Can dogs eat bagels, many dog owners wonder. They do not like to stick to the same old dog food all the time. Moreover, they want to mix things up!
Providing your dog with a variety of healthy food choices can benefit your dog’s diet. You might already have some dog-friendly food in your cupboards without even knowing it.
So, let’ s get into it!
Can Dogs Eat Bagels?
If you love to eat bagels and have given your dog a taste, don’t worry, no harm done. A bite or two will not necessarily make your dog sick.
In general, you should avoid giving bagels to your dog as it is not considered a healthy treat.
In fact, bread of any kind is not suitable for dogs. White flour especially is not good for dogs, but bagels can contain other ingredients that are extremely bad for your dog.
Can Dogs Eat White Flour?
One of the reasons why bagels are not suitable for dogs is because most bagels are made with white flour.
Some dogs might have wheat allergies, which means they will have allergic reactions to bagels. But overall, bagels made with white flour do not provide your dog with any nutrients.
White flour and therefore bagels as well, are high in carbohydrates.
So if you would give your dog bagels or anything else made with white flour, the carbohydrates will break down into glucose (sugar).
This refined sugar can negatively affect the blood sugar in dogs and cause diabetes. Overall, too much white flour in a dog’s diet can lead to sluggishness and obesity.
White flour is also high in gluten. When flour and water are mixed, it turns into a sticky paste.
Like refined gluten products, bagels will break down into a paste in your dog’s intestines, which then sticks to the colon wall.
A dog who has its colon and intestines covered in a gluten paste will not absorb nutrients as he should. Therefore white flour and anything high in gluten is considered a bad food-choice for dogs.
The Negative Effect Of White Flour On Dogs
Like we mentioned, a taste of a bagel or slice of bread now and then won’t do much harm. However, if you include food made with white flour in your dog’s diet regularly, you are not doing them any good.
There are a lot of health issues that can occur in dogs with a high-carbohydrate diet.
White flour can cause digestive problems and bloat in dogs. This includes inflammatory bowel syndrome, swelling of the colon and large intestine.
One of the biggest concerns of introducing white flour to your dog is allergies or food sensitivity. Corn, soy, and wheat are usually big offenders when it comes to allergic reactions in dogs.
If you notice that your dog has itchy skin, chronic ear infections, skin infections, or hair loss signs when eating certain foods, it’s best to call a veterinarian.
Allergies that are not treated can lead to severe health conditions and even death.
Therefore, white flour, including food like bagels, is best kept far away from dogs. Nevertheless, any new food that you give to your dog should be introduced gradually and with caution.
Alternative Flour Options For Your Dog
You might be wondering why some dog treats are okay for dogs to eat even though they contain flour. Well, in most cases, dog biscuits are made with other types of flour than white.
Even if some store-bought dog treats have white flour, it is most likely in a tiny quantity.
If you don’t want your dog to consume flour at all, make sure to read the ingredients section of the product before you buy.
The debate about white flour in a dog’s diet usually comes up around homemade dog biscuits.
As we have already established, white flour is not a good ingredient choice for your dog. However, some recipes do include white flour, as it combines the ingredients better.
Nevertheless, you always have alternative options that will cut out the use of white flour in your homemade dog biscuits. Flour that has more nutrients for your dog is a better option.
Unless your dog has wheat allergies, you can use whole-wheat, buckwheat, or nut flour in your yummy doggy treats.
Can Dogs Eat Cinnamon Raisin Bagels?
Besides being full of carbs, bagels can also contain other ingredients that your pup really shouldn’t eat.
Even though bread itself won’t do any extreme harm, one can never be sure what ingredients the bagel contains.
Let’s take cinnamon raisin bagels, for example, “can dogs eat bagels covered in cinnamon and raisin”?
- The Effect Of Cinnamon On Dogs
Cinnamon is not toxic for dogs, and some doggy treats even contain this ingredient. It has anti-inflammatory properties that are great for aging pups as it helps manage joint pain and swelling.
Another benefit of cinnamon includes the improvement of cognitive functions and regulation of sugar levels in the blood.
