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If you are enjoying a lovely Italian dish, you may look over to see big pouting eyes—just begging ever-so-politely for a bite. Or maybe your naughty boy or girl got into some spaghetti leftovers. Regardless of the reason, you want to know—is spaghetti sauce safe for your dog to eat?
The answer here is no! Your dog should not eat traditional spaghetti sauce. Spaghetti sauce essentially just consists of crushed tomatoes, but there’s more to it. Read on to find out why it’s a big negative.
What Makes Spaghetti Sauce Bad for Dogs?
The biggest reason dogs can’t eat spaghetti sauce is that it contains plenty of ingredients that are either potentially harmful or not so good for your dog.
Many premade spaghetti sauces come with all kinds of veggies, spices, and herbs that dogs may have trouble digesting or that can be unsafe for them. Let’s break down the contents.
Tomato
Tomatoes are generally safe for dogs to eat unless they are green, which you don’t have to worry about in spaghetti sauce. However, in some dogs, they may cause a stomach upset. Allergies to tomatoes are luckily quite rare. Tomatoes contain tomatine, a potentially harmful substance for dogs, which is more abundant in unripe tomatoes. Dogs would need to eat quite a lot of it for it to lead to signs of poisoning. This is unlikely when dealing with a tomato sauce.
Garlic
Garlic is a widespread ingredient in almost all spaghetti sauces. Garlic is toxic to dogs in both raw and powder forms.
It is generally considered more potent than onions and can damage red blood cells when ingested in moderate to large amounts. Even though your dog probably wouldn’t eat enough garlic in spaghetti sauce to cause immediate detrimental effects, you should still avoid it at all costs, especially as repeated exposure still poses a risk.
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Onion
Onions are also toxic to pets. Since onions and garlic are usually used in unison in spaghetti sauce, it definitely amps up the potency.
You should always keep dogs away from anything in the onion family in all forms—whether raw, cooked, or powder.
Salt
In large quantities, salt can cause sodium chloride poisoning, which is rare. It’s unlikely that spaghetti sauce has enough salt for poisoning actually to take place, but it’s still not a healthy choice for your dog.
Too much salt can also increase thirst and urination in your pooch and lead to digestive issues.
Black PepperÂ
Small amounts of black pepper are usually no concern for most dogs, but they may lead to drooling and oral irritation. However, if they have too much, it can cause a severe upset stomach.
Summary of Ingredients
As you can see, almost every main ingredient in traditional spaghetti sauce has the potential to cause adverse reactions for your dog. You can imagine how eating this combination could wreak havoc on their digestive system—and possibly your carpet, too—yikes.
Even though some dogs might not display visible discomfort, spaghetti sauce should be avoided at all costs.
Signs of Toxicity
Most of the time, if your dog gets into a little spaghetti sauce without permission, it’s unlikely to cause any significant side effects. But if they guzzle down quite a bit, and in particular if they are a toy or small breed, you need to reach out to a vet for advice and watch for signs of toxicity in your dog. It’s especially true if your recipe has lots of added ingredients that are toxic.
If you notice any of the following signs, you might be on your way to the vet:
- Nausea
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rapid breathing
- Excessive panting
- Wobbly stance
- Restlessness
- Shaking
- Increased heart rate
Some dogs will be more sensitive than others. Some signs, like anemia from garlic or onion exposure, can be delayed, so monitoring your dog for a few days after ingestion is also important.
What to Do if Your Dog Ate Spaghetti Sauce
If your dog ate spaghetti sauce, you’ll need to monitor them closely. Small amounts may pass through without any noticeable change in your dog. However, if they are very sensitive or have too much of some of the ingredients mentioned above, you might need to evaluate them.
Call your vet right away if you’re unsure just how much they ingested. They can give you specific instructions on how to handle the situation.
Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes?
Ripe tomatoes in strict moderation are usually fine for most dogs, every now and then. However, green tomatoes, stems, and tops contain solanine, which can be harmful in large quantities. Solanine is a glycoalkaloid molecule that can be toxic to dogs depending on the amount.
If you offer any tomatoes to your dog, make sure they are ready to eat.
Dogs and Spaghetti Sauce: Final Thoughts
So, if you were thinking of letting your pup wine and dine with you for a fantastic Italian feast, the answer is no—they can’t. It’s always best to do just what you did, educating yourself about your pup’s overall health so you can make the best dietary choices possible for them.
And if your dog got into some sauce, always call your vet to be on the safe side so you can be ready to tackle problems, should they arise.
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