Who doesn’t love a good croissant? They’re fluffy, buttery, and perfect for any occasion. But can dogs eat croissants? The answer may surprise you! Dogs can eat croissants as long as they’re cooked and not too heavily buttered. So the next time you have an extra croissant, don’t forget about your furry friend!
The truth about Croissants
You may be surprised to learn that dogs can eat croissants. Not all dogs will react, but it’s best to stay on the safe side and feed them something more appropriate for canine consumption.
It is important NOT to give your dog any of the following ingredients in croissants: raisins, chocolate, macadamia nuts or xylitol, butter, milk, yeast, and dough. Here’s why:
Raisins are Bad for Dogs
As little as a single serving of raisins can cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and kidney failure in your dog. Raspberries are also bad for dogs since they contain the same substances that make grapes harmful to them.
Chocolate is Bad for Dogs
Chocolate is poisonous to dogs because it contains caffeine and an ingredient called theobromine. The effects will vary depending on how much chocolate they eat and other factors such as their age or size. Plus, many types of chocolate have even more concentrated amounts of theobromine, so be extra careful with baking chocolates.
Macadamia Nuts are Toxic to Dogs
Macadamia nuts are commonly used in many baked goods due to their high-fat content providing a rich flavor. They’re also higher in calories than other nut types, so they’ve often been considered indulgent food. While humans can enjoy them without serious consequences, dogs can’t. According to ASPCA, macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs for a reason. They contain an unknown toxin that causes vomiting and induces tremors and muscle weakness in the limbs.
While cooking the croissants eliminates some of the toxic ingredients responsible for these symptoms, it doesn’t eliminate them, which is why you should never feed your dog any kind of baked goods containing macadamia nuts.
Since macadamia nuts lack natural defenses against predators, their shells hold a toxin called macadamia nuts toxic lectin or cyanogenic glycoside known as( amygdalin ). This toxin can cause cyanide poisoning, and macadamia nuts are considered poisonous to dogs.
Xylitol is Toxic to Dogs
According to the FDA, Xylitol is extremely toxic for dogs. This artificial sweetener that some people use in place of sugar is also used as a sugar substitute. It’s commonly found in sugar-free gums, candy, baked goods, toothpaste, and more. Xylitol causes a rapid release of insulin from the pancreas, which severely lowers blood sugar (hypoglycemia) levels within 10 to 60 minutes.
Other alternative croissant ingredients that are dangerous for dogs are garlic, onion, chocolate, raisins, or grapes.
Butter is Bad for Dogs
Butter contains a high percentage of saturated fat that dogs need in their diet. This type of fat is bad for dogs because it can cause obesity and other issues associated with excess weight, such as heart disease, arthritis, cancer, and more. On the other hand, dogs do need some healthy fats in their diets to promote a shiny coat but make sure to use healthier cooking oils like olive oil or fish oil instead of butter.
Milk should not be fed to Dogs
Dogs are usually lactose intolerant. Feeding them milk will upset the stomach, including gas, bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea. If your dog likes milk, though, there are low-lactose alternatives you can buy which are made especially for pets.
Yeast is Bad for Dogs
If you’ve ever given your dog leftover bread dough, you know firsthand how uncomfortable it can make them feel with gas, bloating, and vomiting. This is because the yeast in the dough expands as it bakes, which causes that uncomfortable feeling in dogs. If your dog accidentally eats yeast, its body will begin to ferment, which leads to these symptoms.
The dough is Bad for Dogs Too!
The dough also contains flour which is bad for dogs too. Flour can cause many health problems such as weight gain, cravings for more flour, and malnutrition, according to AKC. Allergies to various ingredients found in baked goods can also develop over time, such as gluten intolerance or wheat allergies.
Other Things to Remember
As previously mentioned, the main concern is whether or not your dog will react to eating croissants. Some of the ingredients in croissants can cause gastrointestinal upset and/or diarrhea in some dogs.
The protein found in dairy products such as milk and butter may cause stomach problems that lead to vomiting and/or diarrhea for pups who indulge too quickly in their owner’s food.
Avoid leaving croissant dough out for long periods since it starts forming alcohol, which could irritate your pup’s digestive system. It’s best to throw away dough left out on the counter after it has risen for around fifteen minutes.
If your dog does not have a history of any adverse reactions to these ingredients, then it is okay to give them a small piece of croissant from time to time.
Conclusion: Can Dogs Really Eat Croissants?
Dogs can eat croissants as long as they are properly baked. As always, it is important to check the ingredients list on the side of your dog’s food bag for potentially harmful toxins that may have been added to their food by manufacturers. If you’re unsure whether your dog can eat croissants, play it safe and give them something more appropriate for canine consumption.
Croissants are made with flour and butter, which are perfectly safe for dogs to eat. Flour provides energy in carbohydrates, which is great if your dog tends to be active throughout the day. The butter contains plenty of healthy fats for your pup’s coat and immune system.
If you decide to feed your dog a croissant, make sure they don’t have any of the harmful ingredients listed above! Also, avoid letting them eat too much, which can cause digestive issues such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Croissants are delicious any time of day, but especially for breakfast. Now you know exactly what kind of bread is okay for Fido!
One last thing: it’s important not to allow your pet to eat an entire croissant since this can cause a dog to become overweight.