Nick Hagen

Hummus is a delicious dip that’s gained popularity beyond its Middle Eastern origins and is now a favorite in North American and Europe. People love hummus for its rich flavor and its designation as a superfood. The ingredients in hummus are rich in fiber, protein, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. For people, hummus can help lower cholesterol levels, aid in weight loss, and be part of a heart-healthy diet. Check out more healthy diets for dogs here: https://www.mybonesandbiscuits.com

Dogs love to eat their owners’ favorite snacks, and considering all the nutrients in hummus, dog owners may be tempted to share. But is it safe for dogs to eat hummus? The answer is no, not even in small amounts. Unfortunately, the ingredients list of hummus contains foods that are toxic to dogs.

Why Hummus is Dangerous for Dogs

Hummus is usually made from chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and garlic. Dog owners should avoid feeding their dogs any salty foods, but the big problem with hummus is garlic and lemon juice.

Of all the ingredients in hummus, garlic is the most dangerous for dogs as it is mildly or moderately poisonous to them. While garlic is a favorite spice of many people, it can cause serious health problems in dogs, and in large amounts, can even kill them. Raw, cooked, dried, or powdered, garlic is unsafe for dogs regardless of its preparation.

Garlic causes damage to the red blood cells of dogs, and once damaged, the cells cannot carry oxygen. A dog that eats garlic is at risk for anemia, which means a low red blood cell count. Severe cases of anemia in dogs can lead to internal organ damage, organ failure, and even death.

The symptoms of garlic poisoning in dogs include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, elevated heart rate, weakness, and collapse. Other symptoms are pale gums, red or brown urine, lack of muscle coordination, and excessive salivation. Sometimes the onset of the symptoms of garlic poisoning in dogs is delayed, and dog owners may not notice any health problems for several days.

Lemon juice is the other ingredient in hummus that can be problematic for dogs because citric fruit juices are too acidic for dogs. Moreover, lemon juice contains citric acid, which can cause abdominal pain and discomfort in dogs. Vets point out that dogs do not eat lemon juice in the wild, and that lemon juice is not a natural component of a dog’s diet.

Chickpeas: A Safe Alternative to Hummus

Chickpeas are the main ingredient in hummus, and they are safe for dogs to eat. In fact, dogs can benefit from the nutritional qualities of chickpeas!

Otherwise known as garbanzo beans, chickpeas are a convenient and inexpensive source of protein. That’s what makes them a great snack for dogs and puppies! In addition, the high fiber content of the beans makes them beneficial to a dog’s digestive system, and they are also effective for combating constipation in dogs.

Other valuable nutrients in chickpeas are potassium, lecithin, and vitamins A, B, and C. Lecithin is known to stimulate a dog’s memory and learning abilities, so chickpeas are a great choice for dogs that are in training. Vitamins are always essential for dogs as they are necessary for proper metabolism. And potassium is needed for the healthy function of a dog’s kidneys, heart, digestive system, and muscles.

Cooked chickpeas can be mashed and fed to dogs like a dip on carrot sticks, or cooked chickpeas can be added to a dog’s food for a healthy protein boost. Also, homemade hummus recipes can be altered to exclude salt, garlic, and lemon juice for a dog-safe version of hummus.

Help! My Dog Ate Hummus!

What should you do if your dog eats hummus? The first step is to figure out how much your dog ate. If it’s a small amount of hummus, then that means he ingested a small amount of garlic. Your dog should be fine.

But what if your dog eats a large amount of hummus? In this case, you have definite cause for concern. You should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Remember that garlic poisoning in dogs may not be apparent for several days, so it is not safe to assume your dog will be fine just because he doesn’t display any immediate symptoms.

The Verdict on Hummus

Hummus is a popular snack food for people because it tastes great and has many health benefits. However, it is never safe to share your hummus dip with your dog. The garlic in hummus and many other human foods is toxic to your dog, so you should refrain from sharing any garlicky snacks with your dog.

