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September 11, 2024

Can Dogs Eat Nutritional Yeast? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & Info

The post Can Dogs Eat Nutritional Yeast? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & Info by Nicole Cosgrove appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

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What Is Nutritional Yeast?
Why Can Dogs Eat Nutritional Yeast?
Feeding Guide

Nutritional yeast is all the rage among health-conscious eaters looking for delicious and nutritious ways to zest up their meals. With its generous mix of protein and essential nutrients, you’re right to wonder if you can offer this vegan-friendly ingredient to your dog. Luckily, our dogs can safely enjoy all the benefits of nutritional yeast!

While nutritional yeast is a safe and healthy addition to your dog’s diet, picking the proper product and integrating it into a balanced diet can be confusing. Learn how your pet can benefit from this tasty supplement as we explore whether dogs can eat nutritional yeast.

What Is Nutritional Yeast?

Nutritional yeast, or “nooch,” is a deactivated yeast derived from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungus. The yeast grows on a sugar-rich medium, such as molasses or cane, and undergoes harvesting, rinsing, and heating to eliminate its leavening properties before it is packaged and sold.

The pasteurization process differentiates nutritional yeast from baker’s yeast, the yeast used for baking bread. Deactivation through heating makes nutritional yeast safe to eat because it won’t ferment in the body. Active yeast produces carbon dioxide and ethanol in the gut, potentially causing bloat, alcohol poisoning, and a host of resulting health issues for dogs.

Nutritional yeast supplies a cheesy, savory taste to meals and snacks. Available in powders, small flakes, or extracts, it’s perfect for sprinkling on salads, pasta, sauces, potatoes, and much more. For dogs, nutritional yeast provides a flavor-enhancing topping to make meals more enticing and a bit more nutritious.

Nutritional Yeast in a Bowl — Image Credit: Michelle Lee Photography, Shutterstock

Why Can Dogs Eat Nutritional Yeast?

Nutritional yeast is a nutritional powerhouse full of unique benefits that are uncommon to many vegan ingredients. It’s free of extra fat or sugar, and there’s no gluten. When fortified, nutritional yeast gains abundant B vitamins to enhance its benefits to your dog’s immune system, cognition, and nervous function.

Not all nutritional yeast will include the same amounts of vitamins and minerals during manufacturing. However, you can compare labels to ensure you get the most nutrition and value. The following are the essential perks a high-quality nutritional yeast could offer your dog.

Rich in Protein

Nutritional yeast separates itself from many vegan-friendly foods by being a complete protein. It has all ten essential amino acids a dog needs to build and maintain muscle, support healthy skin and coat, and improve immune health.

One hundred grams contain 60 grams of protein, adding a substantial boost even in the small amounts you may add to your dog’s food.

A miniature poodle puppy eating on a bowl — Image Credit: Duncan Andison, Shutterstock

B Vitamins

Nutritional yeast comes loaded with B complex vitamins, helping the body metabolize food into energy. Manufacturers frequently fortify their products with significant amounts. One serving often meets multi-day nutritional requirements for humans. Dogs see similar benefits from the diverse vitamin load, which includes:

Thiamine (vitamin B1) for nerve and muscle function
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) for metabolizing fats and carbohydrates, processing other B vitamins, and fighting free radicals
Niacin (vitamin B3) for nervous system and brain function, healthy skin, and healthy digestion
Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) for endocrine function and red blood cell production
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) for the immune system and brain development
Folate (vitamin B9) for blood cell development and cell growth
Cobalamin (vitamin B12) DNA and red blood cell synthesis

Antioxidants

We can’t overlook nutritional yeast’s antioxidant traits, as high glutathione and selenomethionine levels help fight free radicals. The compounds work together to detoxify the body, support liver and thyroid function, and protect cells against common diseases like cancer, heart disease, and kidney failure.

As dogs age, supplemental antioxidants like these can support stronger muscles, bones, and organs for longevity and improved quality of life.

Nutritional yeast flakes, or inactive yeast — Image Credit: Cristina Nakamura, Shutterstock

Additional Nutrients

Nutritional yeast includes ample fiber and minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, and selenium to support the immune system, circulation, and nerve function. It also supplies a healthy dose of beta-glucan. This carbohydrate enhances the immune system, with various additional benefits for the joints, digestion, and allergy relief.

How to Feed Nutritional Yeast to Your Dog

Although nutritional yeast is generally safe and healthy for dogs, you should check the ingredients, compare products and speak to your veterinarian first. The yeast is meant for people, so it can sometimes contain added flavors that may work for us but cause GI upset and other issues for dogs. When checking labels, ensure there are no seasonings or additives beyond B complex vitamins.

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As a flavor enhancer to entice your dog to eat, nutritional yeast doesn’t need to factor heavily into your dog’s diet. Your dog’s commercial food will have all the balanced nutrition your dog needs, so nutritional yeast isn’t critical for their diet; it only adds a healthy and occasional bonus.

