There always comes a time when you’re about to feed your dog something, and you think to yourself – is this a good idea?
In this instance, we’re talking about whether dogs can eat salad cream without any adverse effects. And then you might consider what other foods you could give alongside sour cream. You’ll be surprised how many foods are actually toxic to dogs!
Well, we have all the answers coming up shortly – and there are some important things to consider about dogs eating sour cream or similar foods.
Can My Dog Eat Sour Cream?
So the straightforward answer to whether dogs can eat sour cream is, yes, they can. Sour cream is a dairy-based food product, and dairy is not toxic to dogs.
However, most dogs do have a level of lactose intolerance, and you should be aware if your dog is particularly susceptible to dairy. Bear in mind, even if they do have a strong reaction to dairy-based products, it’s going to be deadly.
Your dog will, however, experience one or more of these symptoms if they do have lactose issues:
- Lack of appetite
- Abdominal pains
- Bloatedness
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Excessive gas
- Change in temperament
You should test out a little bit of dairy with your dog when you have the time. This way, you can monitor them over 24 hours to notice any of the symptoms mentioned above.
If you do see that your dog feels uncomfortable with any of the symptoms, it’s probably best you go with dairy alternatives for dogs – especially if they love creamy milky textures.
And we’ll let you know some great dairy alternatives later.
But if your dog has no issues, you might be wondering…
Does Sour Cream Have Nutritional Value?
As a matter of fact, sour cream is quite a nutritious dairy option to go for. When you think about ice cream with all the fat content and sugar, it’s a much better idea to give your pet friend a dollop of sour cream.
Minerals
Four minerals are beneficial for both dogs and humans in sour cream. The first mineral that we’re most familiar with is calcium, which is good for your dog’s teeth and bone strength.
Sour cream also contains magnesium, which is essential for regulating muscle and nerve function, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. Plus, it helps as part of the process for creating DNA, protein, and bones.
Then there’s potassium, one of the essential nutrients that we need, and our dogs too. It keeps your dog’s fluids balanced and, as well as nerve signals and muscle contractions. Furthermore, it manages blood pressure and retains water in the body properly.
Lastly, we have phosphorus, which also plays a part in building stronger teeth in your canine. It also does a lot of repair work in the body at various levels, producing both RNA and DNA.
Proteins & Fats
There are approximately 5.8 grams of fat in a 30-gram serving or two tablespoon’s worth of sour cream. Three grams of that fat is the not so good saturated fat. However, the other remaining fats are healthy ones.
In terms of protein, you’re getting a very minimal 0.7 grams within that two-tablespoon serving.
Is Sour Cream Bad for Dogs?
The health benefits of sour cream come from the nutrient side and then a little from healthy fats. Because there is a fair bit of fat content within this food, it’s wise not to feed your dog too much of it, or they will inevitably start to gain weight.
Additionally, we should mention again the adverse effects that can occur if your dog has a high level of lactose intolerance. It really isn’t worth seeing them suffer from the symptoms later down the line – even if they are looking at you with those endearing eyes which are saying, please give me some!
If your dog genuinely enjoys the creamy smooth texture of sour cream, why not find a similar and tasty dairy-free alternative?
Sour Cream Alternatives & Their Effects on Dogs
There are some very viable sour cream alternatives out there for dogs. It’s just a matter of being creative and knowing which foods are beneficial to them. Many dogs lack vitamins and minerals in their diets, so it’s good to look for alternatives that can offer these things.
Plain Yogurt
OK, so yogurt isn’t dairy-free, so it will still contain lactose. However, just like sour cream, it is fermented and so has low lactose levels. The reason you might choose yogurt over sour cream is the flavor. Sour cream is obviously sour, while plain yogurt can have less of a tang and elements of sweetness to it.
Furthermore, you can make frozen yogurt with it, which is a lovely little treat in the summer months for your canine friend. If your dog has a sweet tooth, you could add a banana into the equation or add a touch of honey into the equation.
Keep in mind that many store-bought yogurts can have a high sugar content, which is never going to be a good thing for dogs.
Did we just say…
Bananas!
For a genuine dairy-free alternative to sour cream, why not go with mushed up bananas? They are full of nutritious goodness that can help towards a healthy balanced diet for your dog. Plus, you can also freeze it like frozen yogurt.
What nutrients are we talking about?
Bananas have vitamin C and B6, potassium, magnesium, copper, and manganese, and they are a good source of fiber.
Whipped Cream
Whipped cream is dairy, so it’s not a good option for lactose intolerant dogs. However, if they are OK with dairy, whipped cream in small doses can be perfectly fine for dogs. Just make sure that any food that’s served alongside it is not toxic to them.
Ice Cream
Dogs can love ice cream, especially on hot summer days. But the problem is that ice cream is full of fats and sugar. If you are going to give some to your dog, make it a minimal amount and not that often.
Foods Your Dog Should Not Eat
Usually, when you serve up something like sour cream or any other similarly creamy treat, it’s going to be accompanied by some other food. Sour cream usually goes well with Mexican food, for example, yogurt with fruit and whipped cream or ice cream with desserts.
Here’s a quick checklist of some foods that aren’t good for dogs:
- Raisins and grapes
- Macadamia nuts
- Onions and garlic
- Chocolate
- Avocados
- Artificial sweetener (Xylitol)
- Alcohol
Other foods are considered toxic to dogs, so it’s always good to check before introducing anything new into your dog’s diet.
We should also mention that you should always consider what’s in your leftover food before giving any to your pet friend. For example, lots of leftover meals might contain onions or garlic – which are toxic to dogs.
As well, many desserts may contain raisins and some macadamia nuts, without you even realizing – so always check.
Lastly, even if a cake or similar dessert has just a tiny amount of alcohol baked into it, you should avoid giving it to your dog. Alcohol is really not good for dogs – even in microdoses.
FAQs About Sour Cream and Dogs
How much sour cream can I give to my dog?
It all depends on the level of lactose issues your dog might have. As a general rule, you should consider no more than two tablespoons worth of sour cream at a time. Plus, it definitely shouldn’t be a daily snack for your dog, but more of an occasional treat.
Is sour cream healthy for dogs?
As long as your dog doesn’t have heavy lactose issues, it’s quite a healthy treat to your dog. Due to sour cream being a fermented dairy product, it has less lactose than ice creams or whipped creams, for example.
What can you serve sour cream with to your dog?
Usually, we associate sour cream with Mexican dishes, and so some lightly seasoned cooked mincemeat (without onion or garlic) in a tomato-based sauce could be a good idea.
Bear in mind – tomato stalks and stems should not be included in your recipe as there is a substance within them that is harmful in large quantities to dogs. Also, we say lightly seasoned mincemeat because too much salt isn’t great for your dog either.
Conclusion
So it’s fine for your dog to have sour cream as a treat sometimes, and it does have some health benefits. It has low lactose levels because of the fermentation process it is put through, and it can add a yummy creamy texture to their food.
It has some fat content in it, so be wise on how much sour cream you decide to give to them, especially if you plan to permanently add it to their diet.
But overall, just like plain yogurt, sour cream has to be one of the better dairy options available to dogs. Ice cream and whipped cream usually are sugary, high in saturated fat content, and contain more lactose – which are all negatives in a canine’s diet.
