Can Dogs Eat English Muffins?
Your dog has surely perfected the art of puppy dog eyes– it seems that whenever we are enjoying our own meal, our furry friends want a bite, too! With a face like that, it’s hard to say no. However, it’s important to know whether or not your human food is safe to share with your pet before you let them join in at mealtime, too.
Can dogs eat English muffins?
Yes, dogs can eat English muffins, but it is best if you give them English muffins in moderation, and only as a small snack and not as a meal or a regular part of their diet. English muffins are bread, which contains wheat, yeast, sugar and some other ingredients which are not good for your dog on a large scale or regular basis.
Below, we will look at English muffins and whether or not they are a safe treat for Fido.
Are English Muffins Safe for Dogs?
When you are feeding your dog English muffins in moderation, they are a safe snack! Generally, they are not toxic, but it is of course important to ensure that you are only giving these to your dog in limited quantities. English muffins– or most other “human foods”– are not sufficient replacements for your pet’s dog chow or as a meal.
It is also important that you check the ingredients of the English muffins before allowing your dog to eat them. This is because certain spreads or additives can still be harmful, or even toxic to dogs. It is best to only feed plain English muffins to your pet if you are so inclined to do so.
Risks of Feeding English Muffins to Dogs
As mentioned above, there are some risks to feeding your dog English muffins. Certain ingredients can be toxic or cause digestive issues, and overfeeding your dog English muffins can be harmful to their bodies as well. You should take this into account– if your dog is older, or already prone to digestive issues, it may be best to hold off on the English muffins and stick to their regular dog treats instead.
Digestive Issues
There are many foods that are safe for human consumption but are not necessarily healthy for your dog. Your dog may also not be able to handle the same amount of these foods that your human body can. One of the most common side effects in these cases is digestive issues, such as stomach issues, constipation, or diarrhea. This applies to bread and English muffins as well. There can be too much of a good thing! If your dog is not used to English muffins, or they contain additives and spreads, you may find that they are having issues digesting the food normally.
Toxic Bread Dough
If your dog consumes bread or English muffin dough, this can be another potentially dangerous situation. A little bit of bread dough may not be so bad– especially to us humans. However, bread dough is listed as one of the food hazards for your dog.
This is because your dog’s stomach possesses the perfect conditions for bread dough to rise, so the yeast in the dough will continue to make it rise inside the stomach. This can then distend your pet’s stomach and release toxic levels of ethanol into the bloodstream. Alcohol toxicosis can also be caused by eating too much bread dough and can have many adverse health effects for your pooch. These include weakness, hypothermia, seizures, and even comas.
What Ingredients Can Cause Issues?
As we have previously discussed, there are many ingredients and additives to English muffins that can be potentially unsafe for your pet, so it is crucial that you are aware of these. The big one– which is in all English muffins, unfortunately– is yeast. This is dangerous because it can ferment in the stomach and lead to alcohol poisoning.
Due to this, it is crucial that you only feed your dog limited amounts of English muffins, whether or not they are flavoured or plain. Other dangerous ingredients include raisins and cinnamon. Raisins can lead to kidney failure in canines, while cinnamon can irritate your pup’s airways and potentially create breathing problems. Buttered English muffins and those with jam spreads are also not a good choice, as the amounts of fats in the butter and sugars in the jam can be harmful to the body, too.
Can Dogs Eat English Muffins to Help an Upset Stomach?
You may have heard people say that bread is a good solution if your dog is dealing with an upset stomach. If this logic holds up, English muffins should work as well, right? Yes, this can sometimes be the case, but since bread and English muffins can also cause upset stomachs, it truly is not the best solution. Instead, veterinarians and other experts suggest that you fight an upset stomach with a bland diet. For instance, rice and boiled chicken is a great meal to help settle your dog’s stomach. This can help to bind their stools and stave off diarrhea, too. Of course, you can also contact your veterinarian for personalized advice on the issue if you are concerned about your pooch!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bread OK for dogs to eat?
Technically, yes, dogs can eat bread! However, it is important to look at the bread that you are giving your dog to make sure there are no harmful additives– like cinnamon raisin, for example– that could be an issue for your pet. Generally, though, plain bread with no added ingredients is okay for your dog to eat.
Is eating English muffins bad?
English muffins are a healthier alternative to certain other bread options, so they are not a bad choice! If you are feeding them to your dog, they are okay in moderation but are not an acceptable substitute for dog food as a full meal.
Can English muffins be healthy?
Yes, English muffins can be healthy! They are low in sugar, only about 132 calories (when plain– this does not include butter or other spreads), and do not have unhealthy trans fats or saturated fats.
Can dogs eat sourdough English muffins?
Dogs can eat cooked sourdough bread or cooked sourdough English muffins. However, if your dog has consumed the raw dough, this is cause for concern and you should contact your vet as soon as possible.