Can Dogs Eat Waffles? Before you feed your dog any human food, you must check first if it’s not only safe but worthwhile; for example, it’s not toxic to dogs, but the food is empty calories, so nutritionally, there’s really no point.
Waffles aren’t toxic or poisonous to dogs but are they of any nutritional value? There is zero nutritional value for dogs; they contain a lot of sugar and far too many calories for a dog.
However, what might make them toxic, is if there’s also a topping on the waffles; for example, if the waffles are smothered in chocolate, that’s one ingredient you shouldn’t feed to dogs under any circumstances.
If you’re buying store-bought waffles, you should also be wary of the ingredients that go into your waffles. For example, some waffles might contain artificial flavors or colors, plus additives to give them a longer shelf life. The very least you should do is check the list of ingredients to learn what’s going into your waffles.
If you still have concerns, don’t worry; this article will answer the question, can dogs eat waffles?
In this article:
Do Dogs Enjoy Waffles?
If you’re a dog owner, you know how much dogs go for something sweet. Dogs don’t have any in-built warning that eating sweet stuff is terrible for them; they only know they like the taste. They mainly treat waffles the same; they’re sweet and chewy, and dogs like them.
If you enjoy waffles for breakfast and you feed your dog a tiny bit, it’s not going to hurt your dog. But why bother? Yes, I know they sit looking at you with those eyes, and you feel guilty; we have all felt the stare. But the bottom line, your dog will still love you more than anything in the world, and you can be guilt-free because you didn’t give in and provide an unhealthy snack.
What Are Waffles Made Of?
The only way you know for sure if a food is good or bad for you is to understand what ingredients make up the product. There are only six essential ingredients that create waffles, flour, salt, sugar, milk, eggs, and butter. These ingredients don’t consider adding extras into the recipe, such as vanilla extract or what you pile on top of your cooked waffles before eating them.
Flour
Most store-bought waffles will consist of refined flour. This kind of flour is less healthy because the refining process removes the fiber and nutrients from wheat.
You can find brands using whole wheat flour, which is a better alternative. The flour has the same effect on dogs; refined flour has no nutritional value. Some dogs are also allergic to wheat. Of course, if this is your dog, then don’t feed him any product containing wheat.
Salt
Too much salt is toxic to dogs, and while they do need salt the same as humans, they tend to get as much as they need from their daily diet. So giving your dog waffles is increasing his salt intake. He would probably have to eat many waffles for the salt to cause problems, but there’s no real point in increasing his intake.
Sugar
Refined sugar, which is in most store-bought waffles, is mostly empty calories and can cause a dog to gain weight. Obesity is one of the most significant health risks for dogs today. It can lead to bone and arthritis issues, heart disease, and diabetes.
Eggs
Eggs are good for dogs; they are rich in protein, linoleic acid, Vitamin A. The cholesterol in eggs is not a cause of concern to dogs the same way it is to humans. Too many eggs can make the dog put on weight, and some dogs are allergic to eggs.
Milk
In small quantities, milk is okay for dogs unless they are lactose intolerant and have difficulty digesting dairy products. But milk is high in fat and sugars, both of which are not good for your dog. If you’re making homemade waffles maybe consider using almond milk or any other dairy alternative.
Butter
The amount of butter in a single waffle isn’t going to do your dog harm. But butter is made from milk, and if your dog is lactose intolerant, it can make him ill. Also, butter is saturated fat, and there are zero health benefits.
Homemade Or Store Bought Which Waffles Are Best For Your Dog?
Store-bought waffles tend to have lower calories than homemade, but that’s not the whole story. Because most store-bought waffles are long-life, they will contain additives and chemical preservatives that do nothing for your dog’s health.
Homemade waffles for dogs might have more calories, but you are in control of the ingredients. You can easily find a recipe to make good-tasting waffles but cut back or change some of the more harmful ingredients; for example, you can reduce the butter content and change the flour to wholegrain.
Xylitol And Dogs
If you’re trying to be healthier in your food choices, you might decide to pick up some sugar-free waffles. Manufacturers tend to substitute refined sugar for sweeteners. Choosing this type of waffle might be the healthier option for yourself but not for your dog. Xylitol is harmful to dogs.
Blood sugar is controlled by the pancreas releasing insulin. In humans, xylitol does not harm, but when dogs consume even a small amount of xylitol, the dog’s bloodstream will quickly absorb it, releasing too much insulin. A release of insulin like this can trigger hypoglycemia ( a massive decrease in blood sugar); this can be life-threatening to dogs if you don’t notice it happening and get treatment for your dog.
Can Puppies Eat Waffles?
A puppy’s digestive system is only in its infancy, and something like a sweet waffle will likely make them sick. Even if it doesn’t make a puppy ill, waffles are still bad for puppies and shouldn’t be given to them. When feeding a puppy, you should always provide an age-appropriate diet.
Can Dogs Eat Waffles With Maple Syrup?
Putting a topping such as maple syrup or butter on waffles and feeding that to your dog makes the waffle even more unhealthy. Maple syrup isn’t poisonous to dogs, but it’s packed with sugar, and that amount of sugar combined with the sugar content of the waffle is just too much.
Waffle Toppings Safe For Dogs
If you insist on feeding a small amount of waffles to your dog and want to know a safe topping, here are a few of the healthier variety:
Berries
A few fresh berries can be good for your dog; they contain antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber.
Bananas
Bananas are okay to add to a waffle; they contain helpful nutrients, but sugar is a factor, so make it only a few small pieces.
Apples
Apples provide vitamins A and C plus dietary fiber and can help clean your dog’s teeth.
Can Dogs Eat Waffles – FAQ
Simple answers to other simple frequently asked questions that we didn’t cover it the article:
Can dogs eat Eggo waffles?
Dogs can eat Eggo Waffles, it’s safe to say that it won’t hurt them, but it won’t do them any good too. There is almost zero nutritional value for dogs; they contain a lot of sugar and too many calories without any rich nutrients. Also keep in mind that Eggo store-bought waffles contains additives and preservatives which aren’t good for dogs.
Can dogs eat waffle cones?
Waffle cones are safe for dogs the same as regular waffles, it’s just a different shape. Although they seem different, usually the dough is the same and all the additives and low-nutrient ingredients as well, but beware of even more sugar or xylitol.
Can dogs eat plain waffles?
Dogs can eat plain waffles, but as long as you use dog friendly toppings, it’s more healthy and better for dogs to add some healthy fruit and other bonus treats to the small portion of waffle. The waffle itself has zero nutritional value for dogs so if you want to give your dog waffles, try to use a very small amount of waffle and more apples, bananas, berries etc.
Bottom Line – Can Dogs Eat Waffles?
While there’s nothing toxic or poisonous in waffles, there’s also no nutritional reason to feed them to your dog. There’s also a large amount of sugar, and that’s not good for dogs. If you provide waffles to your dog, use homemade waffles; at least you control the ingredients in the waffles.