Hummus is basically a human-friendly dip that is tasty and healthy for humans. While this food is healthy for human consumption, we cannot say the same for dogs.
Like many other human foods, hummus can be harmful to your dog’s health. Dogs are wired differently than humans and do not have digestive systems as strong as those of humans. It is therefore important that you find out if your dog’s digestive system can process the food before feeding it to your dog.
Let’s get into the business of the day: Can dogs eat hummus? In this article, we would be discussing all about hummus to determine whether or not they are safe for dog consumption and why. Read on!
Can Dogs Eat Hummus?
Even though your dog can have small amounts of hummus occasionally, he is better off without having any hummus at all. If you must feed your dog wit any hummus, it must be hummus that is garlic, lemon and onion-free. This is the only way hummus can be safe enough for your dog’s consumption.
Processed chickpeas turned into hummus are packed with seasonings that can be very harmful and toxic to your dog and for this reason, you should avoid feeding your dog this food item. Plainly cooked chickpeas without any added seasonings are the best options for your dog.
Asides processed chickpeas, another type of chickpeas to avoid feeding your dog is canned chickpeas. Avoid using canned chickpeas to prepare homemade hummus for your dog as they are full of preservatives that are very toxic to your dog and can be dangerous to his digestive system.
Ingredients Contained In Hummus
Hummus are made from a blend of the following ingredients: Chickpeas, olive oil, sesame seeds, garlic, onion and lemon juice. Of all these ingredients, chickpeas and olive oil are the only ones that are safe for your dog. Let’s take a more detailed look at each of these ingredients contained in hummus.
- Chickpeas
Chickpeas are the main ingredients used in making hummus and it is safe for your dog’s consumption. Chickpeas are best fed to your dog plainly-cooked and in moderation. Although chickpeas are safe for dogs, canned chickpeas are not safe for your dog’s consumption as they are highly processed and contain tons of artificial preservations.
- Onion And Garlic
These are two of the most toxic ingredients contained in many human foods that make them unhealthy for dogs’ consumption. Onion and garlic are so toxic and dangerous that they make even the most healthy ingredients unhealthy for your dog’s consumption when they are combined in hummus or other foods.
Consuming onion and garlic can damage your dog’s red blood cells and cause onion and garlic poisoning, which may lead to hemolytic anemia in your dog. A dog with onion and garlic poisoning will show the following symptoms:
Extreme dehydration, excessive urination, drooling, red urine, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, rapid heartbeat and even death, in severe cases.
If your dog happens to accidentally consume a large amount of hummus, immediately consult your vet doctor before the situation worsens.
- Lemon juice
Like grapes, lemon is a citrus fruit that is highly acidic and can cause indigestion and other gastrointestinal issues in your dog.
- Sesame seeds
In small amounts, sesame seeds are safe for your dog’s consumption. This is an ingredient that your dog can eat and enjoy with some boiled chickpeas.
- Olive oil
A small amount of olive oil added to the boiled, mashed chickpeas will do no harm to your dog’s health. Olive oil is one of the safest types of oil for your dog.
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Symptoms Of Hummus Poisoning
If your dog eats only a little amount of hummus, you do not need to worry as a small amount of hummus is not likely to cause any harm to your dog’s system. Consuming hummus in large quantities, however, can result in garlic poisoning as hummus has some garlic content.
This can lead to a damage in your dog’s red blood cells which will likely result in hemolytic anemia, failure of vital organs and death.
Consuming hummus in excess can cause your dog to experience a number of signs and symptoms. These symptoms include:
Vomiting, drooling, severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fatigue, lethargy, loss of interest in activities, fever, salivation and labored breathing.
If you ever notice any of these symptoms in your dog after he eats hummus, it is advised that you consult your vet doctor for immediate treatment. Your veterinary doctor will most likely induce vomiting to help flush the toxic substances from your dog’s body.
Even if your dog seems fine after consuming large amounts of hummus, it is important that you monitor him closely as the hummus might have caused long-term damages in your dog, which may take months or years to detect or even begin to show symptoms.
Dog-friendly Alternatives To Hummus
As you already know, hummus is not a very healthy treat for your dog. Although consuming small amounts of hummus might not be harmful to your dog, there are healthier, dog-friendly alternatives that you can feed your dog instead of feeding him hummus. Here are some of them:
Boiled chickpeas, blended with sesame seeds for flavor and few drops of olive oil is a healthy replica and substitute for hummus that your dog can eat and enjoy. Chickpeas are packed with protein, fiber, iron, vitamins B6 and K, phosphorous, copper, magnesium, zinc, and choline. Avoid using oils like canola or peanut oil in your chickpeas mash.
Plainly cooked brown rice with sweet potatoes are two food combinations that serve as a healthy alternative to hummus, that is very filling and nutritious for your dog. They should be served separately and only after they have cooled down.
Boiled broccolis, blended into a paste is also a healthy alternative to hummus for your dog. Ensure you allow the paste cool down before feeding it to your dog.
Homemade hummus without any additives or seasoning like lemon, onion and garlic. When you make homemade hummus for your dog, you are able to monitor the ingredients that go into its preparation.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can Dogs Eat Plain Hummus?
Most hummus contains ingredients such as high amounts of oil, garlic and onions, ingredients that are harmful for your dog and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues. Plain hummus are not so plain, after all. For this reason, it is best not to feed your dog any hummus at all.
However, if you must feed your dog any of it, look out for plain hummus that do not contain any garlic or onion and remember to serve it in moderation; only a little amount occasionally.
Is Garlic Hummus OK For Dogs?
Certainly not! Garlic is one of the most toxic ingredients for dogs. You should not feed your dog any food containing toxic ingredients like garlic and onions. For this reason, garlic hummus is considered as a bad food for your dog’s consumption, even in the smallest amount.
Summary
as we earlier established in this article, your dog is better off without any hummus at all but if you must feed him any hummus at all, opt for homemade hummus or look out for hummus that do not contain lemon, onion and garlic.
Whatever you decide in the end, ensure that you consider the effects the food will have on your dog’s health before feeding it to your dog.
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