Can Dogs Eat Saltine Crackers? Everything You Need To Know

No, dogs cannot eat saltine crackers. This is because they have excessive salt, sugar, and carbohydrates. These three ingredients can lead to health issues like weight gain, stomach upset, and severe salt poisoning in dogs.

What are Saltine Crackers ?

Saltine crackers are thin salty crackers that are square-shaped. Saltine crackers are a popular snack. They have a crisp and dry texture. 

The crackers are made up of the following ingredients:

• Unbleached enriched flour includes wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, and folic acid
• Soybean oil
• Partly hydrogenated cottonseed oil
• Sea salt
• Salt
• Malted barley flour
• Baking soda
• Yeast

Are Saltine Crackers safe for Dogs?

No, saltine crackers are not safe for dogs. 

Why are Saltine Crackers Bad for Dogs?

Excessive Salt: A 30-pound dog needs about 100 mg of sodium per day. One saltine cracker has 33.5 mg of sodium. If your dog’s food already contains all of the sodium that your dog requires each day, one cracker will put a 30-pound dog over his sodium limit.

Consuming excessive salt can cause sodium poisoning in dogs. Signs of sodium poisoning include: 

• Extreme thirst
• Frequent urination
• Seizures
• Convulsions or muscle tremors
• Body weakness
• Muscle weakness
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Decrease hunger and loss of appetite
• Lack of coordination
• Confusion
• Coma
• Death (in severe cases)

Baking soda: Baking soda can be toxic to dogs. In addition, ingesting too much baking soda can cause bloating, stomach upset, abdominal pain, and vomiting. 

Yeast: Your dog will experience extreme bloating or gastric dilatation volvulus. Yeast can also lead to alcohol poisoning in dogs. 

Soy lecithin is harmful to dogs with soy allergies:  If your dog has a soy allergy, avoid feeding them snacks or treats containing soy products such as saltine crackers. Saltine crackers contain soy lecithin, which does not have any nutritional benefits for your dog

High levels of calories are harmful to dogs: It is advised that 90% of the calories should come from a balanced diet. Only 10% of the diet can consist of treats.

How many Saltine Crackers can be fed to your Dog?

The size and breed of your dog matter as well. The calorie intake should be about 25 to 30 per pound of their body weight per day. Feeding saltine crackers is going to add to your dog’s calorie intake. It can result in them putting on unnecessary weight. It can even lead to obesity.

A tiny bit of a saltine cracker when given as a treat will not harm your dog; but it is recommended that your dog should not be fed saltine crackers.

What if my Dog ate Saltine Crackers?

Observe your dog and notice whether it shows any symptoms of salt poisoning. You can also check for allergic reactions if your dog is allergic to soy.

If your dog shows any of the symptoms as discussed above, take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Alternatives to Saltine Cracker

The following food items are great alternatives to saltine crackers:

Milk-Bone MaroSnacks Dog Treats with Real Bone Marrow and Calcium

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Three Dog Bakery Classic Cremes Baked Dog Treats, Golden With Vanilla Filling, 13 Oz

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• Baked Classic Wafers
• Wellness Natural Grain Free Dog Treats
• Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Biscuits Dog Treats
• Apples
• Bell peppers
• Celery
• Green beans
• Carrots

Conclusion

In general, you should not give saltine crackers to your dog. They are high in salt and can cause salt poisoning in your dog. In addition, they do not contain any nutritional benefits for your dog. They can also evoke allergic reactions in your dog. As alternatives, buy food made exclusively for dogs or prepare homemade treats.