• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

I Dream of Doggies

  • Home
  • Behavior
  • Breeds
  • Health
  • Shop

What to Do if Your Dog Has Eaten Spaghetti Sauce (Symptoms & Treatment)

February 26, 2020 by Jason Jensen

Even though ripe tomatoes are generally safe for dogs to consume, spaghetti sauce is not. Spaghetti sauce – whether it’s marinara, vodka sauce, pizza sauce, or even Alfredo – contains spices that are toxic to dogs. If your dog just consumed a large amount of spaghetti sauce, keep reading to find out what you should do…

dog eating spaghetti
Remember that scene in Lady and the Tramp when the two dogs share a plate of spaghetti? Yeah, don’t try that in real life.

Why Spaghetti Sauce Is Bad for Dogs

Spaghetti sauces contain garlic and onion, both of which are toxic to dogs. The sauce may also contain other ingredients that are harmful to dogs, but garlic and onion are the main culprits.

Furthermore, unripe tomatoes, tomato stems, and tomato leaves contain a chemical called tomatine, which is also toxic to dogs, and may be present in some tomato sauces.

Lastly, tomato sauces and other types of pasta sauces typically contain a large amount of sodium. Consuming too much salt can cause your dog to become dehydrated, which can lead to them drinking too much water, causing bloat.

Bloat might not sound like a big deal, but it is potentially fatal. The dog’s stomach rapidly fills with gas, which can cause it to twist on itself.

Signs and Symptoms

The first thing you need to do is observe your dog closely for negative symptoms. Primarily, you are looking for the symptoms of garlic/onion toxicity, which include:

  • Lethargy
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Rapid breathing
  • Pale gums and mucus
  • Dehydration
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Note: If your dog vomits immediately after eating spaghetti, and you can see they’ve expelled the undigested sauce, they are going to be just fine.

Take Your Dog to a Vet or Emergency Animal Clinic

If your dog is clearly exhibiting the symptoms above, and they appear to be worsening, you should take them to a vet right away. However, do not panic. It is extremely rare for a dog to die from consuming spaghetti sauce, even if they have consumed a large amount, and are experiencing toxicity.

Even though there is no cure for garlic toxicity, if you get them to the animal hospital fast enough, the vet can safely make them vomit, which should prevent further discomfort. The vet may also be able to give them something to ease whatever discomfort they may be experiencing.

Dogs That Are Most Susceptible to Toxicity

Japanese breeds, such as Akitas and Shiba Inus, are the most susceptible to garlic toxicity. Also, dogs on medications might be more at risk.

Size Matters

The size of your dog matters a lot in this scenario. For example, your dog would likely have to consume several cloves of garlic per pound of bodyweight to do any serious damage to them self.

So, if your 60 lb Labrador ate your plate of spaghetti while you stepped away from the table, they might get an upset stomach, but that’s about it. On the other hand, if your 6 lb Chihuahua jumped on the table, and ate the same amount, they could get seriously ill.

Frequency Also Matters

Most dogs are going to eat something that’s bad for them at some point in their life, whether it’s spaghetti sauce or your leftover McDonald’s that you forgot to put out of their reach; and most of the time, they’re going to be fine. So, if one time your dog gets their snout into a pot of spaghetti sauce, and licks it clean, I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

However, if your dog regularly consumes foods that contain garlic and onions, it could have an accumulative effect that could lead to serious health problems down the road, such as anemia. In that respect, for most dogs, it is the frequency of consumption that is more dangerous than the quantity. In other words, don’t let your dog make a regular habit of licking your pasta plate clean.

Plain Spaghetti Is Fine

If your dog ate some pasta noodles without sauce on them, you have nothing to worry about. Pasta is just water and flour. Wheat flour is commonly used in dog food and biscuits. It won’t hurt them. In fact, if you want to give your dog some plain spaghetti noodles as a treat, go right ahead.

References:

Natália Kovalkovičová, Irena Šutiaková, Juraj Pistl, and Václav Šutiak (September 28, 2009). Some foods toxic for pets. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2984110/

Dr. Ari Aycock-Williams D.V.M. D.A.C.L.A.M. Garlic Toxicity and Dogs: What’s the Full Story? Retrieved from https://www.rover.com/blog/garlic-toxicity-dogs/

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Jason Jensen
Jason Jensen
Jason Jensen is the founder of idreamofdoggies.com. He is a professional writer, experienced doggy-daddy, and longtime animal rights advocate.
Jason Jensen
Latest posts by Jason Jensen (see all)
  • What It’s Like Owning a Bullboxer Pit: Pros and Cons From a Real Owner - December 17, 2020
  • Why Are Azawakhs So Expensive? Here’s What You Need to Know… - December 9, 2020
  • Are Alaskan Malamutes Good Guard Dogs? (Not Really, But They Can Fake the Part) - December 3, 2020

Filed Under: Dog Health

Primary Sidebar

puppy crate cruel

Are Puppy Crates Cruel? The Truth About Crating

dog bitten by rattlesnake

What to Do if Your Dog’s Been Bitten by a Rattlesnake

Newfoundland in the snow.

Can Newfoundlands Live in Hot Climates Like Arizona, Florida, and Texas?

best dog lead

LupinePet Padded Handle Dog Leash: The Best Flat Lead!

Halloumi

Can Dogs Eat Halloumi? (Only If You Follow These Rules…)

mastiff puppies lazy

Are Mastiff Puppies Lazy?

Irish Wolfhound

Are Irish Wolfhounds Good with Cats? (It Depends)

australian shepherd

Top 21 Dog Breeds for Ranches and Farms

Can dogs eat Chinese food?

What to Do if Your Dog Has Eaten Chinese Food (Chinese Food Poisoning Symptoms)

adopt an adult dog

12 Reasons to Adopt an Adult Dog: The Benefits of Older Dogs

Footer

Follow Us

  • facebook
  • pinterest

Pages

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Amazon Affiliate Disclaimer

The owner of this website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties.

Copyright © 2021 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkNo