Can Dogs Eat Cheetos? Everything You Need to Know

No, dogs cannot eat Cheetos. Cheetos contain harmful ingredients which can lead to ill health in your dog. The ingredients used while making Cheetos have no nutritional benefit. Feeding on them can lead to diabetes, obesity, and heart diseases. As a pet parent, it is best to avoid feeding Cheetos to your dog.

What Are Cheetos?

Cheetos is a corn puff snack developed by Frito-Lay, a PepsiCo subsidiary. Charles Elmer Doolin, the inventor of Fritos, created Cheetos in 1948 and began nationwide distribution in the United States. The initial popularity of Cheetos contributed to the merging of The Frito Company and H.W.

Is Cheetos Safe for Dogs?

No, Cheetos are not safe for dogs, leading to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. In addition, Cheetos contain harmful ingredients like garlic powder and onion powder that destroy the red blood cells, causing hemolytic anemia in your pet. 

Why is Cheetos Bad for Dogs?

Let us first look at the ingredients which are used to make Cheetos:

Standard and Puffed Cheetos:

• Vegetable oil – Corn oil, Canola oil, Sunflower oil. 
• Enriched corn meal – Cornmeal, Ferrous Sulphate, Niacin, Thiamin, Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid. 
• Cheese seasoning – Whey, Cheddar cheese (salt, milk, cheese culture, enzymes).
• Maltodextrin
• Natural and Artificial flavors.
• Protein concentrate
• Monosodium glutamate
• Lactic acid
• Citric acid
• Yellow 6 (artificial color)
• Salt
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder

Flamin’ Hot Cheetos:

• Maltodextrin
• Salt
• Sugar
• Yeast extract
• Monosodium glutamate
• Buttermilk
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Artificial color
• Sodium diacetate
• Disodium inosinate
• Disodium guanylate

Baked Cheetos:

• Cornmeal
• Expeller-pressed sunflower oil
• Maltodextrin
• Cheddar cheese
• Sea salt
• Natural flavors
• Sour cream
• Torula yeast
• Lactic acid
• Citric Acid
  

13 pieces of Cheetos contain 10 grams of fat, 16 grams of sugar, 270 mg of sodium, 16 g of carbohydrate, and 160 calories. Hence, Cheetos are filled with high and unsaturated fat. 

The ingredients in Cheetos can have the following consequences in your dog when he consumes them:

Unsaturated Fat: 

• Weight gain
• Coronary illness
• Kidney infection
• Joint pain
• Diabetes
• Breathing issues
• Malignancy

Salt:

• Hypertension
• Heart issues
• Hypernatremia
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stroke
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Dehydration
• Depression
• Behavioral changes

Empty Calories:

• Excessive scratching
• Excessive licking
• Depigmentation of skin

How Much Cheetos To Feed Your Dog?

Cheetos are not toxic for dogs, but the concern here is the ingredients present in them. They have no nutritional benefits to provide for your dog. Cheetos contain garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and oils that are harmful to your dog’s health. It is suggested not to feed high fat and sodium content snacks to your dog, even occasionally. Therefore, it is best to keep your dog away from snacking on Cheetos. 

What if My Dog Ate Cheetos?

If your dog consumed Cheetos accidentally, he would show symptoms like:

• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Clumsiness
• Loss of craving
• Food and skin allergic reactions
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Excessive thirst
• Behavioral disorders
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• High fever
• Optical issues
• Gastrointestinal pain
• Frequent Urination
• Increase in heartbeat
• Restlessness
  

If your dog has had a significant amount of Cheetos, keep an eye on him and avoid overfeeding him with usual dog food. The effects of garlic and onion spice take a few days to manifest. As a result, you should look after your dog for at least 14 days. Consistent digestive problems that last more than a day might signal that your dog is suffering from a health problem. 

 You should visit your veterinarian immediately if such symptoms are showing. The best is, right after your dog has consumed Cheetos, without waiting for the signs, you can consult a vet to rule out the adverse effects. 

Alternatives to Cheetos

There are better healthy snack alternatives to Cheetos for your dog, which includes:

• Carrots
• Peas
• Apples (without seed and rind)
• Watermelons
• Cooked green beans
• Cooked squash
• Sweet potatoes
• Broccoli
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
  

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Dogs Have Cheetos Puffs?

No, dogs cannot have Cheetos puffs as it is high in salt and can be dangerous for your dog. 

Can Dogs Have Cheetos Balls?

No, dogs should not have Cheetos balls as they contain paprika, which is not suitable for your dog’s optimal health.

Can Dogs Have Hot Cheetos?

No, dogs cannot have hot Cheetos or flamin’ hot Cheetos. It contains all the harmful ingredients listed above. Hot Cheetos also dehydrates your dog to an extreme level. 

Can Dogs Have Organic Cheetos?

No, dogs should not have organic Cheetos. Organic or Inorganic Cheetos have no difference as the ingredients are more or less equivalent. It is high in fat and carbohydrates, which a dog must avoid. 

Can Dogs Have Crunchy Cheetos?

No, dogs cannot have crunchy Cheetos as it is high in calories and fat. In addition, it can deteriorate your dog’s health. 

Can Dogs Have Jalapeno Cheetos?

No, dogs should not have Jalapeno Cheetos as it is similar to hot Cheetos. Your dog might become dehydrated and fall sick. 

Conclusion

To sum up, if dogs can eat Cheetos, we can draw a line that Cheetos are not safe for your dogs. Cheetos do not provide any nutritional benefit to your dog. Instead, the ingredients are toxic and hazardous to your dog. If accidentally, your dog has consumed Cheetos, it is best to consult the veterinarian immediately to avoid dangerous circumstances. There are healthy alternative snacks for your dog. As a responsible pet parent, choose healthy alternatives to keep your dog safe and sound.