Pizza for your Pooch? Noooo!

by Desiree Carlos

Sadly, pizza cooked for humans contains ingredients that are toxic to dogs.

Worse, raw pizza dough can cause serious damage to your dog.

“Eating raw pizza dough is a more urgent matter. If your dog sneaked some of your uncooked homemade pizza, head to the veterinarian or emergency animal clinic right away. Raw yeast dough can expand in your pet’s stomach, causing serious breathing difficulties and potentially causing tissue tearing. The ASPCA reports that raw bread dough may even cause your dog to become intoxicated. This is due to the ethanol byproduct that yeast produces, “ stressed Erin Ollila in “Can My Dog Eat Pizza” in hillspet.com/dog-care/nutrition-feeding.

Ollila added that the pizza crust may contain ingredients that are bad for dogs such as onions, garlic and some herbs.

Bella Bacinos, in “Can Dogs Eat Pizza? Which Ingredient Will Hurt Your Dog? from bacinos.com, stressed that a number of toppings on your pizza may be toxic to dogs.

Bacinos suggested we look at what the standard pizza is made up of first. It has:

1. crust made of dough;

2. tomato sauce; and

3. cheese

How do these interact with your dog’s digestive system? Let’s find out.

Pizza Crust

Pizza bases are made of dough with the following ingredients: flour, yeast, eggs, olive oil, salt and water.

“Take out the salt and water, and there’s nothing here that your pooch would find in the wild. Dogs are carnivores, and their bodies are designed to eat meat. They’re not designed to eat pizza crusts – however much they might enjoy them! “ Bacinos said.

A small piece of pizza crust is safe, Bacinos said. The key is moderation because pizza crusts “contain a whole pile of empty calories,” she said. The dogs will gain weight which can lead to a lot of health issues.

“The carbohydrate-heavy nature of pizza crust also means your dog may feel lethargic after eating them. And the salt content can give him or her an upset tum too,” she said. Too much salt can also lead to kidney problems, she added.

If you do not want your dog expecting pizza crust all the time, do not start giving the dog this food. “Bear in mind, too, that dogs aren’t great at impulse control!” Bacinos said.

It is always best to train your dog to eat their own food, not human food, to ensure they get the best possible nutritionally balanced diet. “And that will maximize their health and wellbeing, giving you more happy years together,” Bacinos said.

Pizza Sauce

Most pizza sauces contain tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt. Salt is not good for dogs.

“And the other ingredients can also be difficult for them to digest. All in all, pizza sauce and dogs aren’t a great mix,” said Bacinos.

Onion and garlic

Other pizza sauces have onion and garlic which are not good for dogs. These vegetables can later cause anemia in your pooch.

“That means their red blood cells can no longer carry as much oxygen around their bodies. Symptoms include lethargy, panting, dark-colored urine, weakness and jaundice,” said Bacinos.

“The culprits are the toxins N-propyl disulfide and thiosulfate. They can also cause gastrointestinal problems, with dogs suffering vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, “ Bacinos added.

Garlic and onion powder are often put in the pizza sauce which is worse, because the toxins are more highly concentrated in this form, she said.

Cheese

While dogs love cheese so much, cheese does not love them back. There are dogs who are lactose intolerant.

“Although cheese doesn’t contain as much lactose as whole milk, dogs with intolerances can have an adverse reaction. And that can be the case even if they consume only small amounts,” Bacinos said.

There are cheese with high fat content. “Lower fat varieties, like mozzarella, are less problematic, although dogs should still only eat them in small quantities. The good news is that they contain beneficial nutrients too – protein, calcium, essential fatty acids, vitamin A and B-complex vitamins,” Bacinos said.

But it is best to stay away from pizza as it contains pizza sauce with onion and garlic powder, and cheese, which are all bad for dogs.

Processed Meat

Since dogs are carnivores, you might think meat on pizza is okay for your dog. Meat on pizza is usually processed meat which is not good for dogs.

“Meats like salami, pepperoni and bacon are cured with salt, and are usually high in fat too. Both fat and salt can interfere with your pet’s digestive system. Too much in one go can make your dog sick. And too much over time will lead to weight gain, with all the health problems that go alongside that, “ Bacinos said.

Ollila noted “ pepperoni, sardines and sausages all have high salt and fat. Eating too much salt may raise your dog’s blood pressure or aggravate underlying heart disease.”

Pineapple

Raw pineapple is a healthy treat for most dogs, when eaten in moderation. It contains beneficial nutrients like manganese, iron and potassium. And it has smaller amounts of calcium, zinc and phosphorous too.

“Just don’t overdo it. The natural sugars and fiber can upset your dog’s tum if they eat more than a couple of small pieces at a time,” Bacinos said.

But the pineapple in your pizza is not raw. It comes from cans with syrup. All those sugar are bad for your dog as they can lead to upset stomach and your dog will gain weight too.

Can Dogs Eat Pizza?

Pizza is not a good food for dogs. Make sure to keep pizza sauce and toppings like onions and processed meat away from your dog..

Sometimes, accidents happen.

“If your dog has sneakily managed to get its paws on some pizza, watch it carefully. In most cases, the worst outcome from a one-off pizza-eating incident will be a case of diarrhea or sickness. But if your dog shows signs of distress, contact your vet straight away, Bacinos said.

Ollila stressed: “The bottom line is that you should never give pizza to your dog, whether as a meal or a treat. They might experience a slight stomach upset if they’re sensitive to dairy, due to the excess fat, but overall in many cases dogs are fine. If your dog ate a large amount of pizza and you’re concerned, call your veterinarian to schedule an exam.

Keep in mind that even small bites of human food are packed with extra calories that, over time, can lead to weight problems and a host of issues resulting from excess weight. So, keep your pizza out of your pooch’s reach.”

Bacinos stressed “Dogs will be happier and healthier with a diet designed specifically for their needs.”

This article also appears in the Manila Standard