on antioxidative capacity and immune parameters Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 2009 // Journal
  2. 2 Kale improves bowel movements in constipated women and affects some intestinal microbes and metabolites: a pilot study Frontiers in Nutrition, 2023 // Journal
  3. 3 Process Optimization for Calcium- and Fiber-rich Kale Powder Using Response Surface Methodology Asian Food Science Journal, 2026 // Journal
  4. 4 Effect of pre-treatment and drying methods on the content of minerals, B-group vitamins and tocopherols in kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) leaves Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2022 // Journal
  5. 5 Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals Merck Veterinary Manual, n.d. // Book
  6. 6 Reading Labels AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
  7. 7 Hereditary Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis, Types 1, 2, & 3 University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, n.d. // University
  8. 8 Drying and Quality Characteristics of Kale by Infrared Heating University of California, Davis, n.d. // University
  9. 9 100 % Irish. Sooooo pure! Irish Pure, 2024 // Industry
  10. 10 Dougie's | Kale Powder 285g Purely Raw, n.d. // Industry
An ingredient on its own tells you very little. What matters is how much of it there is and where it sits in the list. That is why we weigh the top five rather than reacting to any single name further down. Back to the wiki

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