You’re about to take a bite of fresh cookie dough.
But suddenly, you noticed Fido.
Staring at you with their cute, puppy eyes…
Almost like they’re saying:
“Can I have a bite? Pwease?”
Yes, they’re irresistible.
But before the cookie crumbles…
Find out if this food is safe for Fido.
Continue reading to learn:
- Whether dogs like cookie dough or not.
- 5 alarming dangers of cookie dough for dogs.
- 3 vital tips when your pooch eats cookie dough.
- How much cookie dough your furry friend can eat.
- And that’s only the beginning…
Table of contents
Dogs can’t eat cookie dough. It has ingredients that could upset your canine’s stomach. This might lead to diarrhea. Some cookie doughs also use toxic sweeteners, like xylitol. Thus, eating this food could poison your dog. Moreover, if the dough has chocolate, it can even cause death in canines.
#1: Poisoning
As you read in the intro…
The ingredients in cookie dough aren’t safe for dogs.
For example, this food might have:
- Milk.
- Xylitol.
- Butter.
- Chocolate.
- High sugar.
Note: Some people might also use nuts, grapes, or raisins in their cookie dough. As per VCA, those ingredients are toxic for your pooch too.
That aside…
Let me address the most alarming ones on the list above.
And those are xylitol, high sugar, and chocolate.
Now, what would happen if Fido eats those?
Well, each 1 has different risks.
So, let’s start with:
Xylitol
This substance is a sweetener in food. And for most people, it’s harmless.
But when dogs eat it…
Research says it might cause issues, like:
- Hypoglycemia.
- Acute liver failure.
Also, vets add more things that xylitol can do to Fido. Such as:
- Lethargy.
- Vomiting.
- Seizures.
- Comatose.
- Depression.
- Hypokalemia.
Warning: This poison can cause liver issues in dogs. And despite careful treatment, 62.5% of Fidos died due to xylitol.
So if your pooch ate sweetened cookie dough…
Take them to the clinic for a checkup.
And now, let’s move on to the next ingredient, which is:
High sugar
Most cookie doughs have 3 to 4 tbsp of sugar (54.9 grams.)
And generally, dogs shouldn’t have a lot of sweets.
Why so?
Well, it could cause the following concerns:
- Obesity.
- Diabetes.
- Tooth decay.
- Gum problems.
And yes, a bit of cookie dough won’t make Fido sick right away.
But if your pooch already has issues with their weight and dental health…
Then that’s more reason for you to avoid giving them sweets.
After all, high sugar can worsen your dog’s diabetes.
Or it might make Fido’s oral problems more painful.
That aside, let’s talk about the last ingredient.
Chocolate
It’s a general rule that dogs must not eat chocolates. After all, it could be fatal for your pooch.
But how can you tell if Fido’s poisoned?
Scientists say you’ll notice signs, such as:
- Ataxia.
- Panting.
- Seizures.
- Dizziness.
- Headaches.
- Acting weird.
- Normal vomit.
- Throwing up blood.
Warning: It might take up to 3 days for other symptoms to show. But it’s best not to wait that long. If you notice any of the signs, take your dog to the vet right away.
With these terrible side effects…
You should avoid cookie dough for your pooch. Especially if it has chocolate or xylitol.
#2: Upset stomach
Like I said in point #1…
Cookie doughs also have milk and butter.
Now, these things could upset Fido’s gut. Especially if your dog’s prone to a sensitive stomach.
But why?
First of all, most pups are lactose intolerant.
That means they can’t eat dairy products at all. And milk or butter are examples of dairy.
So how can you tell if your furry friend has an upset tummy?
PetMD says you should watch out for these signs:
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Tiredness.
- Depression.
- Appetite changes.
- Arching their back.
- Not drinking enough water.
- Licking items, the air, or their lips.
Now, an upset stomach might not last long. And it should go away within a day or 2.
But if your pooch keeps showing these signs…
You can try the following tips from experts:
- Give ice cube chips to Fido.
- Feed canned pumpkins to your dog.
- Healthy adult dogs can do fasting for 12 to 24 hours.
Note: If your furry friend isn’t getting better at all, it’s best to seek a vet for help.
Check out also: Top 9 Foods That Give Dogs Gas (Avoid #3 At All Times)
#3: Diarrhea
As stated in #2, your pup might have diarrhea.
And that means Fido has the following symptoms:
With these signs, the issue is still mild. Typically, this kind of diarrhea goes away on its own.
And what you can do is: just let your pooch rest.
Plus, you could also make your dog try fasting. That means your pup can skip their meals for 24 hours.
But what if Fido’s diarrhea is severe? In that case, you’ll notice signs like:
- Weakness.
- Orange poop.
- Bloody stools.
- Nonstop vomiting.
- Constant pooping.
Warning: Severe diarrhea can be fatal for dogs. Especially for puppies or seniors. So if this occurs, you should contact a vet.
And you can also learn how to treat Fido’s diarrhea at home.
Just check out this expert’s tips:
Read next: Help, My Dog Has Loose Stools And Smelly Gas! 7 Tips
#4: Salmonella
Aside from the ingredients above…
Eggs are also part of cookie dough recipes. And generally, it’s healthy for most people. Even for your dog.
But the problem comes when Fidos eat the eggs raw.
Though, that’s what cookie dough’s all about. It only has raw ingredients to begin with.
So what exactly could it do to your furry friend?
Well, eggs might have bacteria called salmonella.
And experts say it can cause problems like:
- Chills.
- Fever.
- Headaches.
- Throwing up.
- Pain in the belly.
Warning: Research says that you might get infected too. That’s because salmonella is a zoonotic disease. That means it can spread on to people or other animals.
“What should I do if my dog has salmonella?”
In most cases, Fidos can recover on their own. And the issue goes away within a week.
But if the symptoms go on for more than 5 to 7 days…
Then that’s the time you might need a specialist’s help.
Find out more: Can Dogs Eat Scrambled Eggs? 7 Brutal Dangers
#5: Food allergies
Dogs can have allergies too, research says.
To be specific…
Experts state that Fidos might be sensitive to the following:
Note: Every dog is different. Thus, they don’t always have the same allergies.
Now, going back on topic…
From the list above, what can you find in cookie doughs?
That’s right. It’s wheat flour.
When your pooch eats this, they might face risks like:
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Skin irritation.
And at first, the symptoms might start off mild.
But if your furry pal’s allergic reaction doesn’t stop within an hour…
Then you might need to bring them to the animal clinic.
How much cookie dough can a dog eat isn’t the question.
Given the dangers above, you shouldn’t feed this to your pooch at all.
But let’s say that Fido did have some cookie dough.
How much of it is safe? And when does it get dangerous?
For that, you must base it on your pup’s body weight.
To give you an example:
Big dogs with the size of 59 to 100 lbs (26 to 45 kg) can have 1 spoon of cookie dough.
For them, that amount is still small.
But what about toy breeds weighing 12 to 24 lbs (5.4 to 10 kg)?
Well, 1 spoon of cookie dough is already risky for them.
After all, their body only has a small space for the toxic food.
In this case…
There’s really no safe amount of cookie dough for dogs. Better yet, just always keep it out of Fido’s reach.
Note: The same thing applies to baked cookies. Both aren’t safe for your furry pals.
Dogs do like cookie dough. Like you and I, these Fidos might enjoy sweets sometimes.
But this doesn’t mean you should give them any cookie dough.
Once again, there are too many dangers that come with it.
And if there are healthier and safer food options…
Why not just stick to that instead?
For example, there are sweet treats you can give to Fido. Or you could also try giving them bananas too.
In the end, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. So keep the cookie dough away from your dog.