Whether or not dogs can eat noodles is a common question for many pet owners. Noodles are a staple food for humans, so it’s understandable that dog owners may want to share a few bites with their furry friend. The quick answer is that dogs can eat some types of noodles safely, but there are also some important factors to consider before feeding noodles to dogs.
Can Dogs Have Noodles?
The short answer is yes, dogs can eat certain types of noodles, but there are some caveats. Feeding dogs the wrong kinds of noodles or too many noodles can cause digestive upset and even toxicity in rare cases. Understanding which noodles are safe, and how much to feed, is key.
Some noodles made for human consumption, like egg noodles, rice noodles, soba noodles or plain pasta with no added flavors or toppings are generally safe options for dogs to occasionally eat small portions. On the other hand, noodles with added salt, spices, oil or rich sauces can cause stomach upset or even toxicity for dogs and should be avoided.
It’s also important to avoid feeding dogs raw noodles or undercooked pasta. The uncooked dough can expand in the stomach and cause bloat, a life threatening medical emergency for dogs. Be sure any noodles fed to dogs are plain and fully cooked.
Nutritional Value of Noodles for Dogs
Noodles don’t offer much nutritional value for dogs. Most noodles are made from simple carbohydrates, like white flour, rice flour or buckwheat flour. They provide calories, but minimal protein, vitamins or minerals.
Some egg noodles may offer a small amount of protein from eggs. Whole grain or vegetable noodle varieties also contain a little more nutritional value. But plain noodles are still a refined starch food, so they should never make up a large part of a dog’s regular diet.
Occasionally feeding your dog a few plain noodles as a treat is fine, but noodles should not replace balanced dog food. Your pet’s main diet should include quality commercial dog food or homemade recipes designed to meet your dog’s nutritional requirements.
Benefits of Noodles for Dogs
In moderation, noodles can provide the following benefits for dogs:
- Extra calories – Plain noodles offer supplemental calories, which can be beneficial for very active dogs or underweight dogs that need to gain weight. An occasional small serving of noodles can help increase daily calorie intake.
- Taste variety – Dogs love variety in their diets. An occasional new food like plain noodles can add interest to a dog’s routine diet.
- Bonding – Sharing noodles with your dog can be a way to bond. Take care not overfeed though.
While noodles can add some extra calories and interest for dogs, they don’t offer complete and balanced nutrition. Make sure noodles are only an occasional treat.
Risks of Feeding Noodles to Dogs
While plain noodles are relatively safe in small amounts, there are still some risks to be aware of when feeding noodles to dogs:
- Choking hazard – Long noodle strands can pose a choking risk for dogs. To reduce this risk, cut noodles into very short pieces before feeding.
- Digestive upset – Too much starch and carbohydrates from noodles may cause diarrhea, gas or upset stomach in some dogs.
- Toxic ingredients – Seasonings, salt, oil, onions, chives or garlic in some noodles can be toxic for dogs. Stick to plain noodles.
- Pancreatitis – A high fat meal of noodles and oil or cream sauce can inflame the pancreas and cause pancreatitis in susceptible dogs.
- Obesity – Noodles are high in carbohydrate calories with little nutrition. Overfeeding noodles could contribute to pet obesity.
- Bloat – Eating a large volume of dry noodles can rapidly expand in the stomach and cause life threatening bloat.
Being aware of these risks and feeding noodles in moderation can help avoid issues.
Can Dogs Eat These Common Types of Noodles?
Whether or not a certain noodle variety is safe for dogs depends on the specific ingredients. Here is a quick rundown of some popular types of noodles and whether dogs can eat them:
Egg Noodles
Safe: Plain egg noodles made from flour, eggs, salt and water are generally safe for dogs to eat in moderation. The small amount of egg protein is a healthy addition.
Rice Noodles
Safe: Plain rice noodles made from rice flour and water are safe for dogs. Look for low sodium varieties.
Soba Noodles
Safe: Wheat flour soba noodles are typically safe for dogs. Buckwheat soba noodles are also safe and offer some additional nutrients.
Udon Noodles
Safe: Simple flour udon noodles are fine for dogs as an occasional treat.
Ramen Noodles
Unsafe: Most dry ramen noodle packets contain seasoned salt flavoring that is too salty and spicy for dogs. Plain ramen noodles are ok, but best avoided.
Lo Mein Noodles
Unsafe: Lo mein noodles contain oil and often onion or garlic, which are unsafe for dogs.
