No, your dog can not eat hummus. Although the main ingredient in hummus is chickpeas, which are safe for dogs to eat, there are several other ingredients, like garlic, lemon juice, and salt, that could harm them.
Table of Contents
The Ingredients In Hummus
Now let’s get to the heart of the matter—the ingredients—which explain why hummus can be bad for dogs.
A savory dish, dip, or spread known as hummus is a staple of Middle Eastern cuisine worldwide. Tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and cooked, mashed chickpeas are the ingredients. Even other unique ingredients may be added to some recipes.
Despite the fact that hummus is a great source of dietary fiber, protein, vitamin B6, and manganese, its main components can be harmful to dogs. For instance, hummus frequently contains garlic, one of the foods that are most toxic to dogs.
So how can hummus be bad for dogs if it is so healthy and nourishing for humans? Let’s take a closer look at each of the components in order to respond to that query.
1. Chickpeas
A staple of hummus and a member of the legume family, chickpeas are packed with nutrients. We can eat them in a variety of ways besides as a component of hummus. We can eat them by themselves or add them to salads, soups, and stews. They are not only good for us, but they may also be good for your dog.
Chickpeas have a variety of advantages altogether. Due to their high fiber content, they will keep your dog feeling fuller for longer.
This may eventually aid in weight management. They also contain a lot of protein and provide additional nutrients like potassium, magnesium, and folate. These nutrients are necessary for healthy cellular regeneration.
Chickpeas benefit your dog in additional ways. They promote eye health because they are high in vitamin A. Your dog’s immune system will benefit from vitamins B and C. They support blood sugar control as well.
In and of themselves, chickpeas appear to be a healthy treat for your dog. We can serve them blended or whole, with other vegetables and animal protein, or just by themselves.
If you are only giving your dog cooked chickpeas and not any other foods like seasoning, onion, or garlic, you shouldn’t be worried.
2. Tahini
In order to make tahini, hulled sesame seeds are ground and toasted. It can be a dip or an ingredient in a variety of other dishes.
Can dogs eat tahini even though it is a delectable human snack? Yes, they can because tahini is safe for dogs to eat.
In moderation, tahini may even be beneficial for dogs’ health. It offers an ample supply of protein and good fats. Calcium, manganese, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus can all be found in them.
All of these help dogs stay healthier.
Additionally, it contains sesamin and sesamolin, which help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Thus, tahini offers a variety of nutrients that can be advantageous for canines.
However, if given too much, your dog might have trouble breaking down the tahini. This is because dogs struggle to digest seeds because they are primarily carnivores.
3. Lemon Juice
Lemons are a great source of vitamin C, which is essential for maintaining a healthy immune system. Lemon juice also contains additional nutrients that are good for human health. Even health professionals promote the benefits of lemon juice for improving digestion, lowering cancer risk, supporting heart health, and assisting with weight loss.
Lemon juice is a vital component of many well-known drinks and snacks because of its distinctively sour flavor. Lemonade and lemon meringue pie come to mind. Who can forget the lemonade you used to make every single day as a kid?
Lemon juice may be good for humans, but it should never be given to dogs. It has little to no nutritional value and is not toxic to your dog. Though the psoralen compounds and aromatic oils in lemons are poisonous to dogs and frequently cause upset stomachs, the lemons themselves can be toxic.
An upset stomach, vomiting, weakness, and diarrhea, for instance, can result from lemon juice’s high acidity. The balance of acids and bases in your dog’s body may also be affected.
Although lemon juice may contain some beneficial phytonutrients, it is challenging to deliver them without sugar or dilution. This results in additional health issues. Therefore, any potential benefits are outweighed by the negative effects.
4. Garlic
And lastly, the main component of hummus may be harmful to dogs to consume.
The onion, shallot, and leek are close relatives of the garlic and are also members of the allium family. We have used garlic for centuries as a food flavoring and traditional medicine. It is a well-liked food.
Can dogs eat hummus with garlic?
Despite the fact that garlic is one of our favorite foods, dogs should never be given garlic.
This is so because, as was previously mentioned, dogs’ bodies metabolize some foods differently from ours. Thiosulfate is one of these substances that affects how dogs metabolize things differently. It is present in every plant in the allium family and is poisonous to dogs.
Red blood cells in dogs suffer damage from thiosulfate. Hemolytic anemia is the consequence. Symptoms of hemolytic anemia include:
- Dark-colored urine.
- Jaundice (yellowing).
- weakness and sluggishness
- pale mucous surfaces.
- Rapid breathing.
Dehydration, depression, appetite loss, vomiting, and diarrhea are additional symptoms of garlic toxicity. According to studies, it takes between 15 and 30 grams per kilogram of body weight to negatively affect a dog’s health.
In contrast, the typical garlic clove weighs between 3 and 7 grams. If we consider this, your dog would have to consume a lot of garlic in order to become seriously ill.
Bear in mind that this is only a guideline because some dogs are more sensitive to toxicity than others.
As a result, garlic may seriously harm your dog’s health. You shouldn’t give your dog hummus because of this, but I don’t think they would need to eat much of it to become ill.
Is Hummus Bad For Dogs?
Hummus might be good for us humans, but it’s definitely not good for our dogs. Hummus is one treat that isn’t for puppies because it contains a few ingredients that are bad for dogs, even though plain chickpeas make a safe snack for our four-legged friends.
Lemon juice, salt, and garlic are the three ingredients in hummus that are problematic because they can be harmful to your pet.
It’s thought that dogs should avoid garlic. It’s best to keep Fido away from hummus even though there isn’t much garlic in it and a tiny bit shouldn’t hurt your dog significantly. It doesn’t matter what kind of garlic is in your hummus because it will still be harmful to dogs, whether it is raw, cooked, fresh, or dried. Garlic can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and in large amounts, it can damage your dog’s red blood cells and cause anemia.
