Dog toys are great fun, but they do spend a lot of time on the ground and in a dog’s mouth. These areas are breeding grounds for dirt and bacteria, so it’s a good idea to give dog toys a really good clean for hygienic reasons.
The best way to clean a dog toy is to follow a 3-step system: 1. wash in hot, soapy water; 2. disinfect to kill germs and harmful micro-organisms; 3. dry the toy completely. It’s important to use non-toxic cleaning products that won’t poison your dog.
You may feel better scrubbing away at your dog’s toys, but cleaning toys the wrong way or with the wrong products could do more harm than good. Here are the recommended cleaning steps and info with everything you need to know before you start scrubbing…
How to clean your dog’s toys
The best way to clean dog toys is to follow this simple 3-step process:
Step 1: Wash toys in hot, soapy water
Dog toys get dirty over time – they get covered in doggy drool, mud, and whatever else might be lying around on the floor or lurking in your dog’s mouth.
The first step in cleaning any dog toy is to wash it with hot, soapy water, to remove as much dirt on the surface as possible. You can do this in a bucket, the kitchen sink, in the washing machine, or in the dishwasher if the toy can withstand the heat and movement of machines.
Use non-toxic soap or laundry detergent that’s pet friendly, so you don’t put any harsh chemicals on the toys and in your dog’s mouth. I’ve given a list of recommended cleaning products a little further down.
There are in-depth details later in this post on how to clean each type of dog toy, but the principle is pretty much the same: Soaking and scrubbing the toys with hot, soapy water should take off most of the greasy or sticky dirt on the toy. Now it’s time to kill the germs…
Step 2: Kill the germs that are left
After washing toys there will probably be some germs left standing. You can now choose to either disinfect or sterilize the toys to kill these micro-organisms.
There is a difference between disinfecting and sterilizing something:
– Disinfecting kills all or most harmful micro-organisms on the surface.
– Sterilizing kills ALL micro-organisms on the surface, including those that are not harmful.
Most or all harmful germs on dog toys can be killed by:
Wiping the toys with a non-toxic disinfectant wipe or spray
Running a clothes steamer over the toys
Cooking the toys on high for a minute in the microwave
Shining a UV light on the toys
Or leaving the toys out in the sun
I’ll explain the best disinfecting method(s) for each type of toy as we work through them below.
It’s best to buy and use pet-friendly, non-toxic disinfectants to kill germs as most household cleaners contain chemicals that are poisonous to dogs.
There’s a homemade vinegar disinfectant spray below that you can use to clean and disinfect if needed or if you want to stop using all commercial cleaners, but many experts agree that vinegar is simply not as effective as commercial cleaners that are designed to clean and disinfect surfaces.
When using disinfectants to clean dog toys, even dog-friendly, non-toxic cleaners, take your dog out of the room and leave the windows open to keep fresh air flowing through the room.
Don’t ever mix cleaners and/or disinfectants as this may create poisonous gases that are dangerous for you, your family, and your pets.
I’ll go into more detail later about how to clean and disinfect each type of dog toy, but it’s still important to follow the directions on a product’s packaging whenever you use it.
Step 3: Dry the toys completely
The final step in the dog-toy cleaning process is drying the toys, where you can use heat to speed up the process and kill even more germs.
To dry wet dog toys, squeeze them or pat them dry with a clean towel, then put the toys out in the sun on a hot day.
You can dry dog toys with a hairdryer or put them in the dryer at a moderate temperature if they won’t melt or be destroyed. You can even lay wet toys in front of a heater or a fan to dry.
Make sure the toys are completely dry before packing them away, as bacteria love growing on moist surfaces.
Ingredients in cleaning products that are toxic to dogs
Most cleaning products on the market are full of chemicals and bleach, including products for washing laundry and dishes with.
Manufacturers put strong ingredients in cleaning products to make them better cleaners, but this can make these products toxic to animals too.
A lot of products that are marketed as ‘natural’ or ‘eco-friendly’ contain these ingredients too.
These chemicals are not safe for your pet to inhale, touch or consume. They can irritate a dog’s breathing passages, make dogs dizzy, cause them to vomit, and even damage the sensitive mucous membranes in the dog’s gums and inner cheeks.
Dog toys go straight into a dog’s mouth, where anything on these toys will come into contact with the dog’s sensitive membranes and may even mix with the dog’s saliva and be swallowed.
This is why it’s so important to use a non-toxic cleaner that is safe for dogs or rather not use any cleaning product to clean the toy at all.
A dog’s body is much better equipped to handle dirt, germs, and old slobber than nasty toxic chemicals.
Before using any cleaning product on dog toys, make sure the product does not contain any of the following ingredients that might not be dog-friendly:
Chlorine / Bleach
Alcohol / Isopropyl alcohol – can also be called IPA or isopropanol
Glycol ethers
Hydrogen peroxide
Pthalates – can also be called ‘fragrance’
Formaldehyde
Perchloroethylene – can also be called perc
Phenol – look for any ingredients that start with ‘phenol’, which are popular in household disinfectants
Here are the top-rated cleaning products that are considered safe to clean dog toys with:
STEP 1: Non-toxic soaps and detergents
Dr. Bronner’s – Pure-Castile Liquid Soap
This liquid soap is made from organic oils and is the best-selling soap in the natural market in the US.
Dr. Bronner’s can be used to wash any dog toy, just add warm water. The soap is also safe enough to wash your dog’s food bowls, water bowls, bedding, and for doggy baths.
Plus it’s non-GMO, vegan, and even the scented options are pet-friendly and non-toxic.
Puracy was created by doctors and is safe for pets. This plant-based non-toxic cleaner is made in the US.
Puracy can be sprayed on dog toys to clean them in step 1 – this product is a cleaner, not a disinfectant.
Use this spray on any dog toy, especially dog toys that can’t be put in soapy water.
Once you’ve sprayed down the toy, leave it to sit for a few minutes to work its magic – 10 minutes is a good amount of time. Then rinse or wipe down the toy with clean water and disinfect it.
This product can safely be used on any dog toy surface and is hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and certified cruelty free (never been tested on animals).
Welcome to these botanical, non-toxic, multi-surface wipes.
Wash dog toys with soap first, then wipe them down with these disinfecting wipes to kill harmful bacteria still left on the toys.
Make sure the toys are visibly wet after wiping them with these wipes, and leave it on for at least 10 minutes to work. Natural products take longer to disinfect than you might be used to.
Then wipe or rinse the toys again to remove the disinfectant.
