Can my puppy eat couscous?

Can my dog eat couscous?

Yes, dogs can eat couscous but in a limited amount. You can serve 1 tsp per 9-10 pounds weight of the dog. This food item is similar to rice but holds more nutritional value. It is a good choice to add nutrition to your dog’s food but remember, it cannot be served on a daily basis as it contains such components that can prove to be toxic for dogs if overdosed. You can treat it as an occasional food item to add nutrients to a dog’s meal.

What is the nutritional content of couscous?

Couscous contains sodium, potassium, dietary fiber, protein, calcium, iron, vitamin B6, selenium, and negligible amounts of fats. It contains antioxidants that help in preventing cancer.

How to serve couscous to my dog?

You have to soak it in normal water overnight, remove the water and it is ready to serve. You can also boil it for about 15-20 minutes. You can add boiled eggs or meat as per the preference, vegetables to make it a complete nutrient-rich meal. You should avoid adding dried fruits to it as some of them are very toxic to dogs in addition, they are hard to chew and cannot be served in large quantities.

Is couscous toxic to dogs?

Due to the presence of selenium dogs cannot eat it in large quantities as this component can prove to be toxic when consumed in large amounts. But a good amount of selenium can be very beneficial to dogs as it can result in better functioning of cells and prevent cancer.

Make sure that you do not add any extra ingredient which is toxic to dogs i.e., spices and seasonings.

Can I give my portion of couscous to my dog?

If you have prepared it to serve humans keeping their preferences in mind, you should not feed it to your dog as it might contain high amounts of sodium and spices that can be harmful to dogs. In addition, seasoning contains onion and garlic which are highly toxic to dogs.

What kind of health issues will my dog face if I serve my portion of couscous to my dog?

Feeding couscous to a dog with spices and seasonings will create various health issues like, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, drooling, and in some cases consuming in large amounts may cause damage to red blood cells which later can result in red-colored urine, pale gums, painting, increased respiratory rate/ difficulty in breathing, etc.

Even though couscous is very nutritious and good for your dog, it should not be considered as a portion of regular food for your dog.

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