With thousands of recipes and food for dogs, hummus is another on the list where owners wonder if it’s safe for dogs to consume. Can dogs have hummus to eat? It depends on what’s in the hummus and you’ll find out why in a moment. Your dog might be into eating anything from leftovers on your plate to digging for hidden goodies in the garbage can. Instead of wondering what dogs can eat, the real question is – what can’t dogs eat? What you might think is disgusting might just be a savory treat in your companion’s eyes.
Sometimes, people think dogs can eat certain things but that’s not always the case. Dogs don’t know the toxics and poison they’re consuming, which is why it’s up to the owner to stay extra careful in these types of situations. There are some foods that might not be explicitly toxic for dogs, but eating large quantities of anything could do some damage to their digestive system and overall health. If you’re not careful when it comes to what your dog consumes, it could result in your companion eating harmful ingredients.
For instance, hummus can be delicious to humans and dogs. However, dogs won’t understand whether there are benefits or harmful ingredients. Hummus is a delicious, creamy, and protein-packed dip made from chickpeas, tahini, and olive oil. It’s often used in Mediterranean cuisines and can be customized with different ingredients to incorporate your favorite flavors. Now in a scenario where you’re about to feed your do hummus, then stop right there. Whether you’re feeding your dog hummus from the store or from your homemade batch, it’s important to know your companion’s limitations. To help keep your dog safe and healthy, here’s what you should know about dogs and hummus.
Recommended Products For Dogs: Best Stainless Dog Bowls and How To Cook Chicken For a Dog.
Can Dogs Have Hummus?
In order to answer the question, “can dogs have hummus to eat,” we’ll have to go further in-depth. Strictly speaking, chickpea, which is the main ingredient in hummus is safe for your dog. These beans are also called garbanzo beans. Like most beans, they’re packed with protein and won’t cause any issues for your dog. You might even find chickpeas in some brands of natural dog foods. If you make your own dog food, you might also be able to find recipes that incorporate chickpeas. If your hummus is pure chickpeas, then it’s best to give it to your companion in small quantities.
However, it’s important to keep in mind the other ingredients that could potentially be harmful to your dog. Once you start straying from plain chickpeas, your dog might run into other issues. There are certain ingredients dogs can consume and there are some that could be potent. For example, if you purchase hummus from the grocery store, there’s a small chance of you buying this dip with no additional flavors nor spices. It’s a risk, which means that you should be extra cautious with the ingredients.
If you purchase hummus with these additional flavors and spices, then try to keep it away from your companion. These spices, seasonings, and extra add-ons could be potentially harmful. Therefore, it’s important to know exactly what ingredients are in the hummus that you’re intending to share with your dog. You might often find ingredients like onion, garlic, and high amounts of olive oil listed in the nutritional information on labels of pre-packaged hummus. These additional ingredients are potent to your dog and shouldn’t be shared.
In fact, garlic and onion are both on the list of things you should never give to your dog. It’s poisonous and could cause serious side effects. Other issues your dog might encounter after consuming forbidden ingredients are severe gastrointestinal issues, diarrhea, and likely vomiting. You should always do anything in your power to prevent your companion from consuming these toxic ingredients. In case it doe, you should immediately bring your companion to a dog hospital, call an expert, or visit your veterinarian.
Related: Can Dogs Eat Wheat Thins and Can Dogs Eat Loquats?
Concerns in Feeding Your Dog Hummus
Beyond the poisonous ingredients found in many hummuses such as garlic and onion, it’s possible that there could be other potentially harmful side effects in your dog’s digestive system. When a dog consumes something they’re not used to or haven’t had before, there’s a chance for significant negative reactions in your dog’s stomach. For instance, olive oil and other ingredients.
- Olive Oil: Hummus might not be a good idea after all. Some hummus contains olive oil. With excessive amounts of olive oil, your companion’s stomach could feel upset afterward. While there are benefits such as improving your companion’s coat, better skin, and health – pay attention to the amount of olive oil in the hummus.
- Other Spices and Add-Ons: While ingredients like garlic and onions are known to be potent to dogs, there might be other spices and ingredients in hummus that won’t sit well in your companion’s stomach. For example, flavors like lemon or pepper could hurt your dog’s stomach lining. Spicy peppers could lead to some fairly negative effects on your companion’s overall well-being.
As with all cases of feeding your dog food that is not part of their regular routine, it’s important to keep an eye on and monitor their health for any possible negative side effects. If your dog shows signs of discomfort or other digestive concerns, take action immediately unless you fully understand what was the ingredients. If you’re unsure which ingredients caused your dog discomfort, your best solution is to pay a visit to the vet.
Related: Can Dogs Eat Goji Berries and Can Dogs Eat Mint?
Hummus Alternatives for Your Dog
With the additional ingredients and flavors that can be found in hummus, you might want to take your own approach to feed your companion hummus. Instead of letting them lick up the prepackaged, processed, and preservative-packed hummus from the grocery store, you should create your own special recipe for your companion. You’ll have a better idea of what to include in the recipe just to keep your dog in good health while reducing its safety risk.
You can leave out other dangerous ingredients and spices while sticking with just mashed-up chickpeas for your companion. Chickpeas bring a great deal of nutritional value for dogs. As a valuable source of plant-based protein, mashed up chickpeas are rich in numerous vitamins and nutrients such as:
- Fiber
- Magnesium
- Vitamin B6
Related: How To Cook Eggs For Dogs and Best Dog Food For Bad Breath.
Conclusion For “Can Dogs Have Hummus”
If you’re trying to enjoy a nice meal or snack with your companion, creating your own special recipe will allow both of you to enjoy it. You can set out some vegetables that are also safe for your dog to enhance your hummus dip. Hummus that’s just mashed up can be a delicious snack not only for you and your companion but everyone else. Keep in mind that before you feed hummus to your dog, be sure to keep researching each ingredient to understand the effects.
For more dog-related content, check out:
- Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers?
- My Dog Ate a Baby Wipe: What Should I Do?
- Why Is My Dog Eating Grass All of a Sudden?
To learn more information about this article, watch “Can Dogs Eat Hummus” from It’s A Doggie Thing down below:
Andy is a full-time animal rescuer and owner of a toy doodle. When he’s not saving dogs, Andy is one of our core writers and editors. He has been writing about dogs for over a decade. Andy joined our team because he believes that words are powerful tools that can change a dog’s life for the better.
Why Trust We Love Doodles?
At We Love Doodles, we’re a team of writers, veterinarians, and puppy trainers that love dogs. Our team of qualified experts researches and provides reliable information on a wide range of dog topics. Our reviews are based on customer feedback, hands-on testing, and in-depth analysis. We are fully transparent and honest to our community of dog owners and future owners.