Dogs love to try out new foods. They will nibble on any new food they come across just out of sheer curiosity. When it comes to dog food, there are certain foods that they simply cannot have. So, what about fries? Can dogs eat French fries? Let’s find out.
The short answer to this question is yes! Dogs can enjoy French fries as a rare treat. Fries contain vitamins and minerals that are healthy for your dog. The only problem is that fries are high in calories. Due to this, you can only feed them occasionally.
If you overfeed French fries to dogs, you will be exposing them to numerous health complications. No pet owner wants to put their pet through illness. You need to be careful what you feed your pet. Here’s a detailed insight into this to ensure your pet’s safety.
Is It Okay to Give Your Dogs French Fries?
Having a cheeseburger without crispy french fries is practically blasphemy. When you roll through the drive-through to treat yourself to a yummy meal, you might be tempted to sneak some fries to your dog sitting happily in the shotgun seat.
Before you pass a couple of fries off to your pup, consider some of the following things.
Are French Fries Safe for Dogs to Eat?
As tasty as fries are, they aren’t good for dogs. They’re not immediately toxic or dangerous, but they aren’t healthy in any way.
Fries are loaded with saturated and trans fats, both of which are bad for anyone who consumes them. Too much fat in a dog’s diet, whether at once or over time, can lead to painful inflammation of the pancreas.
What Makes French Fries A Bad Treat for Dogs?
French fries, as we all know, are made from potatoes. Potatoes, in general, are not toxic for your pets, but that still does not make them safe. The ingredients used in the preparation of French fries are what make them harmful to your pets.
Here is what will happen if you feed your dog fries.
Effect Of Oil On Dogs:
The oil used in the preparation process of fries is significantly unsafe for them. This is mainly because oil contains an excess of trans-fatty acids and saturated fats added to the fries.
Now, feeding your pet fatty foods can cause tummy upset and lead to short-term complications like digestive issues that no pet would want to go through. Moreover, if you overfeed them, it will lead to much severe health complications (these are discussed in the latter part of this article).
Effect Of Carbs On Dogs:
Fries are rich in carbs. The digestive system of dogs cannot process carbs easily. It effects dogs adversely and puts them in severe digestive discomfort. As a result, your pet may become less playful and inactive.
Effect Of Salt On Dogs:
Us humans love salt seasoned on French fries, which is why we might assume dogs would love salt, too, right? Unfortunately, no. Salt isn’t safe for your dogs. Even small amounts of salt can expose your pet to salt poisoning.
If your pet is exposed to salt poisoning, you need to consult your local vet immediately.
A point to be noted is that their sensitivity to salt is based on their weight. Small dogs such as Chihuahuas and Pomeranians will become sick after taking tiny amounts of salt. Whereas bigger dogs will be able to process the same amounts of salt without getting salt poisoning.
If you are wondering whether your pet has salt poisoning, here are some signs that you need to look for:
Are French Fries Safe For Dogs?
The answer to this question depends on how fries are made. If the fries are homemade and have no additives, they are safe for your pet. However, if you buy them from a food chain, they aren’t safe for dogs.
Fries from food chains may contain additives, which makes them unhealthy for your dog. They may have excess oil and solanine, which is strictly not recommended for your dogs.
Additionally, potatoes have an elevated glycemic index which directly impacts the blood sugar levels of your pet. This is why you need to keep their servings small. Now, to safely feed your pet fries, you need to make them at home, where you can ensure no chemicals are added to them.
5 Simple Steps To Prepare French Fries For Dogs:
Wondering how to serve French fries for dogs? The only way to serve fries to dogs is to bake them in an oven under the recommended temperature.
Here are a few steps that you can follow to prepare French fries for your little one while ensuring your dog’s safety.
For serving crunchy fries
- Take a potato, and start by washing it thoroughly to remove any pesticide residue from them. Pesticide-infested foods can cause complications like diarrhea, drooling, nausea, and vomiting.
- After washing, cut it into 3 to 4 inches long strips. The best way to do this is to cut them lengthwise.
