Want to know the ins and outs of serving your dog hash browns from your plate? Read on for crucial information about how hash browns affect canine gastrointestinal systems.
Hash browns are not edible for dogs. Hash browns from McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts, for example, are deep-fried, making them a terrible choice for dogs.
Hash browns contain a lot of fats, preservatives, and salt, all of which are terrible for a dog’s health. Last but not least, many hash browns have onion seasonings, which can be harmful to dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Hash Browns?
Not even occasionally as a treat, hash browns are not safe for canines to eat. Hash browns are bad for your dog because they are loaded with salt, saturated fats, carbohydrates, and seasonings.
Hash browns, which are high in calories, can cause digestive problems and even pancreatitis if fed to a dog on a regular basis.
Hash browns, whether they are homemade, from a fast food restaurant, or from a bag in the freezer, are not safe for your dog to eat. Give your dog healthy dog food and treats instead.
Can Dogs Eat Homemade Hash Browns?
This, as you might expect, is contingent upon the individuals responsible for making them and the contents they contain. Although your dog may seem to enjoy them, it’s unlikely that his digestive system will agree (even if his eyes do).
You can make hash browns that are safe for your dog if you really want to share with him.
What About Baked Hash Browns?
Baked hash browns may be an option at some eateries and in some home kitchens. Hash browns can be either deep-fried or baked, with the former being the technically safer option. That doesn’t make hash browns any less dangerous, though.
Keep in mind the aforementioned risks, as well as the others that have been pointed out.
Are Frozen Hash Browns Good For Dogs?
Dogs are not protected from eating frozen hash browns. Most of the frozen foods you’ve been hoarding have been heavily seasoned and contain a lot of salt, which is why cooking them releases such a pungent aroma.
This further complicates matters, as most of us will throw them into a frying pan with some oil to heat them.
Can Dogs Eat Hash Browns From Fast-Food Restaurants?
Hash browns might be on your dog’s snack rotation if you regularly feed him leftovers from every takeout menu you can find. However, keep in mind everything we’ve covered thus far.
Fast food hash browns aren’t going to compare favorably to those you make at home or buy in a freezer section. I’ll give you an example:
- Dunkin’ Donuts hash browns
- Chick-fil-A hashbrowns
- Fried potatoes from BK
- McD’s hash browns
Do you notice a pattern? Exactly. The hash brown you get at a fast food restaurant is likely to be laden with deep-fried fats, spices, excess salt, and subpar potatoes.
Your dog’s stomach (and yours) will not thank you for any of this.
Why Are Hash Browns So Bad For Dogs?
After all, at their core, they are just delicious fried potato patties. So what if you give your dog one of these treats occasionally? It turns out a lot. Danger primarily stems from three sources:
- The Art of Frying in Oil
- The burger patty’s ingredients
- Seasonings
Deep Frying
The original method of cooking is deep frying. Fried foods are bad for a dog’s digestive system. Hash browns already have a high concentration of unhealthy fats and salt, but the cooking process makes it much worse.
Deep-fried food may be a dog’s favorite flavor, but it doesn’t reciprocate that affection. It poses both immediate and long-term risks to their health. To be continued…
Ingredients In The Patties
All we see in hash browns are blended bits of potato. Harmless. Hash brown patties, on the other hand, have rice, egg, and additional oil to help bind the ingredients together. If your dog has a history of food allergies, he may be particularly vulnerable to these.
Further, solanine, found in potatoes, is toxic to canine kidneys. This one thing seems fine in limited quantities.
Seasonings
The devil is in the seasonings and spices. Onion is a common seasoning used in more than 90% of hash brown recipes. These aren’t always made clear in the list of ingredients, so it’s normal if you didn’t know.
Onion spice, however, can be deadly for canines. When combined with other seasonings, such as garlic and salt, it can be fatal.
One Little Extra: The Calorie Count
Takeout hash browns and frozen hash browns are loaded with calories, as you may know from reading their nutrition labels by accident. Most of them are also carb-based foods, which is even more problematic. Your cheat day has arrived. However, canine diets are extremely delicate and must be monitored carefully.