This is a nursery and high chair cleaner – making it safe enough for babies and pets that are older than 1 month. This product kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses using hypochlorous, the body’s natural immune system germ killer.
Spray CleanSmart on dog toys after washing, to kill 99.9% of bacteria on the toys. Leave the product on the toys for up to 10 minutes to disinfect properly.
This product doesn’t leave harmful residue, so it’s safe to leave it on the dog toys. But I recommend wiping with a wet cloth before drying anyway.
This UV light is effective in killing germs, mites, and bacteria. It works with UV light, which means you can sterilize dog toys without water or chemicals.
Of course, the sun’s rays also have UV in them and are powerful sanitizers. But if you can’t put the toys in the sun or you want to be sure the toys are sanitized, then this is a handy item to have around.
This UV light can be used on dog toys that can’t get wet or on dog toys that have been washed in soapy water and dried.
Just turn on the UV light and slowly ‘scan’ it over the dog toys to kill micro-organisms. It should take a few seconds.
Be sure never to look directly into the light and never point the light at anyone or any animal.
Vinegar can be used to disinfect dog toys if you cannot use a commercial non-toxic cleaner. Vinegar can remove some build-up and kill some harmful germs, but it won’t kill all of them.
To use vinegar to clean dog toys, you can make a spray solution or a soaking solution.
To make a vinegar disinfectant spray solution:
Fill a spray bottle halfway with white or apple cider vinegar.
Fill the rest of the bottle with clean water.
Shake well to mix the liquids.
Your disinfecting spray is ready to go.
To make a vinegar disinfectant soaking solution:
Use a sink or bucket to hold your soaking solution.
Fill it three-quarters of the way with clean water.
Fill the remaining quarter with white or apple cider vinegar.
Give the solution a stir to mix it.
Below you’ll find instructions on how to wash and disinfect every type of dog toy…
How to clean tennis balls for dogs
You can clean tennis balls in the washing machine or by hand.
The easiest way to clean tennis balls is in a washing machine. Use a non-toxic laundry detergent, such as this one from Amazon, and put the machine on a low to moderate heat wash cycle, so the rubber doesn’t get damaged.
Here’s how to clean tennis balls by hand:
Step 1: Fill a sink or bucket with warm water and add a non-toxic liquid soap or laundry detergent to the water. Follow the instructions on the soap’s packaging to work out how much to use.
Step 2: Let the tennis balls soak for a good 10 – 30 minutes.
Step 3: Give the tennis balls a scrub with a bristle brush, old toothbrush, or rag.
Step 4: Remove the tennis balls from the soapy water and rinse them well with clean water, until the water runs clear and is free from soap suds.
Step 5: Pat and squeeze the tennis balls dry with a clean towel.
Step 6: Spray the tennis balls or wipe them down with a non-toxic disinfectant. Leave the disinfectant on for a few minutes to work – 10 minutes should be enough.
Step 7: Rinse the tennis balls with clean water to remove the disinfectant.
Dry tennis balls by putting them in the sun, blowing them dry with a hairdryer, or putting them in the dryer on a low heat setting, so you don’t damage the rubber.
Before cleaning plastic dog toys, check to see if the manufacturer has printed any cleaning instructions on the toys.
If there are instructions, follow these. If there aren’t any instructions, you can decide if you want to clean the toys in the dishwasher or wash them by hand.
Don’t ever put rubber toys or toys with batteries/electronics into the dishwasher or in water, as water and heat may destroy these toys.
To clean plastic toys in the dishwasher, pack them on the top shelf. Place small toys in a mesh bag to stop them from being thrown around during the cleaning cycle.
Put the dishwasher on a medium heat cycle and don’t use any soaps or detergents. The sheer heat of the water will do a good job of cleaning and sanitizing the toys.
Do not put vinegar in your dishwasher – Experts recommend not using vinegar in the dishwasher as it may erode the rubber inside the dishwasher and damage your machine.
Here’s how to clean plastic dog toys by hand:
Step 1: Fill a sink or bucket with hot, not boiling, water and add a non-toxic liquid soap like this one from Amazon to the water.
Follow the instructions on the soap’s packaging to work out how much to use. Stir well.
Step 2: Let the plastic toys soak in the soapy water for 10 – 30 minutes.
Step 3: Give the toys a good rub with a cloth or rag. Use an old toothbrush to scrub off stubborn dirt or in cracks and crevices.
Step 4: Remove the toys from the soapy water and rinse them well with clean water, to remove all the soap.
Step 5: Pat the toys dry with a clean towel.
Step 6: Spray the toys or wipe them down with a pet-friendly, non-toxic disinfectant. Leave the disinfectant on for a few minutes to work – 10 minutes should be enough.
Step 7: Rinse the plastic toys with clean water to remove the disinfectant.
Dry plastic toys by putting them in the sun, blowing them dry with a hairdryer or fan, or putting them in the dryer on a low heat setting, so you don’t melt the plastic.
How to clean rope dog toys
You can clean your dog’s rope toys in the washing machine or the dishwasher if the toys are made only of rope, and there’s no plastic or other material as part of the toys.
If there are other materials in the toy or you don’t have access to a washing machine or dishwasher, you can clean rope toys by hand.
To machine wash rope toys, run them through a hot wash cycle with a non-toxic laundry detergent, such as this one from Amazon.
To clean rope toys in the dishwasher, pack them on the top shelf. Put the dishwasher on a hot cycle and don’t use any soaps or detergents. The heat of the water will clean and sanitize the ropes for you.
Here’s how to clean rope toys that are pure rope by hand:
Step 1: Start by sterilizing the ropes, which is an important step. Washing ropes in warm soapy water is not enough to clean and disinfect them properly. To sterilize rope toys, wet the ropes well with water and place them in the microwave. Cook the ropes on high for a minute, watching to make sure nothing happens while they’re in there.
You could also sterilize the ropes with a UV light or by placing them out in direct sunlight for a while.
Step 2: Fill a sink or bucket with hot water and add a non-toxic liquid detergent or soap to the water. Follow the instructions on the detergent’s packaging to work out how much to use.
Step 3: Give the ropes a good soak for 10 – 30 minutes, stirring the water every so often like a washing does when it spins.
Step 4: Scrub the ropes with a nail brush, toothbrush, or scrubbing brush.
Step 5: Remove the ropes from the soapy water and rinse them well with clean water, to remove all the soap.
Step 6: Squeeze the ropes dry inside a clean towel.
