Goldfish crackers have become popular because of their unique shape and variety of flavors. Today, you can enjoy goldfish crackers in cheddar, saltine, parmesan, pretzel, pizza, or graham flavors — your options are limitless. Goldfish crackers also became popular in many households because they don’t contain any artificial preservatives and flavors.
Regardless of how much you want to spoil your dogs, think twice before giving them any Goldfish crackers. Just because certain foods are harmless for humans doesn’t mean you should share them with your pets. Remember, humans’ and dogs’ bodies are different.
Dogs should never eat Goldfish crackers because they’re unhealthy for them. These crackers contain the following ingredients, which can cause adverse effects on your dogs’ health:
Salt
Goldfish crackers contain high levels of salt that dogs can’t tolerate as easily as humans. Giving your dogs foods with too much salt can cause excessive thirst and urination. In extreme cases, losing too much water can lead to organ failure, resulting in seizures and sudden death.
Onion and Garlic Powder
All forms of onion and garlic are toxic to dogs. Both belong to the allium family and contain thiosulfate that causes oxidative damage to your dogs’ red blood cells. Over time, this triggers hemolytic anemia. This health condition comes with different symptoms, namely pale gums, lethargy, rapid breathing, weight loss, and lack of appetite.
Enriched White Flour
Enriched white flour is the main ingredient in making Goldfish crackers. And while it isn’t toxic to dogs, it doesn’t have any nutritional value either. Enriched white flour is just heavily refined flour, and the process of creating it involves removing its natural fiber and nutrients. Any vitamins it contains are often artificially added.
Cheese
Goldfish crackers contain cheese, an ingredient that’s not toxic to dogs. However, dogs often struggle to digest lactose in their bodies, resulting in an upset gut, bloating, diarrhea, and vomiting. Dogs who are lactose intolerant usually experience more severe, longer-lasting symptoms after consuming foods that have cheese.
What Should You Do if Your Dogs Ate Too Many Goldfish Crackers?
Your dogs could get sick if they ate too many Goldfish crackers. When this happens, your fur babies will likely manifest the following symptoms:
- Abdominal pain and discomfort
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
- Increased thirst and urination
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
Once your dogs show any of the symptoms listed below, call your vet immediately. They can properly assess the situation and determine the best course of action to treat your dogs.
How Can You Prevent Your Dogs From Begging for Goldfish Crackers?
Simple: don’t introduce Goldfish crackers to your dogs. Your dogs will not beg for something if they don’t know what it tastes like, so they wouldn’t bother pawing at you nonstop the moment you open a pack of Goldfish crackers at home.
Aside from this, you can also prevent your dogs from begging for Goldfish crackers by:
Training Them
Train your dogs to obey your commands. Once you can accomplish this goal, you won’t have any problems telling them to stay calm, leave the food, or stay when you eat Goldfish crackers. This option is ideal if you have puppies at home as they’re generally easier to train than adults.
Keeping Your Dogs Busy
Give your dogs something before you enjoy some Goldfish crackers. Depending on the age and interests of your dogs, you can let them run around your backyard or play with their Kongs as you indulge in Goldfish crackers. The busier they are, the less they’ll care about you eating Goldfish crackers.
Don’t Let Them See You Snacking
Hiding when you’re eating Goldfish crackers might be inconvenient, but sometimes, it’s the best solution to prevent your dogs from begging. If you’re going to open a pack of Goldfish crackers, look for a room that’s not accessible to your dogs.
Are There Any Dog-Friendly Snacks?
If you want to spoil your dogs by sharing some human foods with them, it’s crucial to identify which ones are healthy and unsafe for them. Being equipped with this information will make your life easier as a pet owner.
Here is a list of human foods you can give to your dogs as occasional treats or snacks:
Plain Popcorn
As long as it’s free from any seasoning and flavorings, popcorn is healthy and actually contains minerals essential for canine nutrition. Plain popcorn is an excellent source of zinc, phosphorus, manganese, and magnesium. It also has fiber that normalizes your dog’s bowel movements.
Vegetable Sticks
Cut vegetables into thin sticks and give some to your fur babies. Vegetables, such as carrot batons, peppers, and cucumbers, are healthy treats for your dogs as they’re packed with different vitamins and minerals.
Strips of Cooked Meat
Lean meat, like chicken and turkey, provides tons of health benefits for dogs. Feeding your dogs lean meat can lead to shinier coats, healthier skin, and better digestion. Just make sure that meats are cooked without any seasonings or sauces, as these ingredients are harmful to dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Ritz Crackers?
No, you should never feed your dogs Ritz crackers. This snack isn’t toxic to dogs, but similar to Goldfish crackers, Ritz crackers contain ingredients that aren’t dog-friendly. For one, Ritz crackers contain too much sugar, which can trigger excessive weight gain and obesity in dogs.
Choose Healthier Options
Feeding your dogs Goldfish Crackers can have short- and long-term effects on their health, so make sure not to give any. If you want your dogs to snack on something as you eat Goldfish Crackers, opt to give them healthier options listed in this article. This will allow you to bond together and ensure that your dogs stay healthy and happy for years!