The ranch is a creamy dressing made from an array of ingredients. The prominent ones include herbs, spices, salt, buttermilk, and so on. There is no denying the fact that your pooch has an eye on your plate most of the time. He is more keen to know what you are eating than concentrate on his food.
So, has it ever been that your dog came from nowhere and licked some of the ranch dressing you had on your plate? It could even be that there were leftovers on your plate. Your dog sought the right opportunity of having some of it when you were out of sight. Now, that may have left you worried, right? So, can your dog eat ranch? Will it cause any harm to them? Read on to know more.
Is Ranch Bad for Dogs?
Yes, ranch dressings are bad for dogs because of the ingredients that go into the preparation. Some of them are safe. But most are considered toxic for your pet. They may lead to health problems, especially if eaten in excessive amounts.
Ranch, which is a creamy salad dressing, is prepared using a lot of things. Some that need special mention include garlic, onion, mustard, chives, mayonnaise, etc. Ingredients like garlic, onion, and chives are extremely toxic for dogs. Sour cream, and buttermilk, make it an unwanted food choice for lactose-intolerant dogs.
Ranch dressings are also high in calories, with 484 calories in 100 grams of ranches. So letting your dog feed on the same, even in small amounts, might trigger obesity. The risk will be higher if your dog is susceptible to weight gain. On looking at the ingredients that go into the making of ranch dressing, we will get a vivid idea of how harmful it can be for dogs.
What are Ranch Dressings Made of?
When we say dogs shouldn’t be allowed to eat ranch, there is a reason behind the same. You could blame it all on the ingredients involved in the preparation of ranch dressing. Let’s take a look at the components of which ranch dressings are made.
- Buttermilk
- Mayonnaise
- Sour cream
- Yogurt
- Garlic
- Mustard
- Onion
- Herbs (like parsley, dill, chives)
- Spices (such as ground mustard seed, paprika, and pepper)
So, now it’s quite evident how harmful ranch will be for dogs. Let’s analyze the ingredients individually and their effects on dogs.
1. Buttermilk
It’s safe for your dog’s digestive system when eaten in moderation. Increased consumption could lead to obesity and digestive disorders.
2. Mayonnaise
A small amount of mayonnaise won’t do much harm to your dog. But allowing your dog to indulge in the same regularly could cause a whole lot of health hazards in the long run. They include obesity, lethargy, diabetes, and so on.
3. Sour Cream
It isn’t toxic when eaten in measured amounts. But sour cream isn’t preferable when your dog has lactose intolerance. Your dog may show signs of bloating, diarrhea, vomiting, and lessened appetite if he isn’t able to digest milk or milk products.
4. Yogurt
The plain and unsweetened ones are alright when eaten in controlled amounts. But, if the yogurt has toxic fruits, artificial sweeteners, or added sugars in it, then that must be avoided.
5. Garlic and Onion
Both these ingredients are extremely toxic for dogs. They contain the compound N-propyl disulfide, which damages the red blood cells carrying oxygen. It may put your dog at risk of anemia. It could be life-threatening if treatment isn’t done at the earliest.
6. Mustard
Mustard isn’t safe for your dog. Sometimes consuming even a small amount of the same can result in toxic effects. The reason is the compounds present in the mustard seeds, which could cause gastroenteritis in canines.
7. Herbs
Some herbs that go into the making of ranches include dill, parsley, chives, cilantro, mint, basil, etc. While dill, cilantro, mint, and basil are safe for your dogs when given in restricted amounts. Chives are considered unsafe for dogs.
Regarding parsley, the curly-leaf parsley is okay. But spring parsley might have harmful effects.
8. Spices
Of the various spices that go into the preparation of ranch, paprika is not safe for dogs. Little amounts won’t harm. But, when eaten in excess quantities, it may lead to a stomach problem.
Another spice that goes into its preparation is pepper. Dogs can consume bell pepper, either raw or cooked. However, spicy peppers are prohibited as they could result in stomach upset.
9. Salt
Lastly, we cannot ignore the salt content present in ranch. 100 grams of ranch dressing has 1094 mg of salt. It isn’t that dogs cannot eat salt, but they should only in limited amounts. The salt intake of dogs differs as per their size. Eating even a small amount of salt could cause immense health hazards to a small breed like Chihuahua than to a big breed like Great Dane.
