Can Dogs Eat Sour Cream?

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can dogs eat sour cream

You probably noticed your pooch licking its lips while you eat sour cream. Dogs love creamy food and are naturally curious about what we eat.

Are you wondering if feeding sour cream to your dog would be ok? After all, dairy products are not exactly dog food.

Let’s find out!

Can Dogs Eat Sour Cream?

Yes, dogs can safely eat sour cream if they are not lactose intolerant. Sour cream isn’t toxic to dogs, but it is still a fermented dairy product. 

Plain sour cream is the best option — just make sure it is also low-fat. Even some lactose-intolerant dogs could tolerate sour cream in tiny amounts.

Is Sour Cream Good For Dogs?

We eat sour cream mainly for its taste and texture — and there’s nothing wrong with that. Will sour cream benefit your dog?

Dairy products contain calcium, although sour cream is not the best source. One serving of sour cream contains roughly 13 mg of calcium.

There are also trace vitamins and minerals — sour cream contains vitamin A, iron, sodium, and phosphorus. While these are important for a healthy body, there are much better foods to get them from.

When dogs eat sour cream, they won’t get any significant health benefits from it. Sour cream could be helpful if you need to give a pill to your dog (makes it easier for them to swallow).

Is Sour Cream Bad For Dogs?

Sour cream is bad for two types of dogs: dogs with lactose intolerance and overweight dogs.

Lactose-intolerant dogs can’t stomach sour cream properly and will end up with many digestive issues. Sour cream contains less lactose than milk, but it can still cause gas, bloating, diarrhea, and vomiting in these dogs. You could try lactose-free sour cream if your dog has lactose intolerance.

On the other hand, remember that sour cream is high in fat. One tablespoon contains 2.4 grams of fat, 6 mg of cholesterol, whopping 1.4 grams of saturated fat, and 23 calories.

Feeding your dog sour cream regularly can result in weight gain and obesity. For dogs that are already overweight and on a restrictive diet, sour cream is a big no-no.

Obesity is a serious condition, and over time it can lead to a host of other medical problems: diabetes, high blood pressure, and others.

Can Dogs Eat Sour Cream With Onion Chips

Is sour cream alone safe for healthy dogs? Yes, in moderation. However, the biggest issue with sour cream is that other ingredients, especially onions, often accompany it.

Onions are toxic for dogs and should never be offered as dog food. Feeding your dog sour cream with onion chips can damage their red blood cells and potentially lead to severe anemia.

Don’t give your dog any form of onion — an onion powder is especially bad since it is concentrated.

If your dog eats onions, contact the vet immediately.

sour cream with chives

Can Dogs Eat Sour Cream and Chives?

Chives are members of the Allium family and are closely related to onions, garlic, shallots, and leeks.

Since onion is toxic to dogs and chives are in the same family — don’t give chives to your pet. They will cause many health issues and chive toxicity, even in tiny amounts.

Chives and other members of the Allium family should never be offered to dogs. If your dog eats chives, watch out for the symptoms and contact the vet.

Can Dogs Eat Sour Cream With Onion Dip?

Onion dip is made with onion, so you should not give it to your dog ever.

Eating sour cream with onion dip will result in many health problems and possible damage to the red blood cells of your pet, even anemia.

Furthermore, because of the onion dip ingredients, you will be introducing loads of fat, sugar, and sodium to your dog’s body. These ingredients are dangerous, especially when combined with onion.

Can Dogs Eat Sour Cream and Cheddar Chips?

Cheddar chips are very high in sodium and fat. They also have loads of calories.

Sodium is especially bad for dogs because it can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and high blood pressure. If taken in excess, sodium causes salt toxicity, followed by organ failure, coma, and even death.

Feeding your dog a little sour cream with cheddar chips won’t hurt, but don’t overdo it. These should not be used as treats. Just make sure there are no garlic, onions, or artificial sweeteners like xylitol. You’d be surprised how often these flavor enhancers find their way into human foods.

sour cram and chips

When Not to Feed Dog Sour Cream?

