What about pasta sauce? Can dogs eat spaghetti sauce?
Here’s the deal with pasta sauce and dogs: it depends on the ingredients. Most of the time, pasta sauces contain ingredients that are especially toxic to dogs like onions, garlic, and chives. Some even contain preservatives or dangerous sweeteners like xylitol, a sugar substitute that is extremely toxic to dogs. Same goes for ketchup.
Symptoms of onion toxicity, for example, include anemia/red blood cell loss, foul breath, nausea, drooling, vomiting, diahrria, and weakness.
If your dog displays any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian as they will need to treat onion toxicity as soon as possible. If the toxin has already been inside of your dog for a while, they will need IV fluids and medication. Depending on the severity of anemia, they might require a blood transfusion.
As you can probably tell, it’s not the sauce itself that’s poses the danger, but its components. Onions and garlic are at the very top of the list of human foods that are most toxic to dogs. It’s not worth the risk.
Contrary to popular belief, some dogs do love vegetables! As long as they are getting it in moderation, they’ll be happy you shared a special treat with them.
Vegetables and fruits that are safe for dogs to eat in moderation include broccoli, bananas, carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin, cauliflower, cucumber, and green beans.
Sweet potato is used in many healthy single-ingredient dog treats. Sweet potatoes are packed with disease-fighting antioxidants and are great for the digestive system.
Engage your dog’s mind in addition to their appetite by hiding some bite-sized pieces in a slow feeder, interactive dog puzzle, or treat dispensing toy.
Dogs and Spaghetti Sauce: The Pastable Outcomes Aren’t Good
When it comes to spaghetti and pasta sauces, it’s better to play it safe — especially during the holidays. Unless you know each and every ingredient that’s in that sauce, don’t give it to your dog.
If you simply must share your spaghetti dinner with your pooch, a plain, sauce-less strand will do just fine. Otherwise, a trip to the vet will cost you a pretty penne.
Share this:
