Can Dogs Eat Bulgur? What You Need To Know

It’s a whole grain and easy to cook, but can dogs eat bulgur? Read this guide before you share it with your fur baby.

There’s a lot of information out there about dogs and wheat. Is it ok? Is it safe? As a fellow pet parent, I sifted through all of it and found the most reliable information. Let’s learn more about whether it’s ok to give dogs food made with bulgur wheat.

For ultimate pet safety, I recommend consulting with your vet about all the questions you have about your dog eating bulgur.

What Is Bulgur

Bulgur is a whole grain made from a variety of different species of wheat, including durum wheat semolina. It’s known as ancient grains and has a quick cooking time.

It’s also the main ingredient in tabbouleh. The way it’s processed is different from other types of wheat. It’s partially boiled and dried before it’s packaged, so it is a really quick-cooking grain.

Bulgar is made with whole wheat and has a nutty flavor.

You’ll find bulgur in a lot of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean recipes. It’s often confused with cracked wheat – but they aren’t the same thing. Cracked wheat is dried, not parboiled first.

How Safe Is It

Bulgur is generally safe for dogs to eat. It’s a nontoxic whole grain. Even though it’s safe for dogs to eat, you still need to be careful with how much of it you let them eat.

Dogs can safely eat small amounts of bulgur; but large amounts might give your dog stomach upset or other gastrointestinal issues. This is because bulgur is super high in fiber. A dog’s diet should be higher in animal protein.

How much fiber a dog should eat depends on their size and health, so this is a question you should ask your veterinarian. Generally speaking, fiber should only make up about 2-4% of a dog’s diet, but up to 10% still won’t hurt them. It will just make them have to use the bathroom more frequently.

Health Benefits

One of the biggest nutritional benefits of bulgur is that it is high in fiber. One serving (one cup) is 30% of a human’s recommended fiber intake (26 grams).

For humans, eating whole grains – like brown rice or bulgar – can lower our chances of heart disease.

But there aren’t many benefits of whole grains to a canine diet. Dogs can get amino acids and essential vitamins from meat and vegetables.

Adding fiber to an overweight dog’s diet could help them lose weight, become more sensitive to insulin, or even reduce their risk of heart disease.

Before changing your dog’s diet and introducing new food, always speak to your dog’s veterinarian first.

Risks

Bulgur contains gluten. So, the biggest risk for dogs is that eating it could trigger an allergic or immune response if your dog has celiac or gluten sensitivity.

If you don’t know if your dog has food allergies, then only give them a small amount at a time.

Signs of gluten intolerance in dogs include:

Passing gas
Hair Loss
Scratching or Itching
Red Skin
Ear Problems
Sneezing or coughing
Seizures

If your dog has any of the above symptoms, please contact the vet.

Why Can’t Dogs Eat Wheat

Most dogs can eat wheat. The only ones that shouldn’t are dogs that are gluten intolerant have celiac disease or have gluten sensitivities.

Dogs can’t eat as much wheat as humans. This is because a dog needs to eat mostly animal protein to stay strong and healthy.

This is why a lot of pet owners prefer to give their pup a grain-free diet or look for grain-free foods. There are sources of fiber that aren’t grains, including sweet potatoes.

How Much Can Dogs Eat

How much bulgar a dog can eat depends on their size and what else they ate that day.

Small dogs only need 5 grams of fiber a day, and bigger dogs can eat up to 30 grams of fiber a day.

This is why bulgur is safe, but you should still be careful with it. A few teaspoons each day mixed into their dog food is probably the best way to share it with them.

Final Thoughts

If your dog has existing health conditions, or you’re worried about your dog’s health, then it’s probably best to avoid giving them bulgur. Just like other simple carbohydrates (like white rice), it can lead to adverse reactions or weight gain. There really isn’t much nutritional value of bulgur for dogs, either.

More Dog Food Resources

Here are some more articles about human foods and grains dogs can and can’t eat:

Find lots of articles on food dogs can and can’t eat here on Spoiled Hounds!

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