Your dog might give you the puppy eyes while chewing on a tasty dessert, like mochi, but can dogs eat mochi safely? Even though there are a lot of desserts and sugar food items that are relatively safe to eat, some should be completely avoided. One of them is mochi, which is a delicacy amongst humans but harmful to dogs.
Dogs should not be offered mochi because of its high sugar content and the fact that dogs cannot properly digest glutinous rice flour. Therefore, it is better to opt for healthier alternatives that reduce the probability of serious health risks.
With that said, let’s take a closer look at mochi and try to find out what makes it a threat to dogs.
Is mochi bad for dogs?
Yes, mochi is bad for dogs if the ingredients used are not properly considered. It is not only dangerous due to its glutinous makeup but is also thick, dense, and sticky, which can lead to choking, especially in puppies.
At the same time, dogs cannot digest mochi properly, which is made as Lunar New Year’s treats using glutinous rice flour such as tang yuan, fa gao, and nian gao, which might lead to bloating and stress in the internal organs of the dog. Plus. Regularly feeding this food item to your dog might also result in breathing problems or pancreatic inflammation.
What is mochi made of?
Usually, mochi, a sweet chewy rice cake ball, is made using short-grain glutinous rice since this type gives the mochi its chewy texture. This glutinous rice is called mocha rice, which is where this food item’s name comes from.
Traditionally, mochi was made by soaking the short-grain glutinous rice overnight in water for around 10 to 12 hours. This helped the sticky rice to have a tender and even texture, plus allowing more flavor. Next, the rice is steamed until it comes up with a smooth texture and turns elastic.
You shall notice it is stretchy, soft, and sticky by this time. Then, the rice is pounded using a mortar and a heavy mallet while adding water to achieve the right consistency and texture. However, modern mochi is made using the latest equipment and technology using water, cornstarch, sugar, and Japanese glutinous rice flours. Based on the texture and taste required, the ingredients are added accordingly.
Ingredients used in mochi ball – Dangers for dogs
As mentioned previously, the ingredients used make mochi or mochi balls dangerous to dogs. Let’s take a look at some and see how they can be concerning for your dog’s health.
Sweetened red bean paste
Dogs can eat plain-cooked red beans. The beans are loaded with fiber that helps dogs with digestion. However, sweetened red bean paste is termed harmful to dogs. Plus, sweetened red bean paste is made using sugar, salt, and red bean. Then, it is mixed with either dark brown or white sugar or both. As a result, the red bean paste features a sweet flavor.
With that said, dogs eating snacks or food items containing sugar and salt might experience dental issues, diabetes, and pancreatitis.
Sweet rice flour
Sweet rice flour should always be given in moderation as it can potentially be a choking hazard. Keep in mind that sweet rice flour comes from sticky rice or short-grain glutinous rice that contains comparatively higher starch content than other types of rice.
Even though this rice is called glutinous due to being gluten-free, sweet rice flour is neither recommended for your dog nor is toxic. Therefore, offering a small amount of sweet rice flour won’t hurt your dog but should not be offered regularly.
The best flour types that you could offer include almond flour, coconut flour, quinoa flour, oat flour, etc.
Green tea powder
Green tea powder is an essential ingredient used to make mochi balls. However, you need to keep in mind that not all green tea powder is matcha. The green tea powder features a soft olive green color. This color comes from green tea, which contains caffeine.
In fact, it is a fact that green tea powder contains more caffeine than regular loose leaves or tea bags. Therefore, adding green tea powder to mochi balls for flavor can be dangerous to dogs. If that is the case, you should avoid offering it to your canine friend.
Caffeine intake in dogs can lead to agitation, panting, hyperactivity, etc.
Cornstarch and sugar
Cornstarch is used to prevent mochi balls from sticking to each other. It has a naturally sweet flavor and is a great alternative for dogs that are allergic to cornflour and corn. In addition to that, sugar is also used to give mochi balls a sweet flavor. It is added to the sweet rice flour and water during the mixing process.
However, the sweet rice flavor is not naturally sweet and is slightly milky and mild in flavor. Since sugar is added in excessive amounts to give the balls a sweet exterior, mochi balls are not recommended for dogs. Ingesting excessive sugar can lead to diabetes, vomiting, weight gain, and several other health concerns.
Can dogs eat mochi ice cream?
Dogs should not be offered mochi ice cream even as a treat. Although it does not cause imminent harm if you make it a habit, your dog will have to bear the consequences. It has high contents of sugar, which is dangerous for pups.
Mochi ice cream is made using more or less the same ingredients as mochi, like sugar, green tea leaf powder, and rice dough, which makes it threatening to dogs.
What should I do if my dog ate mochi or mochi ice cream?
If your dog ate mochi or mochi ice cream, there’s no need to worry. It will experience some stomach upset, but other than that, it’ll be alright. If you notice vomiting or diarrhea, do not feed your dog for 8 to 12 hours, then feed it plain boiled boneless chicken with rice in small quantities for a couple of days.
What are the safe alternatives to mochi for dogs?
Considering the ingredients used in making mochi balls or ice cream, experts suggest avoiding feeding mochi to your dogs. Instead, dog owners should come up with healthy and tasty treats by using relatively safe ingredients at home.
Dogs should be offered chicken, lean beef, pork, cooked eggs, etc., to promote development and growth. You can also opt for store-bought products but carefully go through the ingredients list to make sure it is free of any harm or threats.
Related FAQs to whether dogs can eat mochi!
Is mochi poisonous?
Mochi is not poisonous in itself, but it can pose a choking hazard if swallowed instead of chewed. As a result, it can also lead to suffocation.
The same is the case with humans as well. Several people are rushed to the hospital every year as the sticky mochi gets stuck in the throat.
Can my puppy eat mochi?
No, puppies should not eat mochi. Mochi is made using sweet rice flour and sweet rice dough, while its outer covering is very glutinous. All this combined can lead to several health concerns.
Can dogs eat red bean mochi?
No, dogs should not eat sweetened red bean paste as it is harmful to them. Red bean paste contains red bean, salt, and too much sugar. Large quantities of sugar are very bad for pups as they can cause diabetes, pancreatitis, and dental problems.
Is mochi healthy?
Mochi can be made using several different ingredients. However, if mochi is made by combining seaweed and rice, it is quite low in cholesterol and saturated fat. In addition to that, it is also a rich source of vitamin A, E, and C.
Concluding our thoughts on whether dogs can eat mochi!
Although you might be tempted to offer a bit of mochi to your dog, you should avoid it if possible. While dogs will almost eat anything, it is your responsibility to look after their health. Mochi or any other treats that contain sugar, starch, caffeine, etc., should be avoided at all costs. And suppose your dog displays some symptoms upon accidentally ingesting such food items. In that case, you should either provide medication or seek veterinary help.