The canine consumption of garlic is a highly debated topic (https://www.mybonesandbiscuits.com/can-dogs-eat-garlic). Veterinarian toxicologists cite the toxicity of the plant, while holistic healers claim that garlic is fine in moderation and cite the plant’s natural healing properties. Many dog foods even include garlic powder as an ingredient, so I decided to conduct some research of my own and decide if garlic really is safe for my dog to eat.

Verdict: While garlic may, in extreme moderation, not be harmful and even provide some health benefits to your dog, its toxic properties pose too large of a risk to recommend including it in your dog’s diet.

 

Argued benefits

Many holistic and natural pet healers argue that garlic is not only perfectly fine for your dog in small doses, but that it is also a medicinal food that can provide your dog with an array of benefits.

Health benefits

Fresh, raw garlic has been used for centuries in humans as a medicinal food and natural healer. Garlic contains properties that can prevent the formation of blood clots, decrease cholesterol build up, widen blood vessels, prevent the formation of tumors, stimulate the lymphatic system, and also operate as an antibiotic, antifungal, and anti-parasitic agent.

Proponents of garlic argue that the food can attribute these benefits, and more, to your dog as well. The problem is that we cannot assume that garlic, or any food, will affect dogs the same way it does humans, and there is simply not enough research to back these claims up.

Flea and tick repellent

Due to garlic’s formidable pungency, the food is often utilized as a natural deterrent against fleas and ticks. The garlic scent builds up in your dog’s natural coat oil after a few weeks of ingestion, and is claimed to ward off both fleas and ticks.

Unfortunately, small amounts of garlic must be fed to your dog for about two weeks before the oils build up, and then regularly after in order to maintain the scent. Even with small doses, this opens your dog up to the risk of garlic toxicosis, and there are simply safer, natural ways to keep the fleas away.

Health Risks

Toxic to cats and dogs

Garlic, along with the entire Allium family of onions, chives, shallots, leeks, and more are considered toxic to both cats and dogs by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Pet Poison Hotline, as well as the Veterinary Pet Insurance Company.

Their toxicity is caused by aliphatic sulfides, and when ingested can cause the destruction of red blood cells. Garlic is estimated to be up to five times as potent as onions in this regard.

The breed or species of your dog can also play a part in its sensitivity to garlic; Japanese breeds like Akita or Shiba Inus have shown to have a lower tolerance than other breeds.

Hemolytic anemia and gastroenteritis

The oxygen transport molecule, denatured hemoglobin or Heinz bodies, are present in aliphatic sulfides and when active in a dog’s blood stream can burst, decreasing the number of red blood cells available to the dog.

If enough damage to red blood cells occurs, your dog can acquire a dangerous and sometimes lethal condition known as hemolytic anemia. Clinical signs of hemolytic anemia range from lethargy, pale gums, and an elevated heart rate, to increased respiratory rate, weakness, exercise intolerance, or even collapse.

Ingestion of more than a minute amount of garlic can also cause inflammation of the stomach and intestines, known as gastroenteritis. While not lethal, gastroenteritis can still cause serious stomach pain for your pup.

Invisible damage

Many proponents of garlic argue that a dog must ingest a large quantity in order to cause the clinical signs of hemolytic anemia. This is only true because it takes an accumulation of subclinical damage to the red blood cells, invisible to the naked eye, before clinical signs occur.

Recent studies have found that poisoning can happen not only after a single large ingestion, but also after repeated smaller ones. Daily doses of even a minute amount of garlic can prove to cause damage to your dog’s red blood cells.

Treatment & Prevention

Always check your dog food’s ingredients. Ingredients will be listed in order of concentration, so if garlic powder appears in the top ten ingredients, you may want to steer clear as continued consumption could potentially harm your dog.

If you know for a fact your dog has ingested garlic, or notice clinical signs of hemolytic anemia or gastroenteritis, immediately contact your veterinarian. If not treated promptly hemolytic anemia can very well result in the death of your dog.

