No, Dogs Can’t Eat Ketchup Safely. 3 Reasons Why

Key Points:

• Why can’t dogs can’t eat ketchup?
• How much ketchup is safe for a dog to eat?
  • If your dog consumes ketchup: a step-by-step guide

First things first: dogs cannot eat ketchup! The primary reasons why dogs cannot eat ketchup are because it has high sodium content, sweeteners, and added flavorings that are toxic in certain quantities. Although it can be harmful, you shouldn’t rush to the veterinarian’s office if your cuddly friend eats it in small amounts. This article will investigate 3 reasons why ketchup can be dangerous to dogs, what amounts can cause adverse health effects, and what to do if your good girl or boy does eat some. So, why can’t dogs eat ketchup? Let’s find out!

Why Can’t Dogs Eat Ketchup?

High Sodium Content

The first major reason dogs cannot eat ketchup is due to its high sodium content. Like many other foods, such as steakit can pose a threat to dogs due to high salt levels. Consuming too much salt can cause dogs to experience extreme thirst, frequent urination, muscle spasms, muscle cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe cases, seizures, and death. This occurs because hypernatremia, high salt levels in the blood, causes dehydration as the body attempts to stabilize the blood salt levels.

According to the American Kennel Club, toxic levels begin as little as 2 to 3 grams of salt per kilogram of a dog’s body weight. If your dog consumes large amounts of salt, call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline as soon as possible. If symptoms are severe and persistent, go to the emergency pet hospital. Your dog may require intravenous fluids and antiemetics. The salt content in a small amount of ketchup is no cause for alarm, though.

Artificial Sweeteners

Another dangerous ingredient in some ketchup that can harm dogs is the artificial sweetener xylitol. Many artificial sweeteners are unsafe for dogs, but xylitol is especially toxic. Although it is an FDA-approved, low-calorie, sugar alternative safe for humans, small amounts can be detrimental to a canine’s health. The primary effects xylitol has on dogs are liver failure, low blood sugar, seizures, and death in severe cases.

Not all kinds of ketchup have xylitol, and those that do often will advertise it as “sugar-free” or “low-sugar.” Check the ingredients label of your low-sugar ketchup if your dog eats some and presents with any symptoms. The symptoms resulting from dogs ingesting xylitol are associated with a drop in blood sugar. Some examples are staggering, inactivity, weakness, fainting, and seizures. Go to an emergency pet hospital immediately if you notice these symptoms.

Flavorings: Onion and Garlic Powder

A third reason ketchup is not safe for dogs is the presence of additional flavorings that are also toxic. Onion and garlic are incredibly toxic to dogs and often found in ketchup. When dogs eat onions, a toxic component called N-propyl disulphide poisons them and attacks their red blood cells. This causes anemia and has severe health consequences. Inducing vomiting could prevent the toxin from entering the bloodstream if a dog has eaten an onion within the past hour. Garlic is also toxic to dogs but has different impacts. It is a gastrointestinal irritant that causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Garlic can cause pancreatitis, to which small dogs are particularly susceptible.

Most popular ketchup brands- Heinz and French’s- have onion powder in their recipes. Some ketchup on the market is even specifically garlic and onion flavored. There are also online recipes to make your own flavored ketchup that is gaining interest, including onion ketchup or garlic ketchup. Although these all sound like tasty condiments, onion and garlic are not good for man’s best friend.

How Much Ketchup is Safe For Dogs to Eat?

Toxic Quantities

The amount of ketchup that is toxic to dogs varies greatly depending on the size of the dog. Larger dogs can digest and dissipate salt, sweeteners, and additives found in ketchup more efficiently and in larger quantities than smaller dogs. Since the exact amount of ketchup that would be toxic to a dog is so variable, the important consideration if your dog eats ketchup, is whether they develop any telling symptoms. Small accidental amounts, however, are not necessarily toxic and are not cause for concern. If you consider intentionally giving your dogs foods with ketchup, you can look for healthier options here.

If Your Dog Consumes Ketchup: a Step-By-Step-Guide

It is important for pet owners to know what foods are safe or dangerous for their pets to eat. The next step is to learn what to do if your pet consumes those foods. When a dog eats ketchup and when they eat many other toxic human foods, there are three steps you must take: identify, monitor, and evaluate.

First: Identify Who, What, and When

If you discover an empty wrapper or a plate licked clean and suspect your pet ate human food, first figure out the “who, what, and when” of the situation. For determining the “who” component, identify which pet ate the food. Then, to determine the “what,” identify what food the pet ate. If a pet got into ketchup, the tell-tale sign is usually the bright red remnants of sauce on their face. Ketchup often has artificial dyes that can temporarily stain dog fur when they eat it. The last factor in determining is “when.” It is important to estimate when your dog ate the ketchup or other human food to monitor how symptoms improve or worsen over time.

An important note to remember about ketchup is that when identifying the “what” element of a poisoning situation, check if the ketchup is sugar-free and contains the artificial sweetener xylitol. If it does, do not wait for your dog’s condition to worsen and call a vet or pet poison helpline immediately.

Second: Monitor Symptoms

After you have gathered all the information regarding the ingestion incident, you must monitor your dog’s symptoms. If the amount of ketchup or other food they ate is unknown, see if any symptoms develop and if they resolve or worsen with time. If your dog vomits and continues vomiting after multiple bouts, take them to the emergency pet hospital. Sometimes vomiting once isn’t a sign of an emergency; rather, it is just the dog’s body reacting to the toxin by purging. If dogs cannot stop vomiting, they likely need emergency treatment for hyperemesis and dehydration.

Third: Evaluate the Next Steps

At this point, after gathering information and observing your dog’s condition, a choice must be made depending on your specific circumstances. If the dog presents no symptoms, there is no need to call a helpline or your vet. Just keep eyeing your pet to ensure their condition doesn’t change. If your dog had symptoms after ingesting large amounts of ketchup, but they appear to be resolving, give your dog lots of water to prevent dehydration. Continue monitoring their progress and only call your vet if a new concern arises. Your dog is likely recovering well if symptoms are abating. However, if symptoms persist or worsen, call a helpline or go to a pet emergency hospital immediately. With poisoning cases, the sooner a pet is treated, the higher the likelihood of a positive outcome.

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