It’s no secret that pizza takes the top spot as America’s most favorite dish. In fact, according to a recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll, Americans would have no problem eating only pizza for the rest of lives! Pretty crazy, right? At this point, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise that we celebrate National Pizza Party Day every year.
While pizza parties are awesome and they’re perfect opportunities for bringing people together, our current situation doesn’t exactly make it safe for us to be inviting people over, more so having full-blown parties. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate!
From what we’ve heard, plenty of animal shelters have successfully cleared out their facilities, and most, if not all, their animals are now in foster homes. If you’re one of the many amazing people that stepped up during this difficult time and opened your home to a shelter pet, then there’s no need to look elsewhere because you have the perfect pizza party pal beside you!
But before you make a call to your favorite pizza place, know that regular pizza is generally unsafe for our furry friends and it’s definitely not something you’d want to risk feeding your little buddy, especially since very few vet clinics are operational right now. Read on to learn how you can celebrate the day safely!
What Makes Pizza Unsafe for Pets?
Unfortunately, the very things we love the most about pizza are the ones that make it a huge no-no for our pets: toppings. Most pizzas contain onions and garlic not only in the toppings, but also in the sauce and crust. Both are extremely toxic to dogs and cats when consumed in large amounts and can cause severe damage to red blood cells, which can quickly lead to anemia.
Some pets may also be lactose-intolerant and get stomach issues from the cheese used to top the pizza; others might have an allergic reaction to wheat. While most of our furry friends tolerate—okay, who are we kidding,—love good ‘ole made-for-humans pizza, it’s best to avoid sharing it with them because it’s not only risky but unhealthy. Since we’re all stuck at home right now, we literally have all the time to hit the kitchen and whip up a pet-safe pizza for our pets in celebration of the special day!
How to Make Pet-Friendly Pizza
When making pizza for your pet, it’s better to simply prepare the whole thing yourself—from the pizza dough to the sauce to the toppings. That way, you know what goes into the pizza and you can make sure that all ingredients are safe and fresh.
Remember to stay away from onions and garlic, and refrain from using too much cheese, since most pets have a hard time digesting it. Go for low-fat cheeses, like cottage cheese, mozzarella, or soft goat cheese. When picking other ingredients, always opt for the unsalted variety because our furry friends’ tummies don’t take too well to too much sodium.
Pet-Safe Toppings:
- Mashed sweet potatoes
- Lean meats (chicken, turkey, ground beef)
- Cooked cauliflower
- Cooked broccoli
- Cooked green peas
- Grated carrots
- Bell peppers (preferably, the red kind)
- Meat-based pet treats (beef jerky, biscuits, kibble)
For more detailed pet-safe pizza recipes (yes, they have a recipe for the dough, too!) check out this awesome article from Giordanos!
So, what toppings are you planning to add on your pet’s pizza this National Pizza Party Day?
