Dogs are our loyal best friends with whom we are ready to share our home, beds, and even food. But have you ever considered what food items are safe for our furballs? Most of us are guilty of feeding table scraps to our pets without much thought.
WHY DOES MY DOG THROW UP IN THE MORNING?
We often toss bits and pieces of whatever we are snacking on to our dogs as well. And this is where the problem arises. Dogs have different digestive tracts than humans. It is not necessary that whatever is good for us will be good for our pets as well.
Since someone has to do the arduous task of informing pet owners about what they should and should not feed their dogs, we took it upon ourselves to do the same.
After all, who does not love dogs (except psychopaths)? In this article, we have particularly focused on a special food item, i.e., pasta. Can dogs eat pasta? Let us find out. And as a bonus, you will also get to know some safe and unsafe food items for your dogs.
Should You Feed Pasta To Your Dogs?
The answer to the above question does not have a universally acceptable answer. While some vets are of the opinion that a certain amount of this traditional Italian dish can be fed to dogs, others strongly oppose feeding the same to dogs.
Both have their reasons behind their suggestions. Whatever may be their reasons, we have come to the conclusion that yes, dogs can eat pasta.
A small amount can energize your dogs as pasta contains carbohydrates. But before running off to cook some pasta for your dog, consider the below-mentioned facts and decide accordingly.
1. Consult your dog’s doctor
It is advisable to always consult with your pet’s doctor before you are planning to treat your pet with some new food item. Your vet will check for any food allergies that your dog might have.
2. Portion
Always start with a little amount at a time. Limit their pasta portion to a cup once or twice a week. Any more than that can start causing problems for your pet and hence it is advised to limit your dog’s pasta intake.
3. Type of pasta
Ensure that the pasta you are feeding your dog is home-cooked and plain. It should not contain any added ingredients. Keep the seasonings for your plate of pasta.
What Kind of Pasta Can Your Dog Eat?
Normally, the ingredients that Pasta consists of include wheat, water, and sometimes eggs as well. Hence, if you are feeding Pasta to your dogs, make sure it is simply cooked without any additives. Never feed them pasta from your plate. Cook simple plain pasta for them separately.
What Ingredients Should You Avoid in Your Dog’s Pasta?
There are certain ingredients that we include in our pasta while cooking. They make our pasta healthier and more delicious. But what is healthy for you is not necessarily good for your pet. Hence, you must avoid the below-mentioned ingredients while cooking pasta for your dog.
1. Garlic and Onions
Garlic and onions are not suitable for dogs as they come from a plant group called allium. Allium contains certain toxins that are poisonous to dogs. Garlic and onions can cause anemia.
2. Sauces
If you are wondering whether you can cook your dog’s pasta in sauces, make sure to go through the ingredients carefully. Since most sauces contain garlic or onion in powder form.
3. Salt
Dogs can eat salted foods but the amount of salt should be limited. For better understanding, let us consider that you are feeding 100 gms of pasta to your dog, make sure the amount of salt is less than 1.5 gm. Too much salt hampers their neurological system.
4. Oregano
Oregano is one of the most important ingredients for humans while cooking pasta, however, they are strictly forbidden for dogs.
5. Cheese
If you want to treat your pets, a tiny amount of cheese is nice. But never overdose them with cheese as it leads to obesity and heart ailments in dogs.
6. Black pepper and Basil
Both the above-mentioned herbs are good to go but only in minimal amounts.
7. Butter
Butter is also prohibited as it just adds extra calories. Plus, butter can lead to an upset stomach in your pet.
GRASS ALLERGIES IN DOGS: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, AND TREATMENTS
How Much Pasta Can Your Dog Eat?
A little amount of pasta here and there would not harm your dog. But avoid stuffing them with a dish full of pasta. A portion of less than a cup of pasta can be fed to your dog in a day. Vets recommend giving your pets plain cooked pasta once or twice a week. Any amount that exceeds these limits can be harmful to your dog.
Can You Feed Your Dog Different Varieties of Pasta?
Nowadays, a wide variety of pasta is available in the market. Pasta made of lentils, rice, and even chickpeas are available in the market. They are the new trend in the gluten-free market.
They are becoming widely popular in the human world but stop and think a little before feeding these new varieties of pasta to your dogs.
According to research, gluten-free food can cause heart ailments in dogs. This does not necessarily mean that you should avoid chickpeas and lentils in your dog’s diet but limit their dose to a certain amount.
Why Should You Limit Your Dog’s Pasta Intake?
Plain pasta is not harmful to your dogs if it is given in moderation. But if you are trying to feed nutritious food to your pet, you can skip pasta in their meals.
The nutritional value of pasta is very low. Plus, always make sure to get your pet checked for any grain or wheat allergy before feeding them this Italian dish.
And as with every other dish, excess pasta intake can cause your dog to put on unhealthy weight and hence may give rise to heart ailments. Hence, make pasta an occasional treat for them and not a part of their daily meal.
Your dog may show the following symptoms if they have been fed large amounts of pasta:
- Fatigue
- Obesity
- Excessive thirst and passing of urine
- Lethargic
Is Your Dog Allergic to Pasta?
You have cooked pasta for your dog and they have devoured it quite happily. But since the time they have gorged on this treat, your dog is showing weird symptoms such as vomiting, loose motions, and is suffering from itching, especially in their ears. These symptoms are a sign that your dog is allergic to certain ingredients in the pasta.
GRASS ALLERGIES IN DOGS: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, AND TREATMENTS
They can either have a wheat allergy or they could not digest the eggs in the pasta. In any case, take your dog to the vet immediately and find out if your dog is allergic to pasta.
Foods You Should Abstain from Feeding Your Dog
As we said earlier, here is a bonus for our readers. We have discussed some food items that you should avoid feeding your dog at all costs.
1. Xylitol
Certain food items such as gum, candies, and baked goods contain xylitol. It is a sweetening agent. It is highly poisonous to dogs and can even cause liver failure in your pet.
2. Avocado and other fruits
Avocados contain Persin which is harmful to your dog’s gut health. Certain other fruits such as peaches and plums can also poison your dog.
3. Alcohol
This is a no-brainer. Alcohol affects our precious furballs in the same way it affects us humans. Avoid giving alcohol to your dog at all costs. In the worst cases, it might even cause the death of your dog.
4. Caffeinated drinks
Caffeinated drinks are extremely harmful to your dogs. Take your dog to the vet at the earliest if they have taken caffeine. If you want your dogs to be energetic, play with them, do not give them tea, coffee, or any other drinks.
5. Grapes and Raisins
Even a small number of grapes and raisins can make your dog ill. They can even cause their kidneys to malfunction.
6. Bones
A lot of merchandise for dogs involves bones in one form or another. But dogs can get sick if they are given bones to chew. They may choke on a bone along with catching certain other digestive issues.
7. Raw eggs, meat, and fish
Never feed your dog uncooked food. Feeding your dog raw eggs, meat or fish can cause them to catch bacterial infections.
8. Your Medicines
Never experiment with your dog’s illness by feeding them your medicine. Dogs should only be given vet-approved medicines that are specially manufactured for dogs.
9. Chocolates
Who does not love chocolates? But are they good for your furry friend? The answer is negative. Chocolates are not good for dogs.
We hope this article was able to solve your query “Can Dogs Eat Pasta?”. So, go ahead and cook some delicious pasta for your precious furballs. Have fun with your best friend in the process.