For instance, for every pound of body weight, a dog should consume roughly 25 calories. Only 10% of your dog’s caloric intake should come from treats; the other 90% should come from nutritious dog food.
There’s a good reason why hash browns can’t possibly fit in if you’ve been doing some quick calculations. There will never be a ratio or percentage that can compete with hash browns. As a result of their high calorie content, they are not suitable for your dog’s diet.
Hash browns are a bad idea because they can do more harm than good to dogs. However, you could be thinking about giving him a bite or two anyway. No need to feel bad about your puppy dog pout; you have plenty of company.
What Should I Do If My Dog Eats Hash Browns?
To your relief, potatoes make up the bulk of hash browns, so it’s likely that your dog will be fine if it sneaks a bite or two. Just be aware of any unfavorable reactions and symptoms. If they don’t seem to be improving on their own, you should take them to the vet.
However, you should contact your vet if you find that your dog has consumed a large quantity of hash browns. Your dog may need medical attention and evaluation depending on their symptoms and their health history.
Symptoms To Look For If My Dog Ate Hash Browns
It’s okay if you’re freaking out because you accidentally fed your dog hash browns. Read on after you’ve had a moment to catch your breath.
As a first point, we’ve all indulged our dogs with foods they shouldn’t have. You would expect nothing less as a pet owner.
Providing hash browns to your dog in the past does not make you a bad pet owner. But this should be the last time you tell your dog anything private, all right?
The following are some of the signs that your dog may be struggling with the effects of all that grease and salt if he or she has managed to snag it out of your hand:
- Extreme dryness of the mouth
- Disturbance of eating habits
- frequent licking of his lips and heavy panting
- He’s constantly nagging to go somewhere, and it’s getting old.
- It’s clear he’s not at ease
You should give him a bland diet and work to get the food out of his system as quickly as possible because of his symptoms. For instance, mashed potatoes in their most basic form are always a safe bet. Don’t forget to provide him with plenty of clean water to drink; he’ll be parched.
When To Contact The Vet
Any time you notice any of the aforementioned signs, you have the option of calling your vet or waiting it out to see how he does; after all, you know your dog best. However, if you notice any of the following symptoms, it’s time to take him to the vet right away:
- Involuntary trembling or convulsions
- Consciousness lapse
- Disturbing levels of sluggishness
- Intense nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
These symptoms suggest the presence of salt toxicity, which can be fatal in dogs. In order to ensure his safety, you must act quickly and take him to the vet.
What Happens If I Keep Sharing My Hash Browns?
It’s totally normal to be curious about this. Yes, we understand that you want to feed your dog some of the foods you enjoy most. However, you will incur high veterinary costs and your dog will be very unhealthy if you continue to feed it hash browns.
Leave the question of the ingredients aside for the time being. Heart disease (cardiomyopathy), obesity (and its many complications), diabetes, and other health issues are all linked to excessive fat and calorie intake in dogs. As with human health, the more specific you get about your dog’s breed, the more complications there are.
No matter how you slice it, it’s not a good idea to give your dog hash browns of any kind—frozen, baked, or fried.
Is There A Safe Hash Browns Recipe For Dogs?
That’s what you’ve been hoping for, right? There is a way to make hash browns that are safe for dogs, so you can feel good about giving them to your pet.
A sweet potato, an egg, and some coconut oil are all you need to make your doggie some tasty homemade sweet potato hash browns, as detailed in the recipe below.
The egg will help the shredded potato stay together while you shred it. The only thing you’ll need is one egg. Use coconut oil in the pan when frying. It’s possible that this oil is the least harmful to your dog, and you won’t even need as much as you would with other oils.
It’s crucial that you don’t season the hash browns in any way! Put down the salt shaker, it’s not necessary. If you need salt in your hash browns, serve yourself a plate while they enjoy the plain ones.
Remember all of this important information the next time you head to the drive-thru with your dog, because regular hash browns are more harmful than beneficial.
Conclusion
Hash browns are extremely unhealthy for dogs because they contain a lot of fat, salt, and potentially harmful spices. Hash browns are not a treat your dog should ever share with you. However, you can easily make your own dog-safe versions at home.
Have a friend who is always passing along bad advice? Would you mind forwarding them this article?