If you ever see your dog accidentally consumes some sesame seeds or snatches half of your hamburger buns topped with them, do not get nervous. Being healthy food, they don’t possess any immediate threat to your pet.
However, when it comes to feeding your dog with human food or table scrap, it’s important to follow some precautions as they might have some negative effects on your pet’s health.
Can Dogs Eat Sesame Seeds?
While sesame seeds are not dangerous for dog’s health, they have little or no benefits on their health.
Some household foods have negative impacts on canine’s health. That’s why it is highly recommended to feed your pet with their regular food.
Sesame seeds are highly nutritious food for human. They are rich in fiber, protein, essential fatty acids, among others. However, these benefits are only meant for human, not dogs.
You can feed your dog with a moderate amount of sesame seeds, but as they are high in calories, you need to control the portion.
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A Healthy Diet for Dog
A healthy dog diet consists of essential fats and protein your pet need for proper growth and health. It should eliminate the need for regular “human foods,” making them limited to an occasional treat.
You can purchase dog food from any superstore or make food at home for them. Add some raw or cooked meat, fish, and vegetables with rice and feed them.
Human foods are often too salty or high in protein, which isn’t ideal for a dog. Besides, a dog’s digestive system is completely different than that of a human. Hence, your dog might have some digestive issues if you share your food with them frequently.
If you want to give some of your home cooked food to your puppy, white chicken (boneless) and rice can be a safe choice and good for their digestive system.
Side Effects of Sesame Seeds on Your Dog
While a moderate amount of sesame seeds aren’t harmful to your dog, a high dose of intake may cause some problems for them.
While the numerous health benefits of sesame seeds have no impact on your dog’s health, they will remain complete undigested. If you check the bowel movement of your pet, you will find that the sesame seeds were broken down.
It’s because the digestive system of dogs is quite different from humans. Hence, sesame seeds can disrupt the canine gastrointestinal system, causing vomiting and diarrhea.
Besides, dogs don’t even need to consume sesame seeds as they get their required protein and fats from a meat-based diet.
Should Your Dog Avoid All Forms of Sesame Seeds?
There are several forms of sesame seeds that are used in your food. There are roasted sesame seeds, sesame oil, and tahini.
Tahini is mostly used in hummus, which also contains garlic and onion for flavor, which can be harmful to your dog’s health. Which means it is off limits to dogs.
On the other hand, sesame oil can be a good choice to add some healthy fats to your canine’s diet.
You can give a moderate amount of seed butter or tahini to your dog as a treat. But make sure they are unsalted and free of artificial sugars.
Are Other Seeds Safe for Dogs?
Some seeds can be safe to add in your dog’s meal, such as chia, pumpkin, hemp, and quinoa. They have nutritional benefits that may improve your pet diet when used in moderation.
However, different types of fruits seeds such as watermelon seeds aren’t edible, and you must make sure your pet doesn’t have them. Even safer seeds can cause a choking hazard, so you must be careful about it.
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Bottom Line
As sesame seeds aren’t toxic, a bit of them as a treat won’t necessarily harm your dog. But considering the choking problem and the possibility of the seeds remain undigested, you must limit the amount.
Your dog must get its required protein, fats, and calories from its regular diet, not from the treats.
As your puppy gets its nutrition from regular foods, there’s no need to add any seeds in those meals. If your pet really wants to have them, give some as a treat.
Read More: Sesame Seeds Benefits in Health & Beauty
