Can dogs eat hamburgers? Here’s what the vet says

Grilling hamburgers and filling them with delicious toppings is a summer ritual. You might even be tempted to let your dog enjoy the treat – their puppy eyes certainly suggest they want to. But can dogs eat hamburgers? It’s complicated.

We talked to Mondrian ContrerasDVM, of Carol Stream Animal Hospital in Carol Stream, Ill., and a member of Pumpkin’s veterinary advisory board on what to know before giving dogs hamburgers.

Are hamburgers safe for dogs?

When it comes to sharing a burger with your favorite pooch, preparation and portion size are two of the most important things to consider before offering them something to grill.

Preparation

“A regular, fully cooked hamburger is the best option,” says Contreras. “Avoid burgers with added salt, onion, garlic or others.” potentially toxic spices.”

Lean ground beef is the best option, as feeding your dog a diet high in fat can cause negative health consequences in the future, including pancreatitis.

“High fat content is a well-established risk factor for pancreatitis in dogs,“We’re not sure how much fat causes pancreatitis, but we believe it overloads the pancreas, potentially causing cell damage and inappropriate release of enzymes, causing inflammation (pancreatitis).”

For these reasons, it’s in your dog’s best interest to cook your own hamburgers instead of feeding them a restaurant patty. That way, you will know exactly what your dog is eating.

Portion sizes

Additionally, it’s important to remember that your dog’s daily caloric needs are different from those of an adult human. Contreras provides the following general guidelines for a dog’s daily calorie needs.

• Small Dogs (10 lbs or less): 200 to 300 calories
• Medium Dogs (11-30 lbs): 300 to 500 calories
• Large Dogs (31-100 lbs): 500 to 800 calories
• Giant dogs (over 100 lbs): 800+ calories

“A 4 oz lean beef patty (90% lean / 10% fat) has approximately 220-240 calories, the entire daily calorie intake of a small dog and half of a medium dog,” says Contreras.

If you want to share a burger with your pup, a small bite of a regular, fully cooked burger is the best choice—and skip riot.

What parts of a hamburger can dogs eat?

If you just can’t resist giving your dog a few bites off the table, the good news is that there are many other common burger toppings that your dog can enjoy with less restriction, such as:

What to do if your dog eats a hamburger

If your dog pulls an entire hamburger off the table—bun and all—breathe. Eating more than their daily caloric needs once isn’t as bad as it becomes a habit.

If you’re concerned, it’s never a bad idea to call your vet if you’re not sure what the consequences of your dog’s hamburger may be.

Your vet may instruct you to come in for a visit or to handle the situation yourself at home as follows:

• Monitoring your dog for any stomach symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea
• Skipping your dog’s next meal to empty his stomach
• Lighten up the game so you don’t make it difficult on a full stomach

Other dog food

There’s also plenty of non-burger-related human food safe to share with your puppyincluding:

Although fruits and vegetables are not as indulgent as a hamburger, they have several nutritional benefits for your dog. And the material from the table is still better than without side dishes, right?