No, dogs cannot eat Jelly as their bodies cannot process the high sugar content present in jelly. Excessive sugar can lead to diabetes and other health problems in dogs. It should also be noted that xylitol, an artificial sweetener which is toxic to dogs, is found in jelly.
Table of Contents
What is Jelly?
Jelly is a popular confection made by boiling sugar and concentrated fruit juice along with gelatin. It is found in nearly all households worldwide and is known for its buoyant and smooth texture.
Is Jelly Safe for Dogs?
While jelly is frequently advertised as “made from fruit”, it is actually comprised of about 55% sugar. Such high sugar treats are best kept away from your dogs. The boiling process to make jelly also reduces the nutritional properties of the fruit present in it.
Feeding jelly to your dog comes with certain risks you need to understand. The following components present in jelly that are either harmful or toxic to your dogs:
Xylitol – This is an artificial sweetener used often in jellies that is toxic to dogs, even in small quantities.
High sugar content – Excessive sugar present in this sweet treat can lead to diabetes if consumed by your dog.
Grape flavoring – Grapes are toxic to dogs, so grape-flavored jellies are also toxic and should not be consumed by your dog.
A safer and healthier option for your dog would be to mash up some fresh fruit like bananas. Bananas are quite sweet in taste, and dogs are usually fond of this fruit!
Ingredients in Jelly and Impact on Dogs
Let us look at each ingredient present in jellies and how it can affect your dog if consumed:
Fruit: Jelly can be made from the juice of almost any fruit. If you are giving flavored Jelly to your pet dog, avoid flavors toxic to dogs like grape, cherries, tomatoes, lemons, limes, grapefruit, or plums.
Gelatin: Gelatin is high in protein and additionally contains amino acids. It is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which lend to its healing effects and numerous benefits to your dog’s health.
These include:
Keeping their brain active
Improving coat texture
Helping with skin issues
Preventing joint problems
Helps stomach function (especially for gluten allergy dogs)
Sugar: Sugar is essentially added to flavor the Jelly, and jellies usually consist of about 55% sugar. Your dog may have a sweet tooth and be attracted to jellies, but this is very harmful to them. Excess sugar in your pet’s diet can lead to diabetes, cardiac diseases, and weight issues in them.
Citric Acid: Citric acid is added to optimize the pH level, which ultimately helps in the formation of Jelly. This citric acid can cause upset stomach, vomiting, weakness, and diarrhea if large quantities are ingested in your favorite pet dog.
Pectin: Pectin is also an ingredient present in jellies usually that has been seen to cause stomach cramps, diarrhea, gas, and loose stools. It is wise to keep pectin-made products away from dogs.
This delicious dessert is not ideal for dogs to eat. Your dog may suffer from complications if fed flavored Jelly with toxic components or in large amounts.
Health Risks From Consuming Jelly
Jelly consumption can potentially cause many health issues in your dog, which are:
Diabetes: This occurs when a dog’s sugar levels in the blood increase. Even small amounts of eating sweets can contribute to dog diabetes over time.
Pancreatitis: Sugar consumption prompts the pancreas to produce extra digestive enzymes to metabolize glucose. This overproduction of digestive enzymes can inflame the pancreas, causing Pancreatitis in dogs.
Cavities: Sweet food items hasten dental problems in dogs, such as cavities and damaged gums, which eventually results in bad breath, teeth loss, and bacterial accumulation in the mouth.
Obesity: Sugar consumption contributes to weight gain. Obesity can affect the energy level, joints, and the overall quality of your dog’s life.
How much Jelly to feed your dog?
If you plan on serving your dog jelly, try serving unflavored and unsweetened jelly and behold the glimmer you see in their eyes. Dogs may eat jelly lovingly, which is why you should be careful about the quantity you are feeding them. Jelly should be considered a treat and should not make up any where near 10% of your dog’s daily food intake when given. Jelly should also be given on the rare occasion given it’s suboptimal nutritional content.
What if my Dog Ate Jelly?
First, check the ingredients list of the jelly consumed
If xylitol or grape or any other dog toxic ingredients is present in the jelly, get in touch with a veterinarian or call the pet poison helpline immediately.
If the ingredients are primarily sugar and berries (not any toxic fruits), your dog would most likely recover quickly but may experience an upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Symptoms from Eating Jelly
Here are some symptoms to watch out for if your dog accidentally consumes jelly. The sugar present in jelly can cause:
If your dog starts to show these signs of distress, you’ll need to take them to the vet as soon as possible, especially if a large amount of xylitol was ingested.
Solutions and Treatment to Jelly Poisoning
Since jellies could contain xylitol and grapes, both which are highly toxic for dogs, finding medical attention is of utmost importance. A few methods can help counteract the effects of these toxins, but these are in no way a replacement for a doctor.
In the case of xylitol poisoning, your dog experiences a drop in blood sugar levels, so you can give them some natural honey to increase their blood sugar before you take them to the vet. In other cases, just watch out for dehydration or signs of dizziness due to sudden intake of a large amount of sugar in your dog’s system.
Your veterinarian can induce vomit or offer some relevant medication, depending on the severity of the condition.
Alternatives to Jelly
If you think your dog loves jelly for its texture, then you can make your own jelly using plain gelatin and some chicken broth. You could feed this homemade jelly to your dog but only as occasional treats.
If you think your dog has a major sweet tooth, then pick up some fresh fruits and veggies for your pup, as they are the healthy option! For example
Pumpkin
Bananas
Blueberries
Apples
broccoli
cantaloupe
carrots
peaches
pears
sweet potatoes
Conclusion
Jelly is not safe for dogs to consume because it is high in sugar and contains toxic ingredients that are even lethal for dogs. Keep your dog healthy; keep jelly out of its reach! Make sure to pack some healthy treats for your dog to appease them when the puppy dog eyes come out!
