I understand what it’s like to eat fries when you have a dog. They will use their most potent weapon against you while you’re eating. Yes, the “puppy eyes.”
You also cannot resist puppy eyes, I know that. So, consider sharing your fries with your dog. But you have to know if it’s okay for your pooch because you don’t want to risk their health.
Can dogs eat fries?
The answer is both yes and no. Dogs can eat fries but shouldn’t because they are high in fat content and are overloaded with oil and salt. These are harmful to dogs. It’s OK if your dog eats a few fries at times. Remember – don’t go overboard with it, otherwise, your pooch will get sick.
Wait, are you leaving already? Well, that was just a preview. Keep reading if you want to know more!
Is It Okay For Dogs To Eat Fries?
I get that saying “no” to your dog is hard. Especially when they keep staring at you for the fries in your hand. But you can’t give in!
Here’s the thing – yes, your pup can eat fries. One or maybe two fries on rare occasions will not kill your dog. Also, you’ll probably see that your pooch rarely refuses to eat fries.
It will be wagging its tail after getting some. But, don’t let that fool you.
The main question here is – should dogs eat fries? The answer to this is a straight no. You should not feed fries to your dog.
You see, fries don’t offer any nutritional value to your dog. It’s nothing more than potatoes that have been deep-fried in oil—also seasoned with salt and other spices. That doesn’t sound convincing enough to you, right?
You’re probably thinking that you’re being unreasonably strict with your dog. In that case, you have to know why your dog shouldn’t eat fries. I’ve talked about that in the next segment in detail.
Ingredients Of Fries And Why Your Dog Shouldn’t Eat Them
It’s frustrating that you can’t share something like fries with your furry best friend. You should also know if pasta is okay for dogs.
You know how fries are made. But do you know how each of the components can have an impact? It’s a no. Not a problem! Because that’s exactly what I’ll walk you through right now.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
Potatoes a.k.a. Carbs
Potatoes – the star of the show, aren’t they? Well, potatoes aren’t technically bad for your dog. As in, they are not toxic. The thing is – this particular ingredient has a high amount of carbohydrates.
This unusual amount of carbohydrates is not suitable for your dog. It might lead to digestion problems because it’s difficult for the dog to process.
Look for medicine suggestions below if your dog faces this situation. I hope it doesn’t come to that though-
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Moreover, the glycemic index of potatoes is high. It could quickly increase the level of sugar in the blood. So, if your dog is diabetic, you should avoid giving potatoes.
Also, potatoes can cause allergies or sensitivities in some dogs. So, you should be extra careful.
Oil a.k.a. Fat
Oil is used to deep-fry the potatoes. Now, you’re probably aware that the fat in oils is high. Despite that, a healthy amount is still necessary for your pup.
Now, some oils are beneficial to dogs, such as fish oil. But generally, vegetable oil or canola oil is used for frying potatoes.
Here’s the thing – vegetable oil and canola oil are not suitable for dogs because these oils contain saturated and trans fats, which are unhealthy fats.
So, your pooch might get a stomach ache after eating fries. But that’s only a short-term problem, there’s more. Consuming high amounts of fat can lead to diabetes, obesity, or pancreatitis in the future.
Besides, butter also contains fat and it’s sometimes used on fries. So, you should know if dogs can have almond butter.
Salt
Another common ingredient in fries is salt. You see, dogs have a low salt tolerance. And fries usually have a lot of salt in them. As a result, too much consumption of fries can cause salt poisoning.
It doesn’t stop at salt poisoning though. Your dog can get problems with urination, dehydration, and excessive thirst in the near future.
Moreover, excessive consumption of salt over time might cause kidney problems.
All these extra calories negatively impact your dog in some way or another. These are arguably essential reasons you shouldn’t feed fries to your dog.
Are There Any Alternatives?
So, you don’t want to leave your dog out while you’re eating fries. I have good news for you. There’s one alternative. Let’s explore that.
Baked Fries
Baked fries are somewhat similar to french fries. That’s why this is the closest alternative.
You can make baked fries in two ways – crunchy and softer.
Crunchy Baked Fries
First, try to choose big potatoes. Then wash and consecutively peel them.
After that, cut them from end to end. You have to slice the potatoes in such a way that it looks like thin strips. Also, make sure that the length is three inches.
Next, rub off the excess moisture from the potatoes with a paper towel. Don’t use salt or spices because they are unsuitable for dogs. Speaking of spices, you should know if dogs can eat spiced food.
After rubbing off the moisture, put the thinly sliced strips in the oven. And you’re good to go.
Soft Baked Potatoes
The first few steps are the same as that of crunchy baked potatoes. You have to cut it differently if you want soft baked potatoes.
You can dice the potatoes up using your hand. After that, toss them on your baking tray. You have to do this so that the potatoes are evenly cooked.
Also, you can poke small holes to ensure the pans have enough air circulation when cooking.
Hope you’ll try this out for your pup. This can be a great healthy alternative to fries for dogs!
FAQs
Are sweet potato fries okay for dogs?
In general, sweet potatoes are good. But frying it would mean putting oil and salt. So, making sweet potato fries without oil and salt will be okay.
Are McDonald’s fries good for dogs?
No. Fries, in general, aren’t good for dogs. So, it doesn’t matter where you got the fries from.
What if your dog already ate some fries?
That probably won’t be a problem. However, you should look out for symptoms if your dog is sensitive. Symptoms might include – vomiting, loose stools, dehydration, etc. If it seems concerning to you, then rush to the vet.
