It’s bright, tangy, and offensively yellow, mustard is one of the most popular condiments in the world, and today we’re talking about whether our furry best friends can joy us in the joys of one of the strangest foods around.
For many dog owners, it’s only natural to wonder if their pupperino can enjoy that spicy tangy of that yellow paste, even more so since it’s OK for dogs to eat ketchup — though you should limit how much they eat due to its high sugar content and make sure it doesn’t contain any toxic additives like xylitol.
So let’s not waste any more time and find out if our dogs can eat mustard.
Benefits Of Eating Mustard
Humans have been using the mustard plant both for spicing up their food dishes and improving their health for thousands of years. There are two main focal points of the mustard plant, and they both are touted for their benefits to health.
Take, for example, the leaves, which are rich in calcium, copper, and vitamins A, C, and K. The leaves of the mustard plant are commonly referred to as mustard greens when prepared in a dish and are commonly found in or paired with salads, stews, and soups.
Then there are the seeds which make up that famous yellow bitty and stingy paste we call condiment mustard. Rich in antioxidants, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and selenium, the use of condiment mustard in dishes is near limitless.
Really, throw some mustard on your pork chops before cooking them next time for an amazing crust that also works on bread for one killer grilled cheese.
But the seeds of the mustard plant don’t even need to be mashed up for it to benefit health, as many people supplement mustard seeds into their diet for help with several issues including: migraine relief, improving digestion, cancer prevention, and boosting heart health.
So the benefits of mustard for humans are pretty clear, and with it rarely being an allergen, it’s pretty much harmless. So this begs the question. Can our dogs reap the same benefits from consuming mustard? BUT WAIT!
Can dogs even eat mustard?
Can Dogs Eat Mustard?
Nope, you definitely don’t want to give your dog mustard. Mustard contains mustard seeds, and they are known to be unsafe for dogs.
Mustard seeds can cause several digestive issues if your dog eats them including: gas, diarrhea, and vomiting that can cause dehydration leading to an electrolyte imbalance.
If your dog only eats a little bit of condiment mustard, it’s likely nothing will happen. This is great news because 99% of the time, this is the only scenario a dog will come in contact with mustard.
Dogs won’t naturally like the taste of mustard and wouldn’t eat it in the wild. They’ll eat little amounts when it falls on the floor because they are conditioned to eat whatever food item you drop, and they’ll eat it on a burger or hotdog because the meat is too intoxicating for your dog to pass up so they’ll ignore the bitty mustard taste.
It’s extremely unlikely for your dog to seek out or even try to eat enough on their own for it to make them sick.
However, you should still monitor your dog if they’ve consumed any amount of mustard, especially if they are on the smaller side, prone to digestive issues, or have other health issues.
Can Mustard Kill A Dog?
If your dog just licked up a tiny bit of mustard off the floor, it’s unlikely to cause any issues. However, it’s recommended to monitor them closely for 12-24 hours to be on the safe side. Mustard seeds which all mustards are likely to have can kill a dog, but only in extremely high amounts.
Can Dogs Eat Mustard Powder?
Mustard powder is safe as long as it doesn’t contain mustard seeds. Unfortunately, for your dog’s taste buds, or not really, most mustard powders are made from grounding up mustard seeds making them off limits.
Can Dogs Eat Honey Mustard?
In small amounts, you’re unlikely to see any issues giving your dog honey mustard, however, honey mustard still contains small amounts of mustard seeds that are toxic in high amounts. This means it can make your dog sick, especially if you give them too much.
Can Dogs Eat Mustard And Ketchup?
While mustard is off limits — and it’s unlikely they will like it anyway — ketchup, for the most part, is completely safe. Just make sure it’s free of xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar substitute often found in sugar-free foods. You’ll also want to watch flavor ketchup, as it may include additives that are dangerous to dogs like onions.
Here are 7 great human foods you can give your dog instead.
Are Mustard Plants Toxic To Dogs?
Mustard plants have a lot of uses, and while their seeds are toxic to dogs, their leaves aren’t. The leaves of mustard plants are used to make mustard greens, and as long as they are cooked they are completely fine to give to your pupper.
Dogs don’t chew food like humans, and these “poor chewing” habits prevent pre-digestion of the uncooked plant’s cell walls from occurring.
Basically, raw greens can be difficult for your dog’s digestive system.
Symptoms To Watch For
Mustard seeds poisoning in dogs will cause side effects related to the gastrointestinal system and may include:
- Abdominal Pain
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Vomiting
If you notice any of the above symptoms and are concerned about the severity, you should immediately contact your local veterinarian or animal poison control at 1-800-222-1222 (available 24/7 including holidays).
Again, it is unlikely your dog would want to consume enough mustard; it makes them sick, but some dogs are odd.
Conclusion
Let’s sum up everything we learned. Both the seeds and leaves of the mustard plant have a world of delicious benefits to human health. However, while the seeds pose no risk to our health, they are toxic to dogs.
Fortunately, while toxic, most dogs would have to eat a fair amount for it to make them sick, so you shouldn’t have to worry about them if they lick some condiment mustard off the floor. Do be sure to monitor them just in case of any side effects such as diarrhea or vomiting to be on the safe side.
Even better news, the leaves of the mustard plant commonly used to make a tasty dish called mustard greens are perfectly fine for your dog to eat as long as you cook them first.
So keep that delicious continent mustard to yourself, but feel free to share with your dog the leaves — as long as they aren’t coated in something that could make them sick.
For more information on what is safe for your dog and what’s dangerous for them, make sure to check out our other articles on our blog written by our dedicated team,
We hope you’ve enjoyed this article because at Tindog, our goal is to keep your pup happy and healthy.
As such, if you’re looking to read more about potential dangerous foods for dogs that we regularly consume check out Can Dogs Eat Mac And Cheese. The truth is shockingly cheesy.