Here’s how to clean rope toys that have other materials in them:
Step 1: Fill a sink or bucket with hot water and add a non-toxic liquid detergent or soap to the water. Follow the instructions on the detergent’s packaging to work out how much to use.
Step 3: Let the ropes soak for a while, at least 10 – 30 minutes, stirring the water every so often with a long spoon or stick.
Step 4: Scrub the ropes with a nail brush, toothbrush, or scrubbing brush.
Step 5: Remove the ropes from the soapy water and rinse them very well with clean water.
Step 6: Squeeze the ropes between a clean towel to remove most of the moisture.
Step 7: Sanitize the rope toys by placing them out in direct sunlight, running a garment steamer over them, or running a UV light over them.
Dry all rope toys by hanging them on the line or laying them out in the sun until they are completely dry. If there’s no sun out, blow the ropes dry with a hairdryer or put them in front of a fan.
How to clean plush or stuffed dog toys
Before cleaning your dog’s soft toys, fix any tears or rips in the toys. Don’t ever wash toys with batteries, metal, or other electronic devices inside.
Always follow the instructions given to clean plush toys, which are usually printed on a tag sewn on to the toy.
If there are no instructions or the instructions have faded, then you can probably clean your dog’s plush or stuffed toys in the washing machine or by hand. You can probably even wash plush toys with soft, plastic squeakers in them as long as you don’t make the water too hot.
To check if the toy can withstand a machine wash and keep its colors, put a few drops of hot water on a seam and squeeze a tissue on the wet part of the toy. If some color comes off on to the tissue, the toy’s dye is not colorfast and the toy needs to be washed carefully by hand or spot cleaned – see the next section for instructions on how to do this.
Before cleaning stuffed plush toys, put them in a plastic bag and freeze them overnight. This will kill any mites living in the material.
To machine wash stuffed dog toys, put the toys in a mesh bag or pillowcase and tie the top of the pillowcase. This will help to protect the toys.
Run the toys in the pillowcase through a gentle, warm wash cycle with non-toxic laundry detergent, such as this one from Amazon. Squeeze water out of the pillowcase and toys by hand, to remove excess water before drying them.
Here’s how to clean stuffed toys by hand:
Step 1: Put the plush toys in a plastic bag and freeze them overnight to kill mites.
Step 2: When you’re ready to wash them, fill a sink or bucket with hot water and add a non-toxic liquid detergent to the water. Follow the instructions on the detergent’s packaging to work out how much to use. Give the soap and water a good stir with a long spoon or utensil.
Step 3: Let the plush toys soak in the soap water for at least 10 – 30 minutes, stirring the water every so often for a deeper clean.
Step 4: Manually rub and squeeze each toy with your hands to give it a good deep clean with the soapy water.
Step 5: Remove the toys from the soapy water and rinse them with clean water. Be sure to squeeze and rub them as you rinse them, to remove all the soap in the material and stuffing.
Step 6: Squeeze the toys by hand to remove as much moisture as possible, especially if there are squeakers in them.
To dry plush dog toys, squeeze out any extra water by hand.
You can hang them on the line or lay them in the sun to dry – the sun is a wonderful natural disinfectant!
If you washed the toys in the machine, keep the toys tied up in the pillowcase and dry them in the dryer on low heat. Toys with squeakers are better off dried in the sun as the dryer may get too hot for the plastic squeaker.
To blow dry plush dog toys, dry the toys with the blow dry set to a low heat until they are almost dry, then use the medium heat setting to finish off the drying process and rub them with your fingers to make them fluffy.
If you want to disinfect the toys once they’re dry, the safest and easiest way to do this is by running a UV light or garment steamer over them.
How to clean plush toys that are not colorfast
Plush dog toys that aren’t colorfast cannot go into the washing machine or hot water.
To test if a toy is colorfast, put a few drops of hot water on a color section of the material. Squeeze this section with a paper towel. If color comes off the material and on to the paper towel, the toy is not colorfast and you can use the following steps to clean it.
Here’s how to clean stuffed toys that aren’t colorfast by hand:
Step 1: Put the toys in a plastic bag and freeze them overnight to kill mites.
Step 2: Dampen a cloth with warm, not hot, soapy water and wipe down the toys with the wet cloth.
Step 3: Wipe down the toys with a clean cloth that has only water on it, no soap.
Step 4: Run a garment steamer over the toys to disinfect them (or run a UV light over them once they’re dry).
Dry the plush toys by hanging them on the line, laying them out in the sun, or using a blow dryer.
If you use a blow dryer, set it to a low heat until the toys are almost dry, then use the medium heat setting to finish off the drying process and make the toys fluffy.
How to clean treats and chew toys
Chew toys and treats are things like raw hide, cow hooves, and pigs’ ears that dogs love to chew on.
Some of these chew toys and treats last a long time – long enough to collect dirt and bacteria as they lie around.
If the toys are still okay to keep but need a bit of a clean, then here’s how to clean them:
Step 1: Give the treats a quick rinse under warm running water, to remove visible sand and dirt on them.
Step 2: Wash the treats quickly in warm, soapy water, such as this plant-based non-toxic dish liquid from Amazon. Use a toothbrush to scrub the treats well, but don’t let them soak in the water or they’ll get soft and might absorb the soapy water.
Step 3: Rinse the treats well in clean water, until all the soap has been removed.
Step 4: To disinfect the treats, dry them outside in direct sunlight, run a UV light or garment steamer over them, or spray them with a vinegar solution (50% vinegar, 50% water) or this non-toxic disinfectant before rinsing with clean water again.
Our air conditioner broke recently and we’ve been using fans to try to keep cool. It’s very hot and we’re struggling in this heat, and so are the dogs. We have fans running 24/7 but I’ve been wondering if these fans can actually cool down dogs, so I did a little digging for answers…
Fans can help dogs cool down when the weather and room aren’t too hot. Fans can bring down the temperature of a dog’s coat, help a dog release heat through their skin, and speed up the cooling process when a dog pants. But once the room’s temperature rises past 80 degrees, fans won’t be much use to cool down a dog.
Dogs have a few ways to naturally regulate their body temperature, so they don’t overheat. Understanding how dogs regulate their body temperature and how fans work will go a long way in keeping a dog cool and comfortable when temperatures rise.
There’s even one simple ingredient you can add to cool your dog down quickly with a fan when they are getting too hot.
How Fans Work
Fans are simply designed to move air around and create airflow. Fans do not cool the air in a room. When a fan is switched on, the blades inside start spinning around. These blades are designed to pull in air and push out air as the blades spin.
