Can Dogs Eat Ramen Noodles? Raw, Instant, or Cooked?

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Ramen noodles are not the healthiest food for people, so it’s no surprise that they’re probably not the most nutritional food for dogs either.

But can dogs eat ramen? Is there a way to prepare it for them, so it’s okay for them to eat?

Consider a few things before giving your dog a taste of ramen noodles.

In short, dogs shouldn’t eat ramen noodles. Ramen noodles are notoriously high in salt. While a bit of salt is okay for dogs, too much leads to health problems like dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and salt poisoning. Ramen noodles provide no nutritional value and are best avoided altogether.

In this article, you’ll discover:

Why ramen noodles are bad for dogs
The dangers associated with dogs eating ramen noodles
What to do if your dog ate a bunch of ramen noodles
If dogs can eat ramen prepared in different ways

Let’s dive in.

Can Dogs Eat Ramen Noodles?

Ramen noodles can be made in various ways, but there are some commonalities between them.

Ramen noodles are generally high in sodium, fat, and carbohydrates. They also contain artificial flavors and preservatives.

Some recipes use flavorings with onion, garlic powder, and other harmful spices and seasonings for dogs.

Most ingredients found in ramen are bad for dogs in large quantities. This goes for the noodles by themselves and the ramen broth.

The high sodium content can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and even salt poisoning.

In addition, ramen can often contain a preservative called TBHQ. This controversial preservative has been tested in animal studies and shown to have side effects like tumors, liver enlargement, paralysis, and convulsions.

So overall, are ramen noodles bad for dogs? Yes, dogs should not eat ramen noodles or ramen broth.

Can Dogs Eat Cooked Ramen Noodles?

Cooked ramen noodles are no better for dogs than raw or instant ramen.

While the cooking process may reduce the amount of sodium, it doesn’t make them safe for dogs to eat.

The same dangers apply to cooked ramen as to raw or instant – too much salt, fat, and carbohydrates can harm your dog.

Thus, dogs should not eat cooked ramen noodles.

Can Dogs Eat Instant Ramen Noodles?

The instant ramen noodle soup is a go-to for college students or people on a tight budget.

However, instant ramen is one of the worst things you can feed your dog.

The noodles are highly processed and contain unhealthy ingredients like TBHQ.

In addition, the seasoning packets often contain onion and garlic powder – both of which are harmful to dogs.

So dogs should not eat instant ramen noodles. This goes for the noodles or the broth.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Ramen Noodles?

What about ramen noodles right out of the package without being cooked?

The answer is no. Raw ramen noodles are just as harmful to dogs as cooked or instant ramen.

Raw ramen noodles are cooked and then dehydrated. Dehydrated foods like ramen are often treated with chemicals to preserve the food and give it long shelf life.

They’re high in salt, fat, preservatives, and carbs – none of which are good for dogs.

Dogs should not eat raw ramen noodles.

Can Dogs Eat Plain Ramen Noodles?

So what about if you leave out the seasoning packets and just cook the noodles plain?

Well, for a dog, plain ramen noodles are still no good.

The plain ramen noodles will still be very high in carbs, bad fats, and sodium. Therefore, they have no nutritional value and can cause health problems in dogs.

Thus, it’s best to avoid giving your dog any form of ramen noodles, including just plain noodles.

Dangers Of Dogs Eating Ramen Noodles

A small bite of ramen noodles is unlikely to cause problems for dogs, but there are still risks.

Here are a few significant considerations before deciding if you should give your dog some ramen noodles.

High Salt Content

Salt is horrible for dogs. A dog’s body is not designed to tolerate the amount of salt we do as humans.

One package of ramen noodles contains 891 mg of salts.

Now, if you look at a recommended daily sodium intake for a dog that’s 33 lbs, it’s less than 100mg.

The bigger the dog, the more it can handle, and the smaller, the less.

