“Can dogs eat French fries,” is a perfectly normal question to ask yourself if you’re a pet owner.
Although, it’s okay even if you aren’t.
I mean, how could you not?
In a world full of adorable puppy dog eyes- which keep ‘eyeing’ your fast food every time you pick something up from a drive-thru or are just at a friend’s house, you might want to feed the pup some cute little treats.
But before you do, don’t be shy to ask yourself questions along the following lines:
‘Can dogs eat French fries?’
‘What would happen if I fed them some?’
And most significantly, the ultimate thing: Is this diet going to be safe for dogs?
Can Dogs Eat French Fries: Dangers You Should Know About
Simply put, no.
Dogs cannot eat French fries. And here is why.
The thing about this delicious food is that it tends to be very high in both fat, and salt content. And, as a general rule of thumb, both of these should be avoided.
Most foods already contain a little bit of fat and salt. And usually, these will be enough to fulfill your dog’s dietary requirement.
Adding any more of either of these to their daily diet, however, might put them at risk of developing some very serious problems.
And as it just so happens, unfortunately, French fries contain both in excess.
Can Dogs Eat French Fries: Why Excessive Salt Should be Avoided
It’s the same reason why humans cannot drink seawater.
Having a lot of salt can dehydrate the body.
In dogs, however, the sensitivity levels are higher in comparison. Therefore, what might seem like an okay-ish amount of salt to us humans, can wreak havoc on your dog’s digestive system.
If your dog has had a high amount of salt intake in the past few hours, it may feel compelled to drink a lot of water.
The whole salt-water imbalance in their body may then cause them to experience a condition known as Bloat. That is, their stomachs might get filled with gas or fluid and become distended. Before you know it, their stomach begins to twist.
Sadly, the condition- better known as GDV, can develop very quickly and be fatal.
Can Dogs Eat French Fries: Why Excessive Fat Intake Is Bad
Fat, once again, is one of those things which are bad for humans and dogs alike.
The high amount of fat not only leads to a dog being put on the path to obesity, but it can also cause them to develop serious health conditions.
One of these is acute pancreatitis.
This disease, in particular, is why we are so adamant about saying that the answer to ‘Can dogs eat French fries’ should always be a big NO.
According to veterinarians, acute pancreatitis does not even require that your dog has been given a high-fat diet for a long time. Simply giving them some extremely fatty food all at once can lead to them getting hospitalized.
Symptoms of Pancreatitis
If say you have fed your dog a high-fat diet recently and would like to know whether they need to go to the vet immediately, keep an eye out for the following signs:
- Physical pain;
- Wincing when the belly is touched;
- Diarrhea;
- Vomiting;
- Fever;
- Loss of energy.
What about unsalted French fries?
Given that we’ve said so many bad things about salt, you might be wondering, “Well, what if I simply don’t add in any salt – can dogs eat French fries then?”
Unfortunately, we would still say no.
One or two pieces of French fries, even regular ones, do not cause a lot of damage and should not be a reason to worry.
At the end of the day, however, French fries are still, well…fried. And that alone should be reason enough to not give these to your dog.
Can Dogs Eat French Fries: Okay… But What About Those Puppy Dog Eyes?
Like we said earlier, no one blames you for wanting to give in to your dog when they look at you as earnestly as they do. But being a pet means being responsible.
This is why it is your duty to ensure that your dogs only consume things that are genuinely good for them.
Can Dogs Eat French Fries as Treats?
No. Extremely sugary and high-fat diets may seem like treats but at the end of the day, they can be really bad for your pets.
But don’t worry!
Cheese, jerky, and shrimp can act as good, alternate sources of treats for your dogs.
Can Dogs Eat French Fries: Some Fun Facts about Fries
- French fries were actually invented in Belgium and not France!
- Thomas Jefferson is alleged to have introduced this scrumptious food to America.
- French fries are only a type of sliced potatoes. In fact, baked potato veggies, potato chips, etc. are all a part of this food category.
FAQs
Do I need to take my dog to the vet immediately if my dog has had French fries?
One or two will not kill them. But you should contact a veterinarian if your dog develops any symptoms that may indicate GI upset.
I use very little oil in making fries. Can I feed these to my dog?
Generally, no.
Even if you’ve added little oil, the number of carbs is still too high to be safe.
