Are you considering sharing a taste of haggis with your dog but need to know whether dogs can eat it? It is not recommended for dogs. From the toxic onion ingredient to high-content fat, feeding haggis to your dog might lead him to health issues like digestion, nutritional imbalances, or allergies. So, I decided to educate you fully about what haggis is, what it is made of, whether dogs eat haggis, and how haggis is terrible for dogs in just one article.
Can dogs eat haggis?
Although dogs can eat haggis, it is not a suggested food. Haggis contains onions, garlic, fat, and spices that are all toxic to any dog, especially those with digestive issues. Dog owners must consider consulting with the vet before introducing new food.
What is haggis, or is it suitable for dogs?
Haggis, a type of sausage of Scotland made from sheep’s heart, lung, and liver with onion, oatmeal, suet (hard fat of the beef and mutton’s kidney), and spices (like salt, pepper, mace, and nutmeg) by mixing all the items and encased in sheep’s or artificial casings and boiled then served chiefly with potatoes and turnips.
Haggis is unsuitable for dogs because it contains ingredients like onions, spices, and oats, which can harm dogs. Onions, in particular, are toxic to dogs and can cause gastrointestinal upset, anemia, and even more severe health issues. However, if you’re determined to feed haggis to your dog, opt for a recipe that excludes harmful ingredients like onions and spices. Consider making homemade haggis with dog-safe ingredients or purchasing a specialized dog-friendly version if available.
Are haggis safe for dogs?
It might seem that haggis contain healthy treat elements like dog meat. Still, the truth is that haggis is not a safe option for dogs at any cost because of too much fat in the form of suet and sheep’s organs, too many spices, toxic elements like nutmeg and onion can cause severe hemolytic anemia and digestive concern. I remember that in 2016, my dog required emergency vet care after consuming too many leftover haggis on the kitchen shelf. The symptoms I noticed were vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy, and my vet discovered mild pancreatitis swelling caused by the high-fat content in haggis. But thankfully, Luna made a full recovery with the vet’s treatment.
How much haggis can my dog eat?
Haggis is bad for dogs; if you want to give them to your dogs after weeks or in teaspoons, it suits them. Ideally, haggis should only be given as an infrequent treat and at most 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake. Additionally, it’s crucial to consult with a veterinarian before introducing haggis. After a month, I fed my Poodle, who is 25 pounds, 1/2 teaspoon, and Akita, who is 70 pounds, one tablespoon of Stahly Vegetarian haggis, which my friend suggested. I was not sure my dogs would eat it, but they were bonkers for it.
Benefits and risks of haggis for dogs
The vet never suggests the haggis in high quantity. Many risks are associated with feeding haggis to dogs, but there are benefits too,
Pros of using haggis
Protein & Vitamins
In the haggis, the sheep’s lungs, heart, and liver are stuffed into the sheep’s stomach. The liver provides Vitamin A& B, Copper, and Iron. The sheep’s heart is a source of iron, Selenium, and CoQ10 (antioxidants), while the lungs provide Vitamin B12 and protein. All these factors promote muscle health and a better immune system.
Fibre
The oats contain fibre that is effective for food digestion and regulating blood sugar. Moreover, it is low in calories and lowers the blood cholesterol in dogs.
Cons of using haggis
The number of risks is multiple to its average benefits, including:
Allergies
Dogs can develop allergies to ingredients found in haggis, such as grains or specific meats. Allergic reactions can manifest as itching, skin rashes, gastrointestinal symptoms, or respiratory issues.
More calories than required
Haggis is calorie-dense, and excessive consumption can contribute to weight gain and obesity in dogs, especially if not balanced with adequate exercise. If your dog has anything like a haggis or one teaspoon as a treat, opt for some exercises they will do.
Digestive turmoil
Unhealthy spices and fat create abdominal problems in dogs that start to create symptoms like constipation, diarrhoea, gas, and fatigue with fever.
Toxic ingredients disturb the whole body system.
The main toxic thing in haggis is an onion, which causes reduced red blood cells and leads to anemia; the other one is nutmeg, which affects eyesight; high salt content leads to high blood pressure and heart disease. The garlic intake leads to lethargy, dark urine, diarrhoea and respiratory problems.
Some other risks include:
- Bacterial contamination in case of improper haggis storage & handling.
- It affects dental health as haggis contain grains and sticky oatmeal, creating plaque buildup.
- Weight gain and obesity in dogs due to high calories in haggis.
- Behavioral changes include aggression, begging, and increased fixation on high-fat foods.
- Liver and kidney dysfunction due to high fat intake.
- Haggis lacks nutritional values like minerals, vitamins, and protein.
Which ingredients in haggis make it harmful to eat for dogs?
While haggis is a Scottish dish popular worldwide for humans, its usage in dogs is not susceptible because its inner ingredients can pose several issues for dogs.
Onion & garlic
All types of onion, either bulb, shallot, green, red, yellow, sweet, or cipollini onion, all forms and types are highly toxic for dogs. Its leaves, flesh, skin, raw, cooked, or powdered form is not good to add to a dog’s diet because onion & garlic N-propyl disulfide causes reduced red blood cells in dogs.
Nutmeg
This commonly used spice can be incredibly problematic for dogs, especially in larger quantities. While small amounts might go unnoticed, excessive nutmeg consumption can cause hallucinations, tremors, seizures, and even organ failure.
