If you have kids or like to snack on cookies every once in a while, you might have several containers filled with animal crackers at home. Animal crackers are a type of cookie baked in the shape of an animal, namely a lion, bear, tiger, or elephant.
And because animal crackers are filling and delicious, you might be thinking of giving some to your dogs. As a pet owner, you’ll likely want to spoil your dogs every chance you get — and for some, this means sharing various human food with them.
Unfortunately, you should never offer animal crackers to your dogs because they contain the following ingredients:
Enriched Flour
Flour is a common ingredient used in making animal crackers. If your dogs have highly sensitive stomachs or wheat allergies, feeding them animal crackers can cause several symptoms, such as diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, and skin rashes.
Additionally, dogs don’t need any forms of flour in their diets to stay healthy. Their diet should consist of vegetables, meat, and canine-friendly grains, so they can receive sufficient amounts of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Sugar
Animal crackers contain a lot of sugar, an ingredient that can adversely affect your dogs’ health and wellness in many ways. For one, a high-sugar diet can increase your dogs’ risk of canine periodontal disease. This common health condition affects more than 60% of dogs worldwide and can worsen into pathologic jaw fracture.
Consuming too much sugar can also disrupt your dogs’ metabolism, resulting in low energy levels, muscle tone loss, and a sudden increase in fat storage. Sugar from animal crackers can also cause diabetes and weight gain.
High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup has unhealthy sugar levels. When you give your dogs animal crackers as snacks, you’re putting them at risk for many health issues, such as obesity and diabetes.
Additionally, corn syrup also has a high glycemic index, which means that the carbohydrates in your dogs’ bodies are digested too fast. As a result, your dogs will experience a sudden spike in energy that is quickly followed by a decline or crash. This isn’t healthy for your canine friends.
Lastly, corn syrup doesn’t have any nutritional benefits to dogs. This is one of the reasons why feeding them animal crackers will only do more harm than good.
Salt
One piece of animal cracker usually contains 7 milligrams of salt. And while this amount might not be a lot for humans, it’s already excessive for your dogs. They only need about 0.25 milligrams of salt for every 100 grams of food every day. Most importantly, dogs should be able to meet their daily sodium requirement from their dog food, not from human snacks.
Due to their high salt content, feeding your dogs animal crackers can cause salt poisoning accompanied by frequent urination, diarrhea, watery stool, headache, and loss of appetite. In severe cases, salt poisoning can also cause seizures and sudden death.
Baking Soda
Your dogs don’t need baking soda in their diets. Dogs eating a little bit of baking soda isn’t a cause for concern, but if they consume too much of it, they can experience several symptoms, such as vomiting, depression, disorientation, and shortness of breath.
Spices
Animal crackers use spices, such as nutmeg and mace, for additional flavor. Both of these ingredients are harmful to your fur babies and can trigger dehydration, upset stomach, high blood pressure, and disorientation. Long-term consumption of these ingredients can also disrupt your dogs’ nervous system, putting them at risk of diseases and illnesses.
Can Dogs Eat Frosted Animal Crackers?
No, your dogs should never eat frosted animal crackers. This variety contains the same ingredients as regular animal crackers with a significant increase in the amount of sugar and food dyes. Frosted animal crackers also have more harmful fats, calories, and sugar.
What Should You Do If Your Dogs Accidentally Consume Animal Crackers?
If your dogs ate one or two pieces of animal crackers, there’s no need to worry. Their bodies can tolerate this amount and will naturally flush out the ingredients from their systems by urinating frequently. Just make sure to give them access to clean water 24/7.
However, if your dogs ate a lot of animal crackers — say, almost emptied the container — take them to the vet immediately. Vets can properly assess the health condition of your dogs and provide treatments to ensure that they survive the ordeal.
Are There Any Safer Alternatives To Animal Crackers?
Yes, there are actually many! Instead of giving animal crackers to your dogs, feed them the foods listed below as they’re healthier and safer:
Bite-Sized Carrots
Carrots are packed with vitamin A, which supports healthy eyesight in dogs. Giving carrots as treats to your dogs can also boost their immune systems and keep their coats healthier.
Sliced Celery
Celery is naturally low in fat and cholesterol, making it a great snack for overweight dogs. Celery also contains vitamins A, C, K, and folate.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are 96% water and can aid in your dogs’ hydration. Cucumbers also have vitamin K that can help strengthen your dogs’ bones and prevent wear and tear in their joints.
Consult A Vet First
Before you share any human foods with your dogs, consult a vet first. Never assume that all human foods are safe and healthy for your furry friends — keep in mind that their bodies are different from yours.
By talking to a vet, you can determine which human foods can you and cannot share with your dogs. Being equipped with this information will ensure that your dogs can live happy and healthy for years!