Can sour cream hurt dogs? You could give a tiny amount of sour cream to your dog and monitor how they react to it. Any lactose intolerant dog will probably react poorly to sour cream. Many dogs have lactose intolerance and feeding them sour cream will result in an upset stomach and digestive problems.

The symptoms usually start as flatulence and develop into vomiting and diarrhea.

If your dog handles milk just fine, they should be ok with sour cream. Sour cream has less lactose than milk.

However, do not forget that sour cream is high in fat — which means that you have to pay attention to your dog’s daily calories. If they are already overweight, sour cream is not a good idea since you introduce more saturated fat into their body.

Finally, any combination of sour cream and onions is dangerous to your dog. Onions are toxic to dogs and you should never give them to your pet.

Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance

If your dog ate sour cream, be on the lookout for the following symptoms:

  • Excessive defecation
  • Gas
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting

If the dog is lactose intolerant, it’s probably best to call the vet — depending on the dog’s condition, they will inform you about the best course of action. Typically, a supportive diet is enough to resolve the digestive issues.

Symptoms of Anemia Caused by Onions

Onions are toxic to dogs and can cause hemolytic anemia. If you suspect your furry friend ingested onions or any food containing onions or the members of the Allium family, watch out for the following symptoms:

  • Light or pale gums
  • Weak muscles
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Bad coordination
  • Blood in the urine

If you notice any of these, call the vet immediately. You will probably have to take the dog to the vet clinic for testing and treatment. Sadly, in case of anemia, dogs will usually need intensive care treatment.

What To Do If Your Dog Ate Sour Cream?

If your dog ate too much sour cream, the course of action would depend on several questions:

  • How much sour cream did your dog eat?
  • Is your pet lactose intolerant?
  • Did they eat just sour cream, or also onions?

In most cases, too much sour cream will result in an upset stomach and digestive issues. Your dog might show symptoms like gas, diarrhea, or vomiting. These usually pass within one to two days.

However, suppose your dog ate onion with sour cream. In that case, they might be sluggish, unresponsive, or unable to keep food and water down. In that case, call the vet immediately and take your dog to the vet clinic.

Alternatives to Sour Cream

Like cheeseballs, sour cream is a dairy product that can be offered once in a while, but not too much. There are much safer alternatives for your dog.

Consider giving your furry companion some of these instead:

  • Kefir
  • Organic butter
  • Plain yogurt

These alternatives contain pro- and pre-biotics, which are beneficial for dogs.

If your dog is lactose intolerant, you could also look into these options:

  • Peanut butter (no artificial sweeteners)
  • Bananas
  • Doggy ice cream

There are plenty of great options, and your pooch will surely enjoy them.

Sour Face, Or Cream Delight?

Sour cream is safe for healthy dogs in moderation. Dogs can eat sour cream as long as they are not lactose intolerant or overweight.

Be on the lookout for added ingredients to sour cream, especially onions. Onions are very dangerous for all dogs, and if your dog accidentally consumes onions, you will probably have to take them to the vet clinic.

If you can’t feed sour cream to your dog, there are great alternatives out there. Choose plain yogurt or other treats so your pooch can enjoy the creamy and healthy textures. Check out some of them in this article!

FAQ

Can dogs eat Sour Cream Pringles?

Pringles are very high in sodium and fats, which could lead to pancreatitis and salt toxicity. Furthermore, some of the Pringles can contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs. It’s best to avoid them.

Can dogs eat sour milk?

Sour milk contains overgrown bacteria, which could cause digestive problems. You should avoid feeding sour milk to your dog because there is also a risk of bacterial poisoning in addition to digestive issues.

Can dogs eat salsa dip?

Chilli peppers in salsa are not toxic to dogs, but they are very spicy. Spicy foods can cause digestive issues and burning sensations in a dog’s mouth and throat. However, onions and garlic in salsa are highly toxic to dogs and should be avoided.

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AUTHOR
As a dog breeder's daughter, I've always been surrounded by many dogs of many breeds. I've made it my job to learn about our furry best friends and share my findings with other conscious dog owners. My Bichon is called Piper by the way :)

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