Dogs can eat macaroni and cheese but this is dependent on a few factors like your dog’s size, breed and age. Not all dogs can easily process and digest the ingredients contained in the mac and cheese and this is mostly to the disadvantage of smaller breeds of dogs.
Due to its large stomach, it would be quite easier for a larger breed to process and digest a little more mac and cheese than a small dog would. In this article, we would find out the components of mac and cheese and its health implications on your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Macaroni And Cheese
Of course, dogs can eat macaroni and cheese but it is not very wise nor advisable for them to, especially in large quantities.
Just as it is with other human foods, your dog can develop quite a number of health issues if he consumes these foods on a regular basis. Some dogs find it difficult digesting wheat and this is one of the major ingredients contained in macaroni and cheese.
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Ingredients Contained In Macaroni And Cheese
The following are the major ingredients used in the production of macaroni and cheese:
- Wheat
Wheat is one of the major ingredients in any food that is contained with pasta. For this reason, it is not healthy and safe for every dog, especially those with gluten allergy.
If your dog with gluten allergy eats macaroni and cheese, it is likely to cause gastrointestinal issues for your dog, which would technically lead to diarrhea with time. It is highly advised that you feed macaroni and cheese to your dog in moderation in order to avoid health issues that may arise from its excess consumption.
- Cheese Powder
The cheese powder is contained with artificial flavors, colorings and other ingredients alike. These ingredients are not totally good for human consumption and certainly not for your dog’s consumption. While this isn’t especially wonderful for humans, it’s also not great for dogs.
As a result of the presence of these artificial ingredients in macaroni and cheese, consuming too much of it could make your dog become drowsy, sluggish and even begin to gain weight.
- Sugar
Your dogs digestive system breaks sugar down quite slowly. This goes to say that stuffing your dog with excess sugar from pasta will be hazardous to your dog, as the glucose begins to store up as fat once your dog is not able to process it completely.
Stored up fat in your dog can quickly translate to weight gain which is certainly not good for your dog; also remember that treating and controlling weight gain would incur extra costs to you, the dog owner. This is why we advise that you maintain moderation when feeding your dog with macaroni and cheese.
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Nutrients Contained In Macaroni And Cheese
Macaroni and Cheese is not really rich in nutrients and would provide your only minimal benefits. Some of the nutrients contained in mac and cheese are protein, carbohydrates, calories from milk and butter, amongst other nutrients.
Due to the fact that it is a processed food, lots of mac and cheese boxed most times contain a chemical substance known as phthalate.
This chemical is usually found in soaps, plastics and rubbers and would almost always sip into food products during the process of manufacturing, especially in powdery products like powdered cheese. This chemical is highly cancerous and so, has been avoided by many since 2017.
Alternatives For Macaroni And Cheese
There are a number of healthier substitutes for macaroni and cheese, which would be safe for your dog. Some of these alternatives or substitutes are gluten free and are suitable for dogs with gluten allergies. With these alternatives, your dog would enjoy his treats without having to come down with any health issue later on. They are:
- Cooked or Raw Zucchini
- Cooked or Raw Bell Peppers
- Pineapple Chunks
- Cooked Shrimps
- Cooked or Raw Sweet Potatoes
- Boiled white rice or plain pasta accompanied with cooked chicken could also help with your dog’s upset stomach
The above are all natural foods that provide lots more benefits to your dog and help improve your dog’s immunity as he matures. These foods have more vitamins and nutrients than Macaroni and cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I Feed My Dog Plain Pasta?
You can very well feed your dog plain pasta as the ingredients contained in it are healthy and safe for your dog’s consumption. Nevertheless, be sure not to make it an essential part of your dog’s regular diet. Pasta is best for your dog as a treat every now and then.
Can Dogs Eat Cheese?
Yes, dogs can eat cheese, however you must be careful to maintain moderation and not feed your dog too much cheese as it contains high level of fats and calories due to its dairy content. Eating too much cheese may result in pancreatitis in your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Pasta With Sauce?
Pasta may not be toxic or harmful to your dog on its own, but serving it with sauce is a definite no. this is because the pasta sauce contains a number of ingredients that are no doubt toxic and harmful to your dog. Typical examples of such toxic ingredients are onion and garlic.
How Much Cheese Is Harmful To Dogs?
Although cheese is not necessarily toxic or harmful for dogs, it contains dairy contents that your dog’s digestive system is not always very good at tolerating.
So it is advised that you do not feed your dog more than a few bites of cheese in a day. This should not pose any form of harm to your dog. Any more than the recommended amount could be toxic to your dog and bring about several health issues.
Whatever breed your dog is, whatever his size or age is, it is recommended that you keep the portion of mac and cheese that you feed your dog at a minimal amount.
What If A Dog Eats Too Much Pasta And Cheese?
Before introducing your dog to mac and cheese as a new addition to his treats, make sure that he does not have allergies for any of the ingredients contained in the food.
Your dog can react to and show symptoms after eating feeding on mac and cheese if he consumes it in excess. If this happens, it is advised that you immediately consult your veterinary doctor.
No matter what happens, resist feeding your dog large portions of mac and cheese and certainly not on a regular basis.
Conclusion
Macaroni and cheese is safe for your dog’s consumption, however, it must be given in small quantities per time. Completely avoid feeding mac and cheese to your dog with gluten allergy. Going ahead to feed a dog with gluten allergy some mac and cheese could result in diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorder and several other health issues for the dog. Although the health issues resulting from eating mac and cheese are not usually terminal issues but can be severe in cases of extremely excessive consumption.
If you can, prepare some homemade macaroni and cheese for your dog with your dog-friendly recipe; this will most likely contain less toxic ingredients and will be less harmful to your dog.
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