Yes, dogs can safely eat vanilla in its pure form. However, it adds little to no nutritional value; therefore, you should evaluate whether you should add it to your dog’s diet. Vanilla-flavored food is also mainly safe for dogs but not recommended due to its high calorie count. Vanilla extract, however, is toxic to dogs due to the alcohol in it.
Safe: This food is generally considered safe by the veterinary community. Dogs can eat this food sometimes or in small amounts but contains little to no nutritional value.
| Food Safety | Safe in the form of beans and when added as flavoring to prepared food. |
| Nutritional Value | Vanilla itself has no nutritional value for dogs. Vanilla-flavored food is high in sugar and carbohydrates, which can cause health issues over some time. |
| Potential Risks | Vanilla extract in significant quantities can be toxic to dogs and they can get alcohol poisoning if they ingest it. Vanilla-flavored food, such as ice cream, cakes, or cookies are high in carbohydrates and fats and when fed to dogs regularly, they can lead to conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and pancreatitis. |
How Much Vanilla is Safe for Dogs?
Dogs can safely eat a vanilla pod or two. However, you should not be intentionally feeding them to your dog since they can be hard to chew and can get stuck in their teeth. A few bites of vanilla-flavored food as an occasional treat is also safe for dogs as long as it does not exceed ten percent of a dog’s daily calorie intake.
Are Some Forms of Vanilla Better than Others?
The relative safety of eating vanilla for dogs depends on the form they are eating. Vanilla beans or pods are safe for dogs to eat but hold no nutritional value. Vanilla extract by itself is toxic to dogs since it has a significant amount of alcohol. Food flavored with vanilla extract is still safe for dogs to eat since most of the alcohol evaporates in the cooking process and most foods only use a few drops of vanilla extract for flavoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
If your dog enjoys vanilla, the best way to give it is Greek yogurt flavored with vanilla beans.
-
Dogs’ digestive systems cannot break down alcohol, therefore they are at risk of alcohol poisoning if they eat too much vanilla extract.
