No, dogs should not eat ritz crackers as they are packed with harmful ingredients that can cause severe health issues. As a pet parent, you must choose healthy alternatives to ritz crackers for your dog.
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What Are Ritz Crackers?
Nabisco first introduced ritz crackers in 1934. Ritz crackers first came into being in Michigan with the name Jaxon in the 1900s. In 1919, it went into the hands of Nabisco, and they changed the name to Ritz Crackers. The first edition was cheese-filled crackers. They are round in shape and small in size.
Are Ritz Crackers Safe for Dogs?
No, ritz crackers are not safe for dogs to eat. It is prepared with oil, hydrogenated oil, unbleached enriched flour, corn syrup, salt, sugar, preservatives, et cetera. These ingredients are toxic for dogs, leading to obesity, diabetes, diarrhea, vomiting, gastrointestinal issues, kidney issues, and more. These crackers are also difficult to digest, which might lead to intestinal obstruction in dogs.
Why Are Ritz Crackers Bad for Dogs?
Ritz crackers are toxic to dogs for different reasons. So, let us first dig into the ingredients used to prepare ritz crackers:
Most natural minerals and vitamins are extracted, and processed minerals and vitamins are added. Most dogs are intolerant to wheat and gluten as they get allergies through it. It also leads to gastrointestinal issues.
Oil: Oils used to make ritz crackers are soybean oil, canola oil, palm oil, hydrogenated cottonseed oil. These oils are harmful to dogs as they lead to diarrhea, vomiting, inflammation, et cetera.
Sugar: Consuming excessive sugar leads to obesity in dogs. It further leads to diabetes, kidney issues, heart issues, and weight gain.
Fat: Feeding your pet treats like Ritz crackers add unnecessary fat to his diet, causing pancreatic inflammation. It can be very painful to your pet, and this condition is known as Pancreatitis.
High-fructose corn syrup: This is extra sugar added to make ritz crackers. Corn syrup is an artificial sugar that can be dangerous to dogs if consumed.
Salt: Ritz crackers also contain excessive salt content, which can cause salt poisoning in dogs. It can also lead to high blood pressure, metabolism loss, heart, kidney, hypernatremia, and liver disease.
Baking soda: Baking soda is unimportant in a dog’s diet. Consuming baking soda can cause seizures, spasms, and heart issues.
Soy lecithin: Soy allergies are prevalent in dogs. Lecithin itself is not toxic to dogs. Still, soy lecithin in combination is not recommended for dogs. It is considered a waste product.
Malted barley: There is a high amount of gluten in malted barley, which is harmful to dogs. It also has tannins which can cause ulcers and kidney damage.
Let us check out the nutritional division in 5 ritz crackers according to the ingredients listed above:
Nutrition
Amount
Calories
80 kcal
Total fat
4.5 g
Saturated fat
1 g
Sodium
105 mg
Total carbohydrate
10 g
Sugar
1 g
Protein
1 g
Calcium
20 mg
Iron
1 mg
Potassium
13 mg
Therefore, we can see the sodium, sugar, total fat, and saturated fat content. The amount present is high for dogs to consume. Thus, consuming ritz crackers can cause:
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Itchy skin
Scratching and licking of the skin
Poor coat condition
Intestine inflammation
Ear infection
Inflamed paw pads
Blepharitis
Pyoderma
Shaking head
Obesity
Diabetes
Pancreatitis
Weight gain
Liver disease
Kidney disease
Heart disease
Dental issues
Metabolic dysfunction
Nausea
Seizures
Spasms
Ulcer
Lethargy
Dehydration
Frequent urination
Increase in thirst
How Much Ritz Crackers to Feed Your Dog?
Ritz crackers are not beneficial for dogs. It can create a lot of health hazards. Hence, no amount of Ritz crackers shall be given to dogs.
What If My Dog Ate Ritz Crackers?
If your dog has consumed ritz crackers accidentally, wait for 12 hours to let the symptoms out. Until then, provide him a lot of water to keep him hydrated and let him relieve himself to ease his stomach. The symptoms he would show after 8-12 hours are:
Concluding, ‘can dogs eat ritz crackers’ – we can comprehend that ritz crackers are harmful to dogs in various ways. Consuming ritz crackers can lead to inflammation, diarrhea, vomiting, skin allergies, dehydration, ear infection, shaking of the head, seizures, spasms, liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease, and a lot more. Therefore, it is best to provide healthy dog food to your dog. Consult a veterinarian to prepare a diet chart for your dog.
