Can Dogs Eat Marshmallows?

When you are roasting marshmallows and your dog is excited to share a treat, you may be wondering if dogs can eat marshmallows. While dogs can have marshmallows, they shouldn’t be given as a regular snack because they are loaded with sugar and bad for their health. Giving marshmallows to your dog excessively may lead to them becoming overweight or even obese. This may also increase your dog’s risk of developing other health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, and pancreatitis. Ultimately, just because your dog can eat a marshmallow without choking doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to give them one.

Marshmallows Are Full of Sugar

Unlike many other processed human foods, marshmallows are not toxic to dogs. However, this does not mean that you should give them marshmallows all the time. Marshmallows are full of sugar which is not good for dogs in large amounts. As long as you don’t give your dogs too much marshmallow, they are OK to give to your dogs on occasion.

Do Marshmallows Contain Any Health Benefits?

Believe it or not, marshmallows contain several minerals including selenium, iron, and copper that are actually good for dogs. They may not contain a lot of these minerals but at least you can rest-assured that they aren’t completely empty calories.

• Selenium – This is known to help prevent arthritis and certain cancers in dogs. Selenium can also help protect your dogs from developing skin or stomach issues.
• Iron – Iron is an important ingredient in creating hemoglobin which carries oxygen through red blood cells.  It also helps some enzymes to function better and is helpful in regulating your dogs’ blood pressure.
• Copper – Marshmallows also contain copper which helps your dogs absorb iron and is a natural antioxidant. Copper is also important for promoting the growth of red blood cells, tissues, and bones.

Yes, Dogs Can Eat Marshmallows Sometimes

You can definitely give your dogs marshmallows once in a while since they aren’t toxic for them. However, marshmallows contain lots of sugar so they should only be given in strong moderation to avoid increasing your dogs’ chances of developing obesity, diabetes, heart disease, or pancreatitis.