If you love bagels, especially smothered with cream cheese, chances are that your dog has expressed the opinion that you should share this delicious food item with him. My dogs certainly have that view. They live for the days when I accidentally drop a section of bagel. Of course, you have probably wondered whether bagels are good for dogs. In this case, science really isn’t on your dog’s side. Can dogs eat bagels? Let’s find out more.
Bagel Nutrition
Bagels are a traditional bread product made from yeasted wheat dough. They are boiled in water for a short time and then baked. They are usually dense and chewy. They can be made from different kinds of flours. They sound easy to make but if you have tried to make them at home, it usually takes some practice to produce bagels that are edible.
Commercial bagels sold in supermarkets come in different flavors with a variety of added ingredients such as onions, blueberries, garlic, poppy seeds, and sesame seeds. Some of these ingredients are obviously harmful to dogs such as onions and garlic.
The nutritional information for plain bagels is similar to bagels with added ingredients. One bagel (3 inches in diameter) weighs about 57 grams. That’s considered to be a serving size.
One bagel has 16 percent protein, 78 percent carbohydrates, and 6 percent fat. It has a glycemic load of 17. (Figures do not include any toppings such as cream cheese.)
One bagel contains 146 calories with 29 grams of carbs and 1.3 grams of dietary fiber. It has 5.7 grams of protein.
Bagels are high in thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin, as well as folate, iron, manganese, and selenium. These vitamins and minerals come from the flour and yeast.
It is important to be aware of the serving size of the bagel. According to the National Institute of Health, the serving size of an average bagel has nearly doubled over the last 20 years. According to one site we checked, the information provided for bagels was double the information we found on the USDA data page. Calories, fat, carbs, and other information were all doubled suggesting that the serving size had been doubled.
Bagels are usually made from refined flour and some varieties may contain added sugar. The refined carbs from these ingredients may contribute to an increased risk of health problems such as heart disease and type-2 diabetes.
Bagels made from whole grains such as oats, rye, spelt, and whole wheat would be a healthier choice than bagels made from some of the refined grains. They retain more fiber, vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds than refined grains.
If you like to enjoy bagels, look for bagels that have smaller portion sizes made from whole grains. Try using healthier toppings such as avocado, salmon, or egg.
Should You Give Your Dog Bagels?
Bagels are not the best food to share with your dog. Like many other bread products, bagels are often made from refined flours and may contain added sugar and extra salt. Some bagels even contain added ingredients such as onions, garlic, and certain herbs and spices that can be harmful to dogs. They are also high in carbohydrates which means they can add weight to your dog if he eats a lot of them.
If you are making bagels yourself and have dough in your kitchen, make sure you keep it out of reach where your dog cannot get it. Eating any kind of dough can be very dangerous to your dog and would usually require a trip to the veterinarian. Bloat is a definite risk for any dog that eats bread dough, including dough for bagels.
Don’t plan on using bagels as a frequent treat for your dog.
If your dog happens to eat part of a bagel that you have dropped or you can’t resist sharing a bite with your dog, it’s not the end of the world. Giving your dog a small piece of bagel occasionally shouldn’t do any harm.
It’s best if any bagel you share with your dog is made from whole grains since those flours contain more vitamins and minerals than refined flours. They also have more fiber than bagels made from refined flours.
Remember that bagels aren’t really recommended for dogs so don’t let your dog have more than one or two small pieces occasionally.
Can Dogs have Everything Bagels?
For those who don’t know, an Everything bagel is a kind of bagel that’s baked with a large variety of toppings. The exact toppings can depend on the baker. The toppings commonly include poppy seeds, sesame seeds, onion flakes, garlic flakes, pretzel salt, and pepper. Some Everything bagels include red pepper flakes.
As you might guess, you should not let your dog eat an Everything bagel. Onion flakes, garlic flakes, excess salt, and pepper can be harmful to dogs.
There are lots of bagels from vendors in different parts of the country that can go by other names. They may have similar ingredients. Please be careful about letting your dog eat bagels with added ingredients. If you plan to share a piece of bagel with your dog, a plain bagel is best.
How Many Bagels Can You Give Your Dog?
Bagels and most other breads are not recommended for dogs because of their refined flours, carbohydrates, and in many cases, the risk of added ingredients that can be harmful to dogs.
How Often Can You Give Your Dog Bagels?
It is possible to share a small piece of bagel with your dog occasionally. If you want to share a piece of bagel with your dog, plain bagels, especially made from whole grains, are your safest bet. Dogs usually like bagels a lot so it’s best if you don’t let your dog get too addicted to them.
I use a piece of bagel when I have to give one of my dogs a pill. They do love bagels but I don’t let them have any very often. They are happy to take the pill if it’s stuffed inside a piece of bagel.
Conclusion
Bagels are delicious whether you are eating them in a healthy way, made from whole grains with avocado, or from refined flour piled with cream cheese. Dogs like them, too, but they aren’t the healthiest snack for your dog. It’s best to try to avoid giving your dog bagels. If you would like to give your dog a small bite of a bagel from time to time, try to use plain, whole grain bagels. Make sure you avoid any bagels that have added ingredients that could be dangerous for your dog.
