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I am one of those dog parents that believe that a bit of human food in moderation is acceptable, obviously dog-safe human food.
My dogs tend not to have a weight issue unless it’s trying to keep weight on them, so a few added calories through human food has never bothered me.
Last weekend, my husband, Mike, and I were sitting down to a nice relaxing breakfast of waffles. And of course, our three dogs looked on with adoring eyes.
At our waffles, not us.
Mike asked if I thought it would be okay to give Ginger a small bite of a waffle.
Since I knew what went into the waffles, because I made them, I agreed she would probably enjoy a little bit.
The other two have food allergies, but before you think I was playing favorites, both Calvin and Sophie both got a bit of my bacon.
Can Dogs Eat Waffles?
The short and simple answer is, yes!
However, they have little to no nutritional value and have a significant amount of fat and calories.
For dogs who are overweight, this is a treat I would not recommend and, instead, offer something slightly lower in calories and higher in fiber, like a slice of apple or green beans.
Waffles are one of those food items that I would give as what I call a “sometimes” treat, meaning its not even a once a week event.
Can Dogs Eat Waffles with Syrup?
Technically, regular syrup will not cause harm to a healthy adult dog.
However, the syrup is just liquid sugar, and dogs do not gain any benefit from eating it, but neither is it considered toxic.
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If your dog suffers from diabetes or weight issues, I would not recommend giving your dog syrup.
Also, if you are using a sugar-free syrup, it is best to check the ingredients to ensure it doesn’t contain xylitol[1] (which it rarely does, but always best to double-check), or sorbitol.
Although sorbitol is not considered toxic, it has been known to cause GI upset in both humans and dogs.
Xylitol has become more common recently so you have to watch out for this ingredient in many human foods, such as peanut butter!
Ingredients That Could Cause Issues
Most ingredients are not an issue for the majority of dogs; however, if you have a dog with allergies, be aware most waffle recipes contain:
I think that homemade is almost always better, though not always faster. The benefit of making yourself waffles is that there are no artificial preservatives or flavors.
Additionally, you know what ingredients are going in waffles, and you have the option of making healthier ingredient choices.
For example, you can opt for whole wheat flour instead of the bleached flour, or you can choose unsweetened applesauce instead of some of the fats.
Both of which would make the waffles more healthy for your pup.
I like knowing that the food and treats I am feeding my dogs are, for the most part, healthy options.
And if I am giving them a treat like waffles, I think homemade is the lesser of two evils.
What Would Happen if a Dog Ate Waffles Every Day?
If someone opted to feed their dog a waffle a day as part of their daily diet, the dog would quickly become overweight and likely suffer from a nutritional imbalance.
Side effect: Chonky pupper
Additionally, your dog may have adverse side-effects from excessive sugar intake.
Dogs experience the same issues as humans do from large amounts of sugar in our diets. Sugar can cause diabetes, obesity, and hyperactivity.
I have Brittanys, and I can’t even imagine how crazy they would be if they were on a sugar high.
What if Your Dog Eats Too Many Waffles
Accidents happen, and sometimes that means your dog got on the counter or table, like Sophie, and ate an obscene amount of food.
In this case, waffles.
First, ask yourself, did you put chocolate or other possibly harmful topping or ingredient in or on the waffles?
Look at me. I’m the waffle now!
If not, super.
If so, call your vet.
Often when dogs overeat their bodies will purge itself, i.e., your dog will vomit.
If not, they may have an upset stomach for a bit resulting in diarrhea or a lack of appetite.
It is best to check on your dog frequently to ensure they don’t have any severe adverse reaction to the waffles. Though it is unlikely, it is always possible.
One last thing to check, if your dog was able to get the waffles, did they also get the butter you set out to go with them?
If so, watch for symptoms of pancreatitis, which is often induced by excessive consumption of fats[3].
Can Dogs Eat Waffles with Toppings?
It depends on what kind of toppings:
Whipped Cream – Yes in small amounts, but it is high in fat, and double-check the ingredients of the sugar-free and fat-free varieties. Also, some dogs are more lactose intolerant than others
Berries – Perfectly okay, unless they have been sitting in sugar
However, the syrup is just liquid sugar, and dogs do not gain any benefit from eating it, but neither is it considered toxic.
