Can Dogs Eat Waffles?

Warm Waffles with whipped cream and maple syrup toppings are my favorite brunch every Sunday. And it is every Sunday that my Labrador dog likes to invite herself to the table and try to steal a bite of the Waffles. Last Sunday, I almost offered her one, but then wondered if Waffles are safe for doggy consumption. Here is the short answer for now.  

 Can dogs eat Waffles? Yes, dogs can eat plain Waffles in moderation since they are not toxic to canines. However, Waffles are high in calories, carbs, and sugar. Avoid feeding your dog Waffles that are topped with syrup like chocolate or fruits like grapes or raisins. Both of these toppings are extremely toxic to dogs and can potentially harm them.

Can dogs have Waffles?

Dogs should only have plain Waffles. That means no Waffle toppings like chocolate syrup. It’s best to stick to plain Waffles and feed your pooch a small amount of Waffles as an occasional treat. 

Waffles should not replace your dog’s regular meal or diet because they contain very little to no nutritional value for your pooch and are high in calories and fat. 

If you give a small amount of Waffles as a rare occasional treat to your pooch, then that should be fine. To learn why, let’s take a quick look at what Waffles are made of.

What are Waffles made of?

Waffles are eaten all over the world for breakfast and brunch. You can have a simple plain Waffle with your morning cup of coffee or tea. While some like to add toppings like fruits and syrup, others prefer a simple butter only topping.

However way Waffles are enjoyed, they contain these main ingredients: 

• All-purpose flour.
• Eggs.
• White sugar.
• Milk.
• Salt.
• Vegetable oil.
• Baking powder or baking soda.
• Vanilla extract.

Scanning through the ingredient list, you can see that the Waffles are high in fats, sugar, and carbohydrates. So, can dogs have Waffles? Yes, dogs can have Waffles since the ingredients above aren’t toxic or dangerous to dogs.

But are they healthy for your pooch? Let’s find out!

Fun Fact: Pasta is also high in carbohydrates. Check out Can Dogs Eat Pasta? to find out if Pasta is safe for doggy consumption.

Are Waffles safe for dogs?

In this section, we’ll discuss the ingredients in the Waffles in more detail. Let’s begin.

Waffles ingredients that are unhealthy for dogs

All-purpose flour in Waffles contains carbohydrates that dogs don’t need 

If your pooch has wheat or gluten allergies, please avoid feeding them Waffles, even if they are plain. That’s because the main ingredient in Waffles is all-purpose flour which is also known as plain flour. 

While all-purpose flour is made with different wheat types, it’s not whole wheat flour or whole grains which is much healthier for dogs. Whole wheat flour is great for your pup’s digestive system. 

Also, you can find two types of all-purpose flour in your local grocery stores – bleached and unbleached all-purpose flour. We highly advise staying away from bleached flour if you plan to make the Waffles for your canine family members. 

Bleached flour is white flour because it has undergone a chemical process that destroys any and all nutrition as well as fiber from the flour. We recommend that you use unbleached all-purpose flour instead if you plan to make Waffles for your four-legged friends.    

Thus, it’s best to stay away from all-purpose flour for your furry friends. In small amounts, all-purpose flour isn’t going to be harmful to your pooch, but it’s not the healthiest for dogs and it doesn’t contain the nutritional value your dogs need. 

You’ll want to use other types of flour that contain nutritional values for your pooch such as whole wheat flour, almond flour, coconut flour, or oat flour.   

Too much sugar in Waffles is harmful to dogs with diabetes

Any and all types of sugar are actually unhealthy for our four-legged friends. It doesn’t matter if it’s brown sugar or refined sugar. It’s best for our pooch to stay away from sugar. 

While sugar isn’t toxic to dogs, consuming too much sugar can be harmful to our dog’s overall health. 

Waffles taste great because of the amount of sugar that is used. In fact, Waffles contain way too much sugar for our pooch and all of that sugar is what our dogs don’t need. 

Not only can sugar cause high blood sugar levels, but it can cause a whole host of other health issues as well including diabetes, dental issues, weight gain, upset stomach, and even pancreatitis. 

Sometimes the Waffles are topped with sugar and syrups, both of which are extremely unhealthy and harmful to dogs. If the Waffles contain sugar as one of the ingredients or are topped with sugar, do not feed the Waffles to your pooch. 

Fun Fact: Many people love to add strawberry jam to their Waffles. But how much sugar is there in this jam? Check out Can Dogs Eat Strawberry Jam? to find out!

