Because of its chewy texture and sweet taste, it’s no surprise why people worldwide love to munch fruit snacks. The product was originally marketed as snack foods to children but, over time, has gained the positive responses of adults.
If you have kids or love eating fruit snacks all the time, you might have several packs stored at home. And if you’re living with pets, you might be tempted to share some of your fruit snacks with them — but should you?
Unfortunately, fruit snacks are a no-go for your dogs because it contains the following ingredients:
Fruit Concentrates
Fruit snacks use fruit concentrates to mimic the flavor and aroma of real fruits. This process requires extracting all the water from the fruits. The final product is pure sugar from the fruit, which doesn’t provide any nutritional benefits to your dogs.
Corn Syrup and Glucose Syrup
Corn syrup is extracted from corn, while glucose syrup is a by-product of wheat and potatoes. Both ingredients are forms of sugar, which can have detrimental effects on your dogs’ health.
Sugar
Although small, fruit snacks are actually packed with sugar. One pouch of fruit snacks already contains 11 grams of sugar, an amount that’s dangerous for dogs. Dogs need sugar in their diets, but their kibble can already meet this nutritional requirement.
Gelatin
Gelatin is safe on its own, but when added or mixed with other ingredients, such as corn syrup and glucose syrup, it can become harmful for canines. This is another reason why you should avoid feeding fruit snacks to your dogs at all costs.
Citric Acid
Citric acid doesn’t sit well with your dogs’ stomachs or taste buds. This ingredient can cause stomach upset in dogs and even damage their central nervous system.
Artificial Flavors
Fruit snacks use a lot of artificial flavors to make the food look, smell, and taste fruity. This ingredient is harmful to your furry friends because it contains excessive amounts of sugar. Some artificial flavors are even made by using harmful ingredients, such as petroleum.
What Are The Effects Of Excessive Sugar On Dogs?
One of the biggest reasons why you should never feed your dogs fruit snacks is because they contain excessive amounts of sugar. Similar to its effects on humans, a high-sugar diet can also have short- and long-term effects on your dogs’ health, such as:
Slow Metabolism
Excessive sugar can slow down the metabolic process of your dogs, resulting in a weaker immune system and unnecessary fat storage in their bodies. This puts your dogs at risk of hormone-related diseases and common infections.
Weight Gain
A high-sugar diet can cause an addiction in dogs that’s difficult to abandon. When your dogs are constantly fed with sugar-rich foods, such as fruit snacks, they’ll crave them even more. This can result in weight gain and obesity in dogs.
Obesity affects your dogs’ health in different ways. When your dogs are obese, they’re likely to develop different health problems, such as coronary diseases and respiratory issues, in the long run. Being diagnosed with these conditions can adversely affect the day-to-day living of your dogs and shorten their lifespan.
Cavities
Sugar can also trigger oral infections and dental cavities in dogs. This happens because the harmful bacteria in your dogs’ mouths feed on sugar, and giving your dogs sugary snacks will make it easy for these bacteria to thrive. Sugar can also weaken the enamel of your dogs’ teeth, allowing bacteria to build up.
Upset Stomach
Eating too much sugar can trigger canine diarrhea. And while some cases of diarrhea go away on their own, others can be severe and lead to dehydration.
Can Dogs Eat Gummy Fruit Snacks?
No, your dogs should never eat gummy fruit snacks. This variety also contains high amounts of sugar and is extremely high in calories. Gummy fruit snacks don’t have any nutrients, which means that feeding them to your dogs will only do more harm than good.
Can Dogs Eat Fruit Candy?
No, your dogs shouldn’t eat fruit candies. These are highly processed treats that contain harmful ingredients to dogs.
How About Dried Fruits?
No, you should never offer dried fruits to your dogs. These contain chemical compounds that are highly toxic to dogs, triggering diarrhea and vomiting. In extreme cases, dried fruits can poison your dogs and cause kidney failure.
What Should You Do When Dogs Eat Fruit Snacks?
Once you find out that your dogs ate fruit snacks, take the food away from them and rush them to the vet immediately. Don’t wait for any symptoms to show up before taking any actions. The sooner you take your dogs to the vet, the easier it’ll be for the vet to treat them.
What Are Dog-Friendly Alternatives To Fruit Snacks?
Instead of giving your dogs fruit snacks, opt to feed them fresh fruits. The latter is safer and healthier for your furry friends. Plus, fresh fruits come in a wide variety, so you can always find one that suits the unique taste of your fur babies.
Here are three of the healthiest fruits you can share with your dogs:
Blueberries
Blueberries are rich in antioxidants which can help protect your dogs’ bodies from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are harmful to your dogs because they can impair their immune and nervous systems, especially in puppies.
Blueberries are also loaded with fiber, which can make your dogs feel full for longer periods. This can keep your dogs’ weight in check and prevent them from gaining excessive weight.
Bananas
Feeding your dogs bananas can provide several health benefits. This fruit is packed with vitamins B6, C, fiber, and potassium. These nutrients work together to maintain healthy blood pressure, strengthen muscles, and increase bone strength in dogs. Bananas can also improve brain function and promote optimal cognitive capacity.
Apples
Giving apples to your dogs as occasional treats is one of the best ways to fulfill their daily nutrient needs. Apples are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, potassium, and antioxidants. The fiber content of apples can also aid your dogs’ digestion and help them maintain healthy bowel movements.
Talk To A Vet ASAP
If you have questions about fruit snacks — why they’re unhealthy for dogs and what you should do when dogs eat too much of it — reach out to a vet. Never rely on the information you see on the internet, as not all of it is accurate and applicable to your dog breed and size.