Can dogs eat bagels? What happens if a dog eats a bagel? Are Bagels Safe for Dogs? There are all sorts of common questions about a dog’s health. We love our furry friends unconditionally and want to give them good food for their health. It is essential to know which food item is good or bad for your dog. With this in mind, many dog parents ask whether or not they should feed bagels to their dogs.
First of all, let us understand what exactly a bagel is. Bagel is a bread roll and has a hole in the center. It is usually brown and has a glazed appearance.
The dough is boiled for 60-90 seconds with sodium hydroxide or caustic soda, honey, barley malt syrup, or baking soda. This process gives the bagel the glazing look, chewiness, and flavour.
Do dog eat bagels? do They Really Like it?
There is a difference between having a bite and eating an entire bag of bagels. A small bite is OK and will not cause a severe problem.
Also, bread is sour for your doggo in any form. They do not have nutritional values; hence your furry friend can never benefit from bagels.
First of all, if you see your doggo’s begging face and melt before him, you are encouraging his habit of begging. Once he understands that this tactic works, he will repeat it from time to time.
The same is for the bagel. If your furry friend starts asking for a bagel and you give it, he will ask you again and again. It gives rise to addiction and gives rise to anger.
Bagel has gluten and carbohydrates. Both these compounds are lethal. Also, it leads to obesity, weight gain, heart problems, and sometimes even death. Bagels have no nutritious values. Therefore, it is better not to feed your dog bagels.
What happens if a dog eats a bagel?
Even though plain bagel has some nutritional values, it contains a high level of gluten and carbohydrate. And both the compounds are unsuitable for dogs.
Carbohydrates and gluten give rise to weight gain, sluggishness, heart problems, and obesity. Gluten intolerance is responsible for gastrointestinal issues, bloating, ear infections, and itchy skin.
Some of the ingredients in the bagel include –
- Sugar
- Salt
- Molasses
- High fructose corn syrup
- Sucralose
- Cinnamon
- Mustard
- Canola oil
- Lemon juice
- Mustard seeds
- Garlic/onion power
- Poppy seeds
- Dried minced garlic
- Sesame seeds
- Tomato paste.
And the list goes on and on. None of this should be in your doggo’s regular diet. While some should be moderate, other things should be strictly avoided.
- Too much salt can cause sodium ion poisoning
- Poppy seeds are toxic.
- Onion and garlic powder are toxic if consumed more than the ideal quantity.
- Lemon juice has citric acid that irritates your dog’s stomach.
- Tomato paste contains additives like salt.
- Mustard causes gastroenteritis.
- Canola oil, molasses, and sugar are unhealthy for dogs.
When your dog eats bagels, he may feel sluggish and gain weight rapidly. And, weight gain can cause serious health issues. Many bagel flavours have high sugar that can damage dental health and increase the chances of heart disease.
Feeding your dog bagel leads to
- Obesity
- Gain weight
- Diarrhoea
- Blood sugar spike
- Diabetes
- Slow heart rate
- Bloating
- Pancreatitis
- Vomiting
- Ataxia
- Trembling
- Pinpoint pupils
- Weakness
- Sedation
- Depression
- Some cases may result in death.
Safe fillings and toppings For Dog Bagels
Bagels come with different fillings and toppings. These filings and toppings are tempting for us but are very harmful to dog health.
One of my favourite fillings is peanut butter. You must be thinking that it is safe. But it depends on the ingredients it is made from. If it contains xylitol, you must never feed it to your dog. Xylitol is a sweetener that is highly toxic to dogs.
Cream cheese is OK for your furry friend in small quantities. Dogs do not have lactase in their system to process the food it and ems properly. Ingesting too much cream cheese can lead to vomiting and diarrhea. Also, cheese contains a high quantity of fat that leads to obesity.
Some other fillings and toppings that may be harmful to your dog are:
- Bacon – Bacon is salty and fried. Hence, this filling is a big NO.
- Mustard – Mustard can cause gastroenteritis.
- Salt beef – Salt beef contains more salt. It would be best if you kept the sodium level regular in your doggo’s body.
- Smoked salmon is high in salt, and the smoking process may not kill bacteria and parasites.
- Jam – These companies claim that jams are OK for dogs, but you know the main content in a jam is sugar.
- Mushroom – store-bought mushrooms are pretty safe for dogs. But if you cook it in garlic powder, salt, or sauces, it can cause gastric problems.
- Bovril – A small amount of Bovril is OK but make sure that the salt content is less.
- Chocolate spread – Chocolate contains sugar or an artificial sweetener like xylitol. Hence, it is not safe for your furry friend.
What are dogs prohibited from eating?
It’s a bad idea to give your furry friend processed human foods. Some vegetables, fruits, and meat are OK, but bagels are a big NO.
Dogs have a predator instinct and need a carnivorous diet. Honestly speaking, there are very few food items that are either healthy or safe for your dog.
The least you can do is never feed them those packed or processed food regularly. There are healthy treats available in the market.
I know it is difficult for you to see those begging eyes. Here, you can break off a piece and give it to your doggo.
In this blog, we have seen that bagels are unhealthy for the dog. Even a plain bread roll is bad for his health. If your dog still asks for it, you can give him a piece of bread or bagel once in a while. Just make sure that it does not become a habit.
Changing dog food with human food is a bad idea. But you can feed your dog human food sometimes. Understand which food is good for your doggo and which one is wrong.
You can feed the dog raw or cooked carrot, green beans, apple without seeds, spinach, cooked asparagus, etc.
Final words
Till now, you must have understood that bagels are not that safe for your pet dog. Bagel has a meager nutrition count containing carbs and gluten, resulting in bloating. Some bagel brands pack the product with sugar, salt, and sweeteners.
Some of the toppings include onion, sugar, poppy seeds, etc. These things are unsafe for your doggo and can upset its stomach.
Hence, it is better to avoid feeding bagels to your dog. Obesity is one of the most common problems in older dogs.
We should love our furry friends and make sure to give only healthy food to them.