Maybe. You have just made some delicious Italian meal and your dog comes over to lick your plate. Oops! Can dogs eat pesto? Is it safe?

Pesto could be safe for your dog if you cook it without garlic, salt, and too much oil. Plain pesto made with basil leaves, a few pine nuts, and a bit of olive oil may be okay for your pet. 

However, in large quantities, pesto made for human consumption and containing cheese, oil, garlic, and pepper could be harmful to your dog. The pine nuts in pesto also contain high levels of phosphorus which can cause kidney and bladder stones in dogs.

Spicy pesto could even cause irritation in your pet’s stomach which may result in vomiting and diarrhea. If you suspect your dog has eaten a lot of pesto, please call your vet.

It may be best to err on the side of caution and avoid feeding Pesto to your dog.

To ensure your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance. Preparing for the unexpected guarantees money is never an issue in keeping you pup healthy.