Mayo is one of the most commonly used condiments on sandwiches. It’s also the base of a lot of other condiments and dressings including Thousand Island dressing and tartar sauce. Out of the 8 billion eggs produced in the United States annually, 1%, or 80 million of those eggs, are used to produce mayo. You may love it or you may hate it, but there’s no doubt mayo is a huge staple in American food. Your dog, on the other hand, is sure to love any food that you offer to them. So, can dogs eat mayo? Or is mayo bad for dogs?
Can Dogs Eat Mayo? (The Short Answer)
No, dogs should not eat mayo. Just like with humans, mayo provides virtually no significant health benefits while racking up the calories and fat. Dog’s digestive systems don’t bode well with large amount of high-fat foods. Most mayos also include at least some lemon juice, which isn’t safe for dogs. If your dog does get a taste of mayo on accident, there is no need to panic as it is not toxic, just rather unhealthy.
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 Mayo Good For Dogs?
We’ve already answered the question, “can dogs eat mayo?” Now, let’s learn about the benefits of feeding your dog this food! Is mayo good for dogs?
No, mayo really isn’t good for dogs. The negatives greatly outweigh any positives in terms of nutrition.
Some could argue that there are some minor benefits to mayo, which include the presence of vitamins and minerals. Remember, these are important, but the negatives of mayo do not justify feeding your dog mayo to get these few vitamins. All of your dog’s essential vitamins and minerals should already be consumed in their daily meals of dog food.
Is Mayo Bad for Dogs?
We’ve already answered the question, “can dogs have mayo?” Now, let’s learn about the dangers of feeding your dog this food! Is mayo bad for dogs?
Mayo is bad for dogs. While it isn’t toxic, it is rather unhealthy. If your dog does happen to eat some, they should be fine and at worst develop a belly ache. If they ingest a really large quantity, you should contact a veterinarian.
In 1 tablespoon of mayo there are 94 calories and 10 grams of fat! Dogs don’t need as many calories as humans, especially smaller dogs. Just 100 extra calories from a tablespoon of mayo could cause them to gain weight if given consistently. Just like with humans, maintaining a healthy weight is critical in preventing dogs from experiencing countless health issues.
High-fat foods can create serious complications over time. High-fat foods cause the pancreas, a small organ that secretes digestive enzymes to help break down fats, to go into overdrive. This organ working so hard to digest excess fat causes it to become inflamed. The main signs associated with inflammation include redness, swelling, heat, pain, and loss of function. You can imagine how detrimental these would be to an essential organ. If the pancreas works too hard for too long it can be considered pancreatitis. At times it can be difficult to say no to those adorable puppy eyes when they’re begging for food, but it’s better to refuse them a bite of food now to prevent them from developing health issues in the future.
A lot of store-bought mayo products are made with soy. A lot of dogs have a sensitivity or allergy to soy. It’s important to check the ingredients to see if the mayo you bought has soy, and to be aware of whether your dog has any problems with soy. If your dog does have issues with soy products and they manage to eat a soy-based mayonnaise, you should contact a veterinarian.
In most mayo recipes, store bought or homemade, an ingredient is lemon juice. While lemons are not necessarily toxic, they’re not safe for dogs. Read our article for more: Can Dogs Eat Lemons?
Other Varieties & Related Foods:
Can Dogs Eat Mayonnaise?
No, dogs should not eat mayonnaise. Mayonnaise provides no significant health benefits to your dog. It’s better to treat your dog to healthy options as treats to avoid any negative outcomes with their weight or overall health. Mayo has high fat and caloric contents that are unnecessary and detrimental to your dog’s health.
Can Dogs Eat Mayo with Tuna?
No, dogs cannot eat mayo with tuna. Mayo provides few health benefits to dogs, so it’s best to avoid giving it to your pup. Additionally, tuna isn’t a good option for your dog either. To find out why, check out our article “Can Dogs Eat Tuna Fish?”
Is Egg Mayonnaise Safe for Your Pup?
No, dogs can not eat egg mayonnaise. While all mayonnaise are made of eggs, there are still great recipes that can be made by combining mayo with eggs. However, while eggs are healthy for dogs, mayo is not. In addition, many egg mayonnaise recipes contain a lot of other ingredients including, but not limited to, paprika, green onions, mustard, and vinegar. Onions are toxic to dogs and spices such as paprika can cause gastric distress. So, no matter what type of egg mayonnaise first came to mind, neither is safe for dogs.
In Conclusion: Can Dogs Have Mayo?
No, this food should not be for pups. While a lot of humans may love mayo, we know it’s not healthy for us and it’s not healthy for our dogs either! It’s high in calories and fat which can cause additional health problems down the road. Additionally, a lot of mayo products contain additional ingredients that are unsafe and potentially harmful to dogs including onion or lemon. That being said, if your dog does happen to eat some, they should be just fine. While it’s not recommended that they have mayo, it’s is not toxic to 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!
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.
