Can dogs eat gravy? You may be asking this because your dog helped themselves to a bite of your Thanksgiving meal. Humans can eat gravy, so is it also safe for dogs to eat?
The short answer is no, gravy is not good for dogs to eat. Gravy typically doesn’t contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs, but it does contain a large amount of sodium. Large amounts of sodium are not good for your pup to eat.
If your dog has eaten gravy, you should contact your vet for guidance. Here’s why gravy isn’t the best food for your dog.
Why Is Gravy Bad For Dogs?
Gravy is a tasty sauce that can vary in ingredients, but it almost always contains a base of meat juice, meat stock, and a thickening agent like corn starch or flour. None of these are unsafe for dogs to eat, but they may cause stomach upset if eaten large amounts.
Additionally, there is a very high amount of salt in gravy that isn’t good for your dog.
Gravy may be potentially dangerous if it contains onions or garlic, both of which are toxic to dogs. Most gravy is made without the addition of these veggies, but a lot of gravy contains garlic or onion powder to boost the flavor.
If this is the case, your dog may exhibit signs of garlic or onion toxicity, which warrants a trip to the vet.
What Should I Do If My Dog Ate Gravy?
If you fed your pup a little taste of gravy at a Thanksgiving meal, they most likely will not have any adverse reaction to this condiment.
If the gravy you fed your dog has garlic or onion powder, you may want to keep an eye on them to ensure that they don’t begin to exhibit signs of garlic or onion toxicity.
But if your dog ate an entire vat of gravy, you may want to contact your vet as a precaution. They may exhibit signs of stomach upset from eating a high amount of salt. They may also be more thirsty than usual.
Overall, letting your dog have a lick of gravy, as long as it doesn’t contain garlic or onion, is okay. However, it shouldn’t be a regular occurrence.
Has your dog ever eaten gravy? Do you have any recipes for dog-friendly gravy that you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments!
