Falafels are a Mediterranean food made from chickpeas and other ingredients. It is always a favorite among humans, but can dogs eat falafel? Because of the ingredients used in making a falafel, they should never be given to dogs.

Ingredients like onion and garlic, which are harmful to dogs, may be included in a normal falafel. Falafels may also contain nontoxic substances and flavors that, when ingested in high quantities, might cause stomach distress in your dog.

Falafel is also high in salt, which can cause dehydration and other problems. Falafel has a high fat content due to the method used to prepare it. Fat is bad for dogs since it causes high cholesterol and weight gain.

What Ingredients Are In A Falafel?

Falafel is a Middle Eastern cuisine that first acquired popularity in America due to its wonderful flavor. It's also popular because it's usually vegetarian and vegan-friendly.

A falafel is traditionally a burger made from chickpeas that have been mashed into a paste. This patty is then flavored with spices like cumin and coriander along with salt before being deep-fried and served in a pita.

Leafy green salads, pickled vegetables like beetroot, and condiments like spicy sauce or tahini sauce can be added to this sandwich. Tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumbers are sometimes added to these.

The main ingredient, chickpeas, is healthy for dogs. The additional ingredients used to flavor and spice falafel can be problematic to dogs.

Onion & Garlic

Falafel contains a lot of garlic, which is hazardous to dogs. 3 to 5 cloves are commonly used in recipes. A excessive dosage of garlic might cause your dog's stomach to upset, resulting in vomiting or diarrhea, as well as damage their red blood cells and cause anemia.

Falafel also contains a lot of onion, which is another dog-toxic food. Expect an average batch of falafel to contain roughly 1 full onion. Onions are in the same family as garlic and should not be given to dogs.

Salt & Pepper

A typical falafel includes roughly 300mg of salt. That's more sodium than a 30 lb dog should have in a day. Excessive sodium consumption can negatively affect your dogs health.

Falafel also frequently contains black pepper. For added spiciness, some recipes call for cayenne or red pepper. Most dogs do not tolerate pepper well and could experience digestive issues.

Fat

Falafel is a fried dish and dogs should avoid fried foods. A normal serving has roughly 17.5 grams of fat, which is more than a 30 pound dog should have in a day. Fatty food can lead to weight gain and health issues in your dog.

What Should I Do If My Dog Eats A Falafel?

While the main ingredients in falafels are not toxic to dogs, some addition ingredients could cause trouble. Your dogs response to eating a falafel is dependent on the amount eaten, size and weight of the dog, and general health. Signs & symptoms of distress include:

• Diarrhea
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Gas
• Vomiting
• Excessive Thirst

If you notice any of these signs in your dog after he has eaten a falafel, call your veterinarian immediately for instruction on how to care for your dog.

Review: Can Dogs Eat Falafel?

Falafels contain ingredients which are toxic to dogs. You should never feed your dog a falafel as a treat. If your dog accidentally eats a falafel, he should be fine.

Monitor him over the next hours for signs and symptoms of digestive distress. If anything is noticed, call your veterinarian for instruction.

If you are making falafels and want to give your dog a treat, try giving him a plain chickpea. While chickpeas are not hazardous to dogs, only a minimal amount should be served to them. 

Chickpeas have a number of health benefits that may aid in the improvement and maintenance of your dog's health. Always speak with a veterinarian before introducing any new food into your dogs diet.