We love putting ketchup on our french fries and burgers, but you may be wondering if ketchup is good, bad, or just okay for dogs. A little bit once in a while isn’t likely to hurt them, but too much of anything is never a good thing when it comes to doggy diets. Ketchup also includes a ton of added ingredients including salt, sugar, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives A bit of tomato is not unhealthy for dogs, but the other ingredients in ketchup can be downright toxic for them.
Is Ketchup Bad for Dogs?
The first thing we need to look at when talking about whether or not ketchup is safe for dogs to eat is the ingredients that are in the ketchup. In most cases, there are going to be ingredients that are not only unhealthy for dogs, but also toxic. For instance, many ketchups contain garlic and onion, both of which are extremely toxic to dogs. Other ingredients in ketchup that are not healthy for dogs to eat include sugar and salt. Another unhealthy ingredient in many ketchup products is xanthan gum. This is used to make the ketchup thicker, and it is not something that is healthy for dogs to ingest.
If you do want to let your dogs have a bit of ketchup now and again, you need to check the ingredients before you do. The best option would be to use an organic ketchup that is basically nothing but tomatoes. The problem is, most ketchup is processed, so by the time that it gets to your table, there are hardly any nutrients, making it nothing but empty calories that your dogs don’t really need. Ketchup is not a food that offers any nutritional benefits for dogs, and it doesn’t contain any dietary fiber. It is only going to add unnecessary sugar and carbohydrates to your dogs’ diets.
One of the biggest problems with ketchup is that it is usually loaded with salt, and this is very unhealthy for dogs. Yes, dogs do need to have some sodium in their diets, but they get it in their regular dog food, and they do not need to have any more than that. In fact, too much salt can lead to numerous health issues, including salt poisoning or hypernatremia, which can result in organ damage and death. Symptoms can include:
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lack of energy
- Stumbling
- Swelling
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive urination
- Kidney issues
- Tremors
- Seizures
No, Dogs Can’t Eat Ketchup
Dogs enjoy their food just the way it is, and they don’t need any additional seasonings or condiments, including ketchup. Because it contains many ingredients that are not good for dogs, it is best to just shy away from it all together. Sure, they may like it, but they certainly are not going to miss it, especially if you never give it to them in the first place. They will never know what they are missing, and they will be better off for it.