Pad Thai Rice Noodles
Unsafe: Pad thai noodles are seasoned and cooked with ingredients like fish sauce, chili powder, onions and lime juice, which can all be toxic for dogs.
Pasta Noodles
Safe: Plain pasta noodles, like spaghetti, penne or fettuccine, are safe for dogs to eat. Avoid pasta dishes with added salt, oil or ingredients.
What Human Foods Can I Safely Share With My Dog?
In addition to plain noodles, dogs can enjoy small amounts of these other people foods as occasional treats:
- Boiled chicken
- Scrambled eggs
- Peanut butter
- Plain yogurt
- Oatmeal
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Bananas
- Pumpkin
- Cheese
Be sure to introduce any new foods slowly and in small amounts to watch for any digestive upset. Never feed dogs foods that are toxic to canines like chocolate, raisins, grapes, onions, raw dough and bones.
How Much Noodle is Safe to Feed My Dog?
When feeding noodles or any human foods to dogs, moderation is key. As a general guideline, the following portions are appropriate for the average adult dog:
| Dog Size | Portion Size |
|---|---|
| Small dog under 15 lbs | 1 – 2 tablespoons maximum |
| Medium dog 15 – 50 lbs | 2 – 3 tablespoons maximum |
| Large dog over 50 lbs | 3 – 4 tablespoons maximum |
This portion once or twice a week is fine. Avoid feeding dogs noodles in excess.
Tips for Feeding Dogs Noodles
If you want to safely share noodles with your dog, follow these tips:
- Select plain noodles with no added salt, oil, spices, onions, garlic or other dog unsafe ingredients
- Check the package and look for low sodium varieties ideally
- Stick to noodles made from dog safe flours like rice flour, wheat flour or egg noodles
- Cook the noodles fully until soft
- Allow noodles to cool completely before feeding to avoid scalding your dog
- Cut noodles into very short pieces to reduce choking risk
- Mix a small amount of noodles into your dog’s regular food
- Start with just 1-2 tablespoons for small dogs, 2-3 Tbsp for medium dogs and 3-4 Tbsp for large dogs
- Only feed plain noodles occasionally, not daily or as a meal replacement
- Monitor your dog for signs of an upset stomach like diarrhea, vomiting, or abnormal gas
- Avoid feeding noodles to dogs with a history of pancreatitis or other conditions aggravated by high carbohydrate foods
Following these tips will allow you to share noodles safely and minimize any risks.
Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes With Noodles
If you want to mix some noodles into your dog’s regular homemade meals, here are a couple healthy recipe options:
Chicken and Rice Noodle Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1/2 cup cooked rice noodles
- 1 cup mixed cooked vegetables like carrots, green beans, broccoli
- 2 Tbsp plain yogurt
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp bone meal powder
Instructions:
- Boil chicken breast until fully cooked and shred
- Prepare rice noodles according to package directions
- Lightly steam vegetables until soft
- Mix together all ingredients in a bowl
- Portion into your dog’s bowl and serve
Beef and Wheat Noodle Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1/2 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup cooked wheat noodles
- 1 cup mixed vegetables like peas, green beans, zucchini
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbsp cottage cheese
- 1 Tbsp fish oil
Instructions:
- Brown ground beef in a skillet, drain fat
- Prepare wheat noodles per package instructions
- Lightly cook vegetables until soft
- Mix all ingredients together
- Portion into your dog’s bowl to serve
Adding just a small amount of noodles to recipes like these can provide extra taste, texture and calories for your dog while still meeting their nutritional needs.
Conclusion
In moderation, plain noodles can be a safe and tasty treat for most dogs. Egg noodles, rice noodles, soba noodles and plain wheat pasta are generally safe options to feed dogs on occasion. However, seasonings, salt, oil, onions, garlic and other dog unsafe ingredients found in many noodle dishes must be avoided.
While noodles don’t offer much nutrition for dogs, a few tablespoons of plain noodles mixed into their food 1-2 times a week won’t harm your dog and can add some extra calories and enjoyment. Just be sure to supervise your dog when eating to reduce any choking risk and start slowly with small amounts to avoid digestive upset.
Focus on feeding your dog a nutritionally balanced diet, and view noodles as an occasional treat only, not as a dietary staple. With these precautions in mind, sharing the joy and flavors of noodles with your furry best friend can be a safe and bonding experience!