As every dog owner will know, it’s quite normal for your pooch to be interested in your food.
They’ll often hover around the dinner table, hoping to snag any scraps that may come their way.
This is particularly the case if you’re eating meat, as this is a favourite food of all dogs.
For example, if you’re eating an English breakfast at the weekend they may be secretly hoping that you’ll be nice enough to share a sausage with them.
But what about black pudding?
A popular choice when it comes to a traditional English breakfast, dogs will certainly enjoy the famous blood sausage but it’s important to understand whether your dog can digest it or not before you feed it some.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the question of whether dogs can eat black pudding, as well as the type of diet your furry friend should be following.
What is black pudding?
While most Brits will have heard of black pudding, and many enjoy it as a staple of their traditional English breakfast, some people are unclear on exactly what it is.
Originating right here in the UK, black pudding dates back to the mid-1800s. If you want to be precise, the food is most associated with Bury Market in Greater Manchester where it’s believed the first black pudding was made.
But what actually is it?
Well, the three core ingredients of black pudding are pig’s blood, cubed pork fat and barley, with the concoction mixed together alongside a variety of herbs and often salt.
Black pudding shape and skin
Traditionally, the pudding is served in a handcuff shape that is contained in the natural casings made from beef intestine. More modern black pudding is placed in a synthetic cellulose skin casing which is made from imported dried blood.
As well as the iconic handcuff shape, they are also often seen in sausage or patty shapes. The pudding is black in colour and is described as having a meaty, chewy flavour similar to salami. It can also sometimes taste somewhat metallic due to the pig’s blood that it’s made from.
Is black pudding healthy?
While it’s been a feature of English breakfasts for many years, black pudding has had something of a resurgence in recent years with many people considering it a healthy ‘superfood.’
While this isn’t strictly true, there are plenty of nutritional benefits of black pudding.
First and foremost, it contains large amounts of iron due to the blood content in the ingredients. This can prevent anaemia and is good for red blood cells, but the amount of iron does tend to vary from brand to brand.
It’s also a good source of protein and contains zinc, potassium, calcium and magnesium which are good substances to have in your diet.
However, on the negative side, black pudding does contain large quantities of salt and fat. While small amounts won’t do you any harm, it’s not recommended that people eat black pudding on a regular basis due to this.
What is a dog’s diet?
Before we look at whether a dog can eat black pudding, it’s important to understand exactly what your dog’s diet should consist of.
- Kibble: Dry dog food, like kibble, is an essential part of every dog’s diet. Kibble is typically meat, grains and vegetables that are dried and reshaped into pellets. They’re extremely nutritious and include everything your dog needs to be happy and healthy. But, if you prefer, there’s nothing wrong with mixing things up and including more fresh food into the diet.
- Meat: Fresh meat such as chicken, pork, beef and alike are suitable for your dog. While dogs’ stomachs are stronger than humans when it comes to consuming raw meats, it’s still recommended that you only feed your pooch cooked food to minimise the risk of salmonella, listeria, E. coli and other bacteria-based illnesses.
- Vegetables: While your dog may not find vegetables as appetising as meat, they are omnivores and can consume most veggies. It’s not a necessity but may be nice as an occasional treat.
- Water: We cannot overstate how important water is to your dog’s diet. They should have access to clean, fresh water at all times to ensure they do not become dehydrated.
- Rice: While it may seem unusual, dogs can also eat rice. Sometimes commercial pet food includes rice, and it’s often something owners will choose to feed their pets if they’re suffering from an upset stomach. This is because rice is extremely easy to digest and is unlikely to cause further upset.
So now we’ve covered what a typical dog’s diet should consist of, can dogs eat black pudding?
Can dogs eat black pudding?
In short, the answer is yes- dogs can eat black pudding.
However, it should always be in moderation. As mentioned earlier, while black pudding certainly has some nutritional value, it’s high in fat and salt which can be harmful to your dog.
Eating too much of these substances can cause your dog to become overweight, experience digestive problems and kidney issues, so it’s best to see black pudding as an occasional treat rather than a regular meal- just like it should be for humans.
Every dog is different
Also, it’s important to understand your individual dog. Every dog is different, and if your pooch is prone to stomach issues it’s probably best to avoid it. Likewise, if you’ve never given your dog black pudding before, be sure to supervise. Start with small quantities to make sure there are no adverse reactions.
As well as this, pay attention to the ingredients in the black pudding you’ve purchased. Sometimes the brand may include the likes of nutmeg, onion and garlic- spices that are toxic to dogs. If this is the case, it goes without saying that you should not feed it to your pet.
Can dogs eat raw black pudding?
Pre-packaged black pudding has always been pre-cooked so you’re unlikely to ever encounter it raw. It can then be grilled, steamed or fried to your liking so you don’t need to worry about you, or your dog, consuming it raw.
Your dog will also have no problem eating it before you’ve reheated it if you want to save time.
For more helpful advice on dogs, be sure to check out our other dog articles.
