Can Dogs Eat Spaghetti Sauce? Feeding Guide & Care

Dogs are known to consume a variety of diets. As long as their senses perceive the food to be edible, they would dive in. Nevertheless, this post sheds light on a very important topic with regards to dogs and diets. Can dogs eat spaghetti sauce without having to experience any fatal consequences afterward?

Truth be told, spaghetti sauce is not the ideal diet for your dog. A large bowl of spaghetti tends to contain a significant amount of tomato sauce, which is not healthy for dogs.

Research conducted by veterinarians has revealed that there are some unsafe ingredients in tomato sauce that could harm dogs. Now, don’t get the wrong interpretation of this.

Dogs can be allowed to eat ripe tomatoes. It’s not harmful. Tomato sauces and soups, however, are what you should guide your dog against.

Why is Spaghetti Sauce Not Safe For Dogs to Eat?

Quickly, let’s delve into why spaghetti sauce is the wrong diet for your dog.

To start with, you must first understand that spaghetti sauce usually contains a lot of ingredients, and some of these key ingredients are considered toxic or harmful for dogs.

Read Also: What Can Chihuahuas Eat? Feeding Guide & Care

Typically, most traditional spaghetti sauces are prepared with a variety of spices, veggies, and herbs that dogs are not meant to ingest.

Here are some of the key ingredients in spaghetti sauce that makes it unsafe for dogs to eat:

• Tomatoes

Tomato, which is the primary ingredient in spaghetti sauce, is generally safe for dogs to eat except they are unripe. Green tomatoes are harmful to dogs when eaten because they are high in acid while unripe.

On the other hand, even though ripe tomatoes are safe for dogs, they should not be eaten excessively. If dogs consume too many tomatoes, it could result in an allergic reaction and gastrointestinal issues.

• Garlic

Garlic is another main ingredient in almost all types of spaghetti sauces. Sadly, it is highly toxic to dogs whether it’s raw or in powder form. Garlic can damage the blood cells in dogs due to some of its properties that are incompatible with a dog’s immune system. Although the quantity of garlic in a spaghetti sauce is little, it’s still not advisable to let dogs eat the sauce.

• Onions

Onions are naturally healthy and safe for consumption, however, they can be toxic when it comes to feeding dogs.  As long as the spaghetti sauce contains onions, it’s not safe for your dog. Whether raw or in powder form, onions are harmful to a variety of pets, not just dogs.

• Black Pepper

Black pepper is another ingredient that is usually used in preparing Spaghetti sauce. Although small amounts of black pepper won’t have any effect on your dog, too much can result in significant health issues for the pet. It can cause severe stomach upset.

What to Expect if Your Dog Eats Spaghetti Sauce

Most times, if your dog eats spaghetti sauce, you may not see any evident signs of toxicity. However, when your dog consumes a large amount, you need to watch out for the following symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Excessive panting
• Rapid breathing
• Increased heart rate
• Restlessness
• Shaking

 What to do if Your Dog Eats Spaghetti

If your dog happens to eat spaghetti sauce, it’s advisable to monitor the pet closely. If small amounts are consumed, there won’t be any noticeable effects. Nevertheless, if you have a very sensitive dog, even the smallest amount of spaghetti sauce can cause problems.

The moment you notice any of the aforementioned symptoms in your dog, the best decision you can take is to contact your vet. Your vet is in the best position to give you the ideal institutions on how to handle the situation.

What to Feed Your Dog Instead of Spaghetti Sauce

Having realized that Spaghetti sauce is not an appropriate diet for dogs, you should be familiar with some alternatives. Vegetables are some of the best alternatives for feeding your dogs. Although you may have the normal processed dog food, it’s OK to add vegetables to the menu.

However, it’s not all types of vegetables that your dog should eat. Vegetables and fruits such as carrots, cucumber, banana, pumpkin, sweet potato, green beans, broccoli, and cauliflower are safe and healthy for dog consumption.

Final Thoughts on Dogs and Spaghetti Sauce

If your dog must eat spaghetti, make sure it is not mixed with tomato sauce. plain and sauce-less strands of spaghetti will be just fine. Going against this rule could cost put the health of your dog at risk.

Feeding your dog some of the fruits and vegetables mentioned above is recommended, rather than allowing the pet to consume spaghetti sauce at the detriment of its health.  

Read Also: Can Dogs Eat Human Food? List, Nutritional Benefits & Risks

FAQs