Can Dogs Eat Fries? A Vet’s Opinion
Fries is the short form for French Fries. This side dish is famous all over the world, where it is commonly served alongside fast food. Fries, which are also called Frites, French Fries, Chips, and Finger Chips, are made by deep frying potatoes. These potatoes are traditionally cut into thin strips. However, you cut them into any shape or form. After frying, the fries can be eaten without any seasonings or plain, but can you feed Fries to your dog?
No, we will advise you against feeding your dog French fries for a multitude of reasons. French Fries are made of potatoes. Potatoes are a rich source of carbohydrates. This means that your dog can gain a lot of weight from those extra calories. Fries are made from being deep fried, and dogs should not be given food that is fried. Salt and Oil content in fries is something you must avoid exposing your dog to.
Let’s dive in:
Benefits Of Fries For Dogs
There are no benefits to giving fries to your dog. At least there are no nutritional benefits. Fries are just made of deep-fried potatoes. We will talk about how harmful deep-fried foods are for dogs below, but we can’t help but wonder if there are any benefits to this carbohydrate-rich snack!
Potatoes are a rich source of vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Magnesium, and many other nutrients. However, that is if you prepare them right, through baking or any other method, which is safe for dog consumption. When you deep fry these potatoes to make fries out of them, you are doing more harm than good, and hence it will have an adverse effect on your dog’s health. All the benefits which your dog might have gotten from the potatoes are negated. Hence, if you are adamant about giving your dog potatoes in the shape of French fries, we regret to inform you that there are no nutritional benefits to giving them to your dog.
How To Safely Give Fries To Dogs
There are some rules and things to follow before giving your dog fries to eat. Most people think that slipping one or two fries on your dog is wrong. However, it is not. You can occasionally indulge your dogs for a change of taste. However, make sure those one or two fries are not seasoned.
Moreover, if you are seriously considering giving fries to your dog, then you can prepare the fries in a different manner. Traditionally fries are deep fried, proper means that an average serving of fries will contain 14 mg of fat and 200mg of sodium, which is a lot for your dog to be consuming along with regular food. Hence, you should bake fries for your dog and make sure not to season them. Baking will remove the excess calories from frying, and unseasoned fries will not contribute to the danger caused by higher sodium levels. We must warn you against using seasonings like salt, pepper, and onion for your dog since they can be pretty dangerous for your dog, and if your dog has eaten some, it may be a good idea to call the vet.
Will Fries Make A Dog Sick?
Yes, fries will undoubtedly make your dog sick, and hence you should avoid them at any cost. Fries are made by deep frying potatoes. Potatoes have good nutritional value, but when they are fried, the adverse effects nullify the benefits. Your dog can suffer from severe allergic reactions after eating baked or fried fries. Potatoes are the leading cause of these allergic reactions. Swelling, itches, and rashes are just some of the allergic reactions associated with potatoes. However, sweet potatoes, when given in a baked form, do not make your dog sick. Apart from this, sodium poisoning due to the high salt content in fries is known to affect dogs. French Fries have a high salt content which can be fatal for dogs of small sizes, e.g., chihuahuas. Some of the common symptoms your dog might experience during sodium poisoning are dehydration, thirst, high blood pressure, and more frequent urination. Ketchup added salt, and other seasonings like garlic are known to be very dangerous to dogs. Hence they could contribute to sickness as well. Fries have harmful fats in them, which are saturated. Since fries are made by deep frying in vegetable fat, they are incredibly unhealthy and can upset your dog’s stomach. This may result in extreme weakness and diarrhea. If you feed your dog this saturated and trans fat from vegetable oils, then the subsequent canine bloating can be life-threatening for your dogs. Moreover, in the longer run, this type of diet can lead to pancreatitis in your canine friend.
If your dog has had food that is deep fried, like fries, they are most likely to experience an upset stomach as well. This will lead to water loss, weakness, and other issues. Gastrointestinal distress is one of the leading issues associated with foods like this. Another thing to consider is that food items like these can lead to rapid weight gain since potatoes are loaded with carbohydrates. This will cause obesity and other cardiovascular issues in your dog. If your dog has eaten a lot of salted fries, the best course of action is to supply them with water to prevent hydration from excess salt. Moreover, you should call their vet and meanwhile monitor them for any signs of sodium poisoning. Stomach distress is another symptom you should be on the lookout for. In conclusion, it Is not worth giving your pet fries to eat, considering the danger you could be putting them in.
Vet’s Summary
Fries are made with deep frying potatoes and are a good side dish for humans, they are not suitable for dogs, and hence you should avoid giving your pooch French fries. Fries carry no nutritional benefits since the benefits of potatoes are nullified when it is deep fried in vegetable oil. Potatoes are otherwise a rich source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and magnesium. The safest way to give fries to your dogs is to bake them yourself and not add any seasonings or salt. Baking them would take the harmful effects of vegetable oil out of the equation, and not seasoning them will remove the dangers of sodium poisoning. However, still, baked fries can result in unnecessary calories and can be unhealthy in massive proportions. French Fries can cause a multitude of problems in your dogs, like sodium poisoning, – which results in dehydration, thirst, high blood pressure, more frequent urination – excessive weight gain, and gastrointestinal issues! Speaking of things to not feed to your dogs, make sure you incorporate probiotics in your dog’s daily diets to make sure their immune system stays healthy. Probiotics are essentially healthy bacteria that are responsible for a healthy gut! You should add some probiotics to your dogs’ diet to help them clear off any gut problems or digestive issues they might face with age! Probiotics can also help fight digestive issues, such as diarrhea and constipation, and reduce the risk of infections. However, you should always consult your local veterinarian in deciding which supplements and probiotics will be beneficial for your pet friend!
Videos To Watch
If you are wondering what related foods are good to give your dog, watch this:
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