The air that is pushed out is the airflow that you feel when you stand in front of a fan.
Fans do not change the temperature in the room or even lower the air temperature. But fans do help people cool down in a few ways:
When a person gets too hot they usually sweat through the millions of sweat glands found around the human body. Fans create airflow or a type of ‘wind’ that blows over the skin and helps this sweat to evaporate and release heat from the body. This is one of the ways humans are able to control their body temperature.
Another way is vasodilation: The blood vessels in a person’s body are designed to expand when the body gets hot. These expanded blood vessels carry more of the body’s warm blood than usual up close to the surface of the skin. The skin then releases a lot of this heat from the blood being carried through it.
The moving air created by a fan blows over a person’s body and pushes away the heat being released from the person’s skin. This can cool down the area directly around the body to room temperature because it removes the hotter body heat.
Ceiling fans set to turn counterclockwise push down cool air coming from a nearby air conditioner. This airflow can help to quickly bring down a room’s temperature.
How dogs control their body temperature
Dogs control their body temperature through something called thermoregulation:
When a dog gets too hot, their blood vessels expand, much like humans. More warm blood flows through these expanded blood vessels close to the skin and much of the heat is released through the skin. This mainly happens in a dog’s face and ears, which aren’t covered in fur.
Dogs let out a little body heat through sweat glands in the pads of their paws, but this does not have any major impact on their core body temperature.
Dogs mainly control their body temperature through panting.
When a dog pants, they breathe in air that picks up moisture. This wetness catches heat from the body as it moves through the dog’s breathing system. The dog then exhales the moist air through the mouth, where the tongue is hanging out. Hot moisture is evaporated from the tongue and heat is released from the dog.
Panting is a dog’s natural way to control their body temperature and isn’t necessarily a sign of overheating. If a dog pants slowly, they are probably a little warm and trying to cool down. The hotter a dog is, the faster and shallower they will pant.
Dogs with flat faces, like yorkies and pugs, may struggle to control their body temperature with panting because of their short nasal passages. Flat-faced dogs need to be kept cooler and watched more closely in warmer weather than other dogs.
How fans help to cool down dogs
Fans can help a dog to cool down when the weather isn’t too hot, but not in the same way fans cool down people.
A fan creates moving air that is the same temperature as the room the fan is in (remember a fan doesn’t actually cool air, it just moves it around).
Dogs may feel the moving air and cooling effect from a fan’s air in their coat. This is because the moving air pushes through the hairs in the dog’s coat and replaces hot air with cold air between these hairs. It’s important to brush your dog and keep their coat knot-free for this to work well.
The coat is cooled to room temperature, which is probably cooler than the dog’s internal temperature. This can help the dog to cool down a bit.
We said that a dog’s blood vessels expand when a dog gets hot, which enables heat carried by the blood to leave through the dog’s skin. Dogs with short hair may enjoy the cooling effect from a fan’s moving air over their skin as the air removes the heat from the dog’s skin as it is released.
If a dog pants and there is air moving over the dog’s mouth from a fan, the airflow can speed up evaporation of saliva on the tongue. Panting is the most effective way for a dog to control its body temperature through the evaporation of saliva, so speeding up this evaporation can cool the dog down faster.
Once the temperature in a room reaches 80 degrees or higher, a fan won’t be very effective in cooling down a dog and other cooling methods must be used.
How to help a dog cool down with a fan
If the temperature is rising and you only have a fan to keep your dog cool, then there is a way to help your dog cool down quickly and stay cool with a fan: Just add water.
The combination of moisture and moving air is a very effective cooling method.
To do this, wet your dog with cool water, not cold water. Your dog’s coat and skin need to get wet. You can spray your dog with the water or wrap your dog in a wet towel. Be sure to wet the dog’s paws too, where there are sweat glands.
Now put your dog in front of the fan to cool down.
This method works in two ways: The water itself cools down the dog’s skin and the fan’s air helps the water evaporate, which speeds up the cooling effect much like panting.
Can a fan be pointed directly at a dog?
Some dogs love a fan’s breeze blowing on them and others don’t like it at all.
If your dog likes the feeling of a fan blowing on them, then there’s nothing wrong with pointing a fan directly at your dog while they sleep or sit there to cool down. Keep the fan a few feet away from your dog and have it on a low or medium setting.
Don’t force your dog to stay in the fan’s airflow or they’ll end up hating the fan altogether. If your dog gets up and lies somewhere else, then that’s fine too.
I have been thinking about making my own homemade dog food but couldn’t find a reliable source that compares the real cost of making dog food versus buying a good dog food brand. So I did the research to come up with a cost comparison of homemade and store-bought dog food and quickly realized that…
It is not cheaper to make dog food than to buy dog food. The average cost of a balanced homemade diet per day for a 30 lb dog is $3.09, but good-quality commercial dog food averages 98c per day. The price of homemade or commercial dog food can vary by up to 50% for different dogs based on their age, health, weight, and activity levels.
Many sites will tell you to save money by throwing some ingredients in a crockpot and feeding this to your dog. But we need to remember that dog food serves an important purpose: dog food provides your dog with the nutrients needed to grow properly and stay healthy over the long-term.
It is this purpose that can make dog food much more expensive to make at home.
Why it is not cheaper to make your own dog food
The following table shows what it costs to feed a 15 lb, 30 lb, and 60 lb dog per day with homemade dog food versus a good brand of commercial dog food.
Looking at this table, you will see that the average cost of homemade dog food is nearly three times the cost of commercial dog food:
Average Daily Cost of Each Type of Dog Food
15lb adult dog
30 lb adult dog
60 lb adult dog
Homemade dog food average daily cost
$1.98
$3.09
$5.12
Commercial dog food average daily cost
61c
98c
$1,58
DAILY TOTAL DIFFERENCE
$1,37
$2,11
$3,54
MONTHLY TOTAL DIFFERENCE
$41,1
$63,30
$106,20
The information in this table is based on the research findings of the cost of supplemented homemade dog food and the cost of commercial dog food explained in detail later in this post.
Feeding a 15 lb dog a balanced homemade dog food recipe rather than a good brand of commercial dog food will cost an extra $1,37 per day and $41,10 a month.
Feeding a 30 lb dog a balanced homemade dog food recipe rather than a good brand of commercial dog food will cost an extra $2,11 per day and $63,30 a month.
Feeding a 60 lb dog a balanced homemade dog food recipe rather than a good brand of commercial dog food will cost an extra $3,54 per day and $106,20 a month.