Nonetheless, cinnamon is not necessary or recommended in large quantities. If you want to include cinnamon supplements in your dog’s diet, speak to your veterinarian first.
Cinnamon-baked goods are not the way to go!
- The Effect Of Raisins On Dogs
Moving on to raisins in bagels, raisins are a big No-No! There is such a thing as raisin toxicity. Raisins, as well as grapes, are toxic to dogs.
Even the smallest amount of raisins can make your dog sick and have him vomiting all night.
Not all dogs will get sick from ingesting raisins, but it can still harm their kidneys. If your dog ate raisins, signs of toxicity would show up within a few hours.
These signs can also progress over 24 to 48 hours. Therefore it is best to take your dog to the vet right away.
Vomiting, lethargy, increased thirst, and diarrhea are signs of raisins overdose in dogs. If the toxicity progresses into kidney failure, more severe symptoms will appear.
These signs include severe vomiting or diarrhea, increased lethargy, depression, increased urination, and abdominal discomfort.
Whether in a cinnamon raisin bagel or any other form, raisins or grapes should never be fed to dogs!
Other Common Bagel Ingredients To Avoid
There might be many other ingredients in your bagel that are not visible that can be harmful to your dog. From garlic, onion, and poppy seeds to blueberries.
All these ingredients are not suitable for dogs. They are toxic and can cause health problems for your dog in the short term and the long run.
Since bagels, in general, are not healthy for dogs, it is best to avoid them overall. However, what makes them riskier is that they might contain hidden ingredients.
Hence, why giving bagels to your dog is not recommended.
Do Bagels Increase Dog Farting?
Dog farts are normal. However, if your dog is experiencing excessive flatulence, it is most probably linked to his diet. If your dog is eating low-quality ingredients, it will not necessarily cause farts.
Instead, excessive dog farting is most likely due to food intolerance.
Dogs eating crackers, bread, bagel, soybeans, peas, beans, milk products, high-fat diets, and spicy food will fart more often.
So, if your dog has consumed a bagel or two, it is likely that he will pass lots of gas.
Doggy diets that consist of these kinds of goods will cause excessive fermentation in the colon and subsequent gas formation.
However, if your dog is fed a premium diet and still experiences flatulence, he should be tested for maldigestion problems.
Should Dogs Eat Human Food At All?
The pet food aisle is filled with brands claiming to be the healthiest option for canines. However, this is not always the case.
Many pet owners take it into their own hands to ensure their dog gets all the nutrients he needs.
Can dogs eat bagels and other human food?
Many human food can be very beneficial for your dog as they can provide nutrients your pup needs. For a robust immune system and to be healthy, good doggy nutrition is the way to go.
Introducing healthy human food from time to time can be great for your dog’s health. Keep in mind that your dog’s main meal should consist mainly of nutritional dog food.
There are plenty of human foods that are great for dogs. Foods like eggs, bananas, apples, green beans, yogurt, goji berries, cooked chicken, bone broth, etc., are excellent for dogs.
Some of these foods can even make a great snack in-between mealtime. So instead of giving your dog a bagel, why not introduce a fruit instead?
Each dog is different, and their ingestive systems will handle various foods differently. If you choose to give your dog human food, opt for a healthy food choice instead.
However, keep in mind that a new food introduction should be done in small quantities and irregularly.
Once you are sure your dog is not allergic, you can give them that healthy human food treat more frequently.
Read Also: New Dog Introduction
Bottom Line
Bagels are not the right food choice for your dog. Bagels will only provide your dog with empty calories.
Even if it contains a healthy ingredient, the gluten, and carbs will eliminate the nutrients anyway.
Besides, you can not be 100% what is in your bagel. From processed ingredients to ingredients that may be toxic for dogs.
Too many bagels or other baked goods can cause dogs to become overweight and sluggish. There are plenty of healthy food options out there that your dog will love.
Even though we humans don’t always follow a nutritious diet, we owe it to our furry companions to keep them healthy!
Read Next: 10 Best Doodle Rescues in Georgia