When you add a new pet to your home, it’s natural to wonder what foods will be safe for them. Whether it’s something they accidentally picked up from the floor or if they were given a treat from the table, there are a lot of questions about what a dog can and cannot eat. One common food question is whether or not sour cream is safe for dogs to eat. The short answer is, yes, sour cream is safe for dogs to consume. But let’s go into a little more detail.
Can Dogs Eat Sour Cream? What Will Happen?
While dogs can safely eat sour cream, it is always wise to proceed with caution. If it is something they have never had before, there is a chance it could give your furry friend an upset stomach.
There are many dog breeds out there that are known for having a sensitive stomach. When they eat sour cream, they may wind up having some vomiting or diarrhea in addition to abdominal pain and discomfort.
While many human foods are safe for dogs to eat, you should always consider what exactly is the food you are feeding your dog.
What Is Sour Cream?
For many, this is a common household condiment used on various foods. Sour cream is made when a unique bacteria is added to the cream. The result is a dairy product that is creamy and tangy. However, it is also a pretty high-calorie and high-fat food.
Because of this, there are manufacturing companies that produce low-fat sour cream and fat-free sour cream as well. This topping is extremely common and can also be used in various ways while cooking, which is why it is essential to know how it can affect your furry friends.
Is Sour Cream Bad For Dogs?
In moderation, sour cream can be enjoyed as a treat for your pet. Just keep in mind that your dog may be prone to upset stomach and digestive issues when introduced to food with high-fat content.
While this food is not bad for most dogs, you should also consider the possibility that your pup may have lactose intolerance. It is a good idea to tread lightly with treats like this.
Is Sour Cream Good For Dogs?
While sour cream would be considered a treat, it can also have some great benefits when consumed in moderation. Sour cream is an excellent way to add more calcium to your dog’s diet.
Dogs prone to calcium deficiencies can enjoy this treat and the added health benefits for their bones and teeth. But use cautiously. Treats are just that and should not be used to ensure that dogs meet all their nutritional needs.
Sour Cream Nutritional Facts
Regular cream is a basic dairy product that provides a source of calcium, lactose, and fat. The nutritional benefits include some vitamins and minerals important for day-to-day function. In moderation, it can also provide some health benefits upon consumption.
The nutritional facts tell us that it is a high-fat, low-carb food that can be enjoyed by most humans and eaten in moderation as an occasional treat for your pup.
Things to Consider
It is always a good idea to look at the contents of any treat before giving it to your dog. Your pup cannot speak to you and tell you that they can’t have a certain food. As a dog parent, it is up to you to be mindful of what you are giving them to enjoy.
Take a look at a few of these factors as you consider suitable treats for your animal:
Calories
It is always a great idea to check the calorie content of any food. Giving your pet treats that always have a high caloric count can cause unhealthy weight gain.
The caloric need can differ from breed to breed and heavily depend on the target weight range. Consider this as you prep snacks and treats for your animals.
Lactose
Some animals can have adverse reactions to dairy products, and some can have allergic reactions to lactose. Lactose is a product that, while it can typically be consumed by people, cannot easily be consumed by all dogs.
Signs of lactose intolerance in dogs can include, but may not be limited to, diarrhea and bloating of their abdomen.
High-Fat Content
The high-fat content in any food can cause a stomach upset in your pet. It can cause abdominal cramping, overall discomfort, and digestive issues leading to vomiting or diarrhea.
Over time, consuming too much of these types of food could lead to health issues. Your treats should be a low percentage of your dog’s total daily intake of food to avoid any unnecessary discomfort for your furry friend.
Always be sure to check the grams of fat in a treat for your dog to ensure that you don’t give them more than they need to maintain a healthy weight for their breed size.
Additives in Some Products
Sour cream is a food that does have additives in it. It is important to always check for any additives that are the foods you give to your pup. Some additives can be extremely dangerous for animals to consume and can cause illness and life-threatening effects.
Like anything you give your pup, be sure there are no artificial sweeteners. These are poisonous to our furry friends and can cause a lot of harm to them.
Another additive to stay away from when considering a treat for your dog is corn syrup. Even a small amount of corn syrup can cause unnecessary weight gain for your dog and is overall very unhealthy for your pet.
Possible Negative Effects of Feeding Sour Cream to your Dog
While generally giving your dog a snack of sour cream from time to time, be on the lookout for some adverse effects:
Allergic Reaction
If your dog is having an allergic reaction to sour cream, you may see them panting, acting lethargic, scratching at their ears, and possibly sneezing.
Lactose Intolerance
If your dog is experiencing lactose intolerance, they may need to use the bathroom more frequently until the lactose is cleared from their system. Expect some diarrhea in this case.
It is a good idea to withhold food until the loose stools have cleared up. Be sure to give your dog water, so they don’t become dehydrated.
Weight Gain
Giving your pup too much high-fat food will cause unnecessary weight gain. You can try a fat-free sour cream as an alternative to avoid too many excess calories.
Dog Safe Alternatives to Sour Cream
There are some nutritious food alternatives that you should consider when planning treats for your pet. Here are some of our favorite dairy-based treats you can try that aren’t sour cream. Remember, if dairy gives your dog stomach issues, it may be best to find dairy alternative products to create some delicious treats for your pup and not cause digestion issues and intestinal distress.
Doggy Ice Cream
Doggy ice cream is a great treat you can give your dog on a warm day, and you can enjoy it with your furry friend. You can make this an even more delicious frozen treat by mixing some bananas, plain yogurt, and peanut butter.
You can use a food processor or a blender to mix your concoction evenly. Freezing adds a nice chill for a hot day. Once it’s hardened, prepare to blow your dog’s taste buds away and enjoy. We promise your pup can’t wait to enjoy this banana dog ice cream.
Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is also an excellent substitution for sour cream. Greek yogurt is packed full of essential minerals and small amounts of vitamin B12, as well as being rich in protein.
This is a great healthy alternative to feeding your dog sour cream.
Final Thoughts: Can Dogs Eat Sour Cream?
Dogs are notorious for getting into things they should not be getting into. They love to sneak their noses into any place they think there will be a delicious treat waiting on them.
However, if they find their way to the sour cream, you don’t have too much to worry about. Sour cream is not toxic to dogs – so if your dog has a bite of sour cream, he’ll be just fine.
But keep in mind that everything delicious can come with some downfalls. If your pup for some reason grabs a whole container of sour cream, you may need to be prepared to help treat a stomach ache. Too much sour cream will definitely cause some gastrointestinal discomfort.
If your pup has diarrhea, withhold their food until it stops. However, if your pup is hungry, a nice treat for an upset stomach is some homemade chicken and long-grain rice. Your pup’s upset stomach will thank you.
But since it’s not too likely your pup will be going into the fridge and snacking on the sour cream alone, any treats he may get from you from time to time won’t hurt him at all.
In moderation, sour cream can be a great snack. But don’t rely on it too much – there are a lot of healthier alternatives to check out if you’re looking to spoil your pup.
