Beatrice Ojakangas, a product developer, found a gold mine when she created pizza rolls in Duluth, Minnesota, in the 1960s; a time when quick and easy snacks and meals were becoming increasingly popular. While pizza rolls are undeniably higher, they are not a healthy treat for your pup, and some of the ingredients are even toxic to dogs.
Additionally, our pets are not used to eating hot food, and could easily burn their mouths and tongues in their rush to eat this forbidden snack, which many people have done! If your dog stole a small piece of a pizza roll, there’s probably no reason to panic, but they’re food that should stay on your plate, not in their bowl.
Why shouldn’t dogs eat pizza rolls?
Although there are many foods that both we and our dogs can consume, this does not apply to everything. Some foods that are perfectly safe for humans are extremely toxic to canines, while others can only make them sick. Let’s face it, pizza rolls aren’t a very healthy food, and the same aspects that make them a treat rather than a staple have an even bigger impact on our dogs.
Thanks to domestication, our canine companions have evolved to metabolize carbohydrates better than their wild counterparts. Exposure to the food we consume has triggered an adaptation in our pets. Many animals ate the table scraps that people gave them. So even though your dog may be able to digest food like a pizza crust, that doesn’t mean he should.
Calories
The first red flag involves calories. Depending on which brand you buy, a serving size of six rolls contains 200 calories, or about 33 calories per pizza roll. That might not sound like much until you consider the recommended calorie intake for dogs versus humans. The suggested amount is 2,000–2,500 for people. On the other hand, a 10-pound puppy should only get 275 calories.
The 33 calories in one roll come mostly from fat, so it’s not the best way to use up your daily allowance. Additionally, there is very little nutritional value to be found in a pizza roll. Their primary advantage is that they are tasty, not healthy.
sodium
Sodium is a problem for dogs and humans. Our bodies have an optimal concentration of electrolytes like this. If you consume too much of this mineral, your body will retain water, which can increase blood volume, putting pressure on the cardiovascular system. This is more of a chronic issue that affects humans, but theoretically, dogs consuming high sodium foods may experience similar effects.
The amount of sodium contained in a pizza roll is unlikely to cause sodium toxicity, but in very small dogs it is a possibility.
The dangers of feeding dogs pizza rolls
They say that ‘the dose makes the poison’, and the same can be said for a snack like a pizza roll. One spin is unlikely to be a problem for a 70lb Labrador, but for a 7lb Yorkie, electrolyte imbalances, gastrointestinal issues and pancreatitis are within the realm of possibility.
Other dangers of feeding dogs pizza rolls lie in the individual products and flavors. Therefore, the red flags vary depending on what you get, although we found some common denominators across all versions that keep them off the menu.
Garlic powder and onion powder are found in most types of pizza dough, and although they often appear far down the ingredient list, they are still a problem. Both onions and garlic are toxic to dogs, and it only takes 15-30 grams per kilogram of body weight of either to cause toxicity. And since powders are concentrated forms of these ingredients, a small amount can cause a problem.
Signs of poisoning include the following:
Tips for treats
Treats are part of our bonding experience with our pets and we like to do what we think are good things for our dogs. Part of that involves sharing. However, we strongly urge you to avoid giving your puppy pizza rolls. There are too many potential problems. It’s far safer to stick to treats that are formulated for dogs, or even some chunks of plain, cooked meat.
Although treats may be safe for your dog, they are not nutritionally complete. They should not make up more than 10% of their daily caloric intake. We recommend limiting them as training aids to optimize their inclusion in your pet’s diet. For most dogs, a treat is more related to the “how” and “when” it is given, rather than the “what.” Therefore, using a small handful of their usual snacks can be a safe and easy way to reward them without adding unnecessary calories or risking an upset stomach.
Conclusion
We’ll admit to occasionally enjoying pizza rolls, even if they’re not the healthiest choice. However, you should not offer them to your dog. A lot supports this recommendation, from the high sodium content to the possible toxic ingredients. Dogs are not like people. These are different species with specific nutritional needs adapted to their biology. You will find that there are many other safer and more nutritious options for your canine companion, such as plain cooked chicken, dog treats, or just plain dog food.
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Featured Image Credit: Rimma Bondarenko, Shutterstock
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