Do you have some egg rolls leftover from lunch and are contemplating whether you should share them with your four-legged companion?
While dogs can safely eat some human foods, others can be harmful and even dangerous for them.
So, if you are asking, “can dogs eat egg rolls?” then the answer is – they can, but they shouldn’t.
Egg rolls are a staple in Chinese-American cuisine and are a favorite snack for people around the country. But these delicious rolls are everything but healthy diet choices, especially for canines.
A healthy pup will not be harmed if it happens to eat a small amount of egg roll, but if consumed in larger quantities and regularly, these deep-fried snacks can cause adverse effects on the wellbeing and health of your pet.
Read on for more information about egg rolls and their harmful effects on dogs. We have added some suggestions for healthier human foods you can give your pup.
Can And Should Dogs Eat Egg Rolls?
While a single spring roll will hardly harm your pup, feeding your pet with egg rolls or other similar human foods is not recommended.
Instead, your four-legged friend should eat a complete and balanced diet consisting of dog food formulated for its age, size, and health.
You can add occasional treats to its menu, but if you want to reward your pet with some human food, you should choose healthier options such as some boiled or raw carrots, green beans, or deseeded apple slices.
Egg rolls are the Americanized version of the traditional Asian spring rolls. They are deep-fried and contain ingredients that are neither nutritious nor healthy for canines.
The crunchy egg roll wrappers are made of wheat flour and salt and deep-fried in oil. The stuffing can vary, but it most commonly contains cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, tofu, chopped pork, or garlic.
Even though the dish’s name is egg roll, the only egg used for making it is in the batter for deep frying.
How Can Egg Rolls Harm My Dog?
Nearly all ingredients used for preparing egg rolls can be harmful to canines. Many dogs are intolerant or allergic to wheat flour. Plus, the flour contains empty calories, many carbs, and no essential nutrients.
Being deep fried, egg rolls are also high in fat, which is a problem for pups. Dogs cannot digest fatty foods as efficiently as humans can. And too much fat can cause digestive issues and, in severe cases, can lead to acute pancreas inflammation or pancreatitis.
Some egg rolls contain garlic which is toxic for dogs.
Overall, this Chinese-American dish is definitely not a healthy choice for a dog treat.
Here is a detailed overview of the potentially harmful effects that egg rolls can have on pups.
Some of the Ingredients Can Be Toxic For Dogs
Egg rolls often contain either minced or powdered garlic, onion powder, soy sauce, and monosodium glutamate.
Garlic, onions, leeks, and other veggies from the Allium family contain a substance called thiosulphate, which is highly toxic for canines. Too much thiosulphate can damage and destroy the red blood cells and, in extreme cases, can lead to hemolytic anemia and death.
The shredded cabbage in egg rolls can cause flatulence, bloating, abdominal pain, and discomfort in some dogs.
Flour is especially unsuitable for dogs that are allergic or have an intolerance to it or gluten.
Also, the high oil content can lead to digestive issues and painful pancreas inflammations in more serious cases.
The High-Fat Content Is Harmful To Pups
Egg rolls are deep fried in hot oil and are not very healthy for humans, let alone for dogs. Canines cannot process fatty foods as well as we can. And too much fat can lead to various problems, including diarrhea, obesity, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and pancreatitis.
So, you should avoid giving your pup any deep-fried or very fatty foods of any kind, egg rolls included.
Egg Rolls Contain Sodium
Salt is used in large quantities both for the filling and the wrappers of egg rolls. And too much sodium can lead to dehydration, diarrhea, vomiting, high fever, tremors, seizures, and other symptoms of salt toxicity.
While your pet needs a bit of salt to stay healthy and well, you should be careful with the amounts of salt in the dog’s treats and food.
They Are Packed With Carbohydrates
Dogs need some carbs to stay healthy and active, but too much can overload the pup’s digestive system leading to obesity, diabetes, and some types of cancer.
So, dog parents should avoid high-carb foods regarding treats and snacks for their furbabies.
Is It Okay To Give Egg Rolls To My Puppy?
No. Giving young puppies egg rolls or other high-fat processed foods is more harmful and dangerous than it is for healthy adult dogs. The reason is that the puppy’s immune system is still weak, and even the smallest issue and toxin can lead to severe health issues.
Plus, puppies can be poisoned by much smaller quantities of garlic or onion. And egg rolls, especially whole ones, can be a choking hazard for them.
This is why you should ensure that any egg rolls or other potentially hazardous foods and ingredients are kept safely out of reach from your curious and mischievous puppy.
Are Spring Rolls A Better Choice for Dogs?
Spring rolls are healthier than egg rolls. Even though egg rolls are based on the traditional Chinese spring rolls, under the influence of American cuisine and taste, some of the original ingredients of the spring rolls were replaced with unhealthier western alternatives.
For example, spring rolls usually have rice paper wrappers, or even when they are fried have much lighter and crispier rice or wheat wrappers than the deep-fried ones of the egg rolls.
In many cases, the traditional spring rolls are not fried at all and are steamed or boiled instead.
So, when compared to egg rolls, spring rolls are a much healthier option for a treat for a dog.
In fact, if the filling is made of healthy and non-toxic ingredients, steamed or boiled spring rolls can be excellent healthy snacks for pups for special occasions.
Just ensure that the filling does not contain garlic, onions, avocado, or other ingredients that can be poisonous to canines.
Even though they are healthier than egg rolls, spring rolls are not the best treats and foods to add to a dog’s diet regularly.
What Are Some Healthier Egg Roll Alternatives For Dogs?
Some spring rolls, especially those made with rice paper or egg white wrappers baked or steamed rather than deep fried, are much healthier for dog treats than egg rolls.
To make the spring roll or egg roll healthier and safer for pups, you should omit the garlic, avocado, soy sauce, cabbage, MSG, spices, and other potentially harmful ingredients from it.
Instead, use lean meat and veggie filling, such as some ground pork, shredded carrots, and olive oil. Sauté the ingredients for the filling in a bit of olive oil, then let them cool and fill the egg roll wrappers.
Plus, opt for steaming or baking the egg rolls rather than deep frying them when preparing them for your furry companion.
If you have a small pup, cut up the dog-friendly egg roll into smaller manageable pieces to prevent choking.
Be careful with the portion sizes when treating your furry companion with some homemade dog-friendly egg rolls.
When giving it to your pet for the first time, monitor it for any possible adverse effects. Watch for symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, or allergic reactions.
Final Verdict
Although an egg roll will not kill your dog, this Chinese-American dish is not the best and healthiest treat for pups.
You can prepare a healthier alternative using safe ingredients such as carrots and ground beef and omitting the garlic and onion powder, MSG, and soy sauce instead. Plus, you can steam or bake your dog-friendly roll instead of deep frying it.
The regular egg rolls are way too fatty, high in carbs and sodium, and contain potentially hazardous ingredients for dogs.
But if your furry friend has eaten an egg roll, don’t panic. Monitor it for possible adverse effects such as vomiting, diarrhea, or bloating. You should call your veterinarian for advice if they do not resolve themselves within the day.