Hummus? Yummy! This healthy and delicious dip is known for being an all-time Middle Eastern classic and, nowadays, it’s known for being an American favorite dip. The creamy flavor and healthy ingredients make hummus a superfood! Hummus is rich in fiber, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Basically, it’s filled with all thing that one human can thrive on. But, is it equally healthy for your dog? Read on and discover.
Can Dogs Eat Hummus?
Long story short, no. The main reason for this is that hummus contains garlic. Garlic is known for being poisonous to dogs. In addition, hummus often contains onions that are not safe for canines. Both onions and garlic should be avoided in a dog’s diet.
They can cause Hemolytic Anemia, a condition that is life-threatening. In short, this condition can destroy red blood cells inside the organism, that deliver oxygen to the brain. Bear in mind that if your dog eats just a small amount of garlic or onion he should be fine. Still, you should contact your veterinarian if you notice even the slightest change in your canines behavior.
Also, vomiting and diarrhea are common signs of food poisoning. One more important thing is that your dog gets its nutrients from dog food, so in general, no additional food is actually mandatory. Although you may think that you do good for your dog with additional nutrients, you can actually make the situation worse. That being said, make sure that you ask your veterinarian for advice before you feed your dog with certain food.
Hummus – Nutritional Information And Ingredients
Hummus is originally from the Middle East, while nowadays we see it in kitchens around the world. There are many different ways of how this delicious food is made, but ingredients are more or less the same. That being said, the most common hummus ingredients are chickpeas, tahini, coriander, virgin oil, and garlic. Other ingredients are usually added for taste.
In most culinary traditions and eating habits, hummus is used as a side dish. In most cases, people dip pita or bread in hummus. This combination of olive oil, peas, and other ingredients is highly recommended for our health. After all, its a fast and healthy snack. The core of hummus is chickpeas that are extremely rich in manganese and fiber, as well in vitamins and proteins. In addition, hummus is extremely low in calories.
As the biggest part of hummus is water, sugar, and proteins are low. A low-sugar snack is great for canines, but if it comes in a combination with garlic, it should be excluded from his diet.
Why Dog’s Shouldn’t Eat Hummus?
When translated from Arabic hummus means ‘chickpeas’. In general, chickpeas are extremely healthy both for you and your dog, but the additional ingredients are what makes hummus non-desirable for your canine.
As mentioned earlier, garlic is an ingredient that makes hummus a really bad choice for your dog. Garlic is dangerous because it’s poisonous and therefore it’s toxic to your dog. In addition, when it’s combined with other ingredients it can significantly damage your dog’s red blood cells. Also, garlic is dangerous to dogs in any form, powdered, raw, dried, or even cooked. And regardless of its preparation, garlic is also unsafe.
Once garlic damages the red blood cells, they are not (the cells) capable of carrying oxygen. So, the dog that eats garlic is at risk for anemia, that can lead to internal organ damage, organ failure, and even death. The symptoms of garlic poisoning in dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, weakness, collapse, and elevated heart rate.
Some of the less common symptoms may include excessive salivation, lack of muscle coordination, brown or even red urine, and pale gums. On the other hand, lemon which hummus may contain can be problematic for dogs. Citrus juices are bad for animals in general, as they are not fond of strong citrus smell and juices that are too acidic for dogs. In addition, lemon juice contains citric acid, which can lead to discomfort and abdominal pain in dogs.
Fast fact: Dog’s do not eat lemon juice in the wild. Therefore, its not a natural component of a dog’s diet.
Garlic Is Poisonous For Dogs
The best thing that you can do for your canine is to keep his nutrition as is should be – based on dogs food. Therefore, you should avoid giving him food that’s bad for him.
Even the smallest amount of garlic can create certain disturbance in your canine’s organism. Garlic dosage between 15-30 grams per kilogram of body weight can create negative side effects in your dog. Bear in mind that the average garlic clove weights 3-7 grams. Simply said, your dog should eat a really huge amount of garlic to get extremely sick. However, you should still avoid it. After all, just like humans, some dogs are more sensitive to specific food than other dogs.
Luckily, garlic is rarely fatal in dogs. So, if your dog gets to snatch a little of hummus the chances are that he will be fine as long as he doesn’t eat an enormous amount of hummus.
What Happens If Your Dog Eats Hummus?
If you have left a plate full of hummus on the table the chances are that your canine will grab it. It’s just the matter of seconds how much of hummus he will actually eat. Therefore, it can be just a lick, small bite or disappearance of entire hummus plate.
