Your dog has accidentally eaten a piece of your sandwich that had mayo on it, and now you’re worried about it, and wondering is mayonnaise bad for dogs?
Been there!
I love my dog so much, but I have to admit that it’s very stressful to monitor what he has in his mouth because of the fear that he may consume something that’s poisonous for him.
Having said that, it’s important to know which food dogs can eat and which ingredients they need to avoid if you want your doggo to be healthy and safe.
Are mayonnaise ingredients good or bad for dogs?
As far as this tasty condiment is concerned, while your dog will be completely fine after eating a small amount, feeding him to a mayo regularly isn’t the safest choice.
At the end of the day, frequent mayonnaise consumption is bad for humans, too, not to mention dogs and other pets.
It’s a fact that certain food that is healthy(ish) for humans can be very toxic for our four-legged friends.
Let’s take chocolate as an example – while people can benefit from eating a bit of dark chocolate every once in a while, it can be very dangerous for your dog.
It’s the same for avocados and other healthy human food.
The only way that mayo can be an immediate risk for your pet is if he/she is allergic to soybeans since almost all store-bought mayonnaise is made with that ingredient. [1]
Other than that, mayo isn’t bad for dogs per se when consumed very rarely or by accident.
Still, the fact that 60% of this condiment is saturated fat should be alarming!
Human food safe for dogs
As you can imagine, dogs don’t have to eat only dog food, but are okay with quite a lot of food people can eat.
I’ve seen sooo many questions on the matter of food dogs can and cannot eat.
I’ve decided to share my experience and vet’s advice in order to try to reveal as many myths as possible, starting from the most frequent ones!
-
Why is mayonnaise bad for dogs
As answered previously, mayonnaise isn’t necessarily bad for dogs in a way where your doggo won’t get poisoned if consuming it accidentally.
However, even though the ingredients aren’t life-threatening, don’t feed your pet to mayo every day since it can cause diahrea. In that case, take a look for dog food for diarrhrea.
All that fat in mayonnaise can’t be good, and if your dog becomes overweight, he/she could have heart problems that can be fatal. [2]
-
Can dogs eat cauliflower
When consumed moderately, cauliflower can be a very healthy snack for your pet.
It’s important not to season the cauliflower, and to serve it cooked if you want to avoid giving them gas.
You can either roast, steam, or boil the cauliflower and serve it to your pet in small amounts, and it will be very beneficial to his/her overall health.
Also, frozen and canned cauliflower is filled with unnecessary salt that can cause gas so avoid serving them.
Keep in mind, though, do not prepare the cauliflower with garlic or onions since those are very toxic for your dog and can make them very sick. Which brings us to the next question:
-
Is garlic mayo safe for dogs
Absolutely not!
As said, garlic and onions are very toxic for dogs and can cause a lot of troubles with nausea, stomach aches, dehydration, diarrhea, etc.
When it comes to the amount of garlic that’s dangerous, it is more or less individual.
Still, the majority of dogs need to consume about 15 grams of garlic per body weight kilograms in order to get sick.
So, most likely, your dog will be fine if he/she licks a bit of the garlic mayo from your plate.
However, it’s still risky, and you should definitely keep an eye on your pet if you notice he/she has consumed a bit of this condiment.
If you notice anything weird, consult your vet as soon as possible.
As you can see, the answer to the question “Is mayonnaise bad for dogs” is somewhat negative, but you should unquestionably stay away from garlic mayonnaise in order to keep your dog safe and healthy.
-
Can dogs eat bananas
Banana is a fruit that’s very beneficial not only for humans but also for dogs.
Being high in healthy nutrients such as potassium and vitamin C and B6, bananas are a fantastic alternative to treats that can often be very salty.
Another very healthy feature is the amount of fiber that bananas have, which is very helpful if your pet often has problems with his/her stomach.
As you can imagine, a balanced consumption is key with bananas as well.
Since this fruit does contain sugar, you shouldn’t exaggerate with the amount you’re feeding your dog with.
Also, it’s not recommended to feed your doggie banana peels since those can create problems with stomach and blockage with the digestion.
All in all, bananas can be an excellent snack for your dog, especially while your pet is still growing because the magnesium will promote its bone growth and help the body to produce protein.
-
What can dogs not eat
Dogs would gladly eat anything you have on the table and will often try and steal your food, even if it’s dangerous for them.
That’s why, if your dog is an indoor pet, you should be careful while eating and don’t allow him/her to take the following food:
- Avocado
- Xylitol and too much sugar (gummy bears and similar)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Garlic & onions
- Caffeine
- Raisins and grapes
- Chocolate
- Fat and salty food
- Bones
- Plums and peaches
This food is very toxic and dangerous for your dog.
Keep an eye on him/her when around this food and keep your doggo healthy and safe.
-
What human food is safe for dogs
Maybe I’ve scared you with so many dangerous foods, but you can rest assured that not all ingredients that humans consume are toxic for your dogs.
Having said that, this food is completely safe for our four-legged friends:
- Lean meat
- Fresh fruit
- Cooked veggies
- Cooked pasta and white rice
What’s the best homemade dog food?
If you happen to run out of dog food, or you’re simply waiting for that paycheck (let’s face it, dog food can be pricey, at least the high-quality options), you can easily prepare safe, healthy, homemade meals for your pet with just a couple of everyday ingredients.
This is also a great alternative for dogs that have a special regime because of the health problems and when you’re worried about the quality of the dog food.
If you prepare the food, you’ll know exactly what and when your pet is eating, and you won’t have to worry about his/her diet.
When it comes to my favorite recipes, they are a fantastic alternative when you want to treat your doggy to a delicious meal without worrying about questions like “Is mayonnaise bad for dogs, should I add it?” or “how much bananas is too much to add in my dog’s food?” and similar.
I almost always improvise, and mix food dogs are okay with eating.
It’s important to make their diet balanced and include every food group if you want them to have a lot of energy and a healthy diet.
For example, my dog’s favorite meal is to mix cooked and unseasoned brown rice with ground turkey, baby spinach, carrots, peas, and zucchini. I don’t really have any precise measurements because I usually prepare a lot of it and then keep it in a fridge/freeze and take it out as necessary.
Give yourself the freedom to experiment and add other food that your dog likes, but make sure to include all food groups and keep it balanced, well-cocked, and, most importantly, unseasoned.
Is mayonnaise bad for dogs – Final Word
Having all of the above in mind, you can already conclude that your dog won’t be harmed by accidentally consuming a bit of mayonnaise off your plate.
She/he will feel fine and actually be very happy with the taste.
While you can use mayo for your own meals without worrying about your dog’s safety, you shouldn’t feed it to your pet on purpose because it can be very unhealthy for him/her when it comes to saturated fat and other heavy ingredients that cause weight gain.
If your dog becomes overweight, he/she will most likely have additional health problems such as heart diseases, high blood pressure, high sugar level as well as the difficulty to walk and function normally.
There are much better and healthier snacks that are beneficial to your doggy’s health, and they are very easy to prepare as well.
If, however, you want to treat your dog to a good fat and include it in his/her meal, go with a tablespoon of olive oil while preparing his meals. It will give food a better taste while still being healthy and safe to consume.
