Cheeseburgers are one of the most classic, staple, and delicious fast foods. That mouthwatering cheeseburger possesses the power to quench the eternal urge of foodgasm!
Suppose you’ve grabbed one from the drive-thru, and while handing cash, your cheeseburger vanishes. It is natural for you to get concerned about your dog while he’s devouring your spicy cheeseburger in the backseat.
In this article, we will try to find out if your dog can consume cheeseburgers. We will discuss in detail whether you should be worried if he has downed a few.
Are Cheeseburgers Safe For Your Dog?
In their entirety, fast foods, including cheeseburgers, are not suitable or safe for dogs. Dog owners should be wary of the grease, fats, and spicy toppings that come along with cheeseburgers.
As far as cheese is concerned, you have to ensure that your pup is not lactose intolerant. A typical cheeseburger contains cheddar cheese instead of low-fat varieties like mozzarella, soft goat cheese, or cottage cheese.
Thus, it would be best to get your dog examined at the vet to check allergies and physiological reactions to different foodstuffs.
However, you can feel free to give your dog the meat patty of the plain cheeseburger. But make sure that it does not contain any spices like pepper and salt.
Warning: Do not even think about putting garlic or onion into the meat as they can prove to be fatal for dogs.
What Is The Nutritional Value Of a Cheeseburger?
The following chart depicts the nutritional facts of one serving of a cheeseburger (approximately 199 grams):
| Serving Size | 1 unit (199g) |
| Calories Per Serving | 535 |
| % Daily Values | |
| Total Fat 29g | 45% |
| Saturated Fat 14g | 70% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 2.5g | |
| Monounsaturated Fat 12g | |
| Cholesterol 96mg | 32% |
| Sodium 1176mg | 49% |
| Potassium 444mg | 13% |
| Total Carbohydrate 39g | 13% |
| Dietary Fiber 2.4g | 10% |
| Sugars 7.2g | |
| Protein 30g | |
| Vitamin A | 9.4% |
| Vitamin C | 1% |
| Calcium | 27% |
| Iron | 11% |
Source: https://www.nutritionix.com/food/cheeseburger
What Are The Ill Effects Of Eating a Cheeseburger On Dogs?
The ingredients of a cheeseburger are quite harmful for dogs. Let’s go through the adverse effects offered by those ingredients one by one.
All of that grease present in cheeseburgers can lead to several severe problems in your doggo. He might experience diarrhea or acute pancreatitis.
Cheeseburgers contain high amounts of fat (refer to the aforementioned nutritional facts chart). It can cause issues such as obesity and gastrointestinal issues in your dog.
Moreover, you should completely do away with cheeseburgers if your dog is already overweight.
Cheeseburgers contain onions, loads of them. And everyone knows how toxic onions are for our four-legged canine friends. If consumed in abundance, onions lead to anemia in dogs. As a result, your dog is most likely to suffer from liver failure.
Certain cheeses such as those slices present in cheeseburgers have a very high salt content. Dog owners must know the dangerous effects of sodium poisoning in dogs. Common symptoms of sodium poisoning in dogs include:
-
Extreme thirst
Lack of energy
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Kidney-related disorders
Apart from that, other common condiments of cheeseburgers include garlic and chives. They both are very harmful to dogs.
Lastly, if your dogs are lactose intolerant, it can cause upset stomach and irregular bathroom habit. So, you may want to check that out by giving a tiny piece of cheese to your dog.
How Much Raw Cheeseburger Should I Feed My Dog?
Always remember: with cheeseburgers, moderation is the key. Dogs love eating cheeseburgers and feeding one single serving twice a month is absolutely safe but is never a healthy option.
However, prior consultation with the veterinarian is always recommended.
You should regularly monitor your dog’s weight to check what should be the ideal frequency of giving him cheeseburgers.
How To Feed Cheeseburger Meat To Your Dog?
Instead of the ‘junk’ one, you can use the following alternative to cheeseburger for your dog:
-
Break the beef to fill the skillet. Cover it with water and boil it for a few minutes. Let the beef simmer until it is well-cooked.
Sauté the cooked beef with some healthy veggies like carrots, pumpkin, and greens. Add two teaspoons of olive oil, sauté the veggies until they are well-cooked.
Now, put the cooked beef into the skillet and crumble it. Let it cook until it turns pink and drains off the fat.
Moreover, there are many other healthy and delicious cheeseburger recipes for dogs. You can always look up on the web to make your dog a wholesome and tasty treat.
Author’s Note: If you mix the ground beef with cooked rice, it will offer your dog a better texture and flavor. Not only this, but with cooked rice, beef works wonder for dogs having digestive issues.
Can Pregnant Dogs Eat Cheeseburgers?
Ideally, no. However, if your pregnant dog has accidentally eaten a single cheeseburger, it would not do her muchharm. Excessive consumption will most likely cause an upset stomach and digestive issues in her.
Still, to be safe, it is best if you take the advice of your vet before feeding cheeseburgers to your pregnant dog.
Can Older Dogs Eat Raw Cheeseburger?
Yes, you can give 1-2 cheeseburgers to your older dogs. However, you should know that as dog’s age, their digestive system is not as efficient in handling certain foods.
So, a plain cheeseburger without spices is alright for your older doggo. However, if you have even a shred of doubt regarding whether to feed him a cheeseburger, never hesitate seek your vet’s help.
Author’s Note: We never would recommend that you feed cheeseburgers to dogs of any age whatsoever.
FAQs
Q. Is McDonald’s cheeseburger good for your dog?
No. The McDonald’s cheeseburger is not healthy for your dog. With high amounts of salt, grease, and spices, McDonald’s cheeseburger will upset your dog’s metabolism.
Q. What are the alternatives to cheeseburgers for dogs?
You can feed carrots, apples, and sweet potatoes to your dog instead of fast foods like cheeseburgers and fries. Even popcorn is a very good alternative to something as crunchy as cheeseburgers.
Conclusion
We recommend using a higher lean-to-fat beef ratio in the cheeseburger if you consider feeding one to your dog.
All in all, it is alright for you to feed cheeseburgers to your dog but in moderation. Try using different healthy recipes to inculcate cheese and meat into your dog’s diet.
If you are thinking about giving raw cheeseburger meat to your dog, buy it from a hygienic butchery. Consult your vet whenever you are about to change your dog’s regular diet or tread the cheeseburger route.
We hope this article has helped you decide whether or not you should feed cheeseburgers to your dog. They can eat cheeseburgers but it’s not an absolutely healthy food item for dog.
Do you wish to share the moment when your dog ate a cheeseburger for the first time? Share your stories and opinions in the comment section below.
Dr. Aram Baker has been with Santa Clarita Animal Hospital since 1995 and his special interests include behaviour medicine and dermatology. He graduated from the Cleveland Humanities Magnet Program in Reseda, CA and attended California State University at Northridge where he received a Bachelor’s degree in biology. He went on to pursue his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at the University of California at Davis. He also spent time in the zoological medicine department at U.C. Davis during his Junior and Senior years. He is dedicated to caring for all pets big or small, young or old with compassion, patience, kindness, and love.