Most people have tried sour cream before, and it has become a very popular ingredient in most recipes. This has dog owners everywhere wondering can dogs eat sour cream? This article will give you straightforward answers on if dogs can eat sour cream that way, you can know If you can share it with your dog at mealtime.
Can Dogs Eat Sour Cream?
Yes, dogs can eat sour cream safely, but you will need to watch out for signs of lactose intolerance. If your dog is lactose intolerant, it can have a lot of negative side effects. If your dog isn’t, then it can safely enjoy a dollop of sour cream on top of its dog food, or you can even let your dog lick the spoon after you get sour cream for yourself.
Is Sour Cream Safe for Dogs?
Yes, the good thing is that sour cream is made of completely non-toxic ingredients. Again, as I said above, your dog shouldn’t have any issues with it unless your dog is lactose intolerant or you give your dog way too much sour cream.
When you introduce any new food to your dog, you want to do it slowly and mindfully. However, even if your dog isn’t lactose intolerant, it can still possibly have an allergy to one of the ingredients that make up sour cream. Always watch your dog for signs of an allergy; some are:
- Your dog is sneezing.
- Runny nose.
- Watery eyes
- Itching of the skin.
Keep in mind, too, that sour cream is a fermented product. That is what indeed makes it sour. Sometimes dogs like the taste, and some might not. There are also various sour cream alternatives on the market that might be suitable for your dog to consume. Keep in mind some of these plant-based products could be made with soy which is actually a common allergy among dogs.
Benefits of Sour Cream
Sour cream may give your dog some small benefits but should mostly be treated as a treat for your dog. Below you will find a few benefits your dog will gain if it eats sour cream.
Calcium – Calcium is very important for dogs, just like humans. It is what helps promote strong and healthy bones. Sour cream does contain some calcium, and while it doesn’t have as much as milk, it can still give your dog some.
Vitamins – Sour cream does contain some vitamins and minerals that can be beneficial to your pooch. Some of these are iron, phosphorous, vitamin A, vitamin B6, B12, Magnesium, and sodium. While there are not huge amounts of these vitamins and minerals in sour cream, it is still better than none.
Energy – Sour cream has quite a high-fat content, which will give your dog some increased energy. The extra energy your dog will get maybe something that you don’t even notice.
Side Effects of Sour Cream
As with everything, there will be some side effects. Below are some side effects to watch out for if your dog consumes sour cream. Keep in mind every dog is different, and your dog could get all or none of these effects.
High Calorie and Fat Count – Even just a tablespoon or two of sour cream will actually be very high in calories. Every brand has a different calorie count per tablespoon, but it will range from 23 to 90. Clearly, these calories can add up quickly if you give your dog more than a couple of tablespoons. I highly recommend not giving your dog too much because too much of anything is never good.
There is also a lot of fat inside of sour cream. Sour cream has a high amount of saturated fats. This type of fat is considered the unhealthy one. A lot of excess fat is not good for dogs, so it is important that you truly only give your dog sour cream in moderation.
Lactose – As you already know, sour cream has a lot of lactose in it. If your dog is lactose intolerant, its stomach and bowels can be very messed up if consuming lactose. Lactose is the sugar found inside the milk.
If your dog has an issue with this, it can cause a whole lot of problems such as stomach upset, diarrhea, and possible vomiting.
Weight Gain – As I have mentioned above, the high calorie and high-fat content can make your dog gain weight if you are feeding your dog a lot of sour cream. You need to also consider your dog’s size. If you are feeding a small breed dog such as a miniature poodle, this dog will gain weight faster because of the high calories. On the other hand, if you have a large breed dog such as a German Sheperd, you may not even see a weight gain.
Additives – Unfortunately, not all sour creams have simple and pure ingredients. Some have added ingredients that may not be safe for your dog. Certain preservatives or added things like gelatin may not be something you want your dog to eat. Dog bodies are affected much differently than us humans.
Can Dogs Eat Potatoes with Sour Cream?
Yes, both plain un-salted potatoes are completely safe for your dog to consume. Your dog can eat mashed potatoes also. If you want, you can add a very small amount of sour cream to accompany the potato. Of course, only do this if you already know that your dog is not lactose intolerant and won’t have an allergic reaction to it.
Your dog will get some nice nutritional benefits from the potato, and the sour cream will make it slightly creamier. Remember that moderation is the key to feeding your dog sour cream.
Can Dogs Eat Sour Cream and Onion Chips?
No, dogs should not eat sour cream and onion chips. While sour cream is safe for dogs, onions are not. If you didn’t already know, onions are extremely toxic to dogs and shouldn’t ever be given to them. Even if the chips do not have onions on them, you can see that they are full of onion powder, which is still harmful for dogs.
Chips are also very unhealthy and shouldn’t be given to your dog. There are no nutritional benefits that a chip will provide for your dog. Now yes, you can give your dog a plain (no salt added) potato chip, but it really isn’t necessary.
Can Dog Eat Sour Cream Pringles?
No, just like the question above, it is not safe for dogs to eat sour cream chips. Chips are full of so much sodium. Too much sodium is a bad thing for anyone. Remember that our daily sodium intake is different from your dogs.
Alternatives to Sour Cream
There are always substitutions that can be given if your dog cannot have sour cream. Some of these alternatives with have more health benefits than sour cream, so it is something you should think about.
Yogurt
If you have already ruled out lactose intolerance in your dog and you know that dairy is safe, give your dog yogurt instead of sour cream. It is important that you don’t purchase yogurt with added fruits or sugars.
Look for pain, low-fat, or fat-free yogurt. Make sure you look at the ingredients and see if there are any that will harm your dog. For example, fake sugars or sugar alcohols are not good for your dog to consume, so check the ingredients first. A spoonful of plain, fat-free, with no flavor, added yogurts are the best option for your dog.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a great snack for dogs. It is full of health benefits and protein that your dog needs for healthy body function. However, keep in mind that peanut butter is full of calories, so a little goes a long way. So while you enjoy your sour cream, your dog can have a spoonful of peanut butter.
Bananas
Bananas are such a great snack for your little dog. If you want to give your dog something with the same texture as sour cream, then a mashed banana will do just that. In addition, bananas are full of vitamins and minerals, which is very beneficial for your dog. You can even give your dog banana chips instead of your sour cream and onion chips.
Overall
The answer to this interesting question of can dogs eat sour cream has been answered. Now you know you can give your dog a very small amount if they are not lactose intolerant. Make sure you let me know in the comments below of how your dog reacted to eating sour cream.