Humans adore hummus, and its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years as more people have sought to improve their diets by eating more plant-based foods.
Whenever I have a snack of carrots and hummus, my spaniel sits by my feet sniffing the air and giving me her best puppy eyes in the hopes that I will share. But you shouldn’t give this to your dog as a reward.
Since chickpeas make up the bulk of hummus, you might assume that it is fine for Fido to snack on this delicious dip. That, however, is not the whole story. Can dogs eat hummus? Let’s do some digging to find out.
What Is Hummus?
Chickpeas (or garbanzo beans), tahini (a sesame paste), olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt are blended into a silky smooth consistency to make hummus.
Hummus, with origins in the Middle East, can be used as either a dip or a spread. The most common accompaniments to hummus are pita (or another flatbread), crackers, carrot sticks, and other vegetables.
Can dogs eat hummus?
Sorry, but hummus is not dog food. Although chickpeas, the main ingredient in hummus, are completely dog-safe, there are a number of other ingredients in that thick and tasty dip that are not.
The other main components of hummus are chickpeas, tahini, oil, concentrated lemon juice, salt, garlic, and garlic powder.
Dogs can safely consume tahini, which is a paste made from toasted and ground sesame seeds. Olive oil or rapeseed oil, the most common types of oil used, are both safe for dogs to consume in moderation.
No dog, no matter how large, needs more than a teaspoon of oil daily. Oil is rich and fatty, so if your dog eats too much of it, it could cause gastrointestinal illness or even pancreatitis.
Furthermore, eating fatty foods frequently can cause you to put on extra pounds. You should restrict your dog’s hummus consumption because it is high in oil.
Lemon juice, garlic, and salt are all ingredients commonly found in hummus that can be harmful to dogs. These ingredients can cause a variety of health problems, including gastrointestinal irritation, dehydration, and even poisoning. Below, we’ll delve deeper into this topic.
It’s better to be safe than sorry, so don’t give Fido any hummus, even though the amount of potentially harmful ingredients in even a tiny dollop wouldn’t be enough to kill a large dog.
Dogs of smaller sizes are especially vulnerable to food poisoning because even a small amount of hummus could be fatal.
Can dogs eat red pepper hummus?
Like regular hummus, red pepper hummus is bad for your dog for the same reasons.
Fat, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and various oils are all present in this dip, all of which should be used sparingly or avoided altogether when feeding your dog.
Can dogs eat onion hummus?
Onion hummus is toxic to canines and should not be fed to them. Onions and garlic, both of which are found in this delicious dip, are toxic to dogs in large enough doses on their own, but eating them together increases the risk that your pup will ingest a lethal amount.
Typically, onion hummus recipes call for a large quantity of onion, garlic powder, and garlic puree, which results in a highly concentrated amount of potentially harmful ingredients.
Grape must, a type of pulp made from grapes, is sometimes included in onion hummus. Grapes, as you may know, are also harmful to canines.
Second, your dog shouldn’t eat this hummus because it still has lemon juice and salt, both of which can cause stomach problems. Overall, this means that you shouldn’t feed your pet any hummus that contains onions.
Can dogs eat chocolate hummus?
You shouldn’t give your dog chocolate hummus, period. Although the chocolate inside of this treat is delicious to humans, it is extremely harmful to dogs.
In addition, your dog shouldn’t snack on chocolate hummus because it contains lots of fat and sugar and as much salt as regular hummus.
Can dogs eat carrots and hummus?
The carrot piece is safe for consumption. You probably already know that hummus is bad for dogs and should be kept out of their reach.
However, carrots are a healthy and nutritious treat for your dog, and most canine companions enjoy the satisfying crunch of a freshly peeled carrot.
If your mutt is staring at you with puppy dog eyes while you snack on carrot sticks and hummus, feel free to share with them. Make sure you don’t try to eat it after you’ve dipped it in hummus.
Can dogs eat chickpeas?
Chickpeas, when cooked and served plain, are safe for dogs to eat. A dog can safely consume chickpeas in either canned or dried form, provided that the dried chickpeas are properly soaked and cooked.
If you’re feeding your dog canned chickpeas, make sure to drain and rinse them to remove as much salt as possible.
Chickpeas are stuffed with useful nutrients like fiber, protein, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, and phosphorus.
Your dog will reap benefits across the board from these, as the mineral combination aids in skeletal development, promotes healthy hair and muscle growth, and ensures optimal organ function.
Chickpeas are great for dogs, but like all treats, they should only account for about 10 percent of your dog’s daily caloric intake.
Is hummus bad for dogs?
Although hummus is good for us humans, it is not safe for our dogs to eat. While plain chickpeas are perfectly fine for our canine companions, hummus is not, as it contains several ingredients that are harmful to dogs.
