My Dog Ate French Fries Will He Get Sick?

French fries—don’t you just love them? They make a great side to many dishes, including hamburgers, grilled chicken and more! And we’re pretty sure your dog also enjoys French fries, are we right?

Most dogs love everything we eat. Does your dog sit and wait for his share when you’re eating some fries? The answer is probably yes, but are fries good for your dog?

French Fries & Dogs

As an occasional treat, given one or two at a time, French fries are probably OK for your dog. However, French fries eaten on a regular basis could cause some health issues for your fur baby.

For one thing, French fries have no nutritional value for your dog. While dogs love these salty, crunchy snacks, they don’t need to eat French fries to stay healthy.

While French fries are toxic for dogs, they do contain a lot of salt, fat and carbohydrates. Fat and salt can lead to health problems such as obesity, heart disease, and even pancreatitis. Carbohydrates are also difficult for a dog to digest.

In addition, there are dogs who are allergic or have an intolerance to potatoes.

If your dog eats too many French fries at one time, he may develop the following symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Upset stomach
• Excessive thirst or dehydration
• Changes in urination
• Severe allergic reaction (which may include hives, difficult breathing or swallowing, swelling)
• Seizures (from salt poisoning)
• Bloat (from the high fat in the fries)

If your dog develops a severe allergic reaction, this is a life-threatening medical emergency. You will need to get him to the vet as quickly as possible.

And if he develops seizures and other worrying symptoms after eating a lot of French fries, you’ll need to take him to the vet immediately.

While a couple of fries once in a while may not hurt your canine companion (unless he is allergic), it’s best to avoid giving him French fries on a regular basis. The risks to his health just aren’t worth it.

Safe Alternatives to French Fries

If your dog is addicted to fries, then consider giving him on of these safe alternatives:

Rather than giving your French fry-addicted dog the unhealth version, consider this snack: Wholesome Pride Sweet Potato Chews. These resemble fries but are made with one single ingredient—sweet potatoes. Dogs usually love sweet potatoes, and they’re healthy for pups, too!

A French fry or two won’t hurt your dog if he gets them every so often. But if he has a French fry fetish, a doggie treat that resembles French fries may do just the trick!