- Put them in the oven, set the temperature to 300 – 350, and cook them for about 5 to 7 minutes.
For serving softer fries
- Cut potatoes into small chunks, lengthwise. Dogs lack the chewing ability that we humans have. So, you need to make sure the chunks are small enough for your pet dog.
- Put them on a baking tray, set the temperature to 300 – 350, and let the fries cook for 4 – 6 minutes.
After making fries in the desired way, serve them to your dog and let him/her have a go at it. You can either serve them as an individual treat or along with any of your pet’s favorite treats. A nice combo would be fries with either carrot sticks or apple slices.
Are There Any Health Benefits of French Fries?
French fries, similar to other dog foods are a healthy treat as long as you feed them in moderation.
Feeding fries to your pet can help improve the brain response and provide energy to your pet. Fries can also improve your pet’s immune system due to the presence of vitamin C in them – thus improving your dog’s chances to fight off diseases.
Here is a list of nutrients that your dog can get from fries:
Although they might contain vitamins and minerals, that still does not mean you can make them a regular meal for your dog. Fries carry a significant amount of calories, so their serving size should not exceed a few fries.
When feeding your pet French fries, make sure you don’t replace their main meals. Fries can never be a part of your pet’s main meal and are only meant to be served once or twice a month.
Major Risk Involved With French Fries – Bloat And GDV In Dogs:
French fries can lead to bloating and GDV (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus) in dogs, which is a life-altering disease. However, this will only happen if you serve your pet a large serving size of French fries.
Other complications involved with feeding an excess of fries include:
When your pet is done eating fries, make sure to keep an eye out for adverse reactions such as diarrhea and physical discomfort. In most cases, it will just go away. However, if the pain persists, you need to take your dog to the vet immediately.
Can dogs eat French Fries? Consequences of Ketchup and other Seasonings
Dogs can have minimal amounts of ketchup and sauces as a special treat. But, when it comes to other seasonings such as salt, sugar, and spices, you need to avoid feeding them to your pet strictly. It will deteriorate your pet’s health and lead to complications like anemia.
To be on a safer side, it is best to serve your dog plain fries with no additives at all.
5 Healthy Alternates to French fries for dogs:
Dogs can enjoy a bunch of different foods as treats and part of their main diet. While potatoes might not be the best option for dogs, plenty of other healthy food alternatives exist.
Here are some foods that are considered safe for your pet as long as you keep moderation in their meals:
When preparing a diet for your pet, make sure you do thorough research. You should never feed them anything without research since some foods like grapes and onions are toxic for dogs.
FAQs
Can French Fries Make Your Dog Sick?
Unfortunately, yes! Fries can make your dog sick due to the presence of fats and salt. But, this can be avoided by feeding your dog home-prepare fries. Can dogs eat fries without salt?
Can Dogs Eat Sweet Potato Fries?
No, dogs cannot have sweet potato fries at all. Sweet potato fries contain other harmful additives such as sugars and artificial flavoring that can lead to tummy upsets and discomfort.
Can I Feed Oven Baked Fries To Dogs?
Yes! In fact, oven-baked fries are the only way you should be feeding your pet fries. This is mainly because baked fries do not have any oils or other additives – thus making them safe for your dogs.
Are Potatoes Fatal To Dogs?
Yes! Potatoes are fatal to dogs. They contain solanine which is found in higher concentrations in raw potatoes. It is toxic to dogs which is why when you’re feeding fries to your pet, make sure you bake or boil it.
Conclusion | Is It Okay to Give Your Dogs French Fries?
Can dogs eat French fries? Yes, as long as you serve them on special occasions and in small servings. Fries can benefit your dog in terms of their nutritional content, including vitamins and minerals that help boost your dog’s health.
Despite that, potatoes contain a high-calorie count and solanine, which poses a serious threat to your pet if you give them frequent large servings. It will make your pet severely sick, exposing him/her to complications like obesity, diabetes, kidney issues, and neurological issues.
To avoid risking all this, you need to feed your dog homemade fries prepared in the oven with no added ingredients or oil. This will make sure your dog enjoys his/her special treat without affecting its health.
