Super Bowl Sunday has arrived, and the celebration is about so much more than just the football game as the snacks are pretty super, too! Chicken wings, onion rings, nachos, rich dips, and cold brews are delicious favorites from coast to coast at Super Bowl parties, but so many of our favorite football foods aren’t suitable for dogs.
If you have a pup who loves to party and share in the culinary delight that is the Super Bowl, keep in mind some foods aren’t meant for pups. Check out this list of Superbowl foods that aren’t good for dogs and keep the festivities fun for all!
9 Super Bowl Foods That Are Dangerous To Dogs
#1 – Chicken Wings
Dogs love chicken, but your furry friend should never chow down on chicken wings, as the small bones can splinter and cause mouth injuries. If swallowed, bones and bone shards can also become painfully lodged in your dog’s digestive tract or even cause life-threatening punctures in the soft membranes of the digestive organs.
#2 – Onion Rings
The Pet Poison Helpline reports onions are poisonous to dogs in all forms. When consumed in large quantities, onions can cause the formation of Heinz bodies in a dog’s red blood cells. These bodies lead to the destruction of the hemoglobin in blood cells, creating life-threatening anemia. This applies to garlic, chives, and leeks as well.
Throw in the fact onion rings are deep-fried, and you’re looking at surefire stomach upset for a dog. Fried foods are notorious for causing diarrhea in dogs. So, keep snoopy hounds away from onions in all forms.
#3 – Chocolate
A party without dessert is nothing to celebrate, so the football bash of the season is bound to feature brownies, chocolate cake, or some other chocolate confections. But chocolate is highly toxic to dogs. The naturally occurring caffeine and theobromine found in chocolate can cause extreme dehydration in dogs, which can quickly lead to other medical emergencies.
According to The Veterinary Emergency Group, signs of chocolate toxicity in dogs include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Excessive thirst and urination
- Restlessness
- Elevated heart rate
- Seizures
#4 – Beer, Wine, or Any Other Alcoholic Beverages
Toxic even in the tiniest sip, dogs should never consume alcohol in any form. Dr. Eve Cohen of First Vet explains the whole body becomes impaired when dogs drink alcohol. She also warns that symptoms of alcohol poisoning in dogs can occur within 30 minutes to an hour of exposure and can range from excessive drooling and stomach distress to seizures and comas. So, even if your team is making killer plays and the celebration is at max level, don’t be tempted to share a boozy sip with your dog, as the results will be anything but good.
#5 – Caffeinated Beverages & Sodas
Whether in coffee, tea, soda, or an energy drink, caffeine is not good for dogs. Known to raise canine blood pressures to levels that cause heart arrhythmias and seizures, caffeine consumption in large amounts can prove fatal to dogs. And just because a soda is non-caffeinated, don’t share it with your dog either. These caffeine-free options can still create problems for dogs as carbonated beverages are typically loaded with sugar or sugar substitutes. Both can create stomach distress in dogs.
#6 – Dairy Dips & Guacamole
Many of our favorite dips feature cheese, sour cream, or cream cheese, but these dairy delights don’t mix with dog tummies! As most dogs can’t tolerate the lactose in milk, dairy products can cause stomach upset in the form of vomiting and diarrhea.
Avocados are the main ingredient in guacamole, and while we can scarf the good green stuff with abandon, dogs cannot. If your pup filches a small taste, don’t worry. A little bit shouldn’t harm your dog, but avocados in larger quantities can cause illness due to persin, a fungicidal toxin that occurs naturally in avocado plants. The American Kennel Club explains persin “can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and myocardial damage” in all animals.
#7 – Nuts
If you’re planning to set out a bowl of nuts for grazing, keep them out of your dog’s reach, especially if the mix contains macadamia nuts, as they are toxic to dogs. Macadamias aside, most nuts are not poisonous to dogs but can pose a choking hazard. Also, consuming too many nuts can lead to weight gain and pancreatitis in dogs.
#8 – Grapes & Raisins
If you decide to go healthy for the Super Bowl and put out a fruit tray, be sure your dog can’t grab the grapes or raisins. It’s long been a mystery why grapes and raisins cause renal failure in dogs, but the ASPCA reveals that tartaric acid is likely the toxic culprit behind grape poisoning in dogs.
#9 – Toothpicks
While not food, these little wooden picks can be easily consumed by dogs. Like splintered bones, toothpicks can cause punctures to the mouth, throat, and GI tract. Keep them out of doggy reach, and be sure all used toothpicks make it to a trashcan.
Now that you know which foods your pup shouldn’t have on their Super Bowl plate, what can they have?
Treat them To Dog-Friendly Surprises
To help keep your furry friend from grazing the snack table, plan a special treat meant just for them. Check out these Amazing Homemade Dog Cookie Recipes to make your furry friend’s day!
The Oklahoma Humane Society also offers this recipe for Peanut Butter Bacon Dog Treats your dog will love:
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 3/4 cup skim milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/3 cup oats
- 3 strips bacon, crumbled or chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 F.
- Mix peanut butter, milk, and egg. Make sure there are no lumps.
- Add the flour and baking powder. The dough will be very thick.
- Add the oats and bacon.
- Roll the dough out about 1/4″ thick.
- Cut into shapes with a cookie cutter.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes.
If you’re not into baking, check out this list of 20 Fruits & Veggies Your Dog Will Love to give your pup a special Super Bowl plate that will leave them partying too!