Excessive amounts of salt may lead to salt toxicity. Some of the common signs of salt poisoning include diarrhea and vomiting. In severe cases, it could even result in seizures.
What to Do if Your Dog Eats Ranch: 4 Important Things
The first thing that you must do is to keep calm and take one thing at a time. The earlier you act, the sooner you will be able to help your dog if he has a problem.
1. Understand the Situation
The first thing that is of immense importance is understanding and analyzing the situation. For instance, you must identify, if possible, how much of the ranch your dog ate. Also, it would be better to check the ingredients that went into its preparation. In this way, you will get to know how much damage your dog has done to itself. The more you are aware of your dog’s situation, the quicker you can find a way to relieve him.
2. Keep A Watch On His Symptoms
This is another essential thing to keep in mind. Once you have identified that your dog has eaten ranch, you must monitor him closely. How is your dog doing? Is he fine? Or is he showing any symptoms of discomfort? If he is alright for the time being, then keep a watch on him for the next day or two.
But, if your dog falls seriously sick after eating ranch and shows symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, increased panting, confusion, excessive thirst, etc., then you need to get in touch with the vet at the earliest.
3. Clear The Mess
When you have noticed that your dog has eaten ranch, ensure that he doesn’t do so any further. So, one of the main things you need to do is to clear the mess, especially if you see the bottle opened and the ranch spilled on the floor.
While you do the same, send your dog to another room if possible.
4. Contact the Vet
It’s your call if you want to contact the vet right after you spot your dog eating ranch. If he has eaten almost half a bottle, then it is worrisome. But if he has just licked some of the ranches from your plate or from the floor, you could perhaps hold on for a while.
However, if you find your dog vomiting or showing discomfort, do not delay contacting the vet. When you take your dog to the vet, keep some of the essential details handy to help him start treatment at once.
They include:
- Your dog’s weight
- Your dog’s size
- How much of the ranch he ate
- How long has it been since he has eaten the same
- Your dog’s condition (whether he is alright or showing signs of discomfort)
If possible, you could even take the bottle of ranch to the vet for him to check out the ingredients. That might make things easier for him.
Alternative to Ranch for Dogs
Ranch dressing isn’t the perfect treat option for your dog. It’ll do more bad than good. There are umpteen treat options that you may select as an alternative to ranch. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
- Peanut butter oatmeal treat
- Peanut butter and pumpkin treat
- Chicken and beet treat
- Cooked sweet potatoes
- Frozen pumpkin and yogurt treat
- Peanut butter bacon treat
- Apple carrot dog treat
- Raw, steamed, or roasted broccoli (unsweetened)
- Cooked squash
- Cooked sweet potatoes
- Sweet potato fries
- Homemade biscuits (with peanut butter, oats, wheat flour, beef broth)
These are just a few, and the list is endless. But do remember to give your dog homemade treats in measured amounts.
FAQ’s
Can ranch dressing be fatal for dogs?
The effect ranch dressing may have on dogs depends on their size and the amount they eat. If a small dog licks some amount of ranch from your plate, that will do more harm than a big dog licking the same amount. Moreover, some of the ingredients in ranch dressing, like onion and garlic, are harmful to your dog. So, increased consumption may put your dog at risk. If immediate attention is not paid after your dog has consumed ranch dressing, it might be life-threatening as well.
Can dogs eat ranch potato chips?
No, it is advisable not to give dogs ranch potato chips. They do not just contain ranch seasonings but other ingredients as well. These include salt, spices, onion powder, vegetable oil, etc. All of these could be harmful to your dog.
Conclusion
Ranch dressings are delicious. They will complement your chips, sandwiches, fries, pizzas, and wraps. But what is good for you isn’t good for your dog. So before pampering your pooch with a spoon of ranch dressing, remember the hazards it would cause him. Instead, try out interesting treat options. In that way, you will also ensure your dog is healthy and happy.
Elena Gherman is a highly skilled and knowledgeable animal care expert. At the start of her career, she gained practical expertise with multiple animals. In addition to that, she works as a DVM veterinary editor for Joy Pet Products, which focuses on offering reliable information on pet health and wellbeing. She meticulously reviews each piece of writing before it is published to make sure pet owners get the most precise and updated information possible.