So, why is it so much more expensive to feed a dog homemade dog food?
Supplements bring up the cost of homemade dog food.
Homemade dog food needs to be supplemented with a balanced, high-quality supplement made to ensure your dog is getting all the vitamins and minerals needed. If homemade dog food is not supplemented, your dog probably won’t get all the nutrients to grow properly and stay healthy, causing health issues later in life.
Remember that a dog’s nutritional requirements are not the same as a human’s.
For example, the homemade dog food recipe discussed later in this post has meat, oil, carbohydrates, and vegetables in the list of ingredients, which sounds balanced and healthy (for people). But this food has 17 vitamin and mineral deficiencies for dogs if you skip the supplement.
This is why the word ‘balanced’ is emphasized whenever I refer to homemade dog food in this article – if you are going to switch to homemade dog food, then it’s important to make sure the meals are balanced with all the vitamins and minerals your dog needs, or you might be doing more harm than good.
Why the cost of dog food is so different for each dog
Dogs …
with special dietary needs, e.g. allergies, food sensitivities
with health issues e.g. diabetes
that are very active
that are young and still growing and developing
that are large or giant breeds
are usually more expensive to feed. They either need to eat more dog food than other dogs, or they need specialized dog food with/without certain ingredients or nutrients that is more expensive than other brands.
Your dog’s age, weight, activity levels, allergies, special dietary requirements, along with the type of dog food given, will all have an impact on how much your dog eats and how much dog food costs.
In fact, the cost of dog food can vary by up to 50% between different dogs based on these factors. It might cost 98c per day to feed one average 30 lb dog, 49c per day to feed another inactive, indoor dog that weighs 30 lb, and $1,47 per day to feed another 30 lb dog who spends all day running around a farm.
When determining how much to feed your dog, check the feeding chart on the dog food packaging. Feed your dog the amount of food recommended for his/her ideal healthy weight.
This cost research is based on healthy adult dogs
In this research, I used the average (middle of the range) recommended serving sizes for each dog’s weight in my comparison tables (15 lb, 30 lb, and 60 lb). I found these recommended serving sizes in the feeding charts of each dog food brand and in the homemade dog food recipe’s calculators.
All the dog foods mentioned in this research are for healthy dogs that fall within a healthy weight range, without any health issues or special dietary requirements. The recipe and brands discussed are all for adult dogs, not puppies or mature dogs.
The dog food costs in this article are simply a guide to give you a good idea of the price differences, so you can make a more informed choice about whether you want to buy or make your own dog food.
Please do your own research and calculations, and speak to your vet, to make sure you are making the best choice for your pet. If you want a balanced homemade dog food recipe for a dog with special dietary needs, such as vomiting, then visit BalanceIT and choose a need to generate a recipe.
How much it costs to make your own dog food
The cost to make your own dog food depends on the size of your dog, how much your dog exercises, your dog’s health, what state you live in and how much ingredients cost there, and the quality of the ingredients you choose.
Here’s a balanced homemade dog food recipe to feed 3 different dog sizes for 1 day and 1 month (30 days):
Ingredients
15 lb adult dog
30 lb adult dog
60 lb adult dog
Cooked chicken
3.7 oz
5.56 oz
9.26 oz
Cooked white rice
4.18 oz
7.66 oz
12.54 oz
Olive oil
0.66 oz
1.03 oz
1.72 oz
Cooked mixed vegetables
2.4 oz
3.31 oz
5.75 oz
Supplement: Balance IT® Canine
0.21 oz
0.33 oz
0.54 oz
DAILY TOTAL WEIGHT (COOKED)
11.18 oz
17.89 oz
29.81 oz
MONTHLY TOTAL WEIGHT (COOKED)
335.40 oz
536.70 oz
894.30 oz
The homemade dog food recipe in the table above was adapted from a recipe on Balance IT, where you will find balanced homemade dog food recipes for all dog sizes, with full instructions on how to prepare and serve the dog food with proper supplementation.
It’s interesting to see above that the price and amount of dog food given doesn’t double as the weight of the dog doubles:
A 15 lb dog will eat about 11.18 oz of this homemade food recipe per day.
A 30 lb dog will eat about 17.89 oz of this homemade food recipe per day.
A 60 lb dog will eat about 29.81 oz of this homemade food recipe per day.
This means that it does not cost double the amount of money to feed a large dog that weighs twice as much as a small dog.
Here’s a breakdown of how much the raw ingredients will cost you per day and per month (30 days), before cooking the food – shrinkage and expansion weights from raw to cooked have been taken into account:
The average cost to feed a 15 lb dog homemade dog food is $1,98 per day and $59,40 per month.
The average cost to feed a 30 lb dog homemade dog food is $3,09 per day and $92,70 per month.
The average cost to feed a 60 lb dog homemade dog food is $5,12 per day and $153,60 per month.
The most expensive ingredients in this homemade dog food recipe are chicken and the nutritional supplement, which are just over two-thirds of the total cost. If you are making homemade dog food and need to make it cheaper, choose cheaper protein sources from the list of ingredients on the BalanceIT homemade dog food recipe generator, such as eggs and cottage cheese.
There are a few other costs to think about when making homemade dog food:
The cost of gas to go and buy the ingredients.
The cost of your time to plan the meals, buy the ingredients, and cook the food.
The cost of cooking the dog food.
The cost of throwing away homemade dog food that’s gone bad because it has no preservatives in it (this can be avoided by freezing portions and defrosting them as you need them).
How much it costs to buy dog food
Once again, the cost to buy dog food depends on the size of your dog, how much your dog exercises, your dog’s health, and the brand you choose.
For this price comparison, I chose 3 dog brands: Royal Canin, Hill’s Science, and Purina Pro. The reason I chose these brands is because they are all well-established brands that have a longstanding history in the dog food industry. I personally feed my dogs Royal Canin because it was recommended to me by my vet, and my dogs are very happy and healthy on this kibble, which I soak for my own dogs.
Here’s a breakdown of how much it costs to feed 3 different dog sizes per day and per month (30 days) with 3 well-known, established commercial dog food brands:
Dry Dog Food Brand
15lb adult dog
30 lb adult dog
60 lb adult dog
Royal Canin Adult
78c
$1,17
$1,95
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken
67c
$1,15
$1,93
Purina Pro Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula
37c
61c
85c
AVERAGE DAILY COST TO FEED
61c
98c
$1,58
AVERAGE MONTHLY COST TO FEED
$18,30
$29,40
$47,40
The costs in the table above are based on the average (mid-range) feeding size for each dog’s healthy weight given by the manufacturer. All prices are taken from the online pet stores Amazon and Chewy for bulk packaging sizes. As discussed earlier, feeding sizes may vary by up to 50%, so this is a guide only.
