Who doesn’t love hummus? With so many flavors everybody can find an option they crave. Your dog staring up at you, with those irresistible puppy eyes, would probably love a bite as well. The question is, can dogs eat hummus? Is hummus okay for dogs? Let’s find out!
Can Dogs Eat Hummus? (The Short Answer)
No, unfortunately, hummus is not safe for your pooch. Hummus is made out of chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, and you may be thinking, “well garbanzo beans are safe, so why isn’t hummus?” The answer lies in the other ingredients that are combined with the ground up chickpeas. Basically, all hummus recipes include a splash of lemon juice and a dash of garlic. Garlic is toxic for dogs and lemon juice can cause a lot of other undesirable health issues—for more on that check out our article, “Can Dogs Eat Lemons?” Overall, dogs should not eat hummus due to the concern of the various dangerous ingredients that could be mixed in.
It’s important to remember, that even with the best of intentions, accidents happen and dogs can easily eat things they shouldn’t. Unfortunately, even if those accidents aren’t fatal, they can result in huge, unexpected veterinary expenses. That’s why we recommend all responsible dog owners get a free, online pet insurance quote from Healthy Paws.
Is Hummus Good For Dogs?
We’ve already answered the question, “can dogs eat hummus?” Now, let’s learn about the benefits of feeding your dog this food! Is hummus good for dogs?
If you’ve fed your dog chickpeas before due to all the health benefits, you’ve probably wondered, “Is hummus okay for dogs?” Unfortunately, hummus isn’t okay for dogs. Technically the chickpeas, which really makes up the majority of hummus, is healthy for dogs. However, the other ingredients added make this snack unacceptable to feed to your dog.
Hummus is made out of chickpeas, which are healthy for dogs and humans! Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are a rich source of protein, potassium, magnesium, and folate. They’re full of fiber and help promote eye health. They’ve even been shown to help regulate blood sugar! Plain chickpeas are perfectly safe for dogs. For more information on what beans are safe for your dog, check out our article, “Can Dogs Have Beans?”
While these all seem like positive aspects of hummus, there are serious problems with hummus that makes it not suitable for dogs. The two big ingredients in hummus that aren’t safe are garlic and lemon. Their inclusion make hummus a no-go for feeding to your dog.
Is Hummus Bad for Dogs?
We’ve already answered the question, “can dogs eat hummus?” Now, let’s learn about the dangers of feeding your dog this food! Is hummus bad for dogs?
Yes, hummus is bad for dogs. Hummus is generally regarded as being healthy, but that’s only true in moderation. There are lots of calories and fat in hummus. Specifically for dogs, hummus contains unsafe, and even toxic, ingredients. For these reasons, you should not give your dog hummus.
There are a lot of ingredients in hummus that are potentially dangerous for dogs. While the main ingredient in hummus is safe and even healthy for dogs, many other ingredients are not safe. I’ve scoured so many recipes to try and find just one that contained all dog-safe ingredients to no avail. Nearly all recipes contained lemon, garlic, or nutmeg as an ingredient—all of which are dangerous to dogs.
In addition to the dangerous ingredients, there are also some other unhealthy aspects to hummus. Hummus is generally considered healthy, however it does have a decent amount of salt. Additional salt isn’t healthy for dogs and can take a toll on their kidneys if frequently given excess quantities of it. In addition to salt, hummus has a lot of calories and fats. In two tablespoons of a generic hummus there are 70 calories. While that may not seem like a ton of calories, consider the fact that it’s in a very small quantity. In those two tablespoons, there are about 5 grams of fat as well. Even if there were not dangerous ingredients, this food has other downsides.
Other Varieties & Related Foods:
Can Dogs Eat Plain Hummus?
No, dogs should not eat plain hummus. Despite the names “plain,” “original,” or “classic,” they still contain dangerous ingredients. If plain meant just ground up chickpeas then, yes, plain hummus would be safe for dogs. Every store-bought hummus that I found included garlic or lemon as an ingredient. Figuring homemade items are often safer for dogs, I looked into homemade plain hummus recipes and, still, they all contained garlic and/or lemon. For this reason, you should not give you pup hummus as these ingredients are dangerous.
Can Dogs Eat Garlic Hummus?
No, dogs should not, under any circumstances, eat garlic hummus. Garlic is toxic to dogs and is a major contributing factor as to why dogs cannot eat hummus. Garlic hummus recipes obviously contain more garlic than plain hummus and often include additional spices that could cause digestive issues in dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Red Pepper Hummus?
No, dogs should not eat red pepper hummus. Both the red peppers and hummus itself are unsafe for dogs. But don’t confuse red pepper with bell peppers or peppercorn, both of which are safe for dogs! Red pepper is much spicier than those other safe types of peppers, and spicy foods usually do not go over well with dog’s digestive systems and often cause diarrhea or vomiting.
Can Dogs Eat Chocolate Hummus?
No dogs can not eat chocolate hummus! For starters, it contains chocolate. Chocolate, like other junk foods such as licorice, is toxic for dogs and just a small amount can cause diarrhea, vomiting, or even death.
Is Green Hummus Okay for Your Pup?
No, dogs can’t eat green hummus! Also commonly referred to as “green goddess hummus,” this hummus generally contains green onions and lime juice, in addition to lemon and garlic. This doubles the number of dangerous ingredients in the hummus, making an already unsafe food even worse!
In Conclusion: Can Dogs Have Hummus?
So, so hummus okay for dogs? No, dogs cannot have hummus. While chickpeas are a protein-packed, high-fiber food, the other ingredients blended in can be extremely dangerous to dogs. Hummus is such a tasty treat because of all the ingredients we mix into the garbanzo beans. Unfortunately for our pups, some of those ingredients just aren’t safe for them.
Want to Learn More?
Check out these related articles from our “Read Before You Feed” series for more advice on safe foods for dogs!
- Can Dogs Eat Almond Butter?
- Can Dogs Eat Okra?
- Are Tortillas Bad for Dogs?
- Can Dogs Eat Cereal?
- Can Dogs Eat Whipped Cream?
Disclaimer: We are not veterinarians and this article should not be taken as medical or veterinary advice. If you have any questions about your pet’s health or dietary needs, please contact your local veterinarian.