For example, a 10lbs dog should eat less than 30 mg of salt daily. In contrast, a 75lbs dog should have less than 227 mg of salt daily.

Salt toxicity can occur when a dog ingests 2 to 3 grams of sodium for every kilogram of body weight. This is equivalent to about 0.35 to 0.53 teaspoons of salt for every 2.2 pounds of body weight.

The most common signs of salt poisoning include:

Extreme thirst and urination
High fever
Increased heart rate
Lack of energy, weakness
Loss of appetite
Muscle spasms
Respiratory distress
Convulsions or seizures
Stomach pains
Tongue swelling
Vomiting
Walking without balance
Watery diarrhea

High In Bad Fats

Ramen noodles are high in calories and bad fats.

Ramen noodles contain vegetable oils that are highly processed. Many of them add extra inflammatory omega-6 fats.

Over time, this can lead to health problems such as obesity, diabetes, joint pains, and even heart disease.

TBHQ Preservative

Another ingredient found in ramen noodles that can be harmful to dogs is TBHQ.

TBHQ is a preservative that extends the shelf life of processed foods. It’s been linked to side effects in animals such as:

Tumors
Liver enlargement
Paralysis
Convulsions

If your dog ingests too much TBHQ, it can have these same side effects.

In general, it’s best to avoid feeding your dog processed foods that contain TBHQ, like ramen noodles.

Pancreatitis

Ramen noodles are also high in unhealthy fats and oils. These can cause pancreatitis in dogs, which is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition.

Symptoms of pancreatitis in dogs include:

Lethargy
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Abdominal pain
Dehydration
Fever
Increased heart rate
Difficulty breathing

In severe cases, pancreatitis can lead to organ failure and death. If you think your dog may have pancreatitis, it’s important to take them to the vet immediately.

Treatment for pancreatitis usually includes antibiotics, IV fluids, and rest. In severe cases, your dog may need to be hospitalized.

Onions & Garlic Toxicity

Many ramen noodle flavorings include garlic and onions.

These ingredients are toxic to dogs in large quantities and can cause anemia.

Symptoms of garlic and onion toxicity in dogs include:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Lethargy and weakness
No appetite
Pale gums
Fainting
Increased heart rate
Difficulty breathing
Ataxia (lack of coordination)
Red or brown discolored urine
Hyper-salivation

To produce harmful side effects in dogs, it only takes 100 grams of onion (about the size of a medium-sized onion) per 20 kilograms of dog weight.

For example, a 45-pound dog would only need to eat one medium to large-sized onion to reach potentially toxic levels.

To induce harmful blood modifications in dogs, 15 to 30 grams of garlic per kilogram of body weight is required.

To put things in perspective, a grocery-store clove of garlic weighs between 3 and 7 grams on average.

Related Reading: Can Dogs Eat Vegetable Soup? (We Asked A Vet)

What To Do If Your Dog Accidentally Eats Ramen Noodles?

If your dog gets their paws into an entire bowl of ramen noodles, you might be wondering what to do.

The biggest concern in these circumstances is the salt content and fat. For example, one package of ramen noodles can have 891 mg of sodium and 7 grams of fat, with some exceeding these amounts.

Salt toxicity can occur easily when consumed food has a high salt content. In addition, another risk for small dogs overeating ramen noodles is pancreatitis. However, dogs who overeat generally end up with diarrhea and gas. They may also vomit.

After your dog has eaten ramen noodles, watch for the following symptoms:

Excessive Thirst and Urination
High Fever
Increased Heart Rate
Lack of Energy or Weakness
Loss of Appetite
Muscle Spasms
Respiratory Distress
Convulsions or Seizures
Stomach Pains
Tongue Swelling
Vomiting
Walking without Balance
Watery Diarrhea

If your dog experiences anything that concerns you, it is best to take them to the vet. However, suppose your dog only ate a small amount and is not showing any adverse effects. In that case, there is no need for a trip to the animal hospital.