In the table above, we can see that:
The average cost to feed a 15 lb dog commercial dog food is 61c per day and $18,30 per month.
The average cost to feed a 30 lb dog commercial dog food is 98c per day and $29,40 per month.
The average cost to feed a 60 lb dog commercial dog food is $1.58 per day and $47,40 per month.
We can also see a price difference between the commercial dog food brands in the table:, which can be expected
Royal Canin is the more expensive dog food brand. This is the brand my vet recommended and is the brand I buy for my own dogs. Even though it is more expensive than other brands, it is still cheaper than homemade dog food.
Hill’s Science dog food is a little cheaper than Royal Canin, but it is still a high-quality commercial dog food.
Purina Pro is the cheapest at just under half the daily feeding price as Royal Canin. This is another option for a good-quality commercial dog food if you are on a budget.
When buying dog food, don’t ever buy brands that aren’t well-known or are much cheaper than other brands. Making high-quality dog food that gives your dog the nutrients he/she needs costs money, and reputable manufacturers have systems in place to ensure the health and safety of the products they sell.
Cheap dog brands often skimp on quality, standards and ingredients, and this food may harm or even kill your dog.
How to save money on good-quality commercial dog food
We know it is cheaper to buy dog food rather than make it.
Here are my best tips on how to save money on commercial dog food:
Buy dog food in bulk online, whenever possible.
Give your dog food in a slow feeder, which is healthier than normal bowls and can give your dog time to feel full and stop eating when he/she has had enough to eat.
Compare the serving sizes and prices of kibble – buying more expensive brands that need smaller serving sizes might save you money in the long run.
Look for dog food specials, especially around the holidays and on Black Friday. Stock up on dog food when a special comes up.
Set up delivery subscriptions to get discounts from online pet stores like Chewy.
Ask your vet for dog food samples.
Make your own dog treats instead of buying them, such as eggs for dogs.
Buy cheap meat scraps from your local butcher to bulk up meals or give them to your dog as treats.
I have a yorkie who makes his food disappear faster than a magician can if I don’t give him a slow feed bowl. There’s still a burp after every meal, but at least there’s more time now between me putting the food down and him actually finishing it.
Dogs need slow feeders to make them eat slower, which is healthier. Eating fast can make dogs vomit, burp, get flatulence, bloat, or even end up in hospital. Slow feeders force a dog to work around a puzzle or obstacle to reach their food.
There are many reasons to give a dog a slow feed bowl, but did you know that not every dog needs one? It’s important to understand the pros and cons of this puzzling mealtime feeder before getting one.
Why dogs should eat slowly
Dogs should eat their food slowly. When dogs eat too fast, they take in air with their food. This air can cause many health issues and discomfort, from bloating and tummy sensitivity, to a twisted stomach and an emergency visit to an animal hospital.
In mild cases, swallowed air travels through the gut and simply causes flatulence, or it comes out as burps.
Dogs that eat too fast often vomit or gag after meals from swallowed air. This gagging and vomiting brings stomach acids and food into the throat and esophagus, which can damage these organs over time.
But did you know that bloat is dangerous and can kill a dog?
Swallowed air can make a dog’s stomach bloat, which makes the dog very uncomfortable.
If they play or run around too soon before or after a meal with all this air in their stomach, they risk the chance of their stomach flipping or turning over. When this happens, the pipes to and from the stomach are closed, stopping the blood supply and natural movement through the digestive system.
The dog’s stomach becomes swollen, he/she struggles to breathe, and the stomach could burst.
A turned stomach is a medical emergency and needs a vet’s attention. Unfortunately, dogs can die from this condition.
Why dogs need slow feeders
Many dogs eat too fast. They may do this because they are hungry, love food (are food driven), are anxious, bored, have parasites that make them hungry all the time, or they are trying to get all their food down before another animal steals it from them.
Slow feeders are good for dogs because they slow down the rate at which dogs can eat their food. Slow feeders make it impossible for dogs to gulp down food, which lessens the amount of air they take in with their food. This reduces the risk of the dog choking, vomiting, or getting bloat.
Not every dog needs a slow feeder, but every dog can benefit from using one. The following breeds and traits in dogs make them more likely to get bloat than other dogs:
Dogs that eat very quickly, like they’re in a fast-eating competition
Dogs that eat from a raised food bowl
Large breedsthat are older than 5, such as Labradors and Golden Retrievers
Giant breeds older than 3, such as Irish Wolfhounds, St Bernards, Great Danes
Dogs that like to run around and play immediately after eating
Deep-chested dogs, with chests that reach or fall below their elbows, such as Dobermans, sighthounds, Standard Poodles, St Bernards, and Boxers
If your dog is any of the breeds or has any of the traits above, it might be a good idea to switch over to a slow feed bowl.
Why puppies need slow feeders
Eating fast is just as risky for puppies as it is for older dogs. Puppies tend to be greedy little guys or gals and often love to run around and play, even if they’ve just had their breakfast.
Puppies should be given a slow feeder bowl to stop them from eating fast. The puzzle in the slow feeder makes it impossible for a puppy to quickly swallow all the food in the bowl, which minimizes the amount of air they take in when eating. This lessens the chance of the puppy getting bloat and becoming sick after eating.
How slow feed bowls work
Slow feed bowls are bowls with raised pieces or a ‘puzzle’ inside. Kibble is placed along the pathways in the puzzle or around the raised pieces. The dog needs to lick and scoop out the kibble in these paths. Because it takes time and accuracy to do this, the dog automatically eats slower than when he/she has access to all the food in a regular bowl.
How often to use a slow feeder
A slow feeder should be used whenever a dog is fed. It is better to divide a dog’s daily food allowance into two smaller meals. Use the slow feeder to feed your dog breakfast in the morning and dinner at night.
The pros and cons of a slow feeder dog bowl
The pros and advantages of using a slow feeder
A slow feeder dog bowl has many advantages when used correctly. Slow feeder bowls…
… slow down dogs that eat fast, which prevents burping, flatulence, vomiting, gagging, and bloat
… give dogs mental stimulation and curb boredom
… fulfil dogs’ natural instinct to ‘work’ for food (like dogs do in the wild)
… give dogs time to feel full, so they are less inclined to eat as much as when they eat quickly
… make eating more fun for dogs, because of the ‘game’ of hunting kibble in a puzzle
The cons and disadvantages of a slow feed dog bowl
By now you might be wondering if there are any disadvantages to giving your dog a slow feed bowl. Let’s take a look at the list of cons.
