Meatballs are a favorite among many households because they’re easy to make and can be paired with various dishes. Aside from spaghetti, meatballs also work well with casseroles, tacos, soups, and kebabs — your options are endless!
And because you likely love eating meatballs all the time, you might be thinking of sharing some with your dogs. Meatballs can satisfy your hunger and need for flavor, but are these ideal for your fur babies? Should you share some of your meatballs with them?
You can feed your dogs with meatballs but in moderation. This dish can provide several health benefits to your dogs, namely:
Iron
Meatballs, especially those made from beef, are a great source of iron for dogs. Iron is essential in your dogs’ diets because it can protect them from anemia and support their ability to carry oxygen in the red blood cells of their bodies.
Iron is also vital in female dogs who are pregnant or in heat. This mineral supports the development of the fetuses and prepares their bodies for lactation.
Vitamin B12
Also known as cobalamin, vitamin B12 helps produce and improve the protective tissues found in your dogs’ brains, allowing them to have superior control over all of their physiological functions. A diet rich in vitamin B12 can also improve the spinal health of your fur babies.
Vitamin B6
Almost all types of meatballs contain vitamin B6. This vitamin promotes brain health and ensures that your dogs’ immune systems are functioning properly. Vitamin B6 can also alleviate the symptoms of canine pregnancy, such as nausea, and help your dogs produce energy.
What Ingredients Should You Avoid In Meatballs?
Meatballs offer tons of health benefits to dogs, but you need to pay attention to the ingredients used. Not all meatballs are safe for your furry friends, which is why you should avoid offering them meatballs with the following ingredients:
Cheese
Some dogs are lactose intolerant, so make sure not to give any meatballs with cheese on them. Cheese can cause mild digestive upsets in dogs, which can worsen into diarrhea and vomiting.
Salt
If you want to incorporate meatballs into your dogs’ diets, opt to make them from scratch rather than buying them frozen from stores. Store-bought meatballs have high salt content that can adversely affect your dogs’ health.
Short-term, sodium poisoning can cause excessive thirst, diarrhea, vomiting, and tremors in dogs. Long-term, too much salt can lead to seizures and even sudden death.
Onion and Garlic
Onion and garlic belong to the same family and are highly toxic to dogs. When feeding meatballs to your dogs, make sure that they don’t contain any form of onion and garlic. Both of these ingredients can significantly damage the red blood cells of your dogs and cause anemia.
Preservatives
Commercially available meatballs use a lot of preservatives to improve their shelf life. However, preservatives don’t benefit your dogs; on the contrary, these will only harm them.
If possible, only feed your dogs with homemade meatballs, as you can skip adding any type of preservatives. In this way, you can feed your dogs healthier and safer meatballs.
How Can You Make Dog-Friendly Meatballs?
As mentioned, it’s better to prepare meatballs from scratch if your sole purpose is to share them with your dogs. There are plenty of dog-friendly meatball recipes available today, namely:
Doggy Turkey Meatballs
For this recipe, all you need is to mix some ground turkey, cooked brown rice, cooked broccoli, and some chopped oregano. Form the mixture into small balls, fry them in some butter, and you’re good to go!
Lamb Meatballs
Another dog-friendly meatball recipe you can try is by using lamb meat. Simply combine about 150 grams of lamb meat to an egg, ground flaxseed, dried rosemary, dried parsley, and rolled oats, form them into small balls, and bake them in the oven for about 20 minutes.
Chicken Meatballs
If your dogs aren’t allergic to chicken, you can also use this meat in making some meatballs. For this recipe, you’ll only need ground chicken, oats, eggs, and some parsley. Combine everything together, form the mixture into balls, and bake them for about 15 minutes, depending on the size of the meatballs.
Can Dogs Eat Meatballs In Tomato Sauce?
No, you should never feed your dogs meatballs in tomato sauce. Whether homemade or canned on their meatballs, tomato sauce contains toxic ingredients for dogs, such as pepper, salt, garlic, or onion.
Can Dogs Eat Turkey Meatballs?
Yes, you can feed your dogs turkey meatballs but in moderation. Turkey is a great source of lean protein that can help your dog form new skin cells, grow healthier hair, and build muscle tissues. Protein from turkey can also give more energy to your dogs and keep their immune systems strong.
Can Dogs Eat Frozen Meatballs?
No, you should never feed your dogs with frozen meatballs. Even if the recipe uses dog-friendly ingredients, you shouldn’t offer frozen meatballs to your dogs to prevent them from choking. Make sure to thaw the meatballs before feeding them to your dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Meatballs?
Yes, your dogs can eat raw meatballs as long as the meat isn’t contaminated with bacteria and viruses. Only buy meat from trusted sources (like your local butcher) to ensure your dogs’ safety as they’re eating raw meatballs.
How Should You Serve Meatballs To Your Dogs?
Before serving meatballs to your dogs, make sure to cook them thoroughly. Raw meat contains harmful germs and bacteria that can adversely affect your dogs’ health.
Once cooked, cut the meatballs into small, bite-sized pieces and let them cool for a few minutes first. Add the meatballs into your dogs’ bowls and let them enjoy the dish!
When Should You Take Your Dogs To The Vet?
If our dogs ate one piece of meatball, there’s no reason to panic. Meatballs usually contain very little onion and garlic to cause severe health problems to your dogs. However, if your dogs ate a lot of meatballs in one sitting, you should watch out for the following symptoms:
- Fainting
- General weakness
- Lethargy
- Low appetite
- Pale gums
- Vomiting
If you notice any of these symptoms, take your dogs immediately to the vet. The presence of these symptoms shows that your dogs weren’t able to tolerate the ingredients in the meatballs and will require medical intervention right away.
Consult A Vet
Meatballs are generally healthy for dogs, but it’s best to consult a vet before giving them to your pets. Dogs naturally have sensitive digestive tracts, and abruptly changing their diets can put them at risk of several health problems.