Can dogs eat spaghetti bolognese?

Most bolognese recipes start with finely chopped onion, carrot, celery, and garlic cooked in oil, followed by mince, tomatoes, and often red wine and stock cubes. The onion and garlic are cooked into the sauce and cannot be picked out. Jarred bolognese sauces usually list onion and garlic too.

Some recipes include bacon or pancetta for extra flavor.

Beef mince can be 15 to 20 percent fat, and the sauce collects that fat as it simmers. Parmesan sprinkled on top is very salty. Wine cooks down but does not all evaporate in shorter cooking times. For a small dog, a full bowl is a large dose of fat, salt, and alliums.

Lasagne and chili con carne share many of the same ingredients.

Before adding onion, garlic, and seasoning, set aside a spoonful of plain browned mince and drain the fat. Mix it with a few pieces of plain cooked spaghetti or penne. That gives your dog a taste of family dinner without the risky ingredients.

Freeze small portions of plain browned mince for future toppers.

Pans of bolognese cooling on the stove and plates left on the table are easy targets. Put leftovers away promptly and keep the lid on pans. If your dog ate some, check the recipe or jar and contact your vet. Wipe your dog's face afterward, since tomato sauce stains fur.