Slow feeder bowls…
… can be a bit more expensive than normal dog food bowls
… can make eating more difficult for dogs with flat faces because the shape of their face may make it difficult to reach the food inside the puzzle (lick mats are a better option for flat-faced dogs, which we’ll talk about later)
… can be difficult for some dogs to understand: Start with simple puzzle bowls and move on to more challenging slow feeders as your dog learns what’s expected from them to get to the food
… need to be matched to the size and eagerness of your dog: Dogs that chew their bowls or larger dogs may need a stronger and pricier slow feeder than smaller or calmer dogs
Slow dog feeders can help with vomiting
Slow dog feeders can help with vomiting if a dog vomits from eating too fast. The air that a fast-eating dog sucks in when eating may cause vomiting and gagging. Slow dog feeders will stop the dog from eating so fast and reduce the amount of air swallowed with meals, which might stop vomiting altogether.
The best slow feeder dog bowls
I did some research to find the best slow feed dog bowls on the market today and there are a lot of wonderful options, with all materials, and to suit all kinds of budgets. Let’s take a look:
This stainless steel pet bowl is Amazon’s choice and comes with very high customer ratings.
There are two sizes to choose from, medium and large, and what I like is that it is designed to make it difficult for your dog to tip over the bowl, with a larger base and a rubber ring around the bottom.
I personally don’t use stainless steel bowls for food as my dogs don’t like the sound these bowls make or the feeling when they hit the bowl with their teeth. But many dogs love stainless steel bowls and they’re the most hygienic of all dog bowls out there.
This is the world’s first ceramic slow feeder, with a patent pending.
There are many pros to getting a ceramic slow feeder: They’re hygienic as long as there aren’t any chips in the ceramic, they’re dishwasher safe, microwaveable, and even freezer safe.
This bowl is heavier than metal and plastic bowls, but the weight will also stop your dog from flipping the bowl.
And it comes in a range of colors, from orange or green, to white or blue.
This is an extremely popular slow feed bowl that forces dogs to eat 10 times slower than regular bowls. These slow feeders come in a range of sizes and colors.
The non-slip base prevents dogs from tipping over the food bowl. Plus, it’s made with food-safe, lightweight plastic that’s BPA, PVC, and phalate-free.
A lick mat is a great option for dogs with flat faces. Lick mats have a much flatter/lower surface than traditional slow feeders, so flat-faced dogs find it easier to reach the kibble, dry or soaked, and lick it straight out of the shallow holes.
This still slows down their eating speed.
If you have a French Bulldog, or want to try another slow feed bowl for your flat-faced dog, then there’s also the four-leaf clover slow feeding dog bowl (Amazon link). This bowl has four larger holes to accommodate a flatter dog face.
It’s made of resin that’s food safe and easy to clean.
More tips to stop a dog from eating too fast
Here are some other things you can do to slow down a dog that eats too fast:
Try different slow feeders so your dog doesn’t learn how to use one quickly. Every time your dog tries a new puzzle, he/she will have to spend time figuring it out, which will slow down eating.
If you’re at home during the day, take your dog’s daily food allowance and break it up into several smaller portions. Feed small portions throughout the day in a slow feed bowl or use these portions as treats for calm behavior during the day.
Hide kibble in small bowls around the garden or house, then let your dog go ‘hunting’ for food.
Get a qualified animal behaviorist to help you train your dog to trust the people and animals around him/her. Sometimes dogs eat fast as a way to protect their food, so no one else can get it before they’ve finished eating it. If this is the case, you may be able to break the habit by teaching your dog that the food is safe, and no one will try to take it.
Take your dog to the vet for a checkup and de-worm your dog monthly, to make sure there aren’t parasites making him/her hungry all the time.
Eggs are an excellent source of protein, healthy fatty acids, and many nutrients. You may enjoy eating eggs, but is it safe to give eggs to your dog?
Dogs can eat eggs raw (with some safety measures) or cooked. Plain free-range eggs are best, without any spices, fats, or oils. Keep eggs as a treat for your dog and not the main food source, feeding no more than one egg a day.
Some dogs love eggs and others won’t touch them. Supplementing the diet with eggs can be a great nutritional boost for any dog. But before giving eggs to dogs, it’s good to know what safety measures to take and if there are any risks involved with how you serve those eggs.
Giving eggs to dogs
Eggs are low in calories and high in quality protein. They’re also not expensive. This makes eggs a wonderful and affordable treat for dogs.
If your dog enjoys eggs, use eggs as a treat or daily supplement to a healthy diet. Eggs can even be used in training if your dog is food driven.
Get the healthiest eggs you can afford – look for organic, free range or pasture-raised eggs, from hens who have access to the outdoors. These eggs have the most goodness in them and should be available at stores, farmers’ markets, or directly from farmers.
Eggs should never be the only source of food or protein for dogs. High-quality kibble, soaked or not, or a balanced diet with homemade dog food should be a dog’s main diet.
A good rule of thumb is to feed your dog a high-quality dog food 90% of the time and treats only 10% of the time.
If you’re feeding your dog high-quality dog food, then your dog should be getting all the nutrients he/she needs from this food. Eggs are just part of the 10% treat for the yummy taste and nutrient boost.
Some dogs can become allergic to things, including eggs. If your dog starts showing any of the following symptoms, your dog might have a food allergy (not necessarily an egg allergy) and may need to see a vet:
‘In the dog, the signs of food allergy are usually itchy skin or digestive disturbances such as vomiting or diarrhea.’
If you have any worries about feeding your dog eggs or if your dog has a very sensitive stomach, skip the eggs altogether or speak to your veterinarian first for advice.
Every dog is different, and there’s no way to predict what will happen to every dog that eats an egg. But many dogs eat many eggs every day, and it usually turns out well.
Giving dogs some or all of the egg
You might be wondering what parts of the egg dogs can eat.
Well, in the wild, dogs can’t break open an egg and choose just the egg yolk or just the egg white. Their natural instinct is to raid nests and eat whatever they find in there, as mother nature serves her meals.
Dogs can eat every part of an egg – the egg yolk, the egg white, and the eggshell. Each part of the egg gives the dog different minerals and nutrients.
