Can my dog eat donuts?

Wednesday, 28th February 2018

We all love our furry friends, and when it comes to their health, it’s important to know what is and isn’t safe for them to eat.

While we love to share our lives with our dogs, it’s not always safe to share our favorite foods with them, though.

Order Delicious Donuts — Just for You

can my dog eat donuts

 

The Difference Between Dog and Human Digestion

Dogs and humans digest food differently. Just like how certain animals need certain nutrients to survive, dogs and humans are different, too.


Fun Fact: Unlike humans, cats need meat to survive and cannot be vegan.


The digestive tract of a dog is much smaller than that of a human. Because of this, canines favor food that can break down more easily (like their kibble, meats, bones).

  • Less time to absorb important nutrients from food
  • Less time for bacteria to increase and cause issues

Dogs typically have a more difficult time with plant or grain-based foods.

The takeaway here is that dogs and humans metabolize food differently, so a delicious treat for a human could be deadly for a dog.


A delicious treat for a human could be deadly for a dog.


Order Donuts Online

can my dog eat donuts

Can my dog eat donuts?

No, you should NOT feed your dog donuts. Resist the puppy-dog eyes, even though it’s hard.

Sharing is not caring in this case; keep your donuts far away from your dog, no matter how much he begs.

Why not?

There are several reason why a dog shouldn’t eat donuts. The most important reason is that it is dangerous for their health.

A dog cannot process the sugary sweet ingredients in a donut like a human can.

Donuts have certain ingredients which are unhealthy for dogs in large quantities. Some donuts also have caffeine or chocolate, which can kill dogs.

In fact, too much sugar and fat can actually lead dogs to develop pancreatitis. 

Donuts have no nutritional value for dogs. Since dogs need less calories than humans to be healthy, feeding them donuts can cause weight problems, too.


Caffeine and chocolate are toxic to dogs.


What’s dangerous and what’s not? 

When it comes to dogs eating your donuts or you unknowingly feeding them one, it’ll be wrong to assume that your four-legged buddy will certainly fall ill. 

While it’s true that some donut ingredients can be potentially life-threatening for dogs, that’s not always the case. Meaning you need not panic if your pet eats a donut crumb from the ground. 

So let’s understand when you should be really worried and when you only need to be watchful of some symptoms.

Which donut ingredients are dangerous for your dog? 

We humans simply love some donut varieties. So much so that it’s hard to resist them no matter which hour of the day it is. 

Nevertheless, the same donuts can put the health of your dog in great danger. And that’s exactly why we suggest you keep these donuts away from them, despite the eager looks they give you. 

Here are some common donut ingredients that can be deadly for your dog: 

Chocolate: 

Despite being good for human health, chocolates are lethal for dogs since they’ve got a different metabolism than us. 

That’s especially true for dark chocolate chips used for donut topping and filling. And although milk chocolates aren’t as hazardous, they can still make your dog very sick.

Sweeteners: 

Artificial sweeteners are used across a wide range of sweet food products, including donuts. 

These sweeteners contain xylitol, which is safe for human consumption within a limit. However, xylitol can be poisonous for your dog and can dangerously lower blood sugar levels. 

Toppings: 

Some donut toppings, such as peanuts, cause no harm to our pets. But plenty of other toppings, such as chocolate chips, macadamia nuts, walnuts, raisins, etc., aren’t safe at all for dogs. 

Fillings: 

Just like the toppings, donut fillings too pose harm to your pet, as the ingredients are mostly similar to that of the toppings. 

Further, donut fillings also contain artificial sweeteners, which can cause food poisoning among dogs. 

Which donut ingredients aren’t so dangerous? 

The ingredients we just saw can make the dogs too sick. In fact, you might even need to rush your pet to the nearest vet if they consume a donut with such ingredients. 

Nonetheless, some donut ingredients aren’t as dangerous as others. For instance, ingredients such as milk, eggs, wheat, sugar, etc., aren’t deadly for your dog. 

That means if your dog eats a simple glazed donut, they’ll most likely have an upset stomach and nothing more. 

So can dogs eat plain donuts? 

Not really. 

The fact that plain donuts don’t have the more harmful ingredients doesn’t mean you can feed them to your dog. That’s because the ingredients in a plain donut, such as sugar and butter, can still make your dog ill.

You can learn more about foods your dog can or can’t eat here or by talking with your pet’s veterinarian.

What to Do if Your Dog Eats a Donut

First of all, you should be watching your pet and making sure they cannot get into any dangerous foods like donuts.

However, if your pet somehow manages to snatch a donut, here’s the best plan of action:

  • Feed them a bland diet of rice and unseasoned chicken or beef to calm their upset stomach
  • Watch for vomiting or diarrhea
  • If symptoms worsen, call the vet

Frequently asked questions

Are donuts bad for dogs? 

Your dog should be fine after accidentally eating some donut crumbs. 

However, the high-calorie contents of donuts, coupled with toxic (for dogs) ingredients like chocolate, xylitol, etc., can be very harmful. 

Can donuts kill dogs? 

Despite the fact that donuts aren’t always dangerous for dogs, it is possible that some donut varieties can actually kill them. 

For instance, if your dog eats a lot of chocolate or macadamia nut donuts while you aren’t around, they can start vomiting and even suffer a seizure. 

And if timely medical care, among others, isn’t provided, they can even die. 

Nonetheless, most dogs face only minor and treatable issues after having eaten donuts. But that doesn’t mean you should keep your bag of donuts anywhere they can reach. 

Can dogs eat glazed donuts? 

No, they can’t. 

You might wonder why are glazed donuts bad for dogs? 

After all, the classic glazed donuts only contain non-harmful ingredients like wheat, milk, eggs, butter, and sugar. And if we humans can have a cheat meal, then why can’t dogs?

Well, the answer to this is simple. 

The cheat meals for us humans don’t usually make most of us sick. At the same time, glazed donuts can make your four-legged friend sick, although you won’t have to take them to the vet. 

Can dogs have blueberry donuts? 

While blueberries are good for both humans and dogs alike, feeding your pet blueberry donuts isn’t a good idea. 

Even if the donuts have actual blueberry topping or filling, the other ingredients, like sugar and high quantities of butter, mean you should keep them away from dogs

Donuts Made Fresh Just for You – Order Online Now from Shipley Do-Nuts!

Order some delicious donuts online right now from Shipley Do-Nuts to satisfy that sweet tooth. Feel free to share them with some friends, but don’t share them with your pets! Enjoy your sweet treat and maybe at the same time, pick up some dog treats for your furry friend.

Order Donuts Online!

Can my dog eat donuts? | Shipley Do-Nuts – Houston, TX[:]

We deliver where
your heart desires

Visit Shipley Do-Nuts at 12403 Westheimer (between Dairy Ashford & Kirkwood) not only for the best hot, pillowy soft Shipley Do-Nuts you’ve ever wrapped your lips around but also all varieties of fresh, warm kolaches offered 24 hours a day at our Houston donut shop.

ORDER NOW