Known for its exquisite taste and creamy texture, hummus is a Middle Eastern delicacy now enjoyed all over the world. It goes well with various foods, which is why it’s typically served as a dip or side dish.
But we’re not here to talk about how much we humans love hummus. We’re here to answer the question, “Can dogs eat hummus?”
Here’s the answer: it’s not a good idea to feed dogs hummus. While this delicious food is unlikely to kill a dog, it can still cause issues that can make them suffer.
Let’s find out why hummus is bad for dogs!
Is hummus bad for dogs?
Hummus is made by grinding and cooking chickpeas (a.k.a. garbanzo beans). Chickpeas are good for dogs thanks to containing protein, magnesium, vitamin A, and other essential nutrients.
Unfortunately, hummus has other ingredients that aren’t dog-friendly, such as:
Garlic
Garlic is toxic to dogs because it contains a compound called thiosulfate.
Ingesting significant amounts of thiosulfate damages the red blood cells to cause anemia, whose symptoms include:
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Pale gums
- Rapid breathing
- Jaundice
- Dark urine
- Disorientation
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Exercise avoidance
Garlic toxicity also produces the following symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Depression
- Dehydration
Thankfully, it’s rare for dogs to die from garlic toxicity. On average, a dog has to eat between 15 and 30 grams of garlic for every kilogram of their body weight to experience significant harm.
However, keep in mind that if your dog has low garlic tolerance, there’s a good chance they’ll suffer from garlic toxicity even after eating only a small amount of hummus. Regularly feeding a dog any garlic-containing food can also lead to a buildup of thiosulfate in their system until there’s enough of the substance to cause toxicity.
Lemon juice
Among the most common hummus ingredients is lemon juice – and lemon juice is known for having significant amounts of highly concentrated citric acid, which is bad for dogs.
When citric acid is ingested by a dog, it can cause digestive problems such as:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomachache
Lemon juice is also rich in vitamin C. Which is a good thing, right?
Not necessarily. Dogs create their own vitamin C using their livers, which means they rarely need vitamin C supplementation. In fact, consuming excess vitamin C can lead to problems such as diarrhea. Worse, it can encourage the formation of calcium oxalate bladder stones, which can cause a potentially lethal bladder rupture if not removed in time.
Olive oil
Hummus typically has a lot of olive oil.
Olive oil is healthy for dogs; consuming appropriate amounts can help reduce inflammation, alleviate the itchiness caused by allergies, and even make their coat more lustrous.
Unfortunately, olive oil can also irritate your dog’s gastrointestinal tract to result in:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomachache
If your dog has a sensitive tummy, ingesting olive oil is more likely to lead to the above issues.
Olive oil can also contribute to weight gain if eaten regularly.
Onions
Some hummus varieties contain onion – another ingredient that can poison dogs.
Like garlic, onion breaks down red blood cells to make a dog anemic. Onions are generally more dangerous than garlic, however, especially if your dog is extremely sensitive to them.
Onion toxicity symptoms include:
- Vomiting
- Panting
- Poor appetite
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Reddish urine
- Pale gums
- Rapid heart rate
- Fainting
If left untreated, onion toxicity can even kill a dog.
Salt
Salt is a fairly common hummus ingredient.
The average dog only needs around 100 mg of salt every day. Consuming more than this could cause severe dehydration in a dog.
The symptoms of salt toxicity include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
- Reduced appetite
- Incoordination
- Extreme thirst, causing excessive drinking and urination
- Confusion
- Respiratory problems
- Rapid heartbeat
Severe salt toxicity can cause:
- Muscle tremors
- Seizures
- Fainting
- Coma
Untreated salt toxicity can even kill a dog.
FAQs about hummus for dogs
Here, we answer more frequently asked questions about crackers for dogs.
My dog ate hummus. What should I do?
Don’t panic. Find out how much hummus your dog ate and what ingredients the hummus contains by reading its ingredients list.
If your dog ate only a small amount of hummus, there’s a good chance they’ll be fine. Nevertheless, monitor them for problems such as vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Contact a vet for advice if your dog experiences such problems.
If your dog ate a lot of hummus, they’re more likely to experience issues. Seek veterinary advice as soon as you can; if they tell you to take your dog to the clinic, do so immediately. Don’t wait for your pet’s condition to worsen!
You should also seek veterinary aid if the hummus contains toxic ingredients such as garlic and onions. Depending on how much hummus your dog ate, the toxicity can grow severe enough to require emergency treatment.
If you can’t reach a vet, those in North America can also call the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 or Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.
Can dogs eat onion hummus?
No. Onions are toxic to dogs. Eating a small amount of onion hummus can give a dog digestive issues such as vomiting and diarrhea. A significant amount can result in worse problems, including seizures, a coma, or even death.
Can dogs eat chocolate hummus?
Definitely not! Chocolate is toxic to dogs thanks to a substance called theobromine. Small amounts of theobromine can cause digestive problems, anxiety, depression, and hyperactivity. Large amounts can lead to seizures, an irregular heartbeat, a heart attack, and death.
Can dogs eat red pepper hummus?
Red pepper is good for dogs. Unfortunately, the other ingredients red pepper hummus typically contains are bad for dogs. Garlic and lemon juice, for example, can cause digestive problems, while too much salt and onions can kill your dog.
Can dogs eat plain hummus?
Plain hummus is generally safe for dogs as long as it contains no ingredients that can make them ill, such as lemon juice, garlic, and onions. Nevertheless, it’s best eaten in moderation as regular consumption can contribute to weight gain.
If you want your dog to have plain hummus, remember the 90/10 rule. 90% of the food your dog eats daily should be vet-approved dog food. The remaining 10% can consist of various dog-friendly snacks, such as plain hummus.
Can dogs eat Sabra hummus?
It’s a bad idea to feed your dog Sabra hummus. This is rich in garlic, salt, and citric acid – all of which can harm your dog especially if eaten in large quantities.
Can dogs eat hummus chips?
Nope. Hummus chips contain onion powder, which is highly toxic to dogs. As they’re also salty, they can cause salt toxicity. It’s possible for your dog to experience no problems after eating a few chips, but it’s still a risk you shouldn’t take.
Can dogs eat chickpeas?
Yes! Chickpeas are safe for doggy consumption. They’re also rich in protein, fiber, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin B, and vitamin C, making them healthy treats.
Make sure to cook chickpeas as plainly as possible. That means no to using ingredients and spices such as salt, sugar, garlic, onions, and any other substances that can harm your dog. Avoid canned chickpeas that contain a lot of sodium.
Also, feed your dog chickpeas in moderation only. Remember the 90/10 rule that says 90% of what your dog eats should be vet-approved dog food, while the remaining 10% can be any combination of various healthy edibles.
Conclusion
Dogs shouldn’t be fed hummus. This savory dish is rich in substances that can harm your dog’s health to cause a gamut of problems.If you want your pooch to enjoy something new, consider granting them a taste of plain, unseasoned hummus. Or, better yet, feed them healthy natural treats such as carrots or blueberries. Remember to give them such treats in moderation only!