Eating egg yolk gives your dog healthy fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) and many other nutrients. Egg yolks are actually one of the few foods that naturally have vitamin D in them, and dogs need to get most of their vitamin D from the food they eat.
By eating egg whites, your dog is getting other vitamins and nutrients, such as riboflavin, selenium, and potassium.
And eating the eggshell?
Well, eggshells are 40% calcium and 60% protein and minerals. They are a great source of calcium for your dog.
Giving eggshells to dogs
Eggshells can be used as a calcium supplement for your dog. Just don’t overdo it, and speak to your vet if you have any worries or concerns.
If your dog is eating high-quality, balanced dog food, then he/she is probably getting all the calcium needed and doesn’t require supplements to stay healthy. If your vet recommends using a calcium supplement, then speak to your vet about using eggshells as a natural alternative to traditional supplements.
Dogs can eat the raw eggshell on an egg, but it’s better to crush the shell into small pieces first so your dog doesn’t get hurt chewing and swallowing the shell.
You can also try making powdered eggshell to sprinkle on your dog’s food. This is one way to use the eggshells after making eggs for yourself.
To feed a dog eggshell, turn it into powder: Boil raw eggshells for 5 minutes or rinse cooked eggshells. Lay the eggshells on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Grind the cooled, crispy shells in a blender or coffee grinder. Sprinkle a teaspoon or less of this powder on your dog’s daily food for a calcium boost.
To keep your calcium-packed eggshell powder fresh, store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
Giving raw eggs to dogs
The easiest way to feed a dog raw egg is to break the egg over your dog’s food. Crush the eggshell in your hands and throw that in too. Then give the food a good stir before letting your dog enjoy the meal.
Not everyone agrees that dogs can eat raw eggs. Some say dogs eat raw eggs in the wild, so they’re a natural part of a dog’s diet. Others say that dogs are at risk of salmonella poisoning and biotin deficiency from eating raw eggs.
Let’s look at both sides:
The pros of eating raw eggs
Raw eggs are a powerhouse of nutrients
Heat from cooking can destroy many nutrients in eggs.
Raw eggs are packed with nutrients, which is one of the reasons why dog owners want to feed eggs to their dogs.
The risks of eating raw eggs
SalmonellaPoisoning
If dogs eat raw eggs contaminated with salmonella, they can get salmonella poisoning. A dog’s digestive system is designed to kill harmful bacteria like salmonella, but sometimes dogs do get ill. The symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, fever, and/or vomiting.
2. Biotin deficiency
There’s an enzyme in raw egg white that can reduce a dog’s ability to absorb biotin. Biotin is a vitamin that does a few good things, like helping dogs convert food into energy.
In rare cases, if a dog eats many raw egg whites for a long time, he/she can get a biotin deficiency. Some of the symptoms of biotin deficiency are hair loss, scaly skin, and diarrhea.
If you choose to give your dog raw eggs, there are a few things you can do to avoid the risks that come with this choice:
Buy organic eggs laid by free range or pasture-raised hens
Keep your eggs in the container you buy them
Store your eggs in the main part of the fridge, where the temperature is cold and steady
Throw away eggs after 3-5 weeks (check the expiry date)
Feed your dog the egg white with the egg yolk: even though egg whites can affect biotin absorption, egg yolks give your dog a boost in biotin because the yolks have a lot of biotin in them
It’s important to feed your dog quality dog food that will give him/her all the nutrients he/she needs – an egg a day makes a great treat and nutritional boost, but eggs are not a balanced diet for a dog and can’t replace the kibble.
Giving cooked eggs to dogs
Cooking eggs is the safest way to feed eggs to your dog. Dogs can eat eggs that have been boiled, fried, scrambled, or poached. The heat from cooking does destroy nutrients in the eggs, so cook the eggs for the shortest time possible.
When cooking eggs for your dog to eat, don’t add any spices, salt, pepper, fats, oils, or butter. Keep things as simple as possible.
Give your dog eggs as a treat or when training your dog.
Giving eggs to dogs with an upset stomach
Dogs with diarrhea can benefit from eating eggs. Eggs are a nutritional powerhouse and will provide many vitamins and minerals, which means a dog can eat a little egg and get a lot of goodness in them quickly. Cooked eggs are best for dogs with an upset stomach, either boiled or scrambled.
Can dogs eat eggs every day?
Most dogs can safely eat up to one egg a day. 90% of a dog’s calories should come from a high-quality, balanced dog food and 10% can come from tasty treats, like eggs.
Can dogs eat eggs with…
It’s best to give dogs plain eggs, without any seasoning, butter, salt, etc. But sometimes we need to know if dogs can eat eggs with other things, like cheese or milk. Let’s take a look:
– Can dogs eat eggs with cheese?
Dogs can eat cooked eggs with cheese. Cheese has a lot of fat in it and can make your dog pick up weight, so if your dog is overweight leave out the cheese. If you do feed your dog eggs with cheese, choose low-fat cheese like mozzarella or cottage cheese.
Of course, if your dog is lactose intolerance, he/she should never be given any cheese, with or without the eggs.
– Can dogs eat eggs with chicken
Dogs can eat eggs with chicken as chicken and eggs are healthy sources of protein. Don’t give your dog the chicken neck, back, wings, or bones. And don’t add any spices to the chicken or eggs. This can be given to dogs as a treat but is not nutritionally balanced enough to be the only thing a dog eats.
– Can dogs eat eggs with pepper
Dogs can eat eggs with a little black pepper inside. Don’t sprinkle pepper over the eggs or your dog could get an upset stomach. Most dogs don’t like the taste of pepper, so don’t add pepper just for the flavor.
– Can dogs eat eggs with milk
Dogs can eat eggs made with a few spoons of cow or goat milk every now and then. Too much milk can result in weight gain and pancreatitis, which makes for a very sore tummy and vomiting.
– Can dogs eat egg salad
Dogs can eat a little egg salad, depending on what’s in it. Mayonnaise, mustard, seasoning, and other ingredients may upset a dog’s stomach. Egg salad is not a healthy food for dogs and should not be purposefully given to dogs to eat.
– Can dogs eat pickled eggs?
Dogs can eat pickled eggs and shouldn’t have any side effects, though pickled eggs aren’t the healthiest food for dogs to eat. Rather feed your dog cooked or raw eggs as a treat and leave out the pickles.
I'm Monique. I love animals and everything about them. "Ayo" means happy, and this is where I share all I know about having happy, healthy pets so you can have happy pets too.
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