No, dogs cannot eat ranch as it does not have any health benefits. Moreover, it also contains ingredients that can lead to severe health issues in dogs.
Table of Contents
What is a Ranch?
Ranch dressing is a salad dressing made of buttermilk, salt, garlic, onion, mustard, herbs, and spices mixed into a sauce based on mayonnaise.
Is Ranch Safe For Dogs?
No, ranch is not safe for dogs. It contains toxic ingredients such as onion and garlic. It also has other ingredients which are bad for your dog’s health.
Analysis of Ingredients in Ranch
Buttermilk: Unless your dog is lactose intolerant, buttermilk is beneficial and does not harm the health of your dog. But the buttermilk used in ranch dressing is made with copious amounts of sugar, salt, and other flavors. Hence, avoid buttermilk.
Sour Cream: If your dog is not lactose intolerant, your dog can consume sour cream; but it can lead to health issues in your dog in the long run. Sour cream is high in fat, and when fed excessively, it can lead to obesity in dogs.
Mustard: More often than not, Dijon mustard is added to ranch dressing. It contains vinegar and other spices which are harmful to your dog’s stomach.
Garlic: Garlic is considered to be toxic for dogs and is difficult to digest. It damages your dog’s blood cells and can lead to your dog being diagnosed with hemolytic anemia.
Onion: Onion or onion powder is added to the ranch. Onions have the toxic compound N- Propyl Disulfide that can damage your red blood cells. It can spell disaster for your dog’s health when consumed and so, it is wise to avoid ranch.
Chives: They are also toxic, just as their fellow ingredients – onion and garlic. Hence, chives should not be fed to your dogs.
Parsley: In smaller servings, parsley is safe/preferable for dogs; but it proves to be harmful to your dog’s health in larger quantities. According to ASPCA, parsley is toxic for dogs as it contains a compound called Parsley Furanocoumarin.
Dill: Dill is safe for dogs. It contains health benefits as long as it is served in moderation.
Why is Ranch Bad for Dogs?
Obesity: Ranch contains a lot of calories due to its high-fat content. Hence, consuming ranch will make your dog obese.
Diabetes: As buttermilk and other ingredients in ranch contain sugar, your dog can become diabetic.
Heart Diseases: The toxic ingredients, along with high sodium content, can lead to heart diseases in your dog.
Kidney Problems: Due to the toxic nature of the ingredients present in ranch dressing, your dog might suffer from kidney problems.
Liver Problems: Ingredients like garlic, onion, and chives cause liver problems in dogs.
Damage to Red Blood Cells: Onions and garlic can harm dogs’ red blood cells. The damaged red blood cells lose their efficiency to carry oxygen, leading to anemia.
Allergic Reactions: Consuming onion and garlic will evoke allergic reactions in your dog, such as vomiting, diarrhea, discolored urine, and skin problems.
How much Ranch to Feed Your Dog?
A tiny drop of ranch will not do any harm to your dog. Still, ranch should not be fed to your dog.
What if my Dog ate Ranch?
Symptoms to look out for if your dog has consumed ranch:
Stomach upset
Vomiting
Diarrhea
If your dog shows any of the symptoms mentioned above, take him to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Alternatives to Ranch
Apples
Bananas
Carrots
Cucumbers
Blueberries
Blackberries
Cooked fish
Plain boiled chicken
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Dogs have an allergic reaction to Ranch?
Dogs can have allergic reactions to ranch. Its ingredients onion and garlic are toxic for dogs.
Can my Dog eat Ranch Chips?
Most of the ingredients, if not all, present in ranch are also present in its chips. Hence, they are likely to cause the same health issues as ranch.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, dogs should NOT be fed ranch because it is detrimental to your dog’s health and can cause major health issues.
