Can Dogs Eat Pizza?

If you’re a pizza-loving fur parent, you may have asked yourself once or twice, “Can dogs eat pizza?”

Different dogs have different diet restrictions. Therefore, it is imperative that you take several things into consideration before giving them pizza.  There are ingredients in pizza that may not be good for your dog's digestive system, so it is also important to note what kind of pizza they will be eating.

Do pizza work out for dogs?

This is one of the most popular questions that dog owners ask. If you order a pizza, your dog is going to want some! But you're probably worried about whether your dog can get sick from eating the toppings, the crust, or even a whole piece. 

You have to remember that a lot of ingredients go into making a pizza, from the sauce to the batter itself. It’s perfectly fine for your dog to eat a slice of pepperoni once in a blue moon. But when it comes to letting your dog dive nose-first into a thick crust pizza, there are some things you should know. 

To find out if dogs can eat pizza, we need to take a closer look at everything that goes into a pizza and what the effects of eating these ingredients can be for a dog. 

Can dogs eat pizza cheese?

Yes, dogs can eat cheese. Most dogs love cheese, and they are fine with eating small amounts. However, some dogs can be cheese intolerant. Even for dogs that are able to tolerate cheese, it is probably best fed in moderation.

Dogs should not eat cheese in large amounts.  Cheese is not inherently dangerous, but even low-fat cheeses are high in fat and calories. This can be a problem for your pet, especially for smaller dogs. Too much cheese is very unhealthy for a dog, though a little bit of cheese probably isn't going to make your dog sick. 

Can dogs eat pizza sauce?

Small amounts of pizza sauce can be okay, but again, moderation is key.  A few slurps of marinara is not going to hurt your dog, since most pizza sauces are made from ripe tomatoes, and tomatoes are absolutely fine for your dog to eat. 

The issue with pizza sauce is that it often contains more than just tomato. Pizza sauce often contains garlic and herbs, as well as added sugar. A few licks a pizza sauce isn't going to make your dog sick, but it definitely should not be a regular occurrence. 

Can dogs eat pizza crust?

Pizza crust is one of the worst parts of the pizza to feed your dog. Pizza crust is often filled with onions, garlic, and herbs, and these can make your dog sick for sure. Your dog should not be eating anything with onions in it. 

But like with everything, if your dog gets a hold of a pizza crust and scarfed it down, there's no need to call puppy 911. You just shouldn’t be feeding your dog pizza crust on any kind of regular basis. Your dog should also never eat raw pizza dough. 

If your dog somehow got a hold of uncooked pizza dough that you were planning to make at home, you should head to an emergency animal clinic immediately. Raw yeast dough has the ability to expand inside your dog’s stomach. This could cause tissue tearing and breathing problems. Raw pizza dough can even release ethanol into your dog’s system, causing it to get drunk.

Can dogs eat pizza toppings?

The first thing is that you have to think about the onions and garlic all over the top of your pizza. These are unhealthy and can sometimes be toxic. 

Things like sardines and sausages, though they may seem perfectly fine for a dog, are usually jammed full of salt and fat. Too much salt can raise a dog’s blood pressure and worsen heart disease. 

Some of the meats on pizza are okay to be given in moderation, but again you have to know what kind of ingredients the pizza makers are using.  Some ingredients are highly processed food, but other pizza makers use quality organic ingredients. Some of these, like chicken and beef, are okay for your dog to consume.  

Is pepperoni pizza bad for dogs?

Dogs should absolutely never eat pepperoni found on a pizza. Pepperoni pizza is bad for dogs. A few slices of pepperoni are not going to outright kill your dog, but eating them will probably make your dog sick. If they gobble up too much pepperoni, they will probably suffer from abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and increased urination. 

That being said, you can feed your dog one or two pieces of pepperoni on a rare occasion. By “rare occasion”, we're talking every few months. This is not an “every Saturday night” kind of thing. Keep pepperoni away from your dog and feed it properly!

What happens if dogs eat pizza?

If your dog eats pizza, she can get sick. Even if your dog only has a few small bites, it can still get an upset stomach or even diarrhea. Most toppings that go on a pizza are not healthy for dogs. Your dog might even be lactose intolerant, and you don't know it, which can result in an upset stomach. Even more, your dog could be sensitive to wheat and could get sick from eating the crust. 

If your dog does eat pizza, be sure to keep an eye on them. It's doubtful that they'll die, but they might be feeling pretty gross for the rest of the night. 

Can pizza kill dogs?

Unfortunately, pizza can kill your dog. It's unlikely, but it can happen. Depending on how the pizza was prepared, if it was made under unhygienic conditions, and if your dog has any underlying health problems, they could certainly die after eating too much pizza. 

The good news is that dogs almost never die from eating pizza. It can happen, but it probably won't. A dog dying from eating pizza is about as common as a person dying from choking on a glass of water.

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