Crackers can seem like an easy treat for dogs. And while dogs can eat crackers without getting sick, the real question is whether your dog should have any crackers. If you’re wondering whether dogs can eat graham crackers, saltines, Ritz crackers, peanut butter crackers, Wheat Thins, and other types of baked bread snacks, the answer is that it depends. In small amounts, crackers are not bad or dangerous for dogs. However, as with anything, pets should only have treats in moderation.
Today we are going to take a look at the types of crackers that are safe for dogs to eat, and the ones that you should avoid giving to them.
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Crackers Are Safe For Dogs
As long as you aren’t giving them crackers all the time, dogs can safely enjoy them once in a while as a treat. But, they can’t have all types of crackers. For instance, there are a lot of snack crackers out there that are loaded with ingredients that are not good for dogs, including garlic and onion, which are actually toxic to dogs. Sure, your dogs would probably love the taste of these crackers, but eating them could be very dangerous.
Salted crackers are also dangerous for dogs. They do need a certain amount of sodium in their diets, but they get it in their dog food, and they do not need any extra. Too much salt can lead to numerous health issues, including heart problems and diabetes. If you are going to give crackers to your dogs on occasion, make sure they are unsalted.
Avoid Dips
We love dipping our crackers in various types of dip, but this isn’t something that you should do for your dogs. Most dips are loaded with ingredients that are unhealthy for dogs. Also, a lot of dips are made with milk products, and since most dogs are lactose intolerant, they could end up with gastrointestinal problems after eating them. It is best to simply avoid dips all together, and just give your dogs plain crackers if you are going to give them any at all.
Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers?
We all know that too many sweets are not good for dogs, as sugar can cause obesity and other health issues. But, there are some sweets that we can let our dogs indulge in once in a while. Obviously, the less sugar, the better.
Graham crackers are an obvious choice, because they are sweet, but not overloaded with sugar. Like regular crackers, graham crackers offer no nutritional value and are basically empty calories, so they are not something to give to your dogs on a regular basis. However, once in awhile, your dog can eat graham crackers without hurting his diet.
The same goes for saltine crackers, Ritz crackers, peanut butter crackers, oyster crackers, Wheat Thins, Goldfish, and other bread dog treats.
Crackers Are Bad For Dogs
While some crackers are okay to give to dogs once in a while, they would be a lot better off with healthier treats, such as fruits and vegetables. Give them treats that have nutrients that they need to supplement their regular dog food. If you want to give them plain crackers, make sure that they only get one or two each, and that you don’t give them this treat all the time.