Can dogs eat french fries? You probably asked yourself this question for hundreds of times and never had enough time to research the topic and finally answer this question. And if you asked yourself this question, the chances are that you are an enormous french fries lover, right? But, is your dog a fan of this delicious, but not so healthy snack? Let’s discover.
Can Dogs Eat French Fries?
This question has two different directions that are seen in ‘can they’ and ‘should they’ category.
So, your canine can eat french fries, but he really shouldn’t.
If you ever gave your doggy one or few french fries you could notice how those puppy eyes are becoming even bigger and he simply couldn’t hide his happiness for having a bite of this human snack. Bear in mind, that just because your dog likes french fries it doesn’t mean that it’s ok for him to eat it.
Fried and fatty food are never good for humans, so it’s even worse for humans. There are many things that dogs can eat, but they shouldn’t. Some of them are listed:
Of course, some human food can be safe for your dog in moderation, but they should eat them frequently, such as strawberries, and then there is food that shouldn’t be a part of dog’s diet, such as french fries.
Why Are French Fries Bad For Dogs?
Ingredients in french fries aren’t toxic for dogs, and they are digestible in small amounts. Again, the fact that they are digestible still doesn’t mean that they are good for dogs. Moreover, in the long run, a regular diet based on french fries can lead to a serious health issue in dogs. On the other hand, in the short term, french fries can give dog concerning symptoms.
Potatoes And Dogs
As you know, the main ingredient in french fries is potatoes. In general, potatoes are not extremely difficult or dangerous for dogs, but the truth is that they are extremely high in carbohydrates. Surprisingly, carbohydrates and those carbs are difficult for a dog’s digestive system to process, and some dogs are even allergic or very sensitive to potatoes.
Some dogs are so sensitive that they will immediately get diarrhea or throw up, even after the smallest bite. The same reaction goes for chip potato and fried one. On the other hand, some dogs can’t eat potatoes at all.
Oil And Dogs
The most common ingredient in french fries, after potatoes, is oil. There are oils that are great for dogs, such as fish oil, but the oils used for delicious french fries are mostly vegetable oil or canola. Overall, oils in french fries are not healthy for dogs and will give dogs a significant amount of trans as well as saturated fats.
Note: saturated fats are bad kinds of fats.
Too much fat can lead to upset digestive upset in short-run and can support development to conditions such as diabetes, obesity and even pancreatitis.
Bloat in dogs can appear when dog intake massive amount of bad fat on a regular level, and as you probably know bloat in dogs is a life-threatening condition.
Salt And Dogs
The third most common ingredient in french fries is salt. Simply said, dogs can suffer from poisoning if they ingest too much salt. Of course, they would have to ingest an enormous amount of salt depending on their weight, but they still can get experience excessive thirst, dehydration and changes in urination in the short term.
If your dog is exposed to excessive salt for a longer time, he may experience kidney problems.
Some people mix ketchup and french fries. Discover if ketchup is safe for your dog here. On top of that, some people add some extra spices or condiments that are even more unhealthy and saltier. So, if the moment ever comes that you have to feed your dog with french fries make sure that you share just a few small bites, without and addition to rich up the flavor, including the salt.
Fast fact: Dogs have the same reaction to salt as humans do, but they can tolerate much less.
Benefits Of French Fries For Your Dog
There are no health benefits when it comes to your dog eating french fries. French fries are loaded with trans fats and other processed and manufactured ingredients. Also, your dog’s digestive system may not be able to process french fries and that can lead to several different complications.
If you want to support your dog’s health you should avoid feeding him with food that is poor in healthy nutrients. Therefore, search for food that will help your dog thrive on healthy nutrients.
What Should I Do If My Dog Eats French Fries?
If your dog eats a few french fries, you probably don’t have much to worry about. But, if your dog is sensitive to an ingredient in fries, he can show some stomach disturbance or allergies. If you are sure that your dog ate french fries make sure that he has access to plenty of water and monitor his behavior. If your dog shows any symptoms that concern you, contact your veterinarian. The most common side effects if your dog eats some french fries:
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Changes in urination
- Excessive thirst or dehydration
- Upset stomach
If your dog is highly sensitive, he may experience severe side effects, so if you notice any of the following symptoms contact your veterinarian. You never know when a moderate symptom can transform into a life-threatening condition. Your dog may also experience heavy allergic reactions, so if your dog shows signs of swelling, hives, difficulty breathing, he may be at risk for anaphylaxis.