You may also like:

Cinnamon spice provides a scent that can instantly transport one to home, to a kitchen filled with freshly baked goods and loved ones. We fill our homes with cinnamon candles, sticks, and oils to keep the scent around. Your dog may have even become accustom to the smell, realizing it means treats of cookies or other baked goods are on the way. But is cinnamon actually safe for a dog’s consumption? I decided to conduct some research of my own and discover if dogs can eat cinnamon.

Verdict: Yes! In moderation cinnamon is a welcome, but unnecessary, addition to any dog’s diet.

While cinnamon is listed as non-toxic by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and can even provide some health benefits to your dog, there are still many things to consider before allowing your dog to ingest cinnamon.

Things to consider

Cinnamon can still pose a threat to your dog

I’m sure many of you have seen videos of the ‘cinnamon challenge’, where a person attempts to swallow a tablespoon of cinnamon in less than a minute. These videos showcase negative effects large doses of cinnamon can have on humans when the participant inevitably fails, often while simultaneously experiencing difficulty breathing, bloody nose, bronchospasm, and light headedness.

Cinnamon can have negative effects on your dog in as doses as little as one teaspoon, and even less than that in essential oil. Never give your dog cinnamon essential oil or large doses of the powder, as overdoses can lead to low blood sugar, liver disease, vomiting, diarrhea, and heart irregularity.

Cinnamon powder can also be harmful when directly inhaled by your dog, causing coughing, choking, difficulty breathing, and bronchospasm. If you believe your dog has ingested a large amount of cinnamon, call your local veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline in order to determine necessary care for your pup.

Dogs don’t require cinnamon in their diet

Unlike other meats, fruits, or veggies that are safe for canine consumption, cinnamon doesn’t offer any real nutritional value to a dog, and is not an essential part of their natural diet. Dogs would most likely never come across cinnamon in the wild, and certainly not think to ingest a tree if they did.

While it is true that there are benefits that cinnamon has to offer your dog, they are superfluous and can often be found in foods that are more nutritious for your dog.

Household objects

If you do decide to implement a small amount of cinnamon into your dog’s diet, keep in mind any household objects you have that are cinnamon scented, as you do not want your dog confusing these with treats! The ingestion of cinnamon sticks, candles, oils, fragrances, etc. can all be highly toxic to your dog.

Ceylon vs. Cassia

There are two types of cinnamon readily available for purchase: Ceylon cinnamon, which derives from the Ceylon Cinnamon Tree, and Cassia cinnamon, which derives from the Chinese Cinnamon Tree.

Cassia cinnamon contains the organic compound courmarin, which can pose several health risks to your dog, including liver failure. Courmarin is still present in Ceylon cinnamon, but in much smaller amounts making it the safer choice.

Ceylon cinnamon is usually slightly more expensive and darker in color than its Cassia counterpart.

Delivery

While a small amount of cinnamon may be perfectly fine for your dog, pastries and desserts made for human consumption are still not. Many ingredients that often accompany cinnamon, such as nutmeg and chocolate, can prove lethal to your dog.

Only provide your pooch with small amounts of Ceylon cinnamon powder in a form that they are not able to accidently inhale.

Benefits

Spice up your pup’s food

If your dog, like mine, is a picky eater, then you are probably always looking for new ways to get your dog enticed with its food. A small amount of cinnamon sprinkled onto your dog’s food bowl could be the missing ingredient you were looking for.

Cinnamon’s strong scent and flavor can help increase your dog’s interest in its food. When adding cinnamon to your dog’s food, only a small amount is required, less than one teaspoon.

Natural healing

Cinnamon has been hailed as a natural healer for humans for decades, and has been hailed for its anti-inflammatory properties as well as its ability to fend off diabetes. Combined with honey, cinnamon has shown to be a natural healer for dogs as well.

A blend of locally produced raw, organic honey, cinnamon, and hot water can assist in the cure of your dog’s heart disease, arthritis, toothache, indigestion, respiratory illness, obesity, and even allergies.

You may also like: