Month: July 2023

Anyone who owns a dog knows how it feels to be enjoying a yummy snack only to look over and see big, begging eyes watching each bite you take. With the close relationship we share with our dogs, it’s only reasonable for them to expect us to share everything with them. Unfortunately, not every food we eat is safe for our canine friends to enjoy.

One of the treats many of us eat is rice pudding. This creamy and tasty snack really hits the spot sometimes and if you are in a sharing mood, you might want to know: can dogs eat rice pudding?

If we’re talking about plain rice pudding with nothing added, then it’s not necessarily bad for dogs, but it’s not exactly good for them either, due to the sugar, milk, and butter found inside. When things like raisins or chocolate or artificial sweeteners are mixed in, then rice pudding becomes a toxic no-go.

Let’s learn more about the relationship between dogs, human treats, and why not all things we eat are good for your dog’s health (although they’re often not great for ours either!).

What’s In Rice Pudding?

As with lots of recipes, rice pudding can be made in several different ways. However, there are certain ingredients that are pretty consistent throughout the recipes. When made in its purest form, rice pudding includes rice, milk, eggs, butter, and sugar. Let’s take a look at each ingredient and see what, if anything, it offers your dog when they eat it.

Rice

Rice is one of the most ubiquitous food items in the world, and is a commonly used carbohydrate in many dog foods on the market today. A 100 mg serving of plain, white rice can have up to 300 calories, but also contains Vitamins B5 and B6, which are used to turn the food your dog eats into the energy it needs. You’ll also find copper in rice, which is used for healthy blood cells, and Manganese, which promotes bone health and reduces inflammation. Rice is often to help when a dog is having an upset stomach, as a bland but filling ingredient.

Milk

There’s no denying the benefits of milk; calcium and phosphorus are great for teeth and bones, and like rice, milk has a lot of B vitamins in it. However, once weaned from their mothers, dogs tend not to tolerate lactose well, and too much dairy is likely to cause gastrointestinal upsets and diarrhea.

Eggs

Eggs provide dogs with a lot of protein which is vital to their health, providing your dog with energy and amino acids. Amino acids are excellent at helping control your dog’s hormones and providing them with good skin and coats. Eggs are also a good source of selenium, a mineral that helps keep your dog’s thyroid acting as it should, plus more of those wonderful B vitamins.

Butter

While it may make foods taste great, butter is full of fat; 81% fat. This includes saturated, unsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats. While there is a constant debate going on about which fats are good and which are bad, a diet high in fat is not healthy for your dog.

Sugar

You won’t find any benefits of sugar when it comes to your dog’s diet. A diet high in sugar will contribute to your dog becoming obese and potentially dealing with diabetes. You’ll also find that lots of sugar can be damaging to your dog’s teeth, just like with humans.

Can My Dog Eat Rice Pudding Occasionally?

We can see that plain rice pudding isn’t toxic for your dog, but it isn’t the healthiest treat to give your four-legged friend. However, if you enjoy rice pudding once every few weeks or so, allowing your dog a bite or two won’t be a huge issue. The key is moderation. Allowing your pooch to eat anything high in fat and sugar isn’t great for their diet.

The Dangers of Rice Pudding

Like with many human foods we allow our dogs to eat, it is important to read the ingredient list carefully, because there are several food items that are perfectly safe for humans but toxic for dogs. Among the most dangerous are raisins and the artificial sweetener, xylitol. Chocolate and nutmeg are also often added to rice pudding and should not be fed to dogs. If you truly want to allow your dog a bite or two of rice pudding when you’re enjoying it, the key is ensuring it’s plain white rice with no additions. You can also make your own at home so you know for sure that nothing inside is harmful to your dog’s health.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, rice pudding, tasty as it is, isn’t the greatest treat to offer your dog. Luckily, however, for dog owners who love this treat, plain rice pudding is not toxic to your pet. While we don’t suggest making rice pudding a part of your dog’s regular diet, if you share one bite or two on occasion with your best friend, there shouldn’t be any toxic side effects. Keep in mind, however, a diet that is high in fat and sugar isn’t good for your dog and can result in health issues down the road.

Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock

The post Can Dogs Eat Rice Pudding? Vet Approved Facts & FAQ appeared first on Pet Keen.