With that in mind, you’ll rarely have much reason to offer more than a teaspoon to your dog. You can sprinkle some over your dog’s food when serving their meals, but begin with a small amount to see how your dog likes it and monitor for any adverse effects.

Conclusion

Nutritional yeast won’t factor heavily into any meal, but the healthy vitamin, mineral, and protein levels will only benefit your dog. From their immune function and cognition to their skin and coat, dogs feel the positive effects inside and out. If you have a picky eater who might benefit from this cheese substitute, talk to your vet today about whether your dog can have nutritional yeast in their diet.

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Michelle Lee Photography, Shutterstock

August 30, 2024

Can Dogs Eat Brown Sugar? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & Considerations

The post Can Dogs Eat Brown Sugar? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & Considerations by Chris Dinesen Rogers appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

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Why Can’t Dogs Eat Brown Sugar?
Risks
Other Sweeteners
Dogs & Carbohydrates

Many people have a seemingly insatiable sweet tooth. However a taste for sugar may have some benefits, as it supplies energy and is quickly metabolized by the human body with a decent return. Dogs aren’t different from people in our need for glucose for the health and functioning of our red blood cells and brains. So, if you like sweet treats, you may wonder if you can give your dog brown sugar.

The short answer is no, dogs should not eat brown sugar, even though it’s technically not toxic like chocolate or raisins. Nevertheless, it can have adverse health consequences that make it a big no-no. Let’s explore why indulging your pup’s sweet tooth is a bad idea.

Why Can’t Dogs Eat Brown Sugar?

Our pets can detect all four tastes in varying degrees. Interestingly, our canine companions aren’t as keen on salt as we are because of their low tolerance for sodium. Meanwhile, cats can’t taste sweet. These differences are the products of evolution and, in direct and indirect ways, improve the animal’s survival. Your dog can eat sweet foods, like some fruits and vegetables, but excess and processed sugars are not good for them. So, the concentrated form of brown sugar is a problem for dogs.

sugar, healthy, brown sugar — Photo by feelphotoz, Pixabay

The Risks of Feeding Brown Sugar to Dogs

Brown sugar is high in calories and nutritionally void. A single packed teaspoon contains 17.5 calories. That may not sound like much until you compare it to a 10-pound dog’s daily caloric intake of 275 calories. However, that’s nearly equivalent to all the treats your dog should get for the entire day. They are far better off eating a treat with some real nutritional value that will make them feel more sated.

Food Intolerance

Brown sugar is table sugar with added molasses, which gives it its characteristic color and taste. Chemically, it is a disaccharide or two bonded simple sugar molecules. The takeaway is that it’s more complex, which can affect its digestibility. This is similar to you eating something that doesn’t agree with your system.

Think of it from your dog’s perspective. The chances are you feed your pet one diet supplemented with treats. Of course, treats shouldn’t be making up more than 10% of your pet’s daily caloric intake. The animal’s body is fine-tuned to what they eat. So, when you give them something wildly different from their usual food, like brown sugar, their body levels of the necessary enzyme to break it down are low or lacking. That creates the perfect storm for GI distress and abdominal pain.

This adverse reaction doesn’t involve the immune system, so it’s not an allergy. Instead, scientists call it an intolerance to this new food. That’s also the reason you should slowly transition your dog to a different diet: to give them time to adapt.

sick husky dog in vet — Image Credit: Pressmaster, Shutterstock

Other Sweeteners

You may wonder about other sweeteners and their effects on your dog. Sugar, whether powdered or regular table sugar, isn’t toxic to dogs. However, the same precautions apply. The exception to the rule is xylitol. This sugar substitute is poisonous to dogs. This chemical stimulates insulin release, which, in turn, drops blood glucose to life-threatening levels. It can also cause liver damage in dogs.

We’ve discussed brown sugar as a single food item. However, we strongly urge you not to give your pet any baked goods that may contain xylitol. If in doubt, leave it out of your pup’s diet.

Dogs and Carbohydrates

When discussing brown sugar, the discussion generally turns to carbohydrates. Carbs provide glucose that canines must have.

A small experiment with dogs allowed free choice of foods to determine their macronutrient preferences. The animals selected a diet composed of 30% protein, 63% fat, and 7% carbohydrates. It’s worth noting that canines use smell in conjunction with taste, which may have influenced their preferences.

When accounting for palatability, another study had dogs choosing 23%, 41%, and 36%, respectively. These percentages fall in line with the breakdown in commercial diets.

Conclusion

Dogs have evolved and adapted over the ages to live with humans, even to influence their diet and metabolism. Our pets can technically consume carbs like brown sugar. Nonetheless, brown sugar is problematic on many fronts.

One must consider the calories in foods since our dogs aren’t nearly as active as their wild counterparts. That puts obesity on the table. The other concerns lie with adverse health effects like dietary intolerance. Brown sugar can negatively affect your dog if given regularly. Therefore, we recommend not giving it to your pup to avoid starting a bad habit.