Milk in Waffles is harmful to dogs that are lactose-intolerant  

If you know your four-legged friends are lactose-intolerant, avoid feeding them Waffles. That’s because our furry pals have a hard time digesting milk. They lack the lactase enzymes that are necessary for digesting the sugar found in milk called lactose. 

Dogs that consume Waffles when they are lactose intolerant may experience mild gastrointestinal distress or gastrointestinal upset such as the following: 

• Diarrhea or loose stools.
• Flatulence or passing gas constantly.
• Bloating.
• Vomiting. 
• Dogs may hunch over due to abdominal pain. 

Be sure to consult your vet to confirm whether your pooch has any allergy to dairy products such as milk. If you suspect your dog may be allergic to milk, it’s best to contact your vet right away. Some dogs may have skin irritation or itchy and red skin when they are allergic to milk.   

Also, depending on which type of milk you’re using to make the Waffles, it can contain a lot of natural sugars and fat and this can cause the following:

• Canine obesity.
• Vomiting. 
• Diarrhea.
• Pancreatitis (in severe cases).    

Too much salt in Waffles can cause sodium poisoning in dogs 

While a moderate amount of salt is fine for dogs, it’s important to keep in mind that your dog’s regular meal and diet will already contain a healthy amount of salt for your canine friends. 

The minimum amount of salt a dog can have is around 100 milligrams per 100 calories of food. That is 0.3 percent. Many dogs can have up to 0.5 percent of salt. 

If your canine family member is eating Waffles, keep in mind that the salt in the Waffles is adding to their current salt intake amount and this can potentially lead to too much salt consumption. 

If you know your pooch already has consumed enough salt for the day, then it’s best not to feed them Waffles. Too much salt consumption can lead to salt poisoning and some dogs are more sensitive to salt than others. 

Signs and symptoms of salt poisoning include: 

• Extreme thirst leading to frequent urination.
• Vomiting. 
• Diarrhea.
• Decrease in appetite.
• Lack of coordination.
• Lethargy.
• Muscle tremors (in severe cases).   
• Coma (in severe cases).
• Seizures (in severe cases). 

If you suspect your pooch has salt poisoning, be sure to contact your vet right away. This is a fatal and life-threatening condition and requires immediate medical attention. Avoid waiting for the symptoms to appear before calling the vet. It’s best to err on the side of safety.   

If you’re making Waffles for your pooch, don’t bother adding any salt. Keep the Waffles plain and simple. 

Vegetable oil in Waffles is not healthy for dogs 

Vegetable oil isn’t the best type of oil for dogs because it is high in calories and fat, both of which can lead to health issues in dogs. 

Instead of vegetable oil, go with the following type of oil instead for your four-legged friends:

OIive oil

You’ll have no problem finding olive oil for your pooch. There is a variety of olive oil options at your local supermarket. We highly recommend going with 100% olive oil for your pooch. 

If your pooch isn’t able to digest omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids, olive oil is a great alternative. Your dog will thank you for its shiny and moisturized coat and strong immune system. Olive oil also helps to prevent or minimize the effects of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. 

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is great for dogs with digestive issues. If your pooch has an upset stomach or has gastrointestinal issues, give them a little bit of coconut oil. 

Coconut oil helps to freshen your dog’s breath, improve their cognitive function, and provide a healthy and shiny coat. Say goodbye to your dog’s itchy and flaky skin. 

You’ll want to go with the cold-pressed, virgin, and organic coconut oil for your four-legged friends.  

Flaxseed oil 

Flaxseed oil is helpful to dogs with arthritis and experiencing mobility issues. Dogs with high blood pressure or kidney issues can also benefit from flaxseed oil. 

If your pooch is allergic to fish or fish oil, flaxseed oil is a great alternative since it can also help to relieve allergies and reduce inflammation in dogs. 

Sunflower oil

Sunflower oil will give your pooch a very shiny and smooth coat. Sunflower oil contains omega-6 fatty acids which not only boost your dog’s energy but also help maintain a healthy heart and keep their skin healthy and moisturized. 

You might also like: Can Dogs Eat Sunflower Seeds?

Fish oil

Fish oil provides EPA and DHA, both essential fatty acids that are great for dogs. The omega-3 fatty acids are helpful to dogs that have allergies and are experiencing inflammation. 

With fish oil, it can provide your pooch with a healthier and shinier coat and skin. You won’t see hot spots, dandruff, or itchy skin on your pooch anymore. 

