Idli is a staple food for many people living in India. It is one of the healthiest foods and thus, you may be wondering if your dog can idli too?
To understand if idli is equally healthy for dogs as it is for humans, continue reading the article. We have mentioned everything that will help you decide if you should feed idli to your dog and how much.
Can dogs eat idli?
Yes, dogs can safely eat idli made using rice & urad dal provided that the idli is served plain in moderate amounts. Idli is easy to digest and provides carbohydrates in large amounts and proteins to a certain extent.
Dogs are omnivorous animals and eat foods that are of plant and animal origin. So, it is wise to feed them food originated from both the sources.
Dogs should eat foods that are rich in protein along with getting other nutrition as well for optimal health. This is because, ‘only protein’ diet will cause an overload of protein and it would affect the canine’s kidney and liver.
Just as feeding your dog steamed rice is fine occasionally, you can even feed your dog idlis. The only ingredients in plain idlis are steamed rice and lentils which are healthy and can be easily digested. Thus feeding them idlis sometimes is a good option to ensure a balanced diet.
Steamed Rice for Dogs
Steamed rice is healthy for dogs and can be found in a few commercial dog foods as well. Many pet owners feed steamed rice to their dogs when the dog is sick because steamed white rice is easy for the dog to digest and simple for the owner to prepare.
Idli is nothin but a steamed cake made from the fermented rice flour and lentils. Like a steamed rice, idli is a good option to feed the dogs.
Nutritional Value of Idli
If the idli is made using regular ingredients – rice and lentils, then one idli has an average of 35 calories.
A meal of 2 idlis, sambar and chutney is on an average 90 calories. We recommend you feed only steamed idli to your dog.
Idli is a healthy food and rich in a variety of nutrients like 0.2 mg of iron, 1.1 mg of sodium, 0.8 mg of vitamin A, 4 mg of calcium, 1 grams of protein, 30.8 mg of potassium, 0.3 grams of fibre, 0.1 grams of fat, and 7.2 grams of carbohydrates.
| Nutrition | Value |
| Iron | 0.2 mg |
| Sodium | 1.1 mg |
| Calcium | 4 mg |
| Vitamin A | 0.8 mg |
| Potassium | 30.8 mg |
| Protein | 1 g |
| Fibre | 0.3 g |
| Carbohydtares | 7.2 g |
| Fat | 0.1 g |
How Much Idli Can My Dog Eat?
You can introduce new foods to your furry friend, but always start with small quantities depending on the size of your dog. If you want to start feeding idlis, ensure to give your adult dog half or one idli along with their regular food items.
It is good to feed your dog idlis in moderate amounts but ensure to keep their diet balanced with other nutrition as well like protein, fat, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and calcium.
Carbohydrates are as important as fats and protein for your dog. So ensure to include carbs in their diet but make sure not to overdo as it can lead to weight gain.
When you feed your dog with idli, restrict commercially packed foods as they are loaded with carbohydrates, which would lead to overdose of carbs.
Conclusion
We hope to have helped you understand that feeding idli to your dog is perfectly fine unless it is in moderate quantities.
It is important to include a variety of nutrients in your dog’s diet and not just protein, as too much protein can lead to kidney and liver issues. Make sure to balance your dog’s diet with foods that are rich in a variety of nutrients to ensure healthy growth.