Waffles are so yummy, right?! One of the most popular breakfast foods in American households. They can also be served as a dessert, topped with a variety of toppings like nuts, chocolate, and fruits. For breakfast and brunch, they can come with butter, maple syrup, whipped cream, jelly, crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, and even fried chicken. While we enjoy this delight, our pets are usually right there, hoping for a bite. The big question is: can dogs eat waffles? Can we give them a little piece, at least? Let’s learn a bit more about that.
Ingredients of a waffle
Let’s dive into what each ingredient could bring in terms of benefits or drawbacks for our furry friends.
• Wheat flour:
Wheat flour itself is not harmful to our doggies, but it doesn’t bring any significant benefits either. In terms of nutritional value, it is a relatively poor food for dogs.
• Eggs:
This ingredient in the waffle recipe can be safely consumed by our furry friends, as long as they are cooked properly. Reminder: raw eggs should never be given to dogs.
• Cow’s milk:
Cow’s milk is not advisable for dogs, including puppies. One of the reasons is that puppies can develop lactose intolerance, leading to various gastrointestinal issues. Another reason is that cow’s milk doesn’t bring any significant benefits to their diet and only adds unnecessary fat and calories.
• Butter:
Unfortunately, this is another ingredient in the waffle recipe that is harmful to our furry friends. Butter is made from the fatty part of cow’s milk and lacks any nutritional value. Moreover, apart from butter, any other highly fatty food can cause serious problems such as diabetes, respiratory difficulties, heart diseases, as well as pancreatitis and obesity. Avoid it at all costs!
Geez, it’s becoming more and more doubtful that dogs can eat waffles, right? But hey, let’s keep examining the ingredients.
• Sugar:
Sugar, even when given in small portions and occasionally, can end up harming your little dog’s health. One of the main reasons is the development of diabetes. Sugar itself is not entirely bad for humans. Contrary to what one might think, it is not completely devoid of nutrients, such as minerals and vitamins. However, the more refined it is, the more it loses these nutrients. However, there is no need to introduce it into the diet of our furry friends since it is already present in other foods like fruits and vegetables that we serve them. Avoid it!
• Yeast:
Obviously, we can’t consider yeast in its pure form here because, obviously, dogs can’t eat yeast. But what about when it’s mixed into the dough? As long as it’s properly baked or cooked, yeast won’t harm the little pup. Remember: never offer raw dough with yeast to dogs. The dough will continue to ferment in the dog’s stomach and can cause abdominal distension. Moreover, fermentation releases ethanol, a toxic substance for dogs.
• Salt:
Salt, in moderation, doesn’t harm dogs. In fact, they actually need a slightly higher dose of sodium than humans, as it’s an essential ingredient for their body to function properly. Of course, there are exceptions, such as dogs with kidney disease or other health issues.
• Vanilla extract:
Pure vanilla itself doesn’t cause any harm to your dog, but the extract uses alcohol in its processing, which makes vanilla extract prohibited for pets.
Can dogs eat waffles after all?
After careful consideration of the ingredients found in this beloved treat, the conclusion is: can dogs eat waffles? The answer remains a firm NO! The ingredients are difficult for our furry friends to digest and can cause digestive issues, weight gain, and food intolerances. There is also the risk of the use of xylitol in the preparation, an artificial sweetener that is extremely toxic to dogs.
Proper nutrition for dogs
The health and well-being of our beloved canine companions greatly depend on a balanced and healthy diet. The food we provide them should contain the necessary nutrients for their growth, energy, and immune function.
On our website, you’ll find a range of articles about balanced and healthy nutrition, including insights on what science says about natural dog food. You can discover the benefits of natural food for your pup’s dental health, achieving shiny and silky fur, whether raw or cooked food is better, and many other articles that highlight what they can and cannot eat.
If you have any questions about how natural dog food can enhance your pets’ lives, this is the right place for you.
