We share so much of our lives with our dogs because they’re always with us, so it makes sense that we would also share our food with our dogs. As anyone who has had a dog before knows, there are some human foods we can give our dogs without issue but there are others that can make them really sick.
Ramen noodles are an easy to make, delicious food we can enjoy on its own or add into meals like stir fry and soup. The noodles in this dish are often cooked in chicken or beef broth so they are meat flavoured when we eat them. Knowing that, it only makes sense that our dogs would want to try some because they enjoy meat.
But, are ramen noodles safe for your dog? Are there better noodle or rice options to feed your dog instead of ramen? Here’s what you need to know.
Ramen noodles
There’s nothing quite like a steaming hot bowl of salty, meaty ramen noodles. When prepared, though, this dish is really salty and that can be an issue for your dog.
Both traditional and instant ramen noodle dishes are too salty for your dog to eat. If you’re feeding your dog plain ramen noodles, though, there isn’t really an issue in feeding it to them but they offer no nutritional value to your dog’s diet. Although the amounts of sodium in even plain noodles is something to keep an eye on if you’re feeding them to your dog.
It’s very important to note that both onion and garlic are comment ingredients in the instant ramen flavour packets. Both of these ingredients are harmful for your dog, so it’s generally best to just not share any kind of ramen dish your dog to be safe.
If you’re like most families, pasta and rice are staples in the meals you prepare and your dog may occasionally eat these items. So can you dog eat noodles or rice of any kind?
The short answer is maybe. That isn’t very helpful, but the truth is that there are a number of variables in regards to how the pasta or rice is prepared and what it’s cooked with that will determine if it’s safe for your dog to eat.
Plain Pasta
The good news is that the kind of pasta most families eat is generally safe for your dog to eat, although that could change depending on how it’s cooked.
Pasta on its own doesn’t have a lot of nutritional value and doesn’t really add much into your dog’s diet, but it isn’t necessarily bad for your dog. If you’re feeding your dog plain pasta along with their regular kibble it isn’t going to harm your dog – it’s just not really healthy for them, like humans.
If your dog consumes larges amount of pasta on a regular basis it can lead to weight gain and with that a number of other health problems as your dog ages.
No pasta sauce
When we cook sauce for our pasta, we usually cook it with onions and garlic to give the flavours that we enjoy in our meals. These ingredients are delicious to us but they can be really toxic for your dog. It’s important to make sure that your dog doesn’t get any of the pasta sauce you cook for your dinner.
What kind of noodles can my dog eat?
When someone asks if their dog can eat pasta, most of the time we’re thinking they mean spaghetti or linguine or similar noodles but that isn’t the only kind of pasta out there.
Your dog can eat plain pasta, in various forms. Kinds of pasta that are safe for your dog to eat – without any kind of sauce – include
- Egg noodles
- Udon noodles
- Wheat pasta
How do you know if your dog is having an allergic reaction to pasta?
Most of the time, if a dog is having an allergic reaction to wheat pasta their symptoms will be very similar to how human’s show allergic reactions.
Here are the signs you should look for to determine if your dog is having an allergic reaction to pasta.
- Ear infections (especially if they’ve never had one)
- Skin irritation or excessive itching
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
If you notice your dog is exhibiting these signs after eating some pasta, it’s important to keep an eye on them and call your vet to determine what the best course of action is for your dog. Your vet may recommend to stop feeding that particular food, and watch your dog to see if the symptoms clear.
Most of the time, the issue is found with sauce that’s covering the pasta and not the pasta itself. Make sure you watch your dog carefully to see how they react.
How much pasta can my dog have?
We know that your dog’s diet may be made of different foods than the rest of your family, but are the amounts you can feed your dog different? You should always follow your vet’s recommendations on how much food to feed your dog, but there are some ways to tell if you may have fed your dog too much pasta.
Lack of interest in activities
Did your dog used to love playing fetch in the backyard but now they don’t get excited about it? If your dog doesn’t seem too interested in the activities they used to love, they may be eating too much pasta or foods heavy in carbohydrates.
Weight gain
Pasta has a lot of calories in it, and it offers very little nutritional value for dogs. Pasta has far more calories per volume than their regular kibble does, so if they are eating it regularly without extra exercise then you may notice your dog has some weight gain.
Excessive thirst and/or urination
This one can be relative as if your dog regularly drinks a lot or is outside a lot for potty breaks then this might not be new. What you need to watch for is changes in how your dog regularly behaves and increases in thirst and/or urination based on what’s normal for them.
DID YOU KNOW: just like humans, dogs can develop Type II Diabetes which can be brought on by excessive weight and too many carbohydrates in their diet? This disease is rare in dogs, but it can happen. To keep your dog on a healthy diet, consult with your vet for recommendations on amounts and types of food that might be best.
Can my dog eat rice?
While rice is also a grain, its composition is different from pasta. Rice is often an ingredient in kibble made for your dog so, in short, yes your dog can have it. In fact, if your dog has an upset stomach – like diarrhea – it can be recommended to feed your dog plain chicken and rice to help settle their stomach and help them feel better.
Like pasta, though, the quantity of rice your dog eats should be closely monitored to make sure they aren’t eating too much. It’s important to make sure your dog is eating a healthy and balanced diet so they can maintain a healthy body weight.
You can even cook some rice and add it into your dog’s kibble instead of pasta so they think they’re getting a treat but instead of pasta they’re getting an ingredient they already eat on a regular basis. You can even add some plain chicken, if you want, but just want sure you aren’t putting any kind of sauce on it.
Since we share so much of our lives with our dogs it only makes sense that we want to share the delicious foods we make, but that doesn’t mean all the foods we enjoy are going to be safe for our furry best friends.
Ramen noodles are a comfort food for us, and we enjoy a hot bowl of them on a cold winter day, but they aren’t good for your dog’s diet. Ramen noodles are far too salty for your dog’s diet, although that’s in the prepared form. If you feed your dog plain ramen noodles they aren’t necessarily bad for your dog but they bring very little nutritional value.
There isn’t any harm in sharing some of the pasta you make with your dog, so you can make him feel like he’s enjoying dinner with the family too, but it’s important to limit the amount of pasta your dog gets on a regular basis.
We can share our favourite foods with our four-legged best friends to make sure we feel like we’re including them in our lives, but we also need to make sure we are making the best decisions for them so they stay healthy. If you are wondering what kinds of foods are safe for your furry family member you should follow up with your vet to make sure the diet you’re giving your dog is best for them.
