Waffle in the breakfast is the best thought one could have. Drizzled with syrups, butter, whipped cream, or fruits; oh, so Yum! Waffles are equally loved by kids and adults. They are sweet, fluffy, and light and their aroma can tempt anyone.
So, can dogs eat waffles too? Can they share this tasty breakfast with you?
No, dogs shouldn’t eat waffles. Though waffles without any toppings are not toxic to your fur buddy they are just unnecessary calories. They do not provide any nutritional value to dogs.
Waffles have lots of sugar, it can not only hurt your dog’s stomach but can also lead to diabetes if consumed regularly. Waffles can mess up your dog’s health.
Knowing about ingredients before feeding anything to your dog is very important. In this post, we will figure out why waffles are not a good option for your pooch? What ingredients can be toxic? What to do if your dog ate waffles accidentally? And how can you make waffles for him at home?
So, let’s begin!
Can Dogs Eat Waffles? Why Waffles Are Not Healthy for Dogs?
Waffles are very popular around the world. They are available in different forms with a variety of toppings and are considered to be coffee’s best partner.
Nowadays, we have got many healthy versions of waffles like vegan, gluten-free, eggless, or made from quinoa. Humans can eat any version they want and there is no problem with this.
To analyze can dogs eat waffles, let’s see what are the ingredients and what makes them unhealthy for dogs.
1) What’s Inside Waffles?
A basic waffle is made of flour, milk, butter, eggs, baking soda, sugar, and some salt.
Yes, waffles are full of carbohydrates and fats. For breakfast, they are a good option to provide you lots of energy. Waffles are highly packed with calories, so if someone wants to gain weight, what’s better than eating delicious waffles?
We have talked about us, but what about our dogs? Let’s see each ingredient of the waffle to know if they are a good snack for your pooch or not.
A) Flour:
Whole wheat flour is good for a dog’s digestive system. If the waffles you are offering your pooch are made of whole wheat flour, then it’s a decent choice. Because all-purpose flour is refined and doesn’t have any fiber in it.
B) Sugar:
Sugar in any form brown or refined is not healthy for dogs. It isn’t toxic to dogs but it can cause diabetes if the consumption is too much.
If a dog is already diabetic, then sugar in waffles can mess things even more. So, waffles dripped with sugar toppings are a big NO.
If you want to know Can Dogs Eat Caramel, you can read a whole guide on it.
C) Eggs:
Eggs are safe for dogs to eat. One or two eggs in waffles won’t harm your dog if he is not allergic to eggs. For allergy test, you should consult with your Vet before giving eggs included meal to your dog.
D) Milk:
Milk is not suitable for dogs who are lactose intolerant. You don’t need to worry about it because waffles do not have too much milk.
E) Butter:
Waffles are high in fats. Dogs do require some oil for their nourishment but the butter-topped on waffles is way too much.
You can consider it safe if the waffle is not topped with butter, but it doesn’t mean waffles are healthy for dogs. Dogs can develop hypertension and heart diseases if they consume too many calories.
F) Salt:
Salt in a reasonable amount is safe for dogs. Waffles have only a pinch or two of salt so they will not cause any harm.
2) Can Dogs Eat Waffles? Are They Safe for Dogs?
Knowing the ingredients added to waffles, we can say that dogs can eat waffles. You can skip milk completely if your dog is lactose intolerant.
Considering waffles safe for dogs to eat doesn’t mean they are healthy for them too. Waffles are not toxic or poisonous but they are very unhealthy and high in calories. Consuming a lot of sugar and calories is not good for your dog.
If you have only given a bite of waffle without any topping to your dog, then there is nothing to worry about. Make sure you are not giving him unhealthy treats every day.
3) How Many Calories a Waffle Have?
If you make a waffle at home, it contains approximately 500 calories. However, there are various frozen waffles available in the markets and they contain relatively fewer calories almost 290 per serving.
4) Homemade or Store-bought Waffles? Which Waffles Are better?
Apparently, store-bought frozen waffles seem to be better as they have low calories. So, can dogs eat frozen waffles?
Frozen waffles are not high in calories but they contain preservatives, additives, and artificial flavors. These chemicals can harm your dog so, don’t take risk of buying frozen waffles for your dog.
On the other hand, homemade waffles are high in calories but they are made from safe ingredients of our choice.
