Dogs love fast food almost as much as humans do. But the question remains: can dogs eat French fries? The answer is yes, but with some strict conditions. Most fast-food restaurants won’t give your dog a side of French fries, but that doesn’t mean you can’t sneak some home with you from your next trip to Mickey D’s. Making your dog-friendly French fries at home is a great way to add a little fast food treat to your dog’s diet without any of the risks associated with processed foods.
Letting your dog enjoy the occasional fry as an occasional treat isn’t going to be enough to hurt them, but it also shouldn’t be something that they get every day. That being said, there are some precautions you should take if you want to give your dog some homemade French fries.
What’s So Bad About Fast Food?
Contrary to popular belief, not all fast food is unhealthy for humans. Some chains have made a name for themselves by offering high-quality, nutritious menus. Unfortunately, though, that’s not the norm, and you’ll find that most fast food is nothing but empty, unhealthy calories.
In some cases, you’d be better off eating a plate of raw dough: All fast food is, at least to some extent, processed food. When food is processed, it loses some of its natural nutrients and absorbs harmful chemicals in their place. This is true of most foods, but it’s particularly dangerous when it comes to fast food because of the sheer volume of it that’s consumed.
Most fast food is also high in sugar and high in fat. High-fat diets contribute to heart disease and diabetes in humans, and they can have the same effect on dogs. Dogs who eat too much sugar put themselves at risk of developing dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease.
Why Can’t Dogs Eat French Fries?
Dogs and humans have quite different nutritional needs, and the reason why dogs can’t eat French fries (or any other human food) is that those diets aren’t balanced for canine health. Generally, dogs need more protein than humans do, and they also require a lot more fat. This means that a diet high in French fries would be terrible for your dog.
Additionally, dogs don’t need as many carbohydrates, which are the main part of a standard French fry. The main reason dogs can’t eat French fries is that they lack essential nutrients. The same vitamins and other substances that we get from French fries (and most other human foods) dogs don’t have. The consequences of this are serious and significant.
In the short term, eating too many French fries could lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis. Over the long term, it could cause issues with your dog’s liver, nervous system, and heart.
How to Make Your Dog-Friendly French Fries at Home
When you’re making French fries for dogs, the first thing you want to do is replace the potato with a sweet potato. Sweet potatoes have a lot more vitamins than normal potatoes do, and they have a lot less starch as well. Sweet potatoes are healthier for you than normal potatoes are, and they’re also healthier for dogs.
Next, you want to make sure that you bake your French fries rather than frying them. This will keep the fat in them low enough to be safe for your dog. You can also try mixing in some cumin with your potato to give your fries a little extra flavor. To make sure your fries are safe for dogs, make sure they’re baked, not fried. They should have very little fat on them, though you can add a little bit more if you want a tastier fry.
Last but not least, make sure your fries are cooled to a safe temperature before giving them to your dog.
The Health Benefits of a Little Fast Food for Dogs
Giving your dog a little fast food now and again isn’t going to hurt them. However, it can also provide a lot of benefits for your dog’s health. Some of these benefits include: –
- Increased energy: Dogs, like humans, get their energy from a variety of sources. One of these sources is carbohydrates, which are found in all sorts of human foods, including French fries. When you feed your dog French fries, they’ll get a boost of energy from the carbohydrates in them. This could be helpful if your dog is feeling lethargic or is having trouble keeping up with its usual activities.
- Improved mood: Humans can also get mood boosts from carbohydrates, and the same is true of dogs. Carbohydrates, particularly those found in French fries, have been shown to improve your dog’s mood when they’re feeling down. This could be helpful if your dog is dealing with a mood disorder, like anxiety or depression, or if they’re just dealing with a case of the blues.
The Risks of Giving Your Dog Fast Food
As with most things, the benefits of giving your dog a little fast food now and again outweigh the risks. However, there is also a potential for harm that comes with giving your dog fast food. Some of these potential harms include: –
- Weight gain: Like humans, dogs can gain weight when they eat foods that are high in calories and low in nutrition. If your dog eats too many French fries, they’re at risk of gaining weight. This can lead to serious health problems, including diabetes and heart disease.
- Overdone potatoes: Potatoes are generally safe for dogs, but they can be dangerous if they’re cooked incorrectly. If you feed your dog potatoes that have been cooked too long, they could get sick. This might be because some varieties of potatoes have naturally occurring bacteria on them that can sicken dogs.
Final words
French fries can be nutritious and delicious for dogs, but they have to be made and served correctly. Make sure to use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes, and bake the fries instead of frying them. Make sure they’re cooled to a safe temperature before you feed them to your dog, and make sure to feed them only once in a while. French fries are a delicious treat for humans, but they can also be a tasty treat for dogs.
However, dogs need to be careful about what they eat because they don’t have the best stomachs. If you want to feed your dog French fries, make sure they’re made with sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes and that they’re baked and not fried.
