Introduction
No, dogs cannot eat chicken pot pie. Depending on the recipe, the chicken pot pie can be directly toxic or indirectly harmful to dogs. Either way, pet owners need to keep the dish away from their dogs’ food bowls.
Basically, just because a food contains chicken or some other meat does not mean it is good for dogs. While the meat itself is not the issue, the rest of the ingredients are troublesome to dogs.
Why is Chicken Pot Pie Bad for Dogs?
There are several reasons chicken pot pie is bad for dogs – some are minor and self-limiting while others are severe and require veterinary attention. To keep things easy for understanding, let’s take a look at the potentially harmful consequences of chicken pot pie for dogs.
Stomach Upset
As with all other human foods, the first risk for dogs is stomach upset. Contrary to general belief, dogs have sensitive stomachs that are easily irritated by certain foods.
Chicken pot pie falls in the group of human foods that are hard to digest for dogs and will probably trigger an episode of stomach upset. Some stomach upset cases can be managed at home, and others require veterinary help.
Lactose Intolerance
All dog owners know that adult dogs are lactose intolerant. Namely, dogs lack the lactase enzyme necessary for breaking down milk sugar. As a result, when eating foods with milk or another dairy, they experience stomach issues.
Grain Allergies
The crust of the chicken pot pie is made with flour, and some dogs are sensitive to grains. Although grain sensitivities in dogs are not as common as certain pet food manufacturers advertise, they are still possible.
Onion Toxicity
Most chicken pot pie recipes include onion – either diced or in the form of onion powder. In both cases, the effect is the same as onion is toxic to dogs.
Onion contains a compound called N-propyl disulfide that damages the dog’s red blood cells (erythrocytes), resulting in potentially life-threatening anemia.
Various Spices
From black to red pepper, the chicken pot pie recipe often includes various spices. The canine stomach is not designed for digesting spices, and their presence is irritating. In more severe cases, spices may trigger bleeding GI tract ulcers.
Too Much Salt
Chicken pot pie contains too much salt. A small amount of salt is beneficial for dogs; however, the excess is harmful. Too much salt may result in kidney damage or, in more severe cases, salt intoxication. However, for this to occur, the dog would have to consume a really big amount of chicken pot pie.
Signs Your Dog Has Eaten Chicken Pot Pie
The clinical signs indicate a dog ate chicken pot pie depending on the dog’s size and overall health, as well as the amount of consumed pie and the ingredients included.
For example, if a large dog ate a bite or two of a chicken pot pie with no harmful ingredients, there would be no signs and symptoms. However, if a small dog takes a bite or two from a chicken pot pie with onions, it will become intoxicated.
Clinical signs and symptoms of onion poisoning in dogs include:
- Pale or bluish gums
- Lethargy and weakness
- Exercise intolerance
- Loss of appetite
- Reddish urine
- Occasional fainting.
On the other hand, a dog developing stomach upset after eating chicken pot pie, same as lactose intolerant and grain allergic dogs will manifest:
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Gassiness and bloating
- Dehydration
- Disinterest in everyday activities.
What to Do If My Dog Ate Chicken Pot Pie
If your dog ate chicken pot pie, the first thing you need to do is prevent further damage. In other terms, you need to separate the dog from the pie and then assess the situation – determine how much the dog ate and what exactly the pie included.
The next step is calling the vet or Pet Poison Helpline. In both cases, you need to explain what happened and provide as much information as possible. Based on what you say, you will be instructed to monitor the dog at home or bring it to the clinic for an in-person evaluation.
Summary
All in all, dogs cannot eat chicken pot pie. Some chicken pot pies are harmless in small amounts, but others are dangerous even when a dog takes only a bite or two.
Therefore, the overall conclusion is that chicken pot pies are not dog-friendly and must never be fed to dogs on purpose.
In case of accidental ingestions, pet owners must seek immediate veterinary attention. More often than not, time is of the essence.
Sources
- What to Do if Your Dog Has an Upset Stomach, Fetch by WebMD, 2021
- 3 Remedies for Upset Stomach in Dogs, Katherine Smith, DVM, CVA, CVSMT, 2020
- Can Dogs Eat Onions?, Anna Burke, 2017
- Pet Poison Control List – Salt, VetMeds, 2020
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