One of the reasons why people love jelly is because it can be used in many ways. Aside from spreading it on bread, you can also use jelly with crackers, smoothies, cakes, and even as a waffle or pancake topping. Adding a scoop of jelly can also make your yogurts, oatmeal, and butter cookies more flavorful.
And because bottles of jelly are usually lying around in your home, you might think of sharing some with your dogs. But should you? Will feeding jelly to your furry friends bring benefits to their health? Is this food suitable for your dogs’ daily nutritional requirements?
Unfortunately, jelly is one of those human foods unsafe and unhealthy for your dogs. As a pet owner, you should never give any jelly to your dogs because it has the following ingredients:
Sugar
Jelly is made by extracting fruit juices and then cooking them with sugar. This process will extend the lifespan of the fruit juices and cause them to thicken.
One of the reasons why you should never feed your dogs jelly is because it contains too much sugar. A high sugar diet can have detrimental effects on your dogs because it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and diabetes. Your dogs will also have a higher risk of developing dental decay when they eat too many sugary foods.
Xylitol
Jellies contain xylitol, an ingredient that’s highly toxic to dogs. Xylitol can pull water into their intestines, which can cause hypoglycemia, liver failure, seizures, and even sudden death. Xylitol can also cause a significant drop in your dogs’ blood sugar levels.
Pectin
When given in small quantities, pectin can be used to treat diarrhea in dogs. However, giving your dogs food with excessive amounts of pectin (like jelly) can lead to constipation.
When left untreated, constipation can prevent your dogs from emptying their colons and cause feces to accumulate. As a result, your dogs will experience unproductive straining and loss of appetite.
Caffeine
Just like humans, your dogs will experience an instant boost of energy when you feed them food that has caffeine. This ingredient stimulates your dogs’ central nervous systems and makes them hyper. But too much caffeine in your dogs’ diets can eventually cause poisoning and trigger many symptoms, like restlessness, seizures, abnormal heart rate, and hypertension.
Can Dogs Have Sugar-Free Jelly?
Yes, but in moderation. You should also check the label of the product to ensure that the jelly doesn’t contain artificial sweeteners, such as xylitol, as this can be toxic to your dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Jelly Sweets?
No, you should never give any jelly sweets to your dogs. Jelly sweets, namely gummy bears, jelly candies, and jelly babies, contain excessive amounts of sugar. Feeding even a small amount of jelly sweets to your dogs can trigger inflammation in their bodies and obesity.
How About Strawberry Jelly?
No, you should never feed strawberry jelly to your dogs. Although fresh strawberries are healthy for your furry friends, strawberry jellies contain way too much sugar. Excess intake of strawberry jelly can cause cavities and pancreatitis in the long run.
Can Dogs Eat Grape Jelly?
No, you should never offer grape jelly to your dogs. Grapes are highly poisonous to dogs, and even eating one grape can be fatal to them.
Can Dogs Eat Cranberry Jelly?
No, cranberry jellies are still a no-go for your dogs. Cranberry jellies are high in sugar and can trigger several health risks. Some cranberry jelly recipes also use raisins or grapes — ingredients that can poison your dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Raspberry Jelly?
No, you should never feed your pets with raspberry jelly. Similar to other fruit jellies, raspberry jelly contains too much sugar. It’s better to give your dogs fresh raspberries.
Can Dogs Eat Jellybeans?
No, you should never give jellybeans to your dogs as they often contain xylitol. Jellybeans also contain high amounts of caffeine, pectin, and sugar that are very unhealthy for your pets.
Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?
Yes, your dogs can eat peanut butter as long as it doesn’t contain xylitol and other additives. Peanut butter is actually a well-rounded treat for your dogs that provides fiber, protein, and healthy fats.
Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter And Jelly?
Peanut butter and jelly are a classic combination loved by many worldwide. However, when it comes to your dogs, it’s best if you refrain from giving them any peanut butter and jelly sandwiches because some can’t tolerate these ingredients. Some dogs will actually get sick when you feed them PB and J.
What Should You Do When Your Dogs Ate Jelly?
The answer to this question depends on the amount and type of jelly your dogs ate. If your dogs ate a small amount of strawberry jelly, there’s no need to worry. Their bodies can usually tolerate the ingredients of the jelly and will naturally flush them out of their systems.
However, if your dogs ate jelly that contains xylitol and other toxic ingredients, take them to the vet immediately. Your vet will facilitate emergency procedures, such as forced diuresis, gastrointestinal tract decontamination, or close monitoring of renal functions to address your dogs’ jelly ingestion.
Are There Better Alternatives To Jelly For Dogs?
Fortunately, there are many. Swap fruit jellies for the foods listed below as they’re healthier and safer for your four-legged friends:
Banana
Thanks to their high fiber content, feeding your dogs with bananas can improve their digestive systems. Fiber helps move food along their intestinal tracts and prevents any blockages. Bananas also contain vitamin C that can strengthen your dogs’ immune systems.
Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are healthy snacks for your dogs because they’re packed with vitamin A, antioxidants, and fiber. These nutrients work together to improve your dogs’ skin and coat and reduce their risk of heart diseases and some forms of cancer.
Strawberry
Strawberries are healthy for your dogs because they’re full of antioxidants and high in vitamin C and fiber. This fruit can slow down your dogs’ aging process, strengthen their immune systems, and aid in weight management. Strawberries can also impact your dogs’ dental health as they can whiten their teeth.
Vets Are Your Allies
One of the biggest responsibilities you have as a pet owner is to make sure that your dogs have a well-balanced diet — and you can only achieve this goal when you partner with a vet.
Before changing your dogs’ diet, talk to a vet first. Inquire what human foods your dogs should and shouldn’t eat. In this way, you’ll be able to spoil your dogs with food without compromising their health and safety during the process!