Mayonnaise
CautionMayonnaise contains no canine toxin, but a tablespoon is about 100 calories of nearly pure fat. Dietary indiscretion is a common risk factor for pancreatitis in dogs, and aioli and potato salad add garlic and onion on top.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Pancreatitis
- Fever
- Dehydration
- Hunched or prayer-like posture
- Weight gain
More about this food
There is nothing in mayonnaise that poisons a dog. It is on the caution list because of what it is made of rather than what is in it. Mayonnaise is oil emulsified with egg yolk: about 90-100 calories per tablespoon, almost all of it fat. To a dog that is not a treat, it is a spoonful of oil.
Fat matters here because of pancreatitis. The Merck Veterinary Manual states that dietary indiscretion is believed to be a common risk factor in dogs, and that severe hypertriglyceridemia, generally serum concentrations at or above 500 mg/dL, is considered a risk factor. VCA notes that pancreatitis may be triggered by a fatty meal. Breed matters too: Merck reports that Miniature Schnauzers are dramatically overrepresented, with increased prevalence also seen in Yorkshire Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Poodles and sled dogs. If you own a Schnauzer or a Yorkie, a spoon of mayo deserves more caution than it would in a Labrador.
Here is how it presents. VCA lists nausea, vomiting, fever, lethargy, abdominal pain, diarrhea and decreased appetite as the common signs. Merck reports that in severe cases anorexia, vomiting, weakness, abdominal pain, dehydration and diarrhea are most common, and that while mild cases carry a good prognosis, severe cases are guarded. The praying posture, chest down and rear up, is classic abdominal pain.
What dogs actually eat is rarely plain mayo. It is potato salad, coleslaw, deviled eggs, tuna salad, chicken salad and aioli, which means mayonnaise plus onion, celery, garlic and salt. Onion and garlic have their own toxicosis monograph in Merck and are a different emergency from the fat. Homemade mayonnaise and homemade aioli use uncooked egg, and the ASPCA advises avoiding raw and undercooked eggs.
A lick off a spoon usually passes as loose stool. A dog that cleaned out the bowl, or ate a serving of potato salad, is a phone call now, especially in a predisposed breed. If onion or garlic was in the dish, call whether or not there are symptoms; your veterinarian, an emergency clinic, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 can advise. Go in without waiting for repeated vomiting, a praying posture, fever, lethargy or diarrhea. Do not induce vomiting at home, and let the clinic decide whether to withhold food.
Frequently asked questions
- My dog licked mayo off a spoon. Is that a problem?
- Usually not beyond loose stool. Leave water out and watch for half a day. The answer changes if it was aioli or a sauce built on garlic or onion powder, so check what the product actually was, and call if vomiting repeats.
- He ate a whole bowl of potato salad.
- Call your veterinarian now. The fat load is a genuine pancreatitis risk, and most potato salad recipes contain onion, which is toxic to dogs on its own. Have the amount eaten, the time and the ingredient list ready when you call.
- Is light or olive-oil mayonnaise a safer option?
- Lower fat does not make it food for dogs. Reduced-fat versions usually add sugar, starch and salt back in, and some flavored versions contain garlic or onion powder. There is no version of mayonnaise that belongs in a dog's bowl.