Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers + 5 Healthy Alternatives That Dogs Can Eat

Rearing a dog is one of the most fascinating yet exhausting experiences in life. They are like babies; every day, you should ensure they are clean, well-fed, and healthy. Just like babies, you need to control what they feed.

These precious little buddies are the best hangout partners, and as precious as they are, what they snack on goes a long way. So, can dogs eat graham crackers? The answer is no, although it does not mean graham crackers are poisonous to dogs.

Most human snacks such as graham crackers contain high sugar, salt, and carbohydrates, which are not suitable for dogs.

Why Carbs Are Not Suitable for Your Dog

A lot of people conclude that dogs don’t need carbohydrates, but the truth is they do. Commercial dog foods contain carbs but in a healthy form. You see, dogs need healthy carbs like brown rice, sweet potatoes, and oat. Unfortunately, these are not the kind found in graham crackers.

Most human snacks contain carbs in white flour and sugar, which are forms of unhealthy carbs. These kinds can cause disorders such as obesity and diabetes to dogs if taken in excess.

Therefore, you have to control how much graham crackers your little buddy consumes or replace that with a much healthy snack.

Effects of Sugary Snacks on Dogs

First, you need to understand that a dog's digestive system can only hold minimal sugar amounts compared to human beings. If your dog consumes a more considerable amount than it can have, it could start to vomit or diarrhea.

Furthermore, large amounts of sugar cause weight gain in dogs leading to obesity. You need to be cautious, especially if you have a very young or elderly dog. Disorders such as obesity bring with them diseases like diabetes, heart problems, and difficulties in breathing. If such conditions do not get treated, they can cause death.

Just as sugar is not suitable for your teeth, it’s not good for dogs either. Remember, dogs already consume sugar from dog foods, so the sugar from graham crackers is excess. The sugar can cause rotting or decaying of the dog's teeth.

How about Occasional Treats

You might think these occasional treats to your little buddy are okay until they go out of control. Everyone wants the best for their dog. But that shouldn’t include giving the foods for short term pleasure. You may succeed in keeping them happy for some time, but in the end, what you did out of love could endanger them.

It’s better to avoid it altogether, giving them a little biscuit or cookie, however irresistible it is, and allow them to live healthily.

Are Sugar-free Crackers Okay?

You might be thinking, well, if sugar is the main problem, how about some sugar-free crackers? There is a variety of them that are very healthy for the human body. They are even available in organic forms. These sugar-free crackers contain an artificial sweetener called xylitol in place of sugar. Xylitol is healthy for human beings because it does not cause weight gain or affect blood sugar, like sugar.

The case is different for dogs because xylitol can cause a drop in your dog’s blood sugar. Such an effect can causes diseases like seizures and abnormal heartbeat. Unfortunately, xylitol can is present in other sweet snacks like gum and ice cream. It is, therefore, advisable to stick to healthy snacks when handling dogs.

Safe and Healthy alternatives for Dogs

Well, it does not mean that dogs cannot share in the joy of having human food. There are still a few human foods that are very healthy for dogs but need moderate consumption, as discussed below;

• Cashew: Every dog can have cashews but only a small portion at a time. These are rich in magnesium, calcium, and proteins, which are suitable for dogs. They are also low-fat foods, which makes them a perfect snack.
• Low Fat Cheese: Remember, it should be low fat and its consumption moderate. A good example is mozzarella.
• Eggs: Any dog can eat eggs, and you need to ensure to cook correctly. They are a good protein source.
• Milk: Most dogs can have milk unless they are lactose-intolerant. In such a case, then give them water.
• Fish: It is an excellent source of healthy protein and good fats.

Conclusion

As a dog lover, nothing beats the joy of seeing your canine friend happy. But even though you may have a soft heart, dogs can be cunning, which makes it easy to convince you. However, always consider what would be of better value to your dog in the long run than in the short run. Make your dog a little mad today, but allow it to live a healthy and bubbly life longer.