Key Takeaways:
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Parle-G biscuits are harmful to dogs due to high sugar, wheat, palm oil, and salt content, causing long-term health damage.
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Despite being cheap and widely available, Parle-G lacks essential nutrients like bioavailable protein that street dogs critically need to survive.
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Sugar in Parle-G can cause diabetes, pancreatitis, gut infections, and tooth decay, which are often fatal conditions for stray dogs.
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A chemical dough conditioner in Parle-G may destroy Vitamin B1, potentially causing fatal neurological damage, especially dangerous for already malnourished street dogs.
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Affordable, healthier alternatives like boiled eggs, chicken scraps, rice with curd, or vegetables can replace Parle-G when feeding stray dogs.
Parle-G has acquired an almost ubiquitous reputation as the biscuits of choice for feeding stray dogs. It’s not hard to understand why: they’re cheap, widely available and adored by dogs. But is it healthy for them? The answer is a resounding no.
The fact is, Parle-G is actually an extremely calorific product, stuffed with wheat, sugar, palm oil, and salt, none of which should get into a dog’s system ideally. For humans, 3-4 Parle-G biscuits enjoyed with a cup of tea once in a while is fine. In fact, the high glucose levels of the biscuit can give you a quick pick-me-up if you feel an onset of low blood sugar or sudden pangs of hunger.
However, if street dogs are fed such biscuits daily and very little else of any nutritional value, it can cause systemic long-term damage to their bodies. Not only are they deficient in some of the most non-negotiable nutrients that dogs need, most importantly bioavailable protein, but they’re also full of sugar, which may cause inflammation, damage immunity, and lead to diseases like diabetes. For a stray dog, diseases like these are often fatal.
Why do people feed Parle-G to stray dogs?
Parle-G started its life as Parle Gluco biscuits in 1939 at Mohanlal Dayal Chauhan’s confectionery at Vile Parle near Mumbai. The lion’s share of the biscuit market in India was occupied by British biscuits, which were mainly consumed by the elite classes because of their high cost. Parle Gluco biscuits were a Swadeshi alternative: cheap, widely available, and packed with glucose, the form of sugar that goes straight into your blood.
This was revolutionary at the time. Through many toils and troubles, especially in the years just after Independence when there was a massive shortage of wheat, Parle Gluco kept up its position in the hearts of millions of Indians. In 1982, Parle Gluco was rebranded to Parle-G, with G standing for glucose. By 2011, it had become the world’s largest-selling biscuit, confirmed by market researcher Nielsen.
Because of its massive availability, low cost, and popularity, Parle-G also became a common thing that people started feeding stray dogs, especially by those who weren’t regular feeders. It was just easy and economical to buy a small pack once in a while and give it to a couple of dogs that came to you begging for food at a bus stand. In fact, even today, 90 gm of biscuits costs about Rs. 10 and is enough to delight a horde of street dogs.
Why is Parle-G bad for dogs?
Parle-G as a biscuit, of course, is not inherently bad. It is only that the ingredients of the biscuit are unsuitable for dogs. Here are the major ingredients that should not be consumed by dogs:
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Sugar/Sugar syrup: This is the main culprit in Parle-G. The biscuit is packed with sugar, giving it that distinct sharp sweetness that goes so well with our masala chais. However, this sugar can cause many systemic issues in dogs, such as diabetes, pancreatitis, etc. It may also promote bad bacteria in the gut, cause infections to worsen and lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
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Wheat flour: Wheat flour contains gluten, which may cause inflammation of the intestines. Dogs that are sensitive to it may also suffer allergies and skin irritation. It works as a filler with very little nutritional value but a high risk of sensitivities. Street dogs barely get any nutrition anyway; wheat flour just fills their stomach for a little bit in exchange for absolutely no health benefits.
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Palm oil: Palm oil has a high saturated fat and calorie content, and repeated consumption can cause serious damage to the body. There is the particular danger of Pancreatitis, which occurs when dogs eat particularly fatty food daily. It’s marked by severe inflammation of the pancreas.
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Dough conditioner [223]: The sulphites in INS 223 or Sodium Metabisulfite often destroyVitamin B1 or thiamine. This can become fatal, as a lack of Vitamin B1 can cause severe neurological damage. This is especially dangerous in street dogs because they barely get any nutrients to begin with.
What can I feed dogs instead?
So, do we stop feeding stray dogs? Absolutely not. It is a big act of compassion to feed streeties something, say, on your way back from work. If we keep the premise of Rs. 10 and easy availability, here are some alternatives you can feed them:
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Boiled eggs: Eggs are widely available, easy to boil, and cost Rs. 5-6 per piece on average. In fact, many street carts sell boiled eggs too, and they, too, are not very expensive. Eggs are high in protein, essential fatty acids and vitamin A.
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Chicken scraps: Chicken shops often have discarded parts of chicken leftover after cutting off the portions that humans eat. Although not ideal and not very good quality, they contain some protein (especially organs) and are sold for cheap by butchers.
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Rice and curd: The rice and curd combo is cheap and can be quite nutritious for street dogs, especially in the summer. It soothes the gut, keeps the body cool and gives energy. This is also something that’s available roadside.
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Veggies: Most neighbourhoods have a vegetable market in the vicinity. Since they are sold by weight, you may be able to shave off a couple of carrots or pieces of pumpkin under Rs. 10 from your own veggie shopping. This is highly nutritious. Some marketplaces will also contain bruised or battered vegetables that people don’t want to buy, which you can get for cheaper rates or even for free!
So, now you know! The next time you feel like feeding something to your neighbourhood streeties, save the beloved (but rather calorific) red and yellow treasure for your teatime and choose a carrot instead.
Looking to explore more tips on how to look after your furry friend? Check out our other guides like Can Dogs Eat Apples?, Can Dogs Eat Blueberries?, Dog Food for Weight Loss, Raw v/s cooked meat for dogs, Home Remedies to cure tick fever, Finding Good Dog Food in India, How many times should I feed my dog?, Things you should do to keep your pet healthy, Types of Dog Food, How Prebiotics and Probiotics can improve your dog's digestion, Essential Tips for a New Dog Parent, and others. Each guide is designed to help you make better food and care choices for your dog, to keep them happy, healthy, and thriving.
Resources:
https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-voices/how-parle-g-became-the-worlds-best-selling-biscuit
https://www.michigandaily.com/michigan-in-color/the-power-of-parle-g/
https://noblevetclinic.com/blog/can-dogs-eat-sugar-effects-and-health-risks
https://smartdog.co.in/blogs/journals/why-are-sugar-and-palm-oil-bad-for-dogs
