A good dog owner will always want to meet the nutritional needs of his/her dog, this is because food and nutrition is a major aspect that shows if your dog is healthy, happy, or not.
Now you’ve discovered hush puppies and you are curious to know if this food is good for your dogs.
Well, you are not alone because there are a lot of people seeking answers to this query “can dogs eat hush puppies?”
To provide an accurate answer to this topic, I made my research about this food and its ingredient, and I also make inquiries from reputable vets about whether or not Hush puppies are safe for dogs.
Without further ado, let’s discuss this food and its potential health benefits or risks to dogs.
What are Hush Puppies?
Hush puppies are a deep-fried corn-meal-based dough incorporating ingredients such as corn meal, flour, baking powder, salt, butter, egg, and seasonings.
This food is common in the southern United States, and it is usually served as a side dish alongside some foods like barbecue, seafood, and fried foods.
Hush puppies can also be flavored with some additional ingredients such as onions and green pepper just to give them that lovely scent and an appealing appearance.
However, can dogs eat this food? Find out in the next heading.
Can Dogs Eat Hush Puppies?
Yes, dogs can eat hush puppies due to their palatability and non-toxicity. But I will advise you not to feed your dog this food because none of its ingredients has any health benefits for dogs.
The main ingredients in hush puppies are corn meal, flour, and baking powder. These ingredients are not toxic to dogs however they are mainly carbohydrates and are not nutritionally balanced for dogs.
Apart from this, hush puppies are usually deep-fried, and this method of cooking is not recommended for dogs because fried foods usually accumulate a lot of oils which might expose your dog to health issues.
Instead of feeding dogs hush puppies, I will advise you to use dog-specific diets that are designed to satisfy their dietary requirements.
Let’s look into some health issues that may arise if you keep feeding your dog with hush puppies.
Dangers of Feeding your Dog with Hush Puppies
When it comes to feeding your dog with hush puppies, there are a lot of dangers attached to it.
The ingredients in hush puppies are not suitable for dogs and might expose your dog to a lot of health risks.
Here are some of the risks hush puppies pose to your dog’s health:
Weight Gain
There are a lot of calories and fats in hush puppies, and this will lead to obesity or excessive weight gain in your dog.
One hush puppy contains at least 150 calories and 12g of Fats. This is too much compared to what your dogs should be eating.
Nutritional imbalance
Hush puppies lack essential nutrients, and they won’t meet the nutritional needs of your dog.
Hush puppies contain carbohydrates and fats in excess, a minute quantity of protein with no trace of vitamins and minerals at all. This is very bad compared to what dogs should be eating.
Gastrointestinal upset
Frying is not a suitable cooking method for dogs. Most fried foods cause digestive issues in dogs and your dog might be vomiting or stooling when he eats hush puppies.
Additionally, hush puppies also contain sodium which causes dehydration in dogs. Feeding your dog with hush puppies in excess will make him show some signs of dehydration which are incessant panting, having a sunken eye, and feeling lethargic.
Allergies
Some dogs may have allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients in hush puppies such as corn, egg, wheat, or gluten.
If you’ve started feeding your dog with hush puppies, look out for common allergic symptoms such as itchiness, vomiting, diarrhea, and swelling in your dog.
If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your vet immediately for help.
Pancreatitis
The excess fats contained in Hush puppies can lead to pancreatitis in dogs. This is a situation whereby the pancreas of the dog becomes inflamed.
Pancreatitis is life-threatening and might harm your dog if not treated immediately.
Digestive Issues
The ingredients contained in hush puppies can cause digestive issues in dogs. If your dog eats hush puppies, he might start to show signs such as vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, etc.
All these are the potential health risks of Feeding your dog with hush puppies.
However, I discovered that you could make hush puppies by yourself using some other ingredients which are nutritionally dense other than the ones listed above.
Let’s look at how you can make a homemade hush puppy safe for your dog.
A Safe Hush Puppy Recipe for Dogs
Here is a recipe for a safe and healthy homemade hush puppy alternative for dogs:
The ingredients needed are:
- 1 cup of whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup of rolled oats.
- 1/5 cup of grated carrots
- 1/5 cup of grated sweet potatoes
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup of water or chicken broth
The steps involved:
- Preheat your oven to 360 degrees F.
- combine the whole wheat flour, rolled oats, grated carrots, and grated sweet potatoes thoroughly in a mixing bowl.
- Beat the egg and mix it in water or the chicken broth. Do these in a separate bowl.
- Mix the ingredients in the two bowls together i.e., the dry and wet ingredients. After mixing, knead it till a thick dough form.
- Using your hands, form small balls of dough and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the hush puppies are golden brown and cooked through.
Let them cool before serving them to your dog.
Looking at the recipe above, you can tell it is a safe and healthy one for dogs.
It incorporates ingredients that cut across all classes of foods. It contains whole wheat flour, rolled oats, grated carrots, eggs, and sweet potatoes.
All these ingredients are non-toxic, low in fats, and they also provide essential vitamins and minerals.
You will also notice that instead of frying, this homemade hush puppy will be baked and not deep-fried. This will make your dog free from health issues caused by excess oil.
It is also important to keep an eye on how much you are giving to your dog, as they should only have a small amount as a treat.
Before introducing this new food into your dog’s diet, I will advise you to inform your vet first.
Let’s talk about some of the Most Frequently Asked Questions About Dogs and Hush Puppies.
Frequently Asked Questions
#1. Is Hush Puppy a Dog?
No, hush puppy only incorporates the word “puppy”, it isn’t a dog. It is a cornbread made by deep frying.
#2. Is Hush Puppy Safe for Dogs?
No, while dogs can eat hush puppies, this food is not safe for dogs. Food is supposed to provide nutrients to the consumer but in the case of Hush puppies and Dogs, it is a different story completely. This food has nothing to provide for your dog.
#3. What Should I do when my dog eats Hush Puppy in excess?
If you’ve mistakenly served your dog with Hush puppies in excess, there are tendencies that your dog will react negatively to this.
However, one of the most common effects of hush puppies on dogs is stomach upset.
Check out for any symptoms that indicate stomach upset in dogs. Here are some of the symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lack of appetite
- Abdominal pain
If you notice any of these, I will advise you to contact your vet immediately. According to research, these are some of the questions your vet is likely to ask you:
- What is the quantity of Hush puppies given to your dog?
- What are the ingredients in the Hush puppies consumed?
- Is there any spike or reduction in your dog’s energy level?
- Is there any sign of Physical Discomfort?
- Are there changes in your dog’s gum color?
Providing the correct answer to all these questions will make your vet know what to do and what he will recommend for your dog’s quick recovery.
Final Thought
The answer to the question “can dogs eat hush puppies?” is YES. However, I will advise you not to serve your dog this food because it has no useful nutrients to provide for dogs.
However, if you must serve your dog with this food, you can try the recommended recipe provided in this article.
This recipe is highly nutritious and 100% safe for dogs.
Before you go, you can also read:
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