Sources

Featured Image Credit: GabiSanda, Pixabay

August 30, 2024

Can Dogs Eat Watermelon Seeds? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & Info

The post Can Dogs Eat Watermelon Seeds? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & Info by Chris Dinesen Rogers appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Watermelon is synonymous with summer. People certainly love it, with the per capita consumption in 2022 at 14.12 pounds.¹ It’s an ancient fruit, with archaeological evidence going back 5,000 years. Its name describes its outstanding feature of being thirst-quenching. While the pulp is delicious, there’s a lot of waste. However, early Americans figured out what to do with the rind. Pickle it!

The other question, however, is the seeds. Many people find them a nuisance. It’s no wonder that seedless varieties have existed for roughly 50 years. The question remains: Are watermelon seeds safe to eat? Can your dog consume them? While swallowing one or two probably won’t cause a serious problem, we don’t recommend giving them to your pet or eating them yourself. The facts may surprise you.

The Dangers of Feeding Watermelon Seeds to Dogs

Scientists didn’t develop seedless watermelons through genetic modification. It’s simply cross-breeding plants with desirable characteristics, a practice nearly as old as agriculture. While many consume various nuts without harm, fruit seeds are sometimes problematic. For example, peaches and apricot pits contain a chemical that converts to hydrogen cyanide when metabolized. Yes, you read that right.

Watermelon belongs to the Cucurbitaceae or gourd family. It includes familiar and safe foods like melons, zucchini, and squash. Many contain relatively large seeds. That has prompted some researchers to consider their viability as food. After all, manufacturers roast and sell pumpkin seeds. Why not watermelon seeds? We don’t recommend any seeds for your dog, though, and that includes watermelon seeds.

watermelon, sweet, juicy — Photo by stevepb, Pixabay

Obstruction Risk

The size of watermelon seeds is an issue. They are large and hard, making them difficult for a dog to chew. They are often swallowed whole, which can theoretically present a risk of gastrointestinal obstruction. Your pet’s body won’t digest them properly. Instead, they will likely pass them whole. Eating too many can cause a blockage, which is a medical emergency.

Signs of an obstruction include the following:

Loss of appetite
Vomiting
GI distress
Lethargy
Abdominal pain
Bloating

Immediate medical attention is imperative. Surgery is often necessary to remove GI blockages. It’s certainly not worth the risk of giving your dog a handful of watermelon seeds. Remember that many dogs are indiscriminate eaters. They often gobble their food without much chewing, putting them at risk. The best prevention is not giving your pet any foods that could cause a blockage.

Nutritional Issues

Seeds and nuts are tasty, but they’re often calorie-dense. They have to support the growth of a new plant. Therefore, they naturally are jam-packed with nutrients, including fat. A 1-ounce serving of watermelon seeds contains 158 calories. That’s over half the recommended total daily caloric intake for a 10-pound dog. It also contains 13.4 grams of fat. That’s almost all of the minimum amount for an adult dog.

Feeding your pet high calorie food increases the animal’s risk of obesity and its associated health complications, such as diabetes and heart disease. Treats count when it comes to the calories your pet consumes. They should only make up 10% of your pet’s total caloric intake. These seeds may also be difficult for your dog to digest, despite the animal’s dietary adaptations with domestication.

watermelon, melon, nature — Photo by Pexels, Pixabay

Possible Toxicity

Our research found one study that raises another red flag about watermelon seeds. Even research supporting the use of these foodstuffs expressed concerns over the presence of the so-called anti-nutrients. They are chemical compounds that may interfere with nutrient absorption. The problem with watermelon seeds involves phytoestrogens.

The concern rests with their possible role as endocrine disruptors. These chemicals may have some health benefits, but they may also carry health risks that could potentially outweigh the pros in their favor. To be upfront, the study we found involved rats and not dogs. However, we share 82% of our genes with dogs and 69% with rats, making genetic overlap possible.

The researchers fed rats for 21 days on a diet of either 2.5% or 5% watermelon seeds. They monitored the rodents for various physical and blood chemistry factors. The seeds didn’t significantly affect the animals’ cholesterol or cholesterol levels. The consumption correlated with spikes in creatinine and urea levels, suggesting possible adverse effects on the kidneys in male and female rats.

The team also noted abnormalities in the male rats’ sperm, indicating potential adverse impacts on their reproductive system. These findings provide evidence of the negative effects of phytoestrogens, particularly on male rats. Of course, further investigation is necessary. However, it’s worth noting the relatively short time in which these effects occurred.

Conclusion

Humans don’t usually eat watermelon seeds. Perhaps the reason is now apparent in something other than aesthetics. Research is ongoing. However, given the risk of gastrointestinal blockages and the findings of the study we mentioned, we don’t recommend giving your dog watermelon seeds.

The effects may not cross species lines, but they are disconcerting enough to advise against this addition to your pup’s diet.

See Also: Are Watermelons Good for Dogs?

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Petrucy, Pixabay