What Are Alternatives To French Fries That Are Safe For My Dog?
If you insist on feeding your dog with french fries than you should think about the next best thing or alternatives. By alternative, we mean human food that is safe to share with your dog.
First thing first, avoid offering any of drive-thru food with your dog, including the ‘healthy’ options. Healthy options are usually full of sugar or treated with pesticides and herbicides. If you just can’t say ‘no’ to that puppy look, leave your dog at home when you’re getting fast food.
With that being said, think about real healthy options that can help you enrich your dog’s menu and everyday lunch. Surprise your dog with sweet potatoes, or other vegetables such as carrots, broccoli and much more.
You don’t have to limit your dog just to healthy vegetable and you should share some healthy fruit with him as well, just make sure that you avoid fruit that is toxic to dogs, such as grapes. The best thing that you can do when you are about to share human food with your pooch is to have a conversation with your veterinarian about human food that is safe for your dog.
French Fries And Weight Gain In Dogs
Once you bring a dog home you are responsible for his overall health and well-being. Also, it’s up to you to build a strong, healthy and active dog. It’s up to you to help your dog maintain a proper weight, as you can directly be responsible for obesity in your dog.
French fries can lead to obesity, so be aware of potential threats when you are replacing dogs food with human food. Obesity can significantly decrease the lifespan of your pet, or put your pet at risk from diabetes.
Are There Any French Fries For Dogs?
Simply said, no. As mentioned before there are natural sweet potato treats you can get for your dog, or make your own at home. Sweet potatoes or even jams are much easier for dogs to process than regular potatoes, and they come with many more helpful vitamins.
Why are sweet potatoes or sweet potatoes treats better for dogs? They are low in salt and extremely high in nutritious benefits. But, sweet potatoes are also rich in carbohydrates, so you should be careful and not feed your dog with too many of these snacks. After all, moderation is everything.
Key Takeaways
Always learn what are the benefits of human food for your dog, if there are any. Additionally, always avoid sharing food that may harm your canine or has no benefit for his overall health. Simply said, don’t share your french fries with your dog. If you can’t resist those puppy eyes, just think of those unhealthy ingredients such as oil and salt.
Giving your dog a french fries as a treat is one thing, and feeding him with it every day as completely another one. After all, french fries are more of a human thing than a doggy one.
Frequently Asked Questions On – Can Dogs Eat French Fries?
1. What Happens If A Dog Eats French Fries?
If your dog ate just a few pieces of french fries, you shouldn’t panic. Nothing bad will happen from just a few bites and it will just pass by. However, if your dog is allergic to oil or salt or even potato you can expect heavy stomach disturbances and visit the veterinarian. Also, you should monitor your dog for symptoms of poisoning, due to high amounts of sodium poisoning.
2. Is It OK To Feed Dogs French Fries?
There are no health benefits from french fries to your dog. Moreover, french fries come with excessive fat consumption that can lead to bloat in some dogs, and bloat is a life-threatening condition. The second most common ingredient in french fries is salt, another not desirable ingredient for your dog’s health. If you want to give french fries to your dog as a snack, make sure that is without salt. Even then, they are unhealthy.
3. Can French Fries Kill A Dog?
No, unless he eats a significantly huge amount of french fries full of salt and oil. Giving your dog a few french fries is one thing, and feeding him regularly is another one. Don’t make a habit of it. Simply said, french fries aren’t a good treat for dogs.
4. Can Dogs Eat Frozen French Fries?
You should never feed your canine with raw potato, it can lead to several complications. If you do feed a dog with potato, it should be boiled or baked, with nothing added to it. Potato chip, potatoes with butter or salt, and potatoes fried in oil such as french fries are not healthy for dogs.
5. Are Chips OK For Dogs?
Feeding your dog with salty things is never a good idea and you should avoid feeding your canine with food like chips or pretzels. Eating too much salt can make dog thirsty and it can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures, high temperature, and even vomiting. In some rare cases, it can even cause death.
