Can Dogs Eat Pizza?

We haven’t met a soul who said, “I don’t like pizza.” But when we ask about their doggos liking pizza, there is always confusion! So let’s debunk everything you know about “can dogs eat pizza?”

In short – No. Dogs shouldn’t eat pizza! Pizzas are not entirely toxic to dogs, but they can definitely be a health hazard for your dog. So before you melt in front of those puppy eyes, here is everything you need to learn about dogs and pizza.

Why is Pizza Bad For Dogs?

It hurt us to write that pizza can ever be a villain of anyone’s story, but well, apparently, it is a super enemy to our furry friends. There are numerous reasons dogs shouldn’t eat pizza, such as:

1. High fat

One of the major reasons why dogs shouldn’t eat pizza is because of the super high fat content. The cheese, the crust, and the overall making process include a lot of oil. This can lead to gastrointestinal problems in dogs and potentially even cause pancreatitis. 

2. Seasonings

Another reason is that pizza is nothing without seasonings! The sauce and spices give it the flavor we humans compromise our health for. But when it comes to our furry friends, health is always over taste. The salt, herbs, and harmful seasonings can cause allergic reactions, burning sensations, and even sodium poisoning (article). 

3. Calories

If your dog is on a diet plan, the last thing you want them to munch on is pizza! Junk foods are a hub of calories and are responsible for obesity in humans (study). If it can do so much harm to humans, it can do an unimaginable health hazard for dogs. Hence, if you want your dog to stay away from obesity and weight problems, pizza should not even be on your mind. 

What Parts of a Pizza Dogs Can and Cannot Eat?

To make it not-so-confusing for you, let’s slice things up! Here are some significant parts of pizza that you might think of serving to your dog. Before you make such a terrible decision, give this a read:

1. Dough?

Can dogs eat pizza dough? If you are looking for the answer, too, then here you go!

You should NEVER feed your dog raw pizza dough or any dough! It can lead to stomach expansion and excessive gas in dogs. This can even be a life-threatening situation, so be sure to get in touch with your veterinarian immediately. Also, next time you make dough at home, keep it far away from the sights or paws of your furry friend. 

2. Toppings?

Dogs can eat pizza toppings ONLY IF they are unseasoned. Usually, seasonings include onion or garlic powder or other harmful ingredients that are deadly to dogs. Hence, you can toss your dog some toppings on your pizza. Pepperoni, however, is not an ideal one! Rest – bell pepper, corn, chicken, mushrooms, etc., can be fed in moderation, cooked and unseasoned. 

3. Cheese?

Not all types of cheese are suitable for dogs. Even though dogs can eat cheese in small amounts, it should not be over a pizza. There is no health benefit or perk of feeding your dog cheese with pizza. Instead, it can lead to allergies and digestive problems, especially if your dog is lactose intolerant. 

4. Crust?

One of the most common questions asked is, “Can dogs eat pizza crust?” Well, Nope! Pizza crust is also not safe or healthy for dogs. This also sums up how if there ain’t no crust, there ain’t no pizza! You should not feed your dog pizza crust as it may not be toxic but can be hard to digest. Dogs have sensitive stomachs, so as a responsible dog owner, you should feed them human foods wisely. 

5. Sauce?

A BIG NO. Pizza sauce or any such condiments are toxic to dogs and can be deadly! These sauces are packed with not only garlic and onion but also mustard and other harmful ingredients. These can become a straight nightmare from a horror movie for your dog. NEVER EVER feed your dog any pizza, pasta, or general sauces- they are strictly only for human consumption, not their dogs. 

What is an Alternative For Dogs?

No matter what! Nothing can be compared with the taste and bites of pizza! Unfortunately, you cannot feed pizza to your dog, but wait- what about DIY-ing it? Well, yes! There are ways you can use healthy ingredients to make the pizza crust and sauce, so it is safe for your dog to eat. 

All you have to do is make a dough out of cauliflower, add your dog’s favorite toppings along with shredded cheese, and bake it till you make it! (recipe)

Although, your dog would do just fine even if they do not eat pizza. You should not compromise your dog’s health for taste. So, instead of baking pizza at home or feeding your dog commercial pizzas, you can toss them veggies! 

Which Toppings Are Safe For Dogs?

Pizza is bad for dogs! There is no lie in it, but the toppings can be good, right? So, if you are going for a homemade pizza version or want to toss some unseasoned toppings off the pizza, here is all that you need to know:

1. Bell peppers

This crunchy veggie comes in all colors and sizes, which makes it an excellent snack for you and your dog. Be it green, yellow, red, or orange- all bell pepper toppings on pizza make it better. However, feeding your dog bell pepper pizza will remove all the goodies and benefits. End of the day, you should remember that health>> taste. 

Hence, you can chop colorful bell peppers with other veggies like lettuce or beets to make the snack flavorful. But bell peppers on top of pizza for our dogs?- Nah, not worth it!

2. Crabs

If your dog is a fan of meaty textures, they will love crab! If you plan on baking your dog a safe and healthy pizza at home, crabs can be an excellent topping. You may also add some cooked mushrooms. Please remember to cook and prepare the crab properly before serving it to your dog.

However, if you have a seasoned crab or mushroom pizza, do not serve it to your dog. Seasonings and sauces are nothing but a nightmare for dogs. 

3. Chicken

Another protein you can add to your safe pizza crust is chicken chunks. Unless your dog is allergic to chicken and meats, this can be a great way to hide health in deliciousness. Your dog will not even notice that you have secretly slipped in their medications and pills! The only catch is to cook the chicken properly! This way, they won’t get any flavor as your dog’s taste buds would be busy popping!

Please ensure you are not marinating or adding any seasoning to your chicken. 

Conclusion

Our final thoughts on “can dogs eat pizza?” are that dogs and pizza can never be good friends! Dogs have certain nutritional requirements that demand to be fulfilled. When you feed your dog junk food like pizza, it disrupts the balance and diet. Because not only are they unhealthy, but the harmful seasonings or toppings can lead to life-threatening situations for dogs. And as we always say- health >> taste! You should never compromise your dog’s health for a temporary taste. 

As a responsible dog owner, you should look out for the alternatives. If you want to enjoy movie time with your dog, then instead of pizza, why not try some basic popcorn?

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