You might be tempted to feed crackers to your canine friend who has refused to take its eyes off your snack. But should you feed crackers to your dog? What type of crackers can they eat? In this article, you can find answers to these questions and a guide on what to do when your canine friend feeds on crackers in excess.
Can Dogs Eat Crackers?
The answer depends. There are different types of crackers that you can feed your dog. So the answer depends on which cracker snack you want to feed your dog. Crackers generally are known to be high in salt content, sugar, fats, carbs, and calories which aren’t considered healthy for your dog’s health when in excess. There are different types of crackers that you can enjoy as a human but are unfit for your dog. Crackers made with wheat flour are unfit for dogs allergic to wheat. Dogs with medical conditions like high blood pressure and obesity are advised to stay off salted and sugary crackers, respectively. Several issues can also arise from feeding your canine friend excess crackers, such as salt poisoning, extreme dehydration, pancreatitis, etc. Since crackers have no definite health benefits for your dogs, it is best to avoid crackers for your dogs generally.
Are Honey Graham Crackers Good for Your Dog?
No, do not feed your dog Honey Graham Crackers. This is because they are high in salt, fat, sugar, and calories. If you’d like to feed your canine friend Honey Graham Crackers, one or two is enough. If you feed your dog any more than that regularly, your dog might be at risk of weight gain due to the fats, diabetes due to the sugar, and even sodium ion poisoning.
What about…
Cream Crackers?
Cream crackers are a “no” for your canine friend. However, if you must feed your dog cream crackers, you can go for Jacob’s cream crackers. But do not feed your pup more than one or two Jacob’s cream crackers. This is because they are high in sugar, fat, calories, and carbohydrates. But unlike other cream crackers, Jacob’s have a lower salt content.
Club Crackers?
Club crackers are not recommended for your dogs. This is because of their high salt content. Make sure you keep club crackers away from your canine friend because if they eat too many they might be toxic to them.
Oyster Crackers?
You can feed your dog one or two oyster crackers. Oyster crackers are small, and your dog may eat an excess of them. So, it will be best if you feed this cracker properly. However, if your dog eats excess oyster crackers, you should not be worried. This is because oyster crackers don’t contain spices. They are salty, however. So you must provide clean water for your canine friend because they are going to get really thirsty after eating a few oyster crackers.
Prawn Crackers?
Prawn Crackers are the closest to an ideal healthy cracker for your dog. This is because prawn crackers contain fewer salts, fats, and calories when compared with other crackers. But do not overfeed them to your canine friend, one or two crunchy prawn crackers is enough.
Unsalted Crackers?
Unsalted crackers are known to contain little to zero amount of salts. If your dog has been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and you want to treat it with some crackers, then this unsalted cracker is a good fit for it. However, you should not feed them more than one or two unsalted crackers. This is because unsalted crackers are made of wheat flour, and they contain high levels of sugar, calories, and fats. If your canine friend consumes too many of these, they may start gaining weight unnecessarily.
Cheese Crackers?
Cheese is a healthy food choice for dogs, but cheese crackers are not. This is because the ingredients used in producing these cheese crackers are considered unsafe for your pet. Examples of the ingredients are sugar, milk, canola oil, great, and palm oil. However, if you must feed your dog any cheese crackers, ensure you find out if your dog isn’t allergic to any of the ingredients before feeding them any.
Plain Crackers?
Plain crackers are crackers without seasonings or flavorings. They are safe and can be fed to your dog occasionally. The best type of crackers you can give your dog is plain and unsalted. However, remember that crackers are made mainly for human consumption, so whenever you feed your canine friend some crackers, you should always exercise a bit of caution. This is because when dogs eat too many plain crackers, they will gain weight. Plus, plain crackers have no nutritional benefits.
Risks Attached to Feeding Your Dog Crackers
Crackers are salty. And excess salts can be dangerous to your dog’s health. The following are the risks attached to your dog munching on excess crackers:
Dehydration:
Most crackers contain a lot of salt. Excessive salt consumption can cause rapid dehydration to your dog’s cells. You’d find your dog drinking water a lot. In cases of severe dehydration, visible signs like lethargy, confusion, muscle cramps, and even neurological effects result from brain swelling due to high sodium levels.
High Blood Pressure:
Consuming excess crackers can raise your dog’s blood pressure. This is due to the high level of sodium found in salts. This condition, known as hypernatremia, can raise your dog’s blood pressure. High blood pressure can be dangerous if your dog has been diagnosed with anemia. If your dog has been diagnosed with high blood pressure, do not feed them salty foods, and your vet would advise you to switch their meal to a low-sodium diet.
Sodium Poisoning
The main constituent of salt is sodium. Consuming foods with high salt levels, like crackers, can predispose your dog to elevated sodium levels in its bloodstream. A high sodium concentration in your dog’s blood can cause sodium balance or salt poisoning. This condition, known as sodium poisoning, can cause severe gastrointestinal distress, heart attacks, muscle tremors, and death. If you notice symptoms of sodium ion poisoning in your dog, please rush your furry best friend to the vet immediately so it can be placed on intravenous fluid treatment.
How Many Crackers Should I Feed My Dog?
While there are different kinds of crackers, it is paramount you don’t feed your dog more than one or two. Make sure to make your findings of your dog’s allergies before feeding it a cracker. You should consult your vet to draw a healthy feeding plan. However, do not forget the 10% rule, which means your dog’s snacks, treats, and complimentary food should be less than 10% of their recommended daily allowance. The remaining 90% is expected to come from a healthy dog food
What Should I Do If My Dog Eats Excess Crackers?
If your canine feeds on excess crackers, the first thing you want to do is get it a clean bowl of water. This is because your dog will already be feeling dehydrated. Then watch out for signs of sodium poisoning such as dehydration, gastrointestinal distress, etc. ( as mentioned above). The best thing is to visit your veterinarian for proper care. Intravenous fluid can be given if necessary and other manifestations of allergies can be treated.
Alternative Treats for Your Dog
Crackers are sweet for humans but not healthy and beneficial for your canine friend. You can check out the following alternative treats for your dog:
CheesePlain popcorn
Conclusion
Feeding your canine friend crackers regularly is doing more harm than good. Crackers can cause various health problems, and they have no nutritional value. So, it’s advisable that you remove crackers from your dog’s diet. However, if you feel like treating your canine friend with some crackers, we recommend you visit your veterinarian for guidance. In the interim, here are some “human foods” that are considered healthy, and you can try some for your dog
TurkeyChicken and Rice
