Can Dogs Eat Cream of Mushroom Soup? 8 Facts You Must Know
Your Guide To: Can Dogs Eat Cream of Mushroom Soup?
Fact checked and reviewed by:
Dr. Joseph Menicucci, DVM, MBA
You’ve just prepared a bowl of your favorite cream of mushroom soup when you notice your dog’s begging eyes. Can Dogs Eat Cream of Mushroom Soup? Strap in, let’s find out!
The delicious aroma wafting through the air has them excited, and they can’t wait to sample this culinary delight.
But do you have your reservation—you aren’t too sure if cream of mushroom soup is safe for dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Cream of Mushroom Soup? Can Dogs Have Cream of Mushroom Soup?
Cream of mushroom soup is a no-no for dogs.
The soup is meant for human consumption as such, contains ingredients that may harm your pooch. Depending on the brand, cream of mushroom soup may contain dehydrated onions, garlic, leeks, spices, and condiments—all of which are harmful to dogs.
Commercially produced cream of mushroom soup also contains high amounts of fats and salts, which poses a health hazard to your furry companions. They also contain artificial flavorings and preservatives that adversely affect your dog’s health and well-being.
Simply put, avoid sharing your cream of mushroom soup with your pooch because it’s not made with dog-safe ingredients. Offering even a few teaspoons may trigger digestive distress in your dog and set the stage for bigger health issues later.
Is Cream of Mushroom Soup Bad For Dogs
Cream of mushroom soup is bad for dogs, it contains toxic ingredients likely to compromise your dog’s health and well-being.
Depending on your dog’s sensitivities, these ingredients may illicit adverse health reactions. The short-term effects include mild abdominal issues, while the long-term effects could be life-threatening.
Can Dogs Eat Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup?
Dogs shouldn’t eat Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup.
The soup contains ingredients such as dried garlic and artificial flavors that are toxic to dogs. Like most Campbell’s range of canned soups, it carries a risk of sodium poisoning due to its high salt content. Worse still, there’s a risk of MSG poisoning because it uses monosodium glutamate (MSG) for flavor.
Dogs and other animals that consume MSG have a heightened risk of sustaining brain, liver, and kidney damage. 5 MSG poses a considerable risk to a dog’s health because the effects are cumulative—excessive consumption triggers kidney failure in animals.
Since dogs can’t effectively remove the toxin from their systems, its effects are cumulative. As such, you’re likely to notice the symptoms of MSG poisoning when it’s already too late.
Why Dogs Can’t Eat Cream of Mushroom Soup
Dogs can’t eat cream of mushroom soup because it may contain ingredients such as onions, garlic, species, preservatives, and flavorings. These ingredients are toxic to dogs and can adversely affect their health.
From the onset, a dog will likely experience digestive distress, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Each of the mentioned ingredients poses a far-reaching health risk to your dog.
Onions and garlic belong to the Allium family and contain a high concentration of organosulfur compounds such as disulfides. While these chemicals give onion and garlic their characteristic odors and flavors, they’re fatal to dogs.
Organosulfur compounds cause hemolysis in dogs—they weak the cell membrane, causing the RBCs to rupture and break down. Due to the wanton destruction of red blood cells, your pooch stands a high risk of developing anemia.
The severity of garlic and onion poisoning depends on the amount consumed. Common signs of onion poisoning include lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, pale gums, and labored breathing.
The high salt content in a dog’s diet triggers the risk of sodium poisoning—characterized by excessive thirst and urination. High salt intake increases the sodium concentration in a dog’s bloodstream. To counter this effect, the body system pulls more water from the cells to lower the concentration, which can lead to dehydration.
As such, your dog may experience excessive thirst and urinate frequently as the body tries to flush the excess sodium out of its system.
The electrolyte imbalance may lead to tremors, muscle weaknesses, and disorientation. Excessive sodium intake in dogs may lead to sodium poisoning, a fatal condition characterized by seizures, coma, and a swelling brain.
While artificial flavors give the cream of mushroom its irresistible taste, they spell nothing but trouble. They have no nutritional value but are likely to overwhelm a dog’s system, leading to digestive distress.
Worse still, artificial flavors trigger allergic reactions in dogs, such as hives, itchy skin, excessive scratching, and facial swelling.
Loving our article on Can Dogs Eat Cream of Mushroom Soup? Good, there’s plenty more to come!
What Do I Do If My Dog Eats Cream of Mushroom Soup?
You should take quick action if your dog somehow ingests cream of mushroom soup. Naturally, the best course of action depends on how much soup your pooch consumes.
Small amounts
Monitor the pooch closely for several eyes. Watch out for digestive distress signals such as vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, or excessive thirst. 10 In most cases, the dog will likely pull through, but it’s advisable to contact your vet for further advice.
Large amounts
CALL your vet, Animal Poison Control, or Pet Poison Helpline immediately.
Given the far-reaching toxicity of some of the ingredients—you should take immediate action. Depending on the situation, your vet may recommend actions such as inducing vomiting, administering intravenous fluids to counter dehydration, or address specific symptoms such as electrolyte imbalances and upset stomach.
Can Dogs Eat Cream of Mushroom Soup? What Can I Feed My Dog Instead?
There are plenty of safer, healthier, and tastier alternatives to cream of mushroom for your furry companion.
You may opt for hydrating and flavorful options such as homemade or dog-safe bone broth or vegetable soup.
- Dog soups are specially formulated with high-quality, dog-safe ingredients, and they’re low on fat and salt. 12 Alternatively, you can whip up a special concoction in your kitchen by boiling lean proteins like beef, chicken, or turkey breast with chopped green beans, carrots, or sweet potatoes.
- Plain-cooked veggies such as steamed carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, corn, and cauliflowers make healthy and nutritious treats. There are plenty of dog food recipes that let you get creative and whip up a delicious veggie feast for your pooch.
- Frozen treats such as plain yogurt with pureed dog-safe fruits such as banana and strawberry make for rich, nutritious snacks. Blend the fruits and the unsweetened yogurt and freeze in an ice cube tray. Offer them to your pup on a hot summer day.
Alternatively, you may opt for commercially produced dog treats. These are treats specially formulated for dogs. They contain dog-safe ingredients and lack harmful ingredients such as artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Opt for dog treats made with veggies, fruits, or dehydrated meats.
Looking For Some Healthy, Homemade Dog Food Recipe Inspiration?
So, Can Dogs Eat Cream of Mushroom Soup? What’s The Verdict?
Store-bought mushrooms are safe for dogs, but the cream of mushroom soup is a no-no for your furry friend.
Surprisingly, mushrooms are the problematic ingredient in the cream of mushroom soup. The danger stems from the condiments (onions, garlic, spices), high salt contents, MSG, artificial flavors, and preservatives—which are known toxins to dogs.
You may offer store-bought mushrooms to your dogs but not cream of mushroom soup. Check with your vet to verify which mushrooms are safe for your dogs before offering.
If you’re looking for more nutritional advice for your pet, The American Canine Club is a great starting point for all things in canine health.
