Can Dogs Eat Egg Rolls?

Health

Some dogs will try to swipe anything we might have on the table. And when there’s Chinese food, there’s usually a good serving of crispy-fried egg rolls. But can dogs eat egg rolls?

This article will explain whether egg rolls are safe for your dog to eat, the potential hazards to look out for, as well as provide a better alternative with a doggie egg roll recipe.

So, Can Dogs Eat Egg Rolls?

Generally, dogs should not eat egg rolls. However, it depends on the ingredients in the specific egg roll. Although most egg rolls won’t immediately be toxic to your dog, it is not recommended to feed your dog egg rolls because they contain a lot of ingredients that are harmful to dogs such as onion and garlic.

Since it is almost impossible to know all the ingredients that were used in preparing the egg roll (especially if you didn’t make them yourself), it is safer to eliminate egg rolls from your dog’s diet.

Potential Hazards of Egg Rolls to Dogs

There are a variety of recipes for egg rolls, so it’s difficult to say whether the egg roll you have is harmful to your dog or not. However, all egg rolls are composed of two things: a filling and the wrapper. Both of which bring up some health concerns.

Filling

Egg roll fillings are usually made up of some type of meat and accompanied by shredded vegetables, most of which are well tolerated by dogs.

However, what makes these rolls tasty are spices and flavorings that are toxic to dogs in large enough amounts. These include garlic, onions, salt, soy sauce, and MSG, which are all ingredients that shouldn’t be part of any dog’s diet.

Wrapper

Egg roll wrappers are generally made of eggs, flour, and water, which are all harmless enough for dogs. However, when these wrappers are deep-fried, they tend to hold oil in amounts too excessive for the typical dog’s diet.

Generally, fried foods that humans love, such as french fries, shouldn’t be fed to your dog as they can cause harm without providing any nutritional value.

Consuming too much oil can immediately cause digestive upset and painful bloating. Over time, an oily diet can lead to obesity, chronic pancreatitis, and liver disease.

Pet-Safe Egg Roll Alternative for Dogs

If you’re making your own batch of egg rolls at home, you can make a few pet-safe pieces for your dog. All you’ll need to do is use lean meat and don’t add any spices or condiments.

Cook it the same way as you would yours and try to blot out any excess oils before giving them this extra special treat.

If you want to kick it up a notch and prepare an even safer alternative for your dog with less oil, you can make oven-baked egg rolls as dog treats. Here’s a simple recipe:

Oven-Baked Egg Rolls for Dogs

Egg rolls for dogs are prepared similarly to the version that humans love. The only difference is that it isn’t seasoned with spices and other ingredients that are harmful to your dog’s health.

Additionally, baking them rather than deep-frying gives them the satisfying crunch of perfectly cooked egg roll wrappers without the excess fat.

Ingredients:

1 pound Ground Pork
Olive Oil
1 cup Carrots, shredded
1 cup Cabbage, shredded
16 pieces Egg Roll Wrappers

Instructions:

Using a large skillet, heat only enough oil to cook the ground pork until browned.

Add carrots and cabbage and stir until well combined and the vegetables are slightly softened.

Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool.

Once cooled, take an egg roll wrapper and place 1/4 of the meat mixture in the center.

Brush water along the sides of the wrapper and roll it. Start by folding one corner into the center and then fold both sides over it, so it looks like an open envelope. Use water to moisten the wrapper and help seal it. When all three sides are folded over, roll the meaty portion over to the remaining side and use a wet finger to seal the edge.

Wrap the remaining meat mixture and arrange all your rolls onto a baking sheet and make sure all pieces are seam-side-down.

Bake the rolls in the oven at 425°F for 15 minutes or until crisp.

Cool completely before handing one to your dog.

Notes:

Cabbage can sometimes cause gas and painful bloating. If your dog isn’t used to eating cabbage, you can skip it altogether and just double up on the shredded carrots.

You can cut up the egg roll wrappers so they’re small enough to make bite-sized pieces for your dog. It might be slightly more difficult to wrap, but it’ll be a more enjoyable and manageable treat.

Remember that these pet-safe egg roll alternatives should still be considered as special dog treats. It’s up to you to limit your dog’s portions.

Final Thoughts

Although the traditional egg rolls people aren’t won’t be fatal to a dog, there are plenty of better dog treats than egg rolls. If you’re really keen on giving egg rolls to your dog, try making a pet-safe alternative.

The typical egg roll recipe can be harmful to dogs in large portions because of the spices used to flavor them as well as the oil it absorbs from deep-frying.

If your dog eats a regular egg roll, don’t fret they will likely be just fine, just monitor them for any negative reactions and take them to the vet if they experience prolonged bloating, vomiting, or diarrhea.