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Dumplings are a delicious meal that might seem complex but are straightforward to make. There are various recipes and types of dumplings, but most commonly, they are made of flour and a specific filler on the inside, cooked or steamed. Since some pet parents adore including their furry sidekicks at every mealtime, you might get tempted into sharing your dumpling with your dog. However, feeding your dog dumplings can be hazardous, especially if you don’t know the ingredients that go into making dumplings.
Often, dumplings are made with garlic and onion, which are toxic for our pets to ingest. Read the article below to learn more about the risks of feeding dumplings to dogs and about dog-safe alternatives to this food.
What Are Dumplings Made Of?
Dumplings are small balls made of flour that are boiled or steamed, with insides usually filled with a mix of chopped meat, herbs, onion, and cheese. They are most commonly served with soup or stew. However, countless varieties combine different recipes. While the names might differ, the principal is the same—cooked or steamed dough usually wrapped around a filling.
In this article, we will look at the nutritional values of the most common dumpling recipes, which include any of the following ingredients:
- Dough (flour)
- Pork
- Cabbage
- Canola or sesame oil
- Onion
- Dried Shiitake mushrooms
- Soy sauce
- Ginger
- Garlic powder
- White pepper
Can Dogs Eat Dumplings?
As you can see above, many of the ingredients that go into making these can be pretty toxic or unhealthy for our pups. Dumplings often contain onion and garlic powder, which can be highly toxic to dogs and cause digestive problems such as vomiting, diarrhea, stomach aches, and even anemia. Pepper can generally be tolerated in small amounts by dogs,but eating too much can also cause digestive issues.
Whether you fill your dumplings with meat and herbs or not, you should still avoid feeding them to your dog. Dumplings have a very high fat and salt content, and you should avoid them altogether.
What Will Happen If Your Dog Eats Dumplings?
While a nibble or two of a dumpling likely won’t significantly affect your dog’s health, eating a large amount or an entire serving by accident can cause issues. Especially if these dumplings contain toxic foods for your dog, such as garlic or onion. If this happens, you should contact your vet for advice straight away and closely monitor your dog’s behavior. Under no circumstance should you attempt to get your dog to vomit at home. Watch out for the following signs:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Disorientation
- Pale gums
- Drooling
- Increased heart rate
Dog-Safe Alternative to Dumplings
If you adore eating dumplings and want your dog to enjoy some too, you can try making homemade dog-safe dumplings. These dumplings are a perfect alternative for those dog parents who want to include their pup in their mealtime but want to avoid risking their health by feeding them regular dumplings.
You will need rice flour, water, shredded cooked chicken, Greek yogurt, and one egg for the ingredients. Use plain boiled chicken without any seasonings, salts, or oils. Instead of rice flour, you can use wheat or oat flour. If you don’t like the whole egg in the recipe, you can substitute that for canned pumpkin, sweet potato, or mashed banana.
Final Thoughts
Dumplings are considered unsafe for our dogs to consume because of the toxic ingredients, such as garlic, onion, or chives. Dumplings have no real nutritional benefits for our dogs, so it is best to avoid feeding them dumplings altogether. However, since there are various recipes for dumplings available, you can always treat your dog to some dog-safe homemade dumplings. These can include chicken, as long as it is cooked without salts, seasonings, or oils. It’s a good idea to run it by your vet before adding new foods to your dog’s diet, especially if your pet has any underlying health conditions or is on a special diet.
Featured Image Credit: honest table, Shutterstock