So, a bit of homemade waffle in weeks is safe for your dog as compared to the frozen ones.
5) Concerns With Feeding Waffles to Your Dog Regularly:
As waffles are not healthy for dogs, you should avoid feeding your dog waffles. If a dog eats waffles regularly, he might suffer from long-term illnesses. Such as:
- Hyperactivity
- Increased blood sugar level
- Hypertension
- Heart diseases
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Dental issues
6) What Can Happen If a Dog Ate Too Many Waffles Accidentally?
There is another problem, dog parents can face is that they left the waffles on the countertop and their dog has munched all of them.
The risk, in this case, depends on the type of waffles he has eaten. If the waffles were plain, nothing much will happen. He might suffer from diarrhea only.
However, if they were topped with fruit or chocolate syrups, then it’s something you should be worried about. Take your dog to the Vet immediately for proper treatment.
7) Which Waffle Toppings Are Safe for Dogs?
Toppings are usually flavor enhancers and contain extra sugar. They can be made from fruits, syrups, caramel, or chocolate.
Before feeding any topped waffle, don’t forget to read out the ingredients mentioned on the topping bottle. Any ingredient can be toxic for your dog.
The toppings that you can consider healthy and safe for dogs are generally homemade and sugar-free. You can use the following fruits to make healthy toppings:
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Bananas
You can rarely serve your dog with a waffle a little bit topped with these homemade syrups as a treat. These fruits are naturally sweet enough and low in calories but full of vitamins, minerals, and fibers.
8) Which Waffle Toppings Are Toxic for Dogs?
A little bit of the following toppings can be toxic to your dog.
A) Chocolate:
Chocolate in any form is toxic to dogs. A pea-sized amount can be enough to poison a big dog.
Chocolate contains theobromine and can kill a dog. Dark chocolate has the most theobromine. Nutella and chocolate syrups are also in the same category.
So, refrain from giving your dog chocolate topped waffles.
B) Grapes:
Grapes are also toxic and can cause instant kidney failure in dogs. Avoid even if the waffles contain a few grape chunks.
C) Avocado:
Avocado is poisonous to dogs as it contains a chemical called persin. Persin causes diarrhea and vomiting. Big dogs can tolerate avocado but we suggest you stay away from risking your dog’s health.
D) Chemical Sweeteners:
Some waffle toppings are made for diabetic people. They contain artificial sweeteners like sorbitol or xylitol. Sorbitol is not poisonous but xylitol is highly toxic.
Carefully read the ingredients mentioned on the packet of chemical sweeteners.
E) Raisins:
Raisins come from the grape family, so they are also toxic. A single resin can poison a dog easily.
You can read our posts about Marshmallows, Prunes, Whipped Cream, Cream Cheese, Sour Cream, Granola, Cheetos, and Almond Milk; to know whether your dog can consume them or not.
Healthy Waffle Recipes for Your Fur Baby
Now you know that waffles are not healthy for dogs. If you still want to share a snack time with your pooch, then you can try these homemade dog waffles; “wooffles”.
Below we have two delicious, safe, and nutritious wooffles recipes for your fur buddy!
1) Chicken Waffles for Dogs [Salty]:
Ingredients:
- Torn Chicken 1 cup
- Milk 1-1/4 cup
- Egg 1
- A little Oil
- Salt 1 pinch
Method:
Mix all the ingredients and scoop into the waffle maker. Cool down the wooffle a little bit and serve it to your dog. This wooffle can be used as a proper meal.
2) Pumpkin Waffles for Dogs [Sweet]:
Ingredients:
- Ground Oats 1-1/2 cup
- Pumpkin Puree 1 cup
- Grated Apple 1
- Eggs 2
- Coconut Oil 1/4 cup
Method:
Remove all the seeds from the pumpkin and apple carefully because they are toxic. Mix all the ingredients and scoop some quantity into the waffle maker.
Don’t forget to cool the wooffles before serving. You can store these in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Can Dogs Eat Waffles? Final Thoughts:
You know that what’s inside a waffle. So, can dogs eat waffles? A bite or two of classic waffles won’t harm your dog. However, if the waffles are dripped with syrups, then it’s a big no.
Homemade waffles and toppings are better as compared to store-bought frozen waffles although they have low calories.
As you know what ingredients are safe, you can make dog wooffles to share a snack time with your fur buddy! Meanwhile, enjoy your meal.