Truffles are very versatile as you can use them in many ways. You can use truffles to make some truffle butter or as a base for your soups and sauces.
But just because truffles are versatile and flavorful doesn’t mean that you should immediately share them with your dogs. Yes, you’d love to share the best things in life with your furry friends, but you need to be careful on what you feed them as human and dog bodies are different.
To answer the question in this article: yes, your dogs can eat truffles. As long as you give them truffles in limited quantities and controlled frequencies, your pets can enjoy the following benefits from truffles:
Fatty Acids
Truffles contain different fatty acids that can help your dogs maintain healthy skin and have a stronger immune system. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids also play a vital role in the cell growth of your dogs and keeping their hearts healthy.
When your furry friends lack fatty acids in their bodies, they can develop several health problems, such as dry and flaky skin, dull coat, and poor immune system. All of these things can increase your dogs’ risks of getting and spreading diseases.
Vitamin C
Truffles are packed with vitamin C that functions as antioxidants in your dogs’ bodies. Vitamin C helps neutralize the damage of free radicals in your dogs’ bodies and protect them from the effects of cognitive aging. Vitamin C also reduces chronic inflammation.
Additionally, vitamin C boosts the immune system of dogs, improves their energy levels, and provides relief to dogs who regularly suffer from urinary tract infections.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is necessary for your dogs’ health and wellness as this mineral works with calcium in order to maintain the integrity of their bones and teeth. Phosphorus can also help your dogs get rid of dangerous toxins from their bodies by stimulating their kidneys.
Sodium
Your dogs need sodium to maintain normal body functions. Sodium is necessary for your dogs’ muscle and nerve functions, fluid balance, and blood pressure stability. Sodium also helps regulate the pH levels on your dogs’ bodies to protect their skin from irritation and infections.
Calcium
The calcium content of truffles is beneficial to your dogs in a variety of ways. For one, calcium facilitates proper bone development in dogs throughout their lifetime. Calcium also builds stronger teeth and a healthier heart among dogs.
When dogs receive sufficient levels of calcium in their diets, they become stronger and less susceptible to health complications.
Magnesium
One of the most essential nutrients your dogs need is magnesium. Magnesium plays a significant role in your dogs’ ability to produce energy and ensure that they remain active. Magnesium also prevents urinary disorders and constipation among dogs.
Manganese
Truffles also offer manganese — a nutrient necessary for metabolizing carbohydrates and protein in your dogs’ bodies, as well as making fatty acids. Manganese also impacts the health and maintenance of your dogs’ bones, joints, and cartilage.
Iron
Another mineral your furry friends can enjoy from truffles is iron. This mineral is required by your dogs’ bodies to perform important functions, such as carrying oxygen throughout their bodies. Iron also affects the energy levels of your dogs — receiving sufficient amounts of iron from their diet means more energetic dogs.
Without enough iron in their bodies, your dogs can become weak and more prone to diseases and illnesses. Iron deficiency in dogs can also cause several symptoms, such as labored breathing, faster heart rates, blood loss, and even extreme weight loss.
Are There Any Downsides To Truffles?
Truffles are healthy for your furry friends but can also bring several health risks when given too frequently or in excessive amounts. When dogs eat too much truffle, they can experience:
Skin Irritation
The skin is one of the most important organs of your dogs as it works as a barrier against germs and bacteria. When your dogs have poor skin health, they can easily get sick.
Feeding your dog too much truffle can increase their risk of skin irritation. When left untreated, your dogs will be exposed to bacterial infections.
Stomach Problems
Overfeeding your dogs with truffles can likely cause stomach problems, like loose stool or diarrhea. In worse cases, these problems can worsen and trigger dehydration because of the amounts of fluid your dogs lose in a short period.
Kidney Pain
Truffles have high protein content that can irritate your dogs’ kidneys. This happens because too much protein can cause waste to build up in your dogs’ blood, making it challenging for their kidneys to remove that extra waste properly.
How Much Truffle Should Your Dogs Have?
When giving truffles to your dogs, make sure that the amount doesn’t exceed 10% of their diets. Truffles are healthy but they don’t contain all of the essential vitamins and minerals necessary for your dogs’ health. Feeding your dogs too much truffle can also lead to several health risks, as mentioned in the previous section.
Can Dogs Eat Truffle Oil?
Yes, you can give some truffle oil to your dogs but in moderation. Excessive amounts of truffle oil can cause several symptoms among dogs, namely allergic reactions, skin irritation, and stomach upset. For dogs with highly sensitive bodies, eating too much truffle oil can cause severe irritation in their kidneys and cause excruciating pain.
How Can You Add Truffles And Truffle Oil To Your Dogs’ Diets?
Now that you know truffles and truffle oils are safe and healthy for dogs (as long as given in moderation), it’s now time to learn how to add these to your dogs’ diets.
There are actually many ways to add truffles and truffle oil to your dogs’ diets, you can:
- Pour a small amount of truffle oil into your dogs’ wet food for added nutrition and flavor
- Slice a few pieces of truffles and then add them to your dogs’ dry kibbles
- Add small drops of truffle oil to your dogs’ water for added flavor
- Add a few drops of truffle oil to an ice cube tray to create pupsicles for your dogs
When Should You Visit The Vet?
If your dogs consume truffles and don’t exhibit any symptoms, there’s no need to worry or take your pets to the vet. The absence of any symptoms indicates that your dogs’ bodies were able to tolerate the mushroom.
However, if your dogs start to vomit, become lethargic, and cannot walk properly, rush them to the vet ASAP. You should do the same when your dogs show symptoms of diarrhea, abdominal pain, weakness, and excessive salivation. All of these symptoms require a vet’s intervention right away.
Ask A Vet For Help
If you still have questions about truffles and how they can affect your dogs’ nutrition, talk to a vet first. Raise all of your questions to them and never proceed to incorporate the mushroom into your dogs’ diets unless they approve. Yes, truffles are healthy for your furry friends, but feeding too much to your dogs can do more harm than good.