Can dogs eat pesto? You may be asking this because you want to share some of your pesto pasta with your pup, or maybe they sneakily got into some of this green sauce and you’re worried about their health. Humans can eat pesto, so is it also safe for dogs to eat?
The short answer is no, pesto is not safe for dogs to eat. One of pesto’s main ingredients, garlic, is toxic for dogs and should not be given to your pup.
If your dog has eaten pesto, you should contact your veterinarian for guidance. Here’s why pesto is bad for dogs.
Why Is Pesto Bad For Dogs?
Pesto can vary with ingredients, but the base for this sauce is always garlic, olive oil, basil, parmesan, and pine nuts. With the exception of garlic, the other ingredients in pesto are safe for your pup to eat in moderation.
If the pesto you wish to feed your dog doesn’t contain garlic, it should be fine to give your dog a taste of this sauce.
Garlic, however, contains a compound that causes damage to your dog’s red blood cells. If your dog eats garlic in pesto, they may exhibit signs of anemia. These include, but are not limited to, lethargy, pale gums, and general weakness.
Garlic toxicity can also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. A small lick of pesto made with garlic will most likely not result in garlic toxicity, but it’s best to avoid the chance altogether and keep this sauce to yourself.
What Should I Dog If My Dog Ate Pesto?
If your dog has eaten pesto made with garlic, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Signs of garlic toxicity may not appear for several weeks after your pup ate garlic. Because of this, getting ahead of garlic toxicity by contacting your vet immediately after your pup ate pesto can mitigate the symptoms and avoid an anemic episode.
If your dog has eaten pesto without garlic, you should keep an eye on them to make sure your dog isn’t sensitive to any of the other ingredients.
Has your dog ever accidentally eaten pesto? Did they suffer from garlic toxicity? Let us know in the comments.