The lemon juice, salt, and garlic in hummus are toxic to pets.
The consensus is that garlic is toxic to canines. Even though there isn’t much garlic in hummus and a little bit probably wouldn’t hurt Fido, you shouldn’t give it to him anyway.
Dogs can be poisoned by any form of garlic, so it doesn’t matter if the hummus you’re eating has raw, cooked, fresh, or dried garlic in it.
When consumed in large quantities, garlic can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even anemia in your dog due to its toxic effects on his red blood cells.
When given to a dog, lemon juice can cause stomach upset and pain because it is an irritant. The type of juice found in hummus is also highly concentrated, increasing the likelihood that it will make your dog ill.
Don’t give your dog any foods that are high in salt, either. Salt is generally safe when consumed in moderation, but excessive consumption can lead to dehydration and even sodium poisoning.
If your dog only eats a small amount of hummus, the salt content shouldn’t be a problem, but it’s still best to keep them away from it.
Some varieties of hummus also include “spices,” which isn’t exactly helpful for anyone trying to determine whether or not it’s safe for dogs to consume.
It’s best to avoid giving your dog any dip unless you know for sure that it doesn’t contain any of the many human seasonings and spices that are known to be irritating to our furry friends.
Hummus is high in fat and has a few unsavory ingredients as well. Depending on the brand, 50 grams of hummus can have anywhere from 7.1g of fat up to 15.5g of fat.
The high fat content of foods like hummus can lead to your dog gaining weight unhealthily and may even cause pancreatitis.
Are dogs allergic to hummus?
Dogs with allergies to chickpeas or hummus are extremely unusual, but not impossible.
Proteins are the most common culprit in dog food-related problems, but almost any food can trigger an allergy or intolerance in some dogs.
Chickpeas’ plant protein may cause an allergic reaction in those who are sensitive to soy or beef.
Types of Nutrients in Dog-Friendly Hummus
Chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) and tahini paste (made from sesame seeds) are all that’s needed to make a hummus that’s safe for dogs to eat. If you want your dog’s diet to be free of potentially harmful ingredients, you should avoid giving it garlic and other spices.
The avocado and carrot purées, as well as any other fruits and vegetables that are safe for dogs, can be added. Nutrient-wise, a dog-friendly hummus snack is likely to contain the following three groups:
1.Beta carotene and selenium, two antioxidants found in chickpeas, may help fight free radicals in your dog’s body, resulting in a stronger immune system and a lower risk of cancer and other degenerative diseases.
2.Hummus is a great source of calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and potassium, all of which are essential minerals for your dog’s health.
3.Protein: Both garbanzo beans and sesame seeds are excellent sources of protein, which is crucial for your pet to build and keep lean muscle mass.
Health Risks of Feeding Hummus to Dogs
Store-bought hummus, especially varieties with high levels of garlic and other seasonings, can be toxic to canines.
Make your own dog-friendly hummus with safe ingredients like chickpeas and tahini paste to keep your pet out of danger. Before you give your dog a spoonful of hummus, there are three potential health risks to think about.
1.One of the most toxic components of hummus is garlic, which can cause hemolytic anemia in dogs even in small doses due to the presence of thiosulfate. If this compound causes hemolytic anemia or other organ damage, it can be fatal.
2.Dogs shouldn’t eat hummus because of the risk of gastrointestinal distress; the spread may contain citric acid, red pepper, cumin, or other spices that are harmful to canine digestive systems. Abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea are typical reactions to an upset stomach. Owners should take their dogs to the vet if these signs persist for more than a few days.
3.Traditional hummus has been linked to pancreatitis in dogs, but even dog-safe hummus poses risks when consumed in large quantities.
Your dog’s blood pressure could rise and their calorie intake could skyrocket if they eat too much hummus.
Joint pain and pancreatitis are just two of the complications that can arise from a dog’s excessive weight.
Recap: Can dogs have hummus?
No, hummus isn’t safe for canines to eat because it contains several ingredients that can make them sick.
You can give your dog a tasty treat while you snack on hummus by tossing them the raw vegetables you’re using as dippers. Most dogs love the healthy treats of cucumber, pepper, and carrot, and they can eat them without any worries on your part.
You could also try blending some chickpeas with a tiny bit of oil and some water to make some dog-friendly hummus. Even though it’s fine for canines and people alike to chow down on, it’s safe to say that it won’t have much of a flavor profile.
But there’s no use in making a boring dip for your dog; you might as well give them something tasty.
The nutritional benefits of a well-rounded meal like Pure go far beyond its delicious flavor. Learn the specific strategy for your dog right now.