Don’t we, as dog owners, love to give our dogs treats?! Some of us stick to the bagged processed treats, and dogs adore them. Others insist on “people” food surprises for their dogs. Both love their dogs and want to do what’s best for them. They simply disagree on what that is.
So, should dogs eat people food? Well, obviously, the answer depends on who you are, and even between those who agree, some insist on cooking their dog’s food themselves, while others can now have fresh, raw, organic meals designed just for their dogs delivered right to their doors.
It’s a plethora of choices for dog owners, but what people foods are safe for dogs? Can you give them everything you eat? Let’s start with pasta. Can dogs eat spaghetti or other types of pasta? Should they? Can they eat it raw? Let’s see.
Can dogs eat raw pasta or spaghetti?
Most dogs really love pasta, and isn’t it really easy to cook a little extra for him? He will eat it in any form at any time. Should dogs eat pasta sauce? Should they have salted pasta, pasta with cheese, or various types of pasta like veggie pasta?
What recipes are all right to feed your dog, and what if you’re thinking of feeding him raw pasta — should you? Yes, in most cases, you can feed your dog raw pasta without hurting him, but there are some things you should ponder before you do. Let’s delve further into this one and answer some of these other all-important questions and suss out the answers.
Is uncooked pasta or spaghetti bad for dogs?
While pasta isn’t necessarily bad for dogs, it isn’t necessarily good for them either. There isn’t a ton of nutritional value in pasta. It is mostly carbohydrates, and they give you energy for your body to run on for a period of time, but there are a few reasons why you may not want to give pasta to your dog.
Is cooked pasta bad for dogs?
Cooked pasta can be fine for dogs, but it should be without salt or sauce and served in small portions according to your dog’s size.
Your dog may have or can develop allergies to the eggs, wheat, or other ingredients in pasta.
While most “allergies” that dogs have to the foods they eat are merely intolerances rather than actual allergies. Egg and wheat allergies can cause some fairly serious reactions, and so can some other foods used in some forms of pasta. Even “veggie pasta” is made from white flour and vegetable flour.
Watch your dog after feeding him pasta to make sure he hasn’t had some type of allergic reaction to it. See the symptoms in bold at the bottom of this article.
Too much pasta can eventually cause type 2 diabetes in dogs.
Feeding your dog a diet of more than 10% pasta can lead to weight gain and lethargy, which can lead to hyperglycemia or high blood sugar. Hyperglycemia or type 2 diabetes may require treatment, which can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). It’s a vicious cycle that you don’t ever want to start.
Is uncooked pasta bad for dogs?
Raw pasta isn’t necessarily bad for dogs, but it isn’t really good for them either. Here are a couple of things to consider before feeding your dog raw pasta.
Feeding your dog raw pasta can also cause him to have digestive problems.
Since raw pasta soaks up water to cook, it will soak up water in your dog’s system until the pasta is twice its size. Not only does this mean there is a greater chance of dehydration but also constipation, both of which lead to GI (gastrointestinal) upset like nausea, indigestion, and vomiting.
Raw pasta like spaghetti can be sharp inside a dog’s mouth.
Spaghetti is thin and sharp on the ends and can cut up a dog’s gums, mouth, and esophagus. When there are so many other good things you can feed your dog, why feed them sharp, dry pasta?
How much raw pasta is too much for a dog?
The truth is that it’s best to avoid feeding your dog raw pasta, but if you must, it’s best to limit your dog’s diet to 10% raw or cooked pasta. Take into account that a cup of raw pasta isn’t the same as a cup of cooked pasta. One cup of dry pasta is two cups of cooked pasta.
You should also consider that dry pasta will soak up water once inside your dog’s system. If you feed him dry pasta, please be sure you make plenty of water available to him, as he can easily become dehydrated.
What to do if my dog eats raw pasta?
If your dog eats raw pasta, it’s probably a non-issue, but you should keep an eye on him, just in case. Look for signs of GI upset, which include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which, in turn, can lead to dehydration. If these symptoms last more than a day, take him to see his vet for an evaluation.
It could be more of an issue, though, if your dog has an allergic reaction to an ingredient in the pasta, such as eggs or wheat. Dogs can have a predisposed allergic reaction or can suddenly become allergic to a product at any time. Symptoms to look for in a dog with an allergic reaction to pasta are nausea, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, itching, hives, skin that’s red and irritated, a mouth and muzzle that’s swollen, and labored breathing.