Suet& high-fat content
Haggis traditionally utilizes suet, a type of hard beef fat. While dogs can handle some fat in their diet, the excessive fat content in haggis can trigger digestive & pancreatitis issues like vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis, especially in older dogs or those with pre-existing health conditions.
Spices
The Chilli powder, cayenne pepper, salt, clove, mace, and black pepper in haggis are big no-no-for-dogs.
What are the alternative treats rather than haggis?
There are numerous treats I would suggest rather than giving haggis to dogs, and they can be healthy alternatives for all dogs. Check out our fresh masterpiece on 10 alternatives to raw dog food.
Cooked lean meat:
Lean protein like cooked chicken, turkey, or salmon is an excellent source of nutrients and can be given for training treats, occasional snacks, or adding more protein to a dog’s diet.
Commercially prepared dog treats:
Soft chews, hard chews, Jerky treats, and treat dispensing toys are all treats prepared at the commercial level to keep attracting dogs towards food and a safe option rather than haggis. My personal treats to dogs include Greenies dental treats, Pet ‘n Shape All Natural Hide Twists Dog Treats, and milk bone biscuits, which I shopped from multiple stores online.
Frozen fruits & vegetables:
Fruits like blueberries, bananas, or mangoes in moderation are fun treats. Moreover, frozen vegetables like carrots, green beans, or sweet potatoes are healthier than haggis.
The alternative treats list includes:
- Freeze-dried meat
- Yogurt
- Rice cake
- Fish treats
- Quinoa
- Pumpkin puree
- Green tripe treat
Alternative haggis recipes
All recipes are safe, and you can try them for dogs at home. Dogs with kidney disease need vet-approved homemade recipes.
Haggis Neeps & Tatties
Haggis isn’t suitable for dogs; it contains onions, oats, and suet, so we have created a doggy-friendly version to allow your pups to enjoy a Burns supper! You can replace the oats with nutritious, delicious quinoa and the suet with coconut oil.
We are also replacing the tatties with parsnips and Jerusalem artichokes. (Do not add Jerusalem artichoke to any dog with leaky gut issues, IBD, etc- it is a prebiotic and not suitable for dogs with digestion issues
Haggis Ingredients
- lambs liver, kidney, heart & lung
- lamb mince (if you are feeding it as a meal)
- quinoa
- coconut oil
- Spices (fresh turmeric, cinnamon)
Method
chop all meat and offal up finely, add in cooked quinoa, coconut oil, and spices, and mix and mold large meatballs and steam them for 3-5 minutes ( if you can source a sheep’s stomach and can stomach, fill it with the ingredients then seam in the stomach)
For Neeps and Tatties
Steam Neeps (turnip), parsnip, and Jerusalem artichoke. Mash parsnips and artichokes with a little goat’s cheese for a smooth, creamy taste. Stack haggis, then Neeps, then ‘tatties’ in a mold.
Turkey and sweet potato homemade haggis
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 cup cooked sweet potato, mashed
- 1/2 cup oats (rolled or quick-cooking)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped carrots
- 1/4 cup finely chopped green beans
- One tablespoon of olive oil
- One teaspoon of dried parsley (optional)
- Water or low-sodium chicken broth (as needed for consistency)
Method:
Mix all the ingredients by adding broth, making patties, spreading them on a baking sheet, and keeping them in the oven for 20 minutes.
Chicken & rice haggis for dogs
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 1/2 cup grated zucchini
- 1/4 cup finely chopped spinach
- One tablespoon of coconut oil
- One teaspoon dried oregano
- Water or low-sodium chicken broth (as needed for consistency)
Method
I cooked chicken and rice by adding the other listed items and making them in haggis, patties, or donut shapes, putting them in the oven for 20 minutes, and serving them to dogs as a treat.
Beef and barley haggis for dogs
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 cup cooked barley
- 1/4 cup finely chopped broccoli
- 1/4 cup diced bell peppers (any color)
- One tablespoon of canola oil
- One teaspoon of dried parsley
- Water or low-sodium beef broth (as needed for consistency)
Method
Mix all the items and serve your furry fellow as a dinner or lunch.
Turkey and Pumpkin Haggis for Dogs:
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup finely chopped cranberries
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- One tablespoon of coconut oil
- One teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- Water or low-sodium turkey broth (as needed for consistency)
Method
Cooked turkey. blend it with other remaining ingredients, pour it into a silicon mold, and keep it in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Afterward, serve it to your pup.
FAQ’s
Can dogs eat frozen haggis?
It’s not recommended to feed dogs frozen haggis. Freezing doesn’t alter the potential risks associated with haggis ingredients like onions and spices, which can harm dogs’ health.
Can dogs eat haggis soda bread?
No, dogs shouldn’t consume haggis soda bread. Sticking to dog-safe foods is essential to prevent potential health issues.
Can dogs eat haggis peel?
No, dogs should not eat haggis peel. Haggis peel, typically made from sheep’s internal organs, may contain spices and potentially harmful ingredients like onions, which can be toxic to dogs. Feeding haggis peel to dogs can lead to digestive upset, discomfort, and other health issues.
Can my dog eat vegan haggis?
Feeding vegan haggis to your dog may not be the best option. While vegan haggis typically lacks animal-derived ingredients like meat and organs, it may still contain seasonings or spices that could be harmful to dogs, such as onions or garlic that harm dogs.
All things short
Traditionally, haggis was introduced with the concept of not wasting even a single animal body part, but as a whole, it is suitable for humans but awful for dogs, so avoid giving them at any cost.