Lemon juice is an irritant for dogs and often causes sore, unsettled stomachs and abdominal pain. The type of juice found in hummus is also highly concentrated, making it more likely to give your dog an upset stomach because it is stronger.
Additionally, you ought to refrain from giving your dogs salty food. Salt can be safe in moderation, but excessive amounts can be toxic and lead to dehydration or sodium poisoning. Even though a small amount of hummus shouldn’t hurt your dog, it’s still better to stay away from it. Hummus contains a small amount of salt.
Some brands of hummus also contain “spices”, and this vague ingredient isn’t helpful for anyone trying to figure out if it’s safe for dogs. If you don’t know exactly what’s in the dip, it’s best not to give it to your dog because several human seasonings and spices are known to irritate our animal companions.
Hummus has a lot of fat in addition to some unpleasant ingredients. Just 50g of hummus from a few different brands could range from 7.1g to 15.5g of fat! Rich, fatty foods like hummus aren’t good for dogs because they can contribute to unhealthy weight gain, and they may trigger a serious illness called pancreatitis.
Is Hummus Good For Dogs
Dogs shouldn’t eat hummus because it is not healthy for them. Although it is low in calories and sugar, your pet will have trouble with salt and garlic.
Is Hummus Healthy For Dogs
Although hummus has health advantages, the harmful ingredients still remain. Healthy fatty acids from chickpeas, vitamin B6, and vitamin A are some of the hummus’ nutritional advantages.
Tahini contains components with a history of lowering blood pressure. Blood sugar levels may be regulated by hummus’ high protein content.
Is Hummus Safe For Dogs
In extremely small amounts, dogs can eat this as human food without any harm. Your dog probably won’t be affected by one teaspoon of hummus.
It all depends on how big your pet is, just like with other kinds of food. Less hummus can be tolerated by small dogs than by larger breeds.
Is Hummus Ok For Dogs
Dogs can occasionally eat small amounts of hummus with no problems.
Can a dog eat a lot of hummus? Give your dog little bits at a time to eat. Although the added ingredients are not safe for dogs, the main ingredient is. It’s best to avoid giving them any hummus at all, but one tiny teaspoon as a treat may be okay.
The Hummus My Dog Ate: What Should I Do?
Take a look at the type of hummus your dog consumed as a starting point. What components are there? then consider how much they consumed. Last but not least, keep an eye out for any sudden symptoms or reactions. Provide your dog with a lot of water and outdoor time.
Contact your veterinarian if you notice that your dog is acting unwell.
Dog-friendly And Safe Non-toxic Hummus Alternatives
You could buy or make hummus without lemon or garlic if you want to feed it to your dog. In keeping with the name, neither lemon nor garlic is used to make the hummus. So, without the risks to your health, this is a healthy snack.
Different Flavors
In this section, we’ll examine the most popular hummus varieties and determine whether feeding them to dogs is risky or safe.
Chocolate Hummus
Give chocolate hummus to your dog in no way. It is safer to keep all types of chocolate away from dogs even though a spoonful of it might not hurt your dog.
Green Hummus
In green hummus, onions and garlic are typically present. Dogs shouldn’t consume these. Dogs can eat the other ingredients, including spinach and cilantro, without any problems. It is okay to feed your dog this if you prepare it at home as long as you omit the garlic and onions.
Olive Hummus
Dogs can consume olive hummus in very small amounts without any problems. If you prepare it at home without the garlic and salt, it will benefit them even more. Learn more about dogs and olives.
Pine Nut Hummus
Your dog can eat pine nuts without getting sick. They can eat pine nut hummus as long as it doesn’t contain an excessive amount of salt or garlic.
Read this article on nuts your dog can eat to find out about all the other nuts you can give your dog.
Pumpkin Hummus
The answer is yes, in moderation, dogs can consume pumpkin hummus. Your dog can safely consume pumpkins. Actually, you could make delicious homemade dog treats with pumpkin for your pet.
Red Pepper Hummus
Dogs shouldn’t consume red pepper hummus, no. Usually, it contains too much salt and garlic to be a suitable snack for your dog.
Vegan Hummus
Being made with nuts and oils, the majority of hummus varieties are by nature vegan. You can give your dog small amounts of vegan hummus as long as it doesn’t have an excessive amount of salt or any garlic or onion.
Sabra Hummus
Before you give your dog Sabra hummus, read the ingredients label. Anything with an excessive amount of salt, garlic, or onions in it should not be given to your pet.
FAQs
Can Dogs Consume Hummus That Has Gone Bad?
The answer is no, dogs shouldn’t consume spoiled hummus. At this time, there is a chance that bacteria will start to grow there.
Is hummus that has been out all night safe to eat? Only after four hours in the sun is hummus safe to eat. Food-borne bacteria had a chance to develop after those four hours and could now be harmful to you or your pet.
Can Dogs Eat Hummus Chips
Typically made with potato starch and chickpea flour, hummus chips are baked. Unless they are homemade without salt or garlic, hummus chips shouldn’t be given to dogs. Because of the possibility of sodium poisoning, dogs should not eat salted hummus chips.
Are Dogs Hummus Allergic?
Although allergies to hummus or chickpeas in dogs are extremely rare, they are possible. Almost all foods have the potential to cause an allergy or intolerance in a specific dog, and proteins tend to be the main culprit. Beef and soy are two common allergens, but chickpeas’ plant protein may also cause an allergic reaction.
Summary
You can see that giving your dog a small amount of hummus might not be harmful. If you give your pet too much hummus, they might experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. If at all possible, keep your dog away from this.