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One of the endless joys of owning a dog is sharing. We share our homes, our sofas, and even our beds with our pooches. We also love to share food with our furry friends.
Even if you have the last scrap of food left for a delicious sandwich, it’s pretty hard to resist those big puppy dog eyes as they sit and “patiently” wait for a food offering.
The only issue is that some foods that are safe for us to eat are not suitable for canines.
In most cases, dogs can safely eat out food scraps without any cause for concern. But, some foods can be extremely toxic for dogs.
This is why it is vital that you always check to see if the food you want to treat your pooch to is safe. Always inspect the ingredients before giving any human snack to your pup.
Although dogs adore the smell and taste of most meats, other foods are also inviting. One example is tofu. Coming in different textures, this soy-based food is often used in sweet and spicy meals.
While it is very high in protein, low in calories, and contains a vast amount of vitamins, is tofu safe for dogs to eat?
The short answer to this is, yes. Tofu contains nine essential amino acids as well as being loaded with vitamin B, calcium, selenium, copper, zinc, manganese, and phosphorus.
Not only is it a healthy food for humans but it’s also suitable to share with our furry friends.
In today’s article, we will be taking a deeper look into how safe tofu is when feeding to dogs. We will also discuss the health benefits of tofu and if there are any side effects to look out for if your pet consumes tofu.
Tofu: What Is It?
Tofu is made from coagulating soy milk. This results in a curd that is then pressed into small, hard white blocks. The process is actually pretty similar to how cheese is made.
First originating in China, tofu has become a staple for many vegetarian diets throughout the world. It is often used as a meat substitute in a range of dishes from curry to chow mein.
It is regarded as a very healthy food option amongst vegans and vegetarians and has even gained popularity with meat-eaters in recent years.
When it comes to feeding dogs or any pet tofu, some people are against it. This is because it is a genetically modified food. Therefore, whether or not you can feed tofu to dogs has been a controversial topic over the years.
Nevertheless, most studies into the matter, such as this by the National Library of Medicine, have not found anything harmful about feeding tofu to canines.
So, Can Dogs Eat Tofu?
Dogs can hypothetically be vegan but it is important to note that they are genetically predisposed to consume meat.
The fact of the matter is that dogs can safely eat tofu but it shouldn’t be fed to them as a substitute for meat.
As with most foods, tofu should only be fed to dogs in small quantities. If they eat too much, they could encounter side effects such as bloating and the formation of kidney stones.
If you choose to feed your dog tofu, do so in moderation.
On occasions, your pooch may become a little more gassy than usual after eating tofu. However, this is quite common and can even happen to humans.
But, if your pup becomes excessively gassy, monitor them closely to ensure they are not suffering from diarrhea.
If your dog becomes overly bloated, you should remove tofu from their diet immediately and seek veterinary assistance.
Benefits Of Tofu
Tofu is a great source of vitamins and vegan protein for our pups. Just a 100-gram serving of tofu contains at least 8 grams of protein.
This is important as dogs require protein in their diets to maintain healthy bones and joints. This becomes even more important as they age.
As well as being rich in protein, tofu also holds an array of healthy nutrients to help keep dogs healthy. These include:
- Calcium
- Manganese
- Selenium
- Phosphorous
- Magnesium
- Copper
- Iron
- Zinc
Just a small tofu serving is very low in calories too. Therefore, it is considered a highly nutrient-dense food and tasty treat for our furry friends.
Although dogs are essentially omnivores, they are “designed” to eat meat. Soybean-based tofu may be a tasty treat now and again but it should not be considered a full meat substitute.
Even though tofu should not be fed to dogs regularly as part of their diet, there is evidence that tofu can help improve a pooch’s health in various ways.
Some potential benefits of tofu for dogs include:
- Tofu is liver friendly
- Tofu is a healthy option for dogs with allergies
- Tofu is a good food item for dogs who have bladder stones
Liver Friendly
Studies have shown that canine livers can successfully handle soy proteins more easily than meat proteins.
This has led to the belief that soy-based foods, such as tofu, are hugely beneficial to dogs who may suffer from liver issues.
Dogs who have liver issues usually require a change in their diets. This tends to involve the removal of animal proteins from their foods.
For dogs with liver disease, they should not eat tofu regularly but this soy-based food could be a better choice than the proteins that come from animal meat.
This may also apply to dogs who suffer from renal disease, a chronic kidney disease.
Beneficial For Dogs With Allergies
Various studies have shown that some dogs can develop food allergies to certain forms of commercial dog food brands, especially processed meat proteins contained in kibble.
Therefore, tofu could be an appropriate substitute for pooches who have food allergies such as this. This is because tofu can travel through the digestive system without causing any allergic reactions.
However, we recommend seeking help from a veterinarian who can check over your dog for any allergies.
Helps With Bladder Stones
Dogs who are more prone to bladder stones tend to require a source of protein that has lower purines. By decreasing the amount of protein in a dog’s diet, you could be lowering these purine components.
According to research, soy is ideal because it contains lower purines compared to animal proteins.
Therefore, tofu may be a healthy alternative for dogs who have renal issues as it will supply them with more amino acids.
In Summary
Tofu has a vast amount of health benefits for both humans and dogs. Although it is considered safe to feed tofu to your pup, you should do so sparingly and not substitute it for meat in their diets unless advised by a veterinarian.
