Sauerkraut and dogs: with caution
Caution
CAUTION: plain, low-sodium sauerkraut in small amounts may offer mild probiotic benefit, but regular sauerkraut is often too salty for dogs, and excess sodium intake can cause vomiting, tremors, or salt toxicosis. Store-
Depends on the form, the amount or the dog.
CAUTION: plain, low-sodium sauerkraut in small amounts may offer mild probiotic benefit, but regular sauerkraut is often too salty for dogs, and excess sodium intake can cause vomiting, tremors, or salt toxicosis. Store-bought varieties may also contain onion, garlic, or xylitol-sweetened additives, which are toxic. Choose only plain, unsweetened, low-sodium sauerkraut, in small amounts.
- Safe form
- Plain, unsweetened, low-sodium (or rinsed) sauerkraut given occasionally in small amounts — roughly a teaspoon for small dogs up to a tablespoon for larger dogs — as an occasional topper, not a daily staple.
- Unsafe form or part
- Regular/high-sodium commercial sauerkraut and its salty brine/juice; any product with added onion, garlic, spice blends, or artificial sweeteners (especially xylitol); large quantities.
- Preparation
- Select plain sauerkraut only — no onion, garlic, caraway/spice blends, or sweeteners; check the label specifically for xylitol. Prefer low-sodium versions or rinse before serving to cut salt. Introduce gradually in small amounts (teaspoon to tablespoon depending on dog size) to avoid GI upset, and skip the brine.
- Do not offer
- Regular/high-sodium commercial sauerkraut and its salty brine/juice; any product with added onion, garlic, spice blends, or artificial sweeteners (especially xylitol); large quantities.
- Deliberate feeding
- Only once the form and amount are clear
- Hazard level
- 2 of 4
If your dog has already eaten sauerkraut
A small amount of plain sauerkraut usually just needs monitoring for mild stomach upset (loose stool). If the dog ate a large quantity, drank the brine, or the product contained onion, garlic, or a sweetener, watch for excessive thirst/urination, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, or lethargy and contact a veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) promptly — sooner for small dogs or if xylitol is suspected.
Sources: American Kennel Club, PetMD, Merck Veterinary Manual. Evidence grade B. Last verified 2026-09-07. Dataset 2026.09.
Which form of sauerkraut the sources actually cleared
Plain, unsweetened, low-sodium (or rinsed) sauerkraut given occasionally in small amounts — roughly a teaspoon for small dogs up to a tablespoon for larger dogs — as an occasional topper, not a daily staple.
Preparing sauerkraut for a dog
Select plain sauerkraut only — no onion, garlic, caraway/spice blends, or sweeteners; check the label specifically for xylitol. Prefer low-sodium versions or rinse before serving to cut salt. Introduce gradually in small amounts (teaspoon to tablespoon depending on dog size) to avoid GI upset, and skip the brine.
What actually goes wrong
- Sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) is not itself toxic, but three real risks come from how it's made and served. (1) Sodium: AKC's veterinary nutrition team explicitly warns "sauerkraut may be too salty for your dog's taste," and Merck Veterinary Manual notes clinical signs of salt toxicosis can appear at ~2-3 g/kg sodium chloride ingestion (lethal ~4 g/kg) — a real concern with salty brine or large servings, especially for small dogs. (2) Additives: PetMD cautions owners to "read the labels of human foods carefully to select plain, unsweetened varieties that do not contain artificial sweeteners, especially xylitol, which is toxic to dogs" — commercial sauerkraut and accompanying dishes can also carry onion/garlic seasoning. (3) GI upset: introducing any new fermented food, per PetMD, "can lead to diarrhea and other health problems." Sources broadly agree the fermented cabbage itself is low-risk when plain; the caution is preparation- and sodium-driven, not a toxicity of cabbage/sauerkraut per se.
Sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) is not itself toxic, but three real risks come from how it's made and served. (1) Sodium: AKC's veterinary nutrition team explicitly warns "sauerkraut may be too salty for your dog's taste," and Merck Veterinary Manual notes clinical signs of salt toxicosis can appear at ~2-3 g/kg sodium chloride ingestion (lethal ~4 g/kg) — a real concern with salty brine or large servings, especially for small dogs. (2) Additives: PetMD cautions owners to "read the labels of human foods carefully to select plain, unsweetened varieties that do not contain artificial sweeteners, especially xylitol, which is toxic to dogs" — commercial sauerkraut and accompanying dishes can also carry onion/garlic seasoning. (3) GI upset: introducing any new fermented food, per PetMD, "can lead to diarrhea and other health problems." Sources broadly agree the fermented cabbage itself is low-risk when plain; the caution is preparation- and sodium-driven, not a toxicity of cabbage/sauerkraut per se.
How much counts as too much
All treats combined should generally stay within 10% of daily calories for a healthy adult dog in ideal body condition; individual needs vary.
The table below is the WSAVA reference allowance, printed as published. It is not a portion of sauerkraut: it is the total treat-calorie ceiling that everything given outside meals has to fit inside. Average healthy adult dog in ideal body condition. A veterinary team should set the individual dog's daily energy requirement.
| Body weight (kg) | Body weight (lb) | Max treat kcal/day |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4.4 | 14 |
| 4 | 8.8 | 24 |
| 6 | 13.2 | 32 |
| 8 | 17.6 | 40 |
| 10 | 22 | 47 |
| 15 | 33.1 | 64 |
| 20 | 44.1 | 79 |
| 25 | 55.1 | 94 |
| 30 | 66.1 | 108 |
| 35 | 77.2 | 121 |
| 40 | 88.2 | 134 |
| 45 | 99.2 | 146 |
Source: WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee, Feeding Treats to Your Dog. Retrieved 2026-09-07. Working out how many calories your dog needs in total is a separate question — the dog food calculator handles that side.
What these sources do not settle
All three cited URLs load and are the pages they claim to be, and each quoted sentence appears verbatim (trivial whitespace aside), specific to dogs. (1) AKC's "What to Add to Your Dog's Diet to Boost Gut Health" contains verbatim: "While sauerkraut may be too salty for your dog's taste, low-sodium sauerkraut could be a better alternative." This directly supports both the probiotic-benefit angle and the sodium caution. (2) PetMD's dog probiotics article contains verbatim: "Some human foods, such
Sources and review
- American Kennel Club — American Kennel Club — What to Add to Your Dog's Diet to Boost Gut Health (grade B, retrieved 2026-09-07)
- PetMD — PetMD — Probiotics for Dogs: Does Your Dog Need Them? (grade B, retrieved 2026-09-07)
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Merck Veterinary Manual — Salt Toxicosis in Animals (grade B, retrieved 2026-09-07)
Verdict last verified 2026-09-07. How this site handles sourcing and corrections is set out in the editorial policy, and every reference the site relies on is listed on the sources page.
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