Sugar
Sato • 砂糖 • Sugar
Is sugar good for dogs? Now, we all know that dogs (or cats) require some sugar in their diet as it provides energy for their bodily functions and for activity. Small amounts of naturally occurring sugars (carbohydrates) that just so happens to be in their food isn’t bad. Added sugar is something to watch for. Whilst in snacks, it can be okay to have a small quantity of it, since snacks make up only 10% of their food intake, we have to abide by that rule. We want to examine the food we give our dogs and what they should avoid as they will lead to health and dental issues.
First and foremost, here is the list of things we should never feed our dog:
Beet Pulp
Cane Sugar
Caramel
Corn Syrup
Glucose
Fructose
Sorbitol
Sucrose
Table Sugar
Xylitol & Artificial Sweeteners
Some of these are so bad that they can damage your dog’s liver, not to mention make them overweight and obese that can bring about further health risk and tummy trouble. Other forms of sugar that are acceptable because of health and medicinal properties, but not in high doses (they are still sugars) includes honey and molasses. Also make sure you look out for commercially made dog food which often contains sugar that either makes food more palatable, changes the texture of food, or is used as a binding agent. Always lookout for the ingredients/content.
Hidden sugars are the worst because you actually don’t think about these types of food and the sugar content, which can be rather misleading, it’s best to feed them with caution:
Bread
Fruits
Pasta
White Rice (or just stick to basmati or brown rice)
You can also feed your dog cooked potato or sweet potato but as always, not too much.
Then of course there are sugars from human-grade food that we sometimes cave and give our dogs when we really shouldn’t give them any at all (makes you ponder about yourself huh?):
Candy
Cereals
Chips
Fast Food (we know you slip them french fries sometimes)
Ice Cream
Whipped Cream (did someone say Puppuccino? Make your own)
When in doubt, consult your vet about what will work best for your dog.