The first thing that you should do is to not panic. After all, a small portion will bring small side effects in your dog, while a little too much might create severe problems. It all comes down to how much your dog actually ate. So, if you notice your dog drooling, vomiting or having continual pain, especially in the area of the abdomen, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Keep a close eye on your canine.
Even if your dog ate hummus and he seems alright, you should keep an eye on him for possible symptoms. Some of the symptoms may manifest even days later, or even months. One of the worst scenarios includes organ damage.
Also, if you are not sure if a specific snack is safe for your canine or not the best thing that you could do is to avoid it. Long story short, there is always a possibility that consuming hummus can leave long-term conspicuousness on your canine health.
What If Your Dog Really Likes Hummus?
Every dog is unique. Therefore, they may have different preferences when it comes to food. Some will just sniff hummus and walk away, while there are those that love not only the taste but the smell of hummus, as well.
So, in case your canine falls under this second group you should be ready to act accordingly. That being said, you should be ready to offer your dog an alternative for poisonous/standard hummus. As mentioned earlier, chickpeas are the main ingredient in hummus and they are safe for dogs. Moreover, dogs can benefit extremely from this exotic plant when it comes to nutritional qualities.
Chickpeas are also known as garbanzo beans, and they are a great source of protein. Being so rich in protein makes it a perfect snack both for adult dogs and puppies. The high fiber content of the beans makes them beneficial to a dog’s digestive system. Surprisingly, they are also effective for fighting constipation in dogs.
Other nutrients that may be found in chickpeas are:
- Potassium
- Lecithin
- Vitamins A, B, and C
If your dog is really a hummus lover you should think about introducing him a safer and homemade hummus option.
Chickpeas: A Safe Alternative To Hummus
If you want to support your dogs need toward this snack you should try cooking hummus without the potentially dangerous ingredients. Basically, you should make hummus without garlic of lemon juice. By doing so, you will be able to offer your canine a healthy treat. At the same time, you will prevent any unwanted consequences that may be a result of consummating lemon juice or garlic.
You can cook chickpeas and mash them together with carrot sticks. Altogether, this will be a real healthy protein boost. In addition, homemade hummus recipes can be switched to exclude salt, lemon juice, and garlic, creating a true dog-safe hummus.
Can Dogs Eat Hummus – Key Takeaways
Hummus is a popular and extremely healthy snack for humans. This snack went a long way from far Middle-East to everyone’s home. And no wonder that it reach its popularity so fast. It’s cheap, easy to make and healthy. There is basically not a thing that can make you dislike it. But when it comes to our canines and this rich food they should stay separated.
After all, garlic and lemon juice are not dogs friends and they should stay separate as long as possible. Although a small amount cant harm your canine drastically, a larger amount of hummus can lead to issues like diarrhea to organ damage. So, if you insist on serving your canine a portion of hummus, or if your canine insists on it, make sure that you serve your furry friend a healthy hummus version, without lemon juice and garlic.
However, if it happens for your dog to eat ‘standard/human’ hummus make sure that you track his reactions and movement. If you notice anything strange, make sure to contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions On – Can Dogs Eat Hummus
1. Is It OK For Dogs To Eat Hummus?
This depends on hummus. If you are thinking about standard hummus with garlic and lemon juice, then NO, this option is poisonous for your furry friend. But, if you are talking about hummus without lemon juice and garlic and any other harmful ingredient for your canine than you can serve hummus to your dog.
2. Can Hummus Kill Dogs?
This shouldn’t be the case, but again it depends on the amount of hummus your dog ate. A large amount of hummus can cause organ damage that can lead to sudden death.
3. Are Chickpeas Safe For Dogs To Eat?
Chickpeas, or in other word Garbanzo beans, are safe for dogs and extremely beneficial when it comes to their healthy benefits. You can serve them to your canine in any form but start with cooked and mashed option first. If you want a real protein boost, add a little carrot.
4. How Much Garlic Is Toxic To Dogs?
Garlic is more concentrated than an onion or even the smallest ingestion can lead to organism disturbance. To some breed, even one clove of garlic can lead to toxicity in smaller dogs and felines as well. However, this is linked mostly with dogs weight.
5. What Should I Do If My Dog Eats Garlic?
The first step is not to panic. The second step should be to determine how much of garlic your dog actually ate before you call your veterinarian. The third step should be to contact your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may address you to a specific medicine, while in severe cases, blood transfusions might be necessary.
