For plenty of pet owners, their dog is truly their best friend. As such, pet owners often want to include their canine friends in enjoying the start of a weekend over a box of pizza.
But is pizza safe for a dog to consume? Is there any harm in sharing a bite or two of pizza with your dog once in a while?
Let’s look into common pizza ingredients, how they present health hazards to dogs, and what you can do to share a piece of pizza with your pet safely.
Should I Give My Dog Pizza?
The short answer is no, but there are several reasons why you should not let your dog eat pizza. Many ingredients that go into making a pizza are not safe for a dog to consume. Pizza crusts and pizza sauces often contain garlic, onions, and other herbs that are hazardous to a dog’s health.
Tomatoes and bell peppers are members of the nightshade family, and though they aren’t poisonous to humans, they can make dogs incredibly sick. Garlic and onion are from the Allium family, which is also risky for dogs to consume.
Furthermore, cheese, sausage, and pepperoni are all high in fat and often contain moderate to high levels of sodium.
None of these ingredients make pizza a particularly healthy option to feed a dog.
What Happens IF a Dog Eats Pizza?
The effects that pizza can have on a dog vary depending on the dog’s overall health, the ingredients on the pizza, and how much pizza the dog ate.
If a dog eats a slice of cheese or pepperoni pizza, he or she may develop an upset stomach that leads to vomiting or diarrhea. Usually, a dog will recover without any lasting issues in these situations.
However, if a dog eats a significant amount of pizza, the animal might get sick enough to need veterinary care. This is especially true for pizzas that contain nightshade-related ingredients.
Finally, if a dog eats a small amount of pizza on a regular basis, he or she might experience unhealthy weight gain or develop pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
Pizza Alternatives for Dogs
Instead of letting your dog indulge on pizza night, give your animal friend a treat that tastes like pizza. Pizza-flavored dog chews are made with a dog’s digestive system in mind. They have the same flavors your dog is salivating over when you break out a box of pizza, but this treat type won’t have a negative impact on your pet’s health.
Buying pizza bite dog chews presents the best of both worlds. Not only will your dog feel included during pizza night, but he or she can enjoy a treat made just for him or her. You can avoid worrying about whether a certain ingredient is present in the treat you give your dog, because you’re giving them something safe and healthy for the occasion.
