Can Frenchies eat Lasagna?
Besides being tasty, Lasagna is a good source of proteins and fats for humans.
It also has many health benefits, like protection from diabetes and heart problems.
But does it provide the same health benefits to your Frenchie?
Read through to learn more about Frenchies and Lasagna.
Can Frenchies eat Lasagna
No. The main ingredients in Lasagna are onions, tomato sauce, and garlic which are toxic to Frenchies. Lasagna also contains harmful cheese, especially if your Frenchie is lactose intolerant.
Lasagna – A Human Food, NOT For Frenchies!
A typical lasagna recipe has onions, cheese, garlic, pepper, and tomato sauce. These ingredients are safe for humans but can be life-threatening for Frenchies.
The cheese content in Lasagna is too high for Frenchies to digest appropriately. Onions and garlic have a chemical called thiosulphate, which is toxic to Frenchies.
Why is Lasagna Not Safe for Your Frenchies?
Onion and Garlic
Onions and garlic are members of the allium family, and they have a chemical called thiosulphate, which causes poisoning in Frenchies.
Intake of onions and garlic in small amounts may not necessarily harm your Frenchie, but Lasagna has lots of onions and garlic; thus, the toxicity levels are high.
Pepper
Although a small amount of pepper cannot harm your Frenchie, consumption in large amounts can cause gastrointestinal problems.
Lasagna has a lot of pepper which makes it harmful for Frenchies.
In addition, the peppers in Lasagna are cooked with toxic onions and garlic; hence it is safe to avoid
Oregano
Consumption of oregano in moderation is safe for your Frenchie. Lasagna contains lots of oregano which gives Lasagna its heavenly taste.
The symptoms to watch out for include vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and depression. Other rare symptoms include a decreased heart rate, low blood pressure, and ulcers along the gastrointestinal tract.
Cheese
Lasagna has lots of cheese, and consumption may lead to stomach upsets for your Frenchie.
Cheese also contains lactose which is hard to digest, especially for older Frenchies. This results in bloating, dehydration, and excessive thirst
Furthermore, high cheese consumption can cause obesity, heart problems, and pancreatitis in Frenchies.
What Are the Health Problems of Feeding Your Frenchie Lasagna?
Anemia
The poisonous chemical in onions and garlic cause hemolytic anemia in Frenchies.
They destroy the red blood cells, which are responsible for the supply of oxygen in the body.
Poor oxygen supply to the major parts of the body, like the heart and brain, can be fatal for your Frenchie.
Heinz body formation
Heinz body formation results from consuming onions and garlic, which are the main additives in Lasagna.
It causes oxidative damage to the red blood cells, thus making it hard for blood to reach all the essential tissues and organs.
Extreme tiredness is the main symptom of Heinz’s body formation.
Upset stomach
The high amounts of garlic, onions, pepper, tomato sauce, and garlic will upset your Frenchie stomach.
Symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain will present this.
In addition, tomato sauce is acidic hence causing stomach discomforts like heartburn. Acidity can also irritate the stomach lining.
Stomach ulcers
Stomach ulcers are sores along the stomach lining. The high-fat content of Lasagna and the acidity of tomato sauce cause stomach ulcers in Frenchies.
The toxic chemical in onions and garlic can also cause stomach ulcers.
The symptoms associated with stomach ulcers include abdominal pain, lack of appetite, drooling,
Low blood pressure
Consumption of Lasagna causes anemia in Frenchies, leading to a dip in blood pressure levels.
Anemic Frenchies are prone to frequent periods of low blood pressure due to the low oxygen supply to the major organs and tissues.
Poor oxygen supply to the major organs can lead to organ failure, which can cause death.
Oregano is also responsible for low blood pressure
What happens if your Frenchies eat Lasagna?
Your Frenchie will present the symptoms below after eating Lasagna. It takes 30 minutes to two hours for the symptoms to occur.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Excessive salivation
- Abdominal pain
- Increased heart rate
- Irritation of the mouth
- Pale gums
- Panting
- Fainting
- Low blood pressure
- Fatigue
If your Frenchie ate Lasagna and is showing any of the symptoms given, you should take him to the vet for diagnosis and treatment.
What to do if your Frenchie eats Lasagna?
Frenchies enjoy eating human food and may take a bite of Lasagna when you are not looking.
If your Frenchie accidentally eats Lasagna, the best thing to do is go to the vet, as Lasagna, especially in large amounts, can lower blood pressure and lead to death.
How to know if your Frenchie is suffering from onion toxicity?
If your Frenchie is suffering from onion toxicity, you will notice the following symptoms :
- Lack of appetite
- Reddish urine
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Pale gums
- Elevated heart rate
- Vomiting
These signs may take several days to manifest; hence you should keenly monitor your Frenchie for any change in behavior and general appearance.
Factors that could alter the toxicity
Size of the Frenchie:
The impact of lasagna toxicity depends on the size of your Frenchie. A bite of Lasagna may not cause severe problems for adults compared to puppies.
The older the Frenchie, the lesser the impact of poisoning, as they can digest food better than younger Frenchies whose digestive system is not fully developed.
