Dogs should never eat sweets because they contain large amounts of sugar, which is very bad for them. In addition, they are made with flour and other ingredients (including chocolate) that are a real poison for our dogs.
So no, dogs shouldn’t eat nougat, even if they beg us with those sweet eyes that we just can’t resist. A dog has to eat its food and, if it’s sweets, they have to be snacks and biscuits designed especially for it. But let’s see in detail.
What is nougat and how is it made?
During the Christmas period, nougat is one of those sweets that are never missing on tables. With thousands of types, in many flavors and flavored variations, the classic traditional nougat has a hard consistency and is made with a mixture of egg white, honey, and sugar.
But the nougat ingredients do not end here, inside it is all a riot of crunchiness and taste. In the traditional one, almonds, walnuts, peanuts, or toasted hazelnuts are added
In addition to the hard nougat, there is also the soft variant, made mostly with the same ingredients but with different cooking times. In addition, some are covered with chocolate and almond paste, not to be considered really “classic” but still very greedy and succulent.
Let me be clear if your dog steals a piece of it from you, nothing serious might happens but you must be extra careful. Eating nougat and other sweets cannot become a habit for our four-legged friends.
Why shouldn’t dogs eat nougat?
Nougat is a delicious dessert and many people are fond of it. Dogs are great gluttons and we know that they never miss an opportunity to ask us for a small piece of our food.
But we must be very careful with these tastings and above all, we must never, ever make them become a habit. Dogs have to eat their food, strictly from their bowl, and all the “extra” foods like snacks, sweets, and biscuits should be given occasionally.
But above all, they must be suitable for them and nougat is not exactly a food that dogs can eat in peace. Like all desserts, it contains large quantities of sugar and in addition, honey is used in the dough, which is very caloric. The advice is to always first ask the opinion of the veterinarian to understand whether or not it is appropriate to give it even a small piece.
let’s move on to the effects of prolonged consumption of sugars. Dogs do not have a digestive system made to digest carbohydrates so much so that their diet, as we know, must be mainly based on proteins, therefore meat.
Of course, it can also eat various fruits and vegetables, but with carbohydrates, we must be very careful. By constantly eating sweets, you will risk your dog’s health. They range from simple stomach ache to much more serious things like diabetes, pancreatitis, and obesity.
Sugars alter the functioning of the cardiovascular system so dogs could also develop heart disease over time.
But sugars are also bad for the teeth. Eating a lot of them and frequently little by little the problems in the mouth become more and more serious and you risk that your dog’s gums will become inflamed or decay.
It may even lose its teeth! In any case, if you see that there is something wrong with the dog you must immediately run to the vet, and of course inform them of what the dog has ingested.
Chocolate: a food absolutely to avoid
There is one thing that dogs should never, ever eat, it is this ingredient. It is not an exaggeration, chocolate causes a real form of poisoning so you should avoid leaving it unattended on the table and never voluntarily give it to your dog.
Chocolate is so bad for dogs (but also for other animals) because it contains a substance called theobromine, which causes serious disturbances to their body. It alters the normal heartbeat, raises blood pressure, and in severe cases even causes convulsions.
But chocolate isn’t just dangerous because of theobromine. It also contains a lot of fats which are not exactly ideal for a dog’s diet. Prolonged and habitual consumption of this food causes gastrointestinal disorders. Furthermore, let us not forget that the cocoa from which chocolate is made contains a part of caffeine, another substance that is absolutely toxic for our dog.
Dogs and honey: what we need to know
One of the basic ingredients of nougat is honey, a substance rich in beneficial properties even for our four-legged friends. But we are also talking about an ingredient rich in glucose and fructose, therefore sugars, so it is a food absolutely to avoid for dogs suffering from diabetes.
We might hear about the benefits of honey and for us humans it is a real cure-all on many occasions, such as when we have a cough or a sore throat. Well, honey is also good for dogs because it contains vitamins, has antioxidant properties, and is a natural antiallergic.
It’s also useful against stomach pains and stomach problems and also serves to heal burns and wounds. In light of all this information it would seem like a healthy food, but always pay attention to the specific case of your dog. Not all dogs tolerate food in the same way and for example, for those who suffer from allergies, it is not exactly indicated.
This article is purely informative, at Shelterapet we do not have the right to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We encourage you to take your pet to the vet in case of any kind of discomfort.
