Can dogs eat Turnip?
Yes - in moderation
Yes - plain cooked turnip is safe and low in calories. Cook it rather than serving it raw, and go easy if your dog has a thyroid condition.
Last reviewed
What happens
Turnip is a safe, cheap and low-calorie vegetable for dogs. It provides fibre, vitamin C and potassium, and cooked until soft it is easy to digest. Like other brassicas it contains goitrogens, compounds that can interfere with thyroid function if eaten raw and in large quantities over a long period. For a healthy dog having a spoonful of cooked turnip occasionally this is not a practical concern, and cooking reduces it considerably, but it is a sensible reason to keep portions modest and to check with your vet if your dog is being treated for a thyroid problem. Raw turnip is hard and peppery, and most dogs are not interested anyway. The leafy tops are edible and safe cooked, though they carry more oxalate than the root.
How much is safe?
A teaspoon of cooked mashed turnip for a small dog, up to a couple of tablespoons for a large one, occasionally rather than daily.
How to prepare it
Peel it, boil or steam it until soft, cool it, and mash or chop it small. No butter, no salt, nothing mashed with cream. Raw is safe but hard and rarely welcome.
Symptoms to watch for
Wind and loose stools from too much, which is the usual brassica story. Thyroid effects would only follow sustained heavy feeding of raw turnip and would show as weight changes, lethargy or coat problems - all reasons to see a vet.
When to call the vet
Rarely needed. Speak to your vet before feeding turnip regularly if your dog has a diagnosed thyroid condition.
Can dogs eat these?
Common questions
Is turnip the same as swede for dogs?
They are different vegetables but the guidance is identical: both are safe cooked, both are low in calories, and both contain mild goitrogens that make large raw quantities a poor idea. Cook, chop and keep the portion modest.
Can dogs eat turnip greens?
Cooked turnip tops are safe, though they carry more oxalate than the root, so they are best avoided in dogs with kidney or stone history. Steam them and chop finely if you use them at all.
Can dogs eat raw turnip?
It is not toxic, but it is hard, peppery and harder to digest, and raw is where the goitrogen content is highest. Cooking until soft is better on every count.
Looking for a food to feed instead? browse the directory or read the guides.
This is label analysis, not veterinary advice - if your dog has a health condition, talk to your vet before switching foods.