Can Dogs Eat Cream Of Mushroom Soup?

If you love soups and mushrooms, then cream of mushroom soup is probably among your top favorite foods. Considering how delicious you might find this meal, chances are you have at least once been tempted to share your soup bowl with your furry friend. However, you might not be too sure whether cream of mushroom soup is a dog-friendly human food. 

So, can dogs eat cream of mushroom soup? The short answer is no – dogs cannot eat cream of mushroom soup. Cream soups generally include ingredients such as milk, sugar, salt, and fat, which are all potentially troublesome for dogs to digest.

This article will thoroughly explain why each of the ingredients in the cream of mushroom soup is potentially dangerous to dogs. We will also provide instructions on how to prepare a homemade soup using dog-friendly ingredients. 


IS CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP HARMFUL TO DOGS?

Cream of mushroom soup, although undeniably tasty, is harmful to dogs. There are various hazardous ingredients and potential issues associated with dogs and cream of mushroom soups. 

Milk and lactose intolerance

Some dogs love milk, and others hate it. However, regardless of your dog’s personal preference, the general rule is that dogs should not drink milk. Over time, as dogs grow, they become lactose intolerant. 

Lactose is the primary sugar found in milk. When the lactose intolerant dog is exposed to milk (and all its sugars), non-digestible lactose will cause gastrointestinal irritation manifested with diarrhea, bloating, extreme gassiness, and abdominal pain. 

Salt and salt poisoning

All living creatures need salt but in very small quantities. Overfeeding your dog salt can cause salt intoxication. This specific form of toxicity is a life-threatening emergency and warrants immediate veterinary attention. 

A dog with salt poisoning will show the following clinical signs and symptoms – vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, staggering, drunken walk, tremors, and seizures. Sadly there is no specific antidote, and the treatment is based on flushing the organism and providing adequate supportive care. 

Sugar, diabetes, and obesity

Dogs have a sweet tooth, but sugar is a hazardous ingredient for our canine friends. Too much sugar will eventually lead to tooth decay and unnecessary weight gain. 

Obesity may not be a disease on its own but is frequently associated with several potentially life-threatening disorders. Last but not least, abnormally high sugar intake increases the risk of developing diabetes. 

Fats, tummy issues, and pancreatitis

Eating too many fats will upset the digestive system and cause tummy troubles for your dog – vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, and lethargy. In the long run, fatty foods are associated with a more severe condition – pancreatitis. 

Pancreatitis is a painful inflammation of the pancreas. It occurs in two forms – acute and chronic. Both conditions are excruciating and, unless timely managed, can have lethal consequences. 

Spices and gastrointestinal ulcers

To enhance the taste, all soup manufacturers add a variety of spices to their soup recipes. Sadly, a dog’s tummy is too sensitive to digest these spices, and if present in more substantial amounts, they can easily irritate the lining of the digestive tract to the point of forming deep defects called ulcers. 

In addition to the expected clinical signs of digestive irritation, dogs with ulcers are likely to produce bloody diarrhea. Depending on the ulcer’s location, blood can be present in the vomit as well. 


Is Cream Of Mushroom Ok For Dogs?

The ingredients in the cream of mushroom soup are the same as those in the cream of mushrooms. The skyrocketing amounts of salt and sugar, as well as the presence of milk, make this tasty delicacy a no-go for dogs. 

Even if fed in smaller amounts but over a prolonged period of time, cream of mushroom can have detrimental effects on the dog’s overall health. 


Is Cooked Mushroom Good For Dogs?

Cooked mushrooms can be good for dogs if prepared healthily. Interestingly, in this case, healthy means similar things for both dogs and humans. Namely, boiling, steaming, and oven-cooking are better options than frying, and the less salt, the better. If cooking for your dog, the best option would be no salt at all. The same rule applies to spices, seasonings, and condiments. 

As for the mushroom, although many people are skeptical about using mushrooms (for themselves and their dogs), store-bought mushrooms are perfectly safe. Obviously, we would never recommend using wild mushrooms regardless of how experienced the person is who picked them. 

In fact, certain mushrooms are particularly beneficial for dogs because of their unique nutrients and health-boosting properties. 

Turkey tail mushrooms

Turkey tail mushrooms are perhaps the most popular medicinal mushrooms. Their highly-sought properties are based on the presence of PSP – polysaccharopeptides which efficiently inhibit and delay the growth of cancerous cells, thus prolonging the patient’s survival time. 

