Hot, crispy french fries are universally acknowledged as strands of pure joy. Our four-legged furball gets a whiff of the tasty treat and immediately wants to bury his nose in the whole bowl.
Can your dog safely eat a few french fries that he finds on the floor? No. However, are french fries safe for dogs to eat on a regular basis? No. This is why.
Can Dogs Eat French Fries?
A dog probably wouldn’t get sick from eating a few french fries that fell off your plate.
Human food has no nutritional value for your dog and can even be harmful in large quantities. The high salt, fat, and carbohydrate content of French fries can contribute to canine obesity.
Fries from fast food restaurants or restaurants serving similar fare can be harmful to dogs due to their high sodium content. Fries from restaurants often have seasonings like garlic or onion powder that are toxic to dogs.
Give your dog a healthy human food (such as blueberries, lentils, or vegetables) as a treat instead of a french fry from the table.
Fortunately, there are also nutritious options available to cater to your dog’s individual requirements, such as dog treats. Keep in mind that your dog needs relatively few servings of dog food to meet its caloric needs.
Are French Fries Safe for Dogs?
The consulting veterinarian at Petcube Online Vet, DVM Thashia Reddy, says that French fries, even unsalted ones, aren’t the healthiest snack for dogs for a few different reasons.
The majority of them contain a lot of fat and salt, both of which are bad for dogs. She also notes that the oil and grease in french fries can irritate one’s digestive tract. Finally, the potato bits can be a choking hazard because they are so small. ”
Hazards of Feeding French Fries to Your Dog
If you feed french fries to your dog, they could experience some of the following health problems:
1.Some dogs may have an allergic reaction to potatoes, whether they are fresh or fried. (However, cooked sweet potatoes are fine to give to your dog.)
If your dog accidentally consumes potatoes, look out for signs of an allergic reaction (such as hives or swelling).
2.There is a risk of fatal salt poisoning in small dog breeds if they eat too many French fries due to their high salt content.
If your dog’s normal salt intake increases even slightly, it could cause the dog to become dehydrated, thirsty, develop high blood pressure, and have to urinate more frequently.
Sugar and salt are bad for your dog, and condiments like ketchup contain both.
3.A dog’s stomach can get upset from the canola or vegetable oil used to cook french fries because of the harmful saturated and trans fats found in those oils.
Both canine bloat and pancreatitis are serious health risks if these unhealthy fats are consumed on a regular basis.
4.To induce gastrointestinal distress, high-carb fried food has the same effect on a dog’s digestive system as it does on a human’s.
5.Dogs can gain weight if they are regularly fed high-fat, high-carbohydrate foods like french fries.
Feed your dog the dog food your vet suggests to keep their weight at a healthy level.
How Many French Fries Can Dogs Eat?
One french fry isn’t going to kill your dog, so don’t worry if he or she eats it. But if your dog accidentally eats onion or garlic-seasoned french fries, you should contact your vet and/or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661.
As a treat, occasionally giving your dog an unseasoned baked or air-fried french fry is fine. However, making french fries and other high-calorie treats your go-to food is not recommended.
Every day, a dog should get the 21 grams of fat and 200 milligrams of sodium they need from their dog food.
Your dog should not eat french fries in addition to his regular food because a single serving can contain as much as 13-15 grams of fat and 140-190 milligrams of sodium.
Treats shouldn’t account for more than 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake, according to the experts.
Can Dogs Get Sick From Eating French Fries?
Your dog probably won’t get sick if he eats some french fries from your favorite drive-through.
But if he eats a lot of food from the trash or steals your large fry from the coffee table, he may get sick for a day or two.
You should consult your veterinarian if the symptoms persist for more than a few days or if you have any doubts.
It is for the same reasons that we shouldn’t feed our pets an excessive amount of french fries that we wouldn’t feed ourselves. Consuming even a small amount of french fries on a weekly basis has been linked to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, obesity, and pancreatitis.
What to Do If Your Dog Eats French Fries
It’s probably safe to feed your dog a few french fries. But if your dog eats an entire large order of fast food fries, you should be cautious.
1.Ensure your dog has access to water at all times. If your dog eats too many fries, make sure they have access to plenty of water. They’ll be parched from the excess salt, but drinking water will keep them from passing out.
2.Keep an eye out for stomach pain. If a dog eats too many french fries, he or she may get an upset stomach, diarrhea, or throw up.
Dry heaving, excessive drooling, rapid breathing, anxious pacing, and abdominal pain and swelling are all signs of bloat, a more serious potential health problem in dogs.
3.Always be on the lookout for symptoms of salt poisoning. Extreme thirst and urination are the most noticeable symptoms of salt poisoning in dogs.
However, your dog may also experience spasms or convulsions, weakness, nausea, a swollen tongue, and trouble walking. Get in touch with a vet ASAP if you notice any of these symptoms.
4.Keep an eye out for any adverse allergic reactions. Allergies to potatoes can cause breathing problems, hives, rashes, and itching.
5.Veterinary help is needed, so please call today. In the event that your dog develops any of the aforementioned conditions, it is imperative that you seek the advice of a vet immediately.
Can Dogs Eat Other Potatoes?
The consensus on whether or not dogs can eat potatoes is split. Check with your vet before giving your dog any kind of potato, as some say they’re fine in moderation while others believe they’re not good for dogs at all, as stated by Reddy.
She thinks it’s fine to occasionally give canines mashed potatoes, boiled potatoes, or cooked sweet potatoes. However, preparations of potatoes, such as mashed potatoes, may include ingredients that are harmful to dogs. ”
Make sure all of the mashed potatoes are prepared plain, without any seasonings.
Try these baked sweet potato treats instead of french fries if your vet gives you the OK to treat your dog to a potato now and then.
Other Vegetables Dogs Can Eat Safely
Most dogs probably wouldn’t choose these vegetables over french fries, but they might enjoy the satisfying crunch.
- Snack on some green beans
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Celery
She goes on to say that even though some of these foods may not be as enticing to dogs as others, they can still provide essential nutrients and calories that help keep them healthy and active.