Breed of the dog:
Some dog breeds are more prone to lasagna poisoning than others. They include the following
- Shiba Inu
- Akita Inu
- Hokkaido Inu
- Kishu Ken
- Khai Ken
- Shikoku
- Japanese Chin
These dog breeds are the Japanese type, and their genetic makeup makes them more prone to poisoning than other dog breeds.
Underlying Gastrointestinal Conditions:
Frenchies with underlying gastrointestinal conditions are easily prey to lasagna poisoning. The existing gastrointestinal problems make the stomach less immune.
Gastrointestinal conditions that predispose Frenchies to poison include :
- Lactose intolerance
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Gastritis
- Gastrointestinal ulcers
- Gastrointestinal obstruction
- Colitis ( inflammation of the large intestine)
- Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis ( Vomiting and bloody diarrhea)
When to visit your vet
Lasagna in large amounts can be fatal for your Frenchie. You should visit your vet if your Frenchie depicts the following symptoms: :
- Difficulty breathing
- Fainting
- Wining sounds which means your Frenchie is in pain
- Reddish urine
- Lack of appetite
- Bloody diarrhea
- Low blood pressure ( you can check this at home)
Treatments if your Frenchie has poisoning from eating Lasagna
The vet may induce vomiting to eject lasagna poison from your Frenchie’s system
You may use activated charcoal to bind the poison, thus preventing further absorption.
In case of low blood pressure, the vet may administer pressure-boosting fluids.
A blood transfusion may be necessary if your Frenchie has been adversely affected.
How to Make Frenchies-Friendly Lasagna?
A friendly lasagna for your Frenchie should be void of tomato sauce, garlic, onions, pepper, and cheese.
Vegetable alternatives like spinach with lean ground beef are an alternative.
You can also make a Frenchie-friendly lasagna with lean ground beef and organic zucchini as a lasagna pasta substitute.
You should boil the zucchini until tender to soften it and make chewing easier.
Then cook the ground-cooked beef with a small portion of basil for flavor.
The zucchini is then layered in a baking dish with the cooked ground beef and baked as a casserole.
Serve your Frenchie-friendly Lasagna at room temperature.
Canine-friendly alternatives to Lasagna
There are healthy alternatives to Lasagna for canines, and they include:
Puppy-friendly Lasagna
This type of Lasagna is safe and healthy for Frenchies as it has ingredients like basil, organic beef, and pasta which cannot adversely affect your Frenchie.
You can also replace pasta with fresh vegetables to make it healthier for your Frenchie.
Vegetable casserole
This combination of vegetables, ground turkey, and brown rice is safe for your fur baby.
Vegetables are low in calories and contain vitamins A and C for a shiny coat and improved immunity. Potassium in vegetables aids in muscle maintenance and strengthens the bones.
Ground turkey provides the necessary proteins for your Frenchie, while brown rice is rich in fiber, thus aiding digestion.
Chicken casserole
Another healthy alternative for Lasagna is Chicken casserole, a mixture of brown rice, vegetables, and chicken breast.
These ingredients are safe for your Frenchie and provide nutrients and minerals.
Chicken casserole is also a balanced diet as it has vitamins from vegetables, carbohydrates from rice, and proteins from the chicken breast.
Frenchies are, however, different and have different reactions to food types. Introduce new food gradually until your Frenchie becomes used to it.
Can Frenchies eat lasagne sheets?
No, Frenchies should not eat lasagne sheets. The ingredients in lasagne sheets are toxic for Frenchies. Health issues like anemia, vomiting, and stomach upset are associated with ingestion of the ingredients.
Can Lasagna kill Frenchies?
Yes, if ingested in large quantities, Lasagna can kill young Frenchies and even older Frenchies. The side effects can be fatal if not treated immediately. Avoid Lasagna in Frenchie diets.
Why is tomato sauce in Lasagna dangerous for your Frenchies?
Tomato sauce is highly acidic and contains garlic and onions. Tomato sauce poses a danger for Frenchies since it combines all its effects, plus those of onions and garlic.
Can your pup eat home-cooked Lasagna?
Yes, your pup can eat homemade Lasagna.
This is because the homemade Lasagna can be tailor-made to suit your Frenchie. No allergic ingredients and the toxic ones are eliminated.
How long does it take for a Frenchie to pass something they ate?
A Frenchie takes about 10 to 24 hours to pass what they ate. (1) Those easy to digest take a shorter time, while others are difficult to digest.
Is Lasagna fatal for my puppy?
Yes, Lasagna is fatal for your puppy. The ingredients in the Lasagna, like cheese, tomato sauce, garlic, and onions, are toxic for your puppy.
So, can Frenchies eat Lasagna? Final Thoughts
So can Frenchies eat Lasagna?
Frenchies can’t eat Lasagna as it contains ingredients like cheese, onion, garlic, pepper, and tomato sauce which are harmful to Frenchies, and its effects can be fatal.
Onions and garlic contain toxic chemicals, while cheese contains lactose which some Frenchies may not easily digest.
It is best to avoid Lasagna for your Frenchie to not expose them to these risks associated with Lasagna.
Typical Lasagna is meant for humans only and not Frenchies.
Your Frenchie needs healthy alternatives.
In place of the traditional Lasagna, find friendly Lasagna containing zero toxic ingredients.
You can substitute the toxic ingredients with healthy alternatives like organic hamburgers, zucchini, tomato, and basil leaves at home.