According to a study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine, dogs with aggressive cancer forms treated with turkey tail mushrooms have a longer median survival time than non-treated dogs. 

Reishi mushrooms

Reishi mushrooms are a woody type of mushroom praised as one of the top super-foods. They are powerful for battling inflammation and certain types of cancer, managing hormonal imbalances, and reducing the risk of heart disease in dogs. 

Reishi mushrooms contain beta-glucans responsible for boosting the immune system and decreasing the inflammatory damage caused by stress. They also contain ganoderic acids capable of lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels in dogs. 

Shiitake mushrooms

Shiitake mushrooms are highly praised for their antimicrobial (bacterial, viral, and fungal) properties. They are also capable of reducing inflammation and maintaining blood sugar levels within the normal range. Additionally, they have a unique amino acid profile – they contain all eight essential acids. These are great for dogs with blood sugar problems. 

Maitake mushrooms

Maitake mushrooms are the perfect blend of vitamins, minerals, and natural immune boosters. They contain beta-1,6 glucan polysaccharide components capable of promoting the immune system functioning and inhibiting the growth of abnormal cells. Maitake mushrooms can alleviate the side effects caused by chemotherapy and radiation—a much-needed staple for our furry friends suffering from cancer. 


Cream Of Mushroom Soup For Dogs

If you want to treat your dog with some cream of mushroom soup, you should roll up the sleeves, put the apron on, and starts mixing several components. 

You will need mushrooms and a lactose-free, non-dairy milk option (for example, oat milk). 

Start by cooking the mushrooms (avoid using oils. You can put them in the air fryer or use a tiny amount of extra-virgin olive oil). 

Once the mushrooms are cooked, place them in the food processor or blender. To dilute the dense blend, add the milk and mix once again. 

To make the recipe even more dog-friendly, you can add several kibble pieces to the soup before serving. 

Although this recipe is dog friendly, it is supposed to be served neither daily nor in larger amounts. Keep the cream of mushroom as a special delicacy and offer it once every couple of weeks. Your dog will thank you for it!


CONCLUSION

As pet parents, we all know how hard it is to resists our dogs’ food begging. However, not all human foods are safe for dogs. Dogs are built differently than we are and cannot process the same foods we can. 

In the case of cream of mushroom soup, it is better to let your dog beg instead of falling into temptation and then regretting the decision. Although the amount of soup a dog would have to eat to develop serious issues is rather substantial, extra sensitive dogs can experience problems even with smaller amounts. 

Considering that the cream of mushroom soup has no nutritional value for dogs and there are far more dog-friendly food options for dogs, there really is no point in serving your dog cream of mushroom soup. 


FAQs

Can dogs eat cream soups?

No, dogs should not eat cream soups. Both canned and powdered versions are exceptionally high in several troublesome ingredients. Milk is a gastrointestinal upset hazard, sugar can cause weight gain and diabetes, salt is an intoxication risk, and fats increase the risk of developing cancer. 

Can dogs eat cream of celery soup?

When it comes to dogs, the only ingredient in the cream of celery soup that is safe for canine is the celery itself. Celery can be pretty healthy for your dog, but because of its unusual taste and stringy texture, not many dogs are fond of it. However, cream of celery soup is not a good way of masking the celery as the risks posed by the other ingredients outweigh the benefits of the celery itself.  

Can dogs eat cream of chicken soup?

Considering how much dogs love chicken and how chicken meat is healthy for dogs, it is logical to wonder about cream of chicken soup. Sadly, cream of chicken soup is not fit for dogs because of the other ingredients. However, you can make your dog chicken soup at home using perfectly safe ingredients. 

Can a dog eat vegetable soup?

A homemade vegetable soup (using dog-friendly veggies) can be a relatively healthy meal for dogs. However, you must note that dogs cannot thrive on vegetable soups alone. They need complete and nutritionally balanced diets featuring animal-based protein sources. An occasional bowl of homemade vegetable soup is an excellent addition to the otherwise appropriate diet. 

Can dogs eat soup with onions?

No, dogs must not eat soup or any other food containing onions or other members of the garlic family like the garlic itself, leek, shallots, and chives. These veggies are incredibly toxic to dogs and can cause severe health problems, including anemia. Even the powdered form of the onion is toxic. 

Author

  • Brad

    Hi I'm Brad, the founder of bulldogpapa.com. Having been a vet of 6 years I work alongside our team to provide valuable insight into your dog's health. I have a frenchie myself named Senzu who is my pride and joy!