Vanilla extract in Waffles are toxic to dogs 

In general, vanilla extract is extremely harmful to dogs because they contain high alcohol content that is toxic to your furry family member. Don’t think about the imitation vanilla either because those too also contain high alcohol content. 

Our canine friends’ digestive system can’t digest alcohol properly and if your pooch consumes too much Vanilla extract, they are at risk of alcohol poisoning. 

If your pooch consumes too much vanilla, here are some signs and symptoms they may experience: 

• Diarrhea.
• Vomiting.
• Lack of coordination in their movement.
• Difficulty breathing. 
• Panting. 

You might also like: Can Dogs Eat Vanilla Wafers and Cookies?

Can dogs eat Eggo Waffles?

Yes, dogs can eat Eggo Waffles in moderation. It’s important to keep the Waffles plain and only allow your furry pals to eat them as an occasional treat every once in a while. That’s because Eggo Waffles aren’t exactly healthy or great for your canine friends.

Can dogs have Eggo Waffles?

While Eggo Waffles aren’t toxic to dogs, they contain ingredients that aren’t the best for our K9 friends. 

Here are the ingredients in Eggo Waffles: 

• Enriched flour: wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and folic acid.
• Water.
• Vegetable oil: soybean and palm, canola, and/or cottonseed.
• Sugar.
• Eggs.
• Leavening agents: baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, and monocalcium phosphate. 

Eggo Waffles also contains 2% or less of the following: 

• Salt.
• Dextrose.
• Spice.
• Whey.
• Soy lecithin. 

Eggo Waffles also contains the following vitamins and minerals: 

• Calcium carbonate.
• Reduced iron.
• Vitamin A palmitate.
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride).
• Vitamin B12. 

So, can dogs eat Eggos? It’s best that dogs don’t eat Eggos Waffles. Right off the bat, we can see that the Eggo Waffles are high in carbs, sugar, and fat. This is why it’s important that we do not feed our furry family members Eggo Waffles every day.

Can dogs eat Waffles and syrup?

No, dogs should not eat Waffles and syrup. While plain Waffle alone is fine for dogs to eat, adding toppings and syrup is actually harmful to dogs. 

Syrup is sugar that our pooch does not need. Too much sugar consumption can lead to diabetes, weight gain, dental problems, upset stomach, and metabolic changes in dogs. 

Keep syrup away from dogs and this includes Waffles and syrup too.

Can dogs have blueberry Waffles?

Yes, dogs can have blueberry Waffles in moderation. If you’re just adding blueberries on top of the plain Waffle, then it is safe for doggy consumption. 

However, waffles are pretty much empty calories for dogs. This means the waffle doesn’t provide much nutritional value to dogs and it’s only increasing their calorie intake. This isn’t good for our K9 friends.  

For these reasons, it’s best to simply feed your pooch fresh or mashed blueberries by themselves without the Waffles. If you must, blueberry Waffles are much better than waffles topped with sugar, butter, or chocolate syrup.

Can dogs eat Waffle cones?

No, dogs should not eat Waffle cones. While Waffle cones aren’t toxic to dogs, they are very unhealthy for our canine friends. That’s because Waffle cones are ice cream cones that are high in sugar and are highly processed.

In fact, when compared to sugar cones, the Waffle cones actually contain more sugar. One would think that the sugar cones would contain more sugar than Waffle cones due to the name, but it’s quite the opposite.   

Due to the high sugar content, Waffles cones are not good for dogs and should be consumed in moderation as an occasional treat. 

Waffle cones are made with ingredients such as flour, eggs, salt, sugar, milk, and butter. As mentioned above, these ingredients aren’t exactly canine-friendly or healthy for dogs.

Can dogs eat plain Waffles?

Yes, dogs can eat plain Waffles in moderation. It’s best to only feed your pooch plain Waffles as an occasional treat. In fact, you’ll want to skip the sugar, salt, and any ingredients that are harmful to your pooch. 

Use dog-friendly flour and do not add any toppings that are harmful to your dog’s health like sugar or chocolate or vanilla syrup. 

So, can dogs eat Waffles?

It’s best for our canine friends to eat Waffles specifically made for dogs. Waffles made for human consumption contain ingredients that are both unhealthy and unsafe for doggy consumption.

While Waffles aren’t toxic to dogs, they aren’t the best for dogs either. This is why pet owners should only feed their four-legged friends plain Waffles as a fun occasional treat every now and then. Avoid feeding your pooch Waffles every day. Their diet should be high in protein and low in carbs and calories.

DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding dietary needs.

Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffle

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=76&contentid=18271-3