Having a dog in the house makes it hard to snack in peace. Whether you’re having a healthy bite or indulging in one of your favorite junk foods, like Pringles, it’s not uncommon to have big doggie eyes begging for you to share a bite. One of the hardest parts of being a dog owner is knowing what is safe to share with your pooch and what isn’t. Of course, you can avoid sharing anything with your pet and make them stick to dog food and treats, but there’s always the chance that your dog can get into things they shouldn’t when you aren’t around.

So, what about the yummy chips we mentioned, Pringles? Can dogs eat them? Are they safe? Unfortunately, for your wannabe snack partner, Pringles shouldn’t be shared with your dog. To help you better understand why your dog shouldn’t have these chips, or others that are similar, read on below where we’ll discuss things more in-depth.

The Dangers of Pringles

Now, if we’re being honest, allowing your dog to have 1 or 2 plain Pringles most likely won’t do any harm. However, Pringles are a human snack you don’t want your dog to eat for several reasons. Let’s go over those reasons now.

Flavors and Seasonings

If you’re a fan of Pringles, you’ve most likely tried several of their flavors. Original, BBQ, Sour Cream & Onion, and even Pizza are only a few of the offerings in these cans. These chips are loaded with flavor which means they are full of different types of seasonings. It’s these seasonings, used to make Pringles so good, that are most dangerous for your dog. Salt, onion, scallions, chives, shallots, and garlic are considered toxic for dogs. These spices can cause gastrointestinal issues for your pet such as upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting. Larger amounts of onion powder can even cause damage to red blood cells resulting in your dog becoming anemic.

Salt

One of the biggest appeals of a can of Pringles is the salty naughtiness. While you may crave something salty now and then, too much isn’t good for you. The same can be said for your dog. If you notice, dog food has salt in it but not too much. This is due to your dog needing a bit of salt in his diet to keep his nervous system functioning properly and balance the fluids in the body.

A 1 oz (16 chips) serving of Original Pringles provides 150 mg of Sodium. This is equivalent to the entire daily requirement of sodium for a 24lb dog such as a Beagle.

Sadly, too much salt in your dog’s diet can result in salt poisoning. When it comes to Pringles, there’s far too much salt for them to be considered safe for your pet. Here’s a look at signs your dog has consumed too much salt so you know what to keep an eye out for. If you feel your dog potentially has salt poisoning, contact your veterinarian immediately.

High-Fat Content

As you most likely know already, dogs need a healthy amount of fat in their diet to stay healthy. Too much fat, however, can result in major issues for your pooch. While we may wish they weren’t, Pringles are quite high in fat. When your dog eats foods that are high in fat, it can get a painful condition known as pancreatitis. Your dog’s pancreas may be small, but it’s a vital organ maintaining blood sugar levels and helping digest foods. Pancreatitis causes swelling of the pancreas and extreme pain.

A 1 oz serving of Original Pringles provides 9g of total fat in 150 calories.

Let’s take a look at the signs of pancreatitis so you’ll be informed if your dog presents with this issue.

Are Potatoes Safe for Dogs?

Considering Pringles are made from potatoes, asking if potatoes are safe for dogs is a natural question. While green and raw potatoes shouldn’t be given to your dog, cooked white or sweet potatoes aren’t dangerous. The potatoes must be cooked, however, due to a compound found inside called solanine which is toxic to dogs. If the potato is cooked, the solanine inside is reduced, making the potatoes safer. Keep in mind, though, potatoes shouldn’t be given to your dog daily. Instead, they should be treated like a special treat if your dog is a fan.

Final Thoughts

Before you pop the top on a can of Pringles and share it with your dog, think twice. Different varieties of Pringles have seasonings that are toxic to your pet. You’ll also find that all Pringles are high in fat and salt. Too much fat or salt can result in serious illnesses for your pooch that you can easily avoid. Instead of sharing your chips the next time you and your pooch go on a snack binge, grab a few of their favorite doggy treats to let them be part of snack time. Your dog may pout and show they are upset about your decision but you’ll be helping your fur baby stay happier and healthier.

The post Can Dogs Eat Pringles? Vet Approved Health Facts & FAQ appeared first on Pet Keen.