A quick and easy answer to the question “can dogs eat animal crackers?” is no, dogs should not eat animal crackers. It has no health benefits to offer to your dog. If your dog feeds on it regularly, there are high chances of falling sick with numerous health issues.
Table of Contents
What Are Animal Crackers?
Animal crackers are flat biscuits prepared with sugar or corn syrup, flour, hydrogenated vegetable oil, water, baking soda, lecithin(emulsifier), and salt. They are prepared in animal-shaped molds.
Are Animal Crackers Safe for Dogs?
No, animal crackers are not safe for dogs. It is made with ingredients that are toxic to dogs. As a result, they lead to various health issues ranging from obesity, thyroid, diabetes, sodium ion poisoning, and a lot more. In addition, animal crackers are difficult to digest, which might cause obstruction in the stomach and lead to diarrhea and vomiting.
Why Are Animal Crackers Bad for Dogs?
Animal crackers are harmful to dogs for various reasons. But, before getting into it, let us look at the list of ingredients used to prepare animal crackers:
Sugar: One animal cracker contains 0.4 g of sugar. This amount of sugar is excessive for a dog. Periodontal disease is prevalent in dogs. Also, he may face irregular spikes in blood sugar levels and behavioral issues.
Soybean oil: Soybean oil contains saturated fat, which is harmful to dogs. Many dogs are allergic to soybean oil.
High fructose corn syrup: This contains high sugar levels and can cause obesity and diabetes. It can also cause dental issues. This is because it has a higher concentration of carbohydrates.
Salt: One animal cracker has 7 mg of salt. A dog is supposed to have 0.25 g of salt per 100 g of his diet. Excessive salt causes sodium ion poisoning, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and loss of appetite. Also, it causes seizures and death in severe cases.
Baking soda: Baking soda is unnecessary in a dog’s diet. If consumed in large numbers, your dog might end up in a veterinary hospital.
Enriched flour:Most dogs are sensitive to wheat flour. They suffer from wheat allergies. Wheat is not essential in a dog’s diet. While the flour is processed, the nutrients drain away. Hence, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, and riboflavin are added artificially. Your pet may suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, asthma,skin inflammation, and seizures, in severe cases due to wheat allergy.
Soy lecithin: Lecithin, in general, is not toxic to dogs, but it might lead to allergies. Soy allergies are common in dogs. Hence, avoid foods containing soy and its products.
Spice: Animal crackers with spices such as nutmegs are harmful to dogs due to the toxin called myristicin. It can lead to seizures, disorientation, diarrhea, et cetera.
Hydrogenated oil: These are harmful to a dog’s cardiovascular system, can cause inflammation, and even cancer. Hence, avoid foods having hydrogenated oil.
Artificial flavors and preservatives: The ingredients are processed with artificial flavors and other preservatives, which can cause cancer in dogs. These preservatives and artificial flavors are used to intensify the taste and increase the shelf life of animal crackers.
The nutritional division according to the ingredients is mentioned in the table below:
Nutrition
Amount
Calories
8 cal
Total fat
0.1 g
Sodium
7 mg
Total carbohydrate
1.5 g
Dietary fiber
< 0.1 g
Total sugar
0.4 g
Protein
0.1 g
Iron
< 1 mg
Therefore, one animal cracker contains 8 calories, 0.1 g of fat, 1.5 g of carb, and 0.4 g of sugar. Hence, one animal cracker has 78.7 % carbohydrate, 14.8 % fat, and only 6.6 % protein. Consuming these will lead to:
Dehydration
Frequent urination
High blood pressure
Seizures
Increase in heart rate
Nervous system breakdown
Lethargy
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Tremors
Spasm
Muscle weakness
Arthritis
Convulsions
Drooling
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Headache
Dizziness
Disorientation
Wobbly walk
Swollen lips, mouth, and tongue
Weight gain
Diabetes
Obesity
Dental issues
How Much Animal Cracker to Feed Your Dog?
Dogs must not be given animal crackers, even as rare treats. Feeding animal crackers will lead to various health issues. The ingredients are harmful, and the quantity is enormous. Thus, animal crackers are a potential threat to dogs.
What If My Dog Ate Animal Crackers?
Animal crackers can be havoc on a dog’s health. If your dog accidentally consumed animal crackers, it is recommended to offer him bland mashed rice and boiled shredded chicken without seasoning. Due to the fiber content, your dog might need to relieve himself more often. Observe him for 12 hours, as he will show the following symptoms:
Wobbly walk
Swollen lips, mouth, and tongue
Weight gain
Diabetes
Obesity
Dental issues
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Disoriented walks
Allergies
Inflammation
High blood pressure
Keep water handy for your dog as it will ease his stomach. He would also be thirsty because of the consumption of salt. Take him to the veterinarian to rule out the issues at the root. Adhere to the diet chart as a part of the treatment given by the doctor.
Keep animal crackers out of your dog’s reach.
Alternatives to Animal Crackers
There are better and healthy alternatives to animal crackers that dogs can consume:
Bite-sized carrots
Sliced celery
Cucumbers
Sweet potatoes
Blueberries
Apples
Dog cookies
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs eat Chocolate Animal Crackers?
No, your dogs cannot eat chocolate animal crackers. Though these crackers don’t contain enough chocolate that poisons your pet, he still suffers from stomach upsets. Hence, it is best to avoid feeding chocolate animal crackers to your pet.
Can Dogs eat Organic Animal Crackers?
Occasionally, you can give your dogs low-calorie organic animal crackers. However, remember that these crackers still contain calories, sugar, and oils. So, avoid feeding these crackers to your pet.
Can Dogs Eat Frosted Animal Crackers?
No, you cannot feed your dogs frosted animal crackers as it is rich in sugar, calories, and unhealthy fats.
Conclusion
Winding up whether dogs can eat animal crackers or not is essential. At a glance, animal crackers provide no nutritional benefits to your dog. Instead it contains saturated fat, excessive sugar, corn syrup, salt, enriched flour, soybean oil, lecithin, preservative, added flavors, hydrogenated oil. All the ingredients are harmful to your dog. Consuming animal crackers may lead to diarrhea, vomiting, convulsions, seizures, tremors, gastrointestinal tract issues, cancer, obesity, diabetes, weight gain, and a lot more. Therefore, it is best to provide healthy alternatives to your dog and maintain a proper diet plan given by your veterinarian.
