Waffles are some of the best breakfast food that you can enjoy in several different ways. Paired with a steaming cup of coffee, it sounds like a great way to start your day until your dog accidentally sweeps a piece of waffle off your plate.
You start to worry and ask yourself, “can dogs eat waffles?” and if not, what should you do about it?
The short answer is yes, dogs can eat waffles. However, it ultimately depends on which type of waffle is suitable for your dog’s diet. Some waffle recipes may contain ingredients like chocolate which are toxic for dogs.
Today, we’ll discuss everything you need to learn about dogs and waffles, so read on!
All About Waffles and Dogs
A classic plain waffle is usually made of butter or oil, flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder, baking soda, and milk. These ingredients are generally safe for your pup to eat unless they have certain allergies or sensitivities to these ingredients.
However, waffles are full of calories, carbohydrates, fats, and sugar, all of which can be bad for your dogs, especially when consumed in large amounts. Like some desserts, waffles also do not contain any significant nutritional value for your dogs to benefit from.
What makes waffles bad for dogs?
As mentioned above, waffles don’t offer any benefit to your dog’s overall nutrition. Although giving your dog foods that are rich in calories, sugar, and carbohydrates can be a good source of energy, they can also take a toll on your dog’s health.
They can be at risk of having chronic and severe illnesses like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, to name a few. Additionally, when dogs regularly consume foods that are high in fat, they are at risk of having pancreatitis. Pancreatitis affects your dog’s digestion and metabolism, so you should be mindful of their diet.
Allergies and intolerance can also be a problem, especially if your dogs are sensitive to gluten or intolerant to lactose since waffles contain flour and milk. These can cause stomach issues like diarrhea or stomach upset, which can also lead to dehydration.
Wheat flour is a common allergy trigger for dogs, so it’s best to avoid this ingredient if you’re unsure how your dog will react to it. If you suspect your dog may be allergic to wheat, eliminating it from his diet could help him feel better overall and reduce the risk of digestive upset or other problems caused by food allergies.
Waffles can also include ingredients that are toxic to dogs. Some people prepare waffles with chocolate chips or chocolate syrup, and we all know that dogs and chocolates are a bad pairing. Nuts, like macadamia and walnuts, are also toxic for your furry friend. Moreover, commercially-available waffles may contain preservatives and food additives that can be harmful to their health.
Which type of waffles can dogs eat?
Can dogs eat waffles with syrup?
Like pancakes, waffles aren’t complete without syrups, like maple or caramel syrup drizzled on top. However, these syrups are made of sugar, so it might be best to skip waffles with syrup and not feed them to your dogs.
Too much sugar in their diet may cause an array of health issues. This can range from a simple stomach upset to more severe illnesses like high blood sugar, obesity, and diabetes.
Can dogs eat cinnamon waffles?
Waffles with cinnamon are safe for dogs to eat in moderation. Cinnamon isn’t toxic for dogs so that they can enjoy some cinnamon waffles as an occasional treat. Just make sure not to put too much cinnamon, so it doesn’t irritate their nose from inhaling.
Can dogs eat blueberry waffles?
Dogs can definitely enjoy blueberry waffles in moderation. Blueberries are safe for dogs to eat and can also provide nutrients.
Blueberries are high in vitamins and antioxidants that can fight free radicals to prevent the onset of diseases, including cancer. However, it might be better to scratch the waffle part and just give them blueberries so they can fully take advantage of the health benefits this fruit can offer.
Can dogs eat waffles with butter on top?
Butter contains high amounts of fat, so it is not recommended for dogs to eat waffles with butter on top. The waffle batter in itself may already have butter as an ingredient, and adding butter on top of cooked waffles doesn’t bring anything good for your dogs.
Can dogs eat buttermilk waffles?
You might enjoy the fluffiness of buttermilk waffles, but your dog, not so much. We don’t recommend feeding dogs with buttermilk waffles. Lactose-intolerant dogs can still experience digestive issues like diarrhea or flatulence, even though buttermilk has a lower lactose content than regular milk.
Can dogs eat Eggo waffles?
Eggo is a popular brand of frozen waffles available in the market. Being commercially produced, Eggo waffles contain food additives and preservatives that can be harmful to your furry friends, so giving them Eggo waffles might not be the best idea out there.
Some Eggo flavors and variants may also contain toxic ingredients like chocolate and vanilla extract, which can be bad for dogs to eat.
Can dogs eat plain waffles?
Plain waffles without any syrup or toppings are the safest option. Giving your canine friends some plain waffles to occasionally snack on is the best way to ensure their health and safety.
However, you can also make your own dog-friendly waffles at home!
How to prepare waffles for dogs
If you want to feed your dog waffles occasionally as a treat, there are some ways to make them more digestible and healthy:
- Swap sugary syrups with yogurt or xylitol-free peanut butter
- Use gluten-free flours such as oat flour or cassava flour
- Add fruits like bananas, strawberries, or blueberries instead of chocolate or sugar-loaded toppings
- Cut the waffles into smaller bite-sized pieces
You can also use alternative ingredients in your recipe. This Sweet Potato Waffles recipe we found doesn’t include wheat and milk and uses dog-friendly alternatives as ingredients. This way, you can be sure that your dogs can enjoy waffles and save them from a trip to the vet!
The Bottomline
So, can dogs eat waffles? Yes, they can, but there are some things to keep in mind.
Waffles can be a delicious treat for your dog. They are a good source of carbohydrates, which provide energy and help maintain muscle mass. They also contain fat, which is an essential nutrient for dogs.
But it is important to keep in mind that dogs should only eat waffles in moderation. If they eat too many waffles, they can be at risk of developing different illnesses in the long run.
Additionally, as pet owners, you should be responsible for checking the ingredients of every food you give to your pets. And if you have any concerns, it’s always the best idea to check in with your vet.