Almost every household in the United States has purchase and eaten wheat thins at least once. Wheat thins are a household staple snack that can be eaten with many kinds of meals since it’s simply a whole grain cracker. If you’ve owned a dog then I’m sure you’ve wondered if you can let them eat one of these great tasting snacks.
Can dogs eat wheat thins? Yes, dogs can eat 1-2 crackers of wheat thins with little to no health repercussions assuming that they do not have a grain allergy. However, it’s generally not recommended that you feed your dog wheat thins because of the high salt, high fat, and high sugar content relative to a dogs normal diet. If a dog eats a significant amount of wheat thins they are susceptible to getting dehydrated, becoming obese, and having overall poor health. Dogs can eat Wheat Thins, but it’s generally a better idea to feed them a dog treat or other healthy alternative instead.
Nutrition Information for Original Wheat Thins:
- Serving Size around 16 pieces
Carbohydrates 22g
Sugars 4g
Dietary fiber 3g
Fat 5g
Saturated 1g
Monounsaturated 1g
Protein 2g
Potassium 90 mg
Sodium 230 mg
Side Effects of Dogs Eating Wheat Thins
As you can tell from the nutritional values above, dogs that eat wheat thins provides little to no nutritional value for them. The biggest issue is that one serving size of wheat thins contain 230 mg of sodium. The recommended daily consumption of sodium in dogs is 100 mg of sodium per 30 pounds (13.61 kg). This means that consuming one serving size of wheat thins is already over two times the daily amount of sodium intake for a medium-sized dog. A large influx of salt consumption can cause a variety of healthy issues in pets.
If dogs eat a large amount of wheat thins, they will become obese due to the large amount of carbohydrates, fat, and sodium. This has significant health repercussions in the future such as joint issues, diabetes, and heart failure. Obesity significantly shortens a dog’s lifespan by at least 6 to 12 months. Make sure that you maintain the appropiate body weight for your dog.
In addition to providing no nutritional value, several dogs suffer from wheat allergies. If a dog eats wheat thins, they may have an allergic reaction to the wheat and grain inside a wheat thin. This will cause your dog to suffer from skin and coat issues. Wheat allergies are one of the most common food allergies in dogs and symptoms include itching, biting, redness, and bleeding. Read our article on the Top 3 Labradoodle Allergies for more information. Food allergies are extremely common in dogs.
Lastly, the more that dogs eat “human” food the less than they will eat their kibble or real dog food that provides the right nutrition. As a dog owner, you have to make sure that you do not make a habit of letting your dog eat wheat thins. Dogs can essentially become dependent on human and refuse to eat their everyday dog food. Do not feed your dog wheat thins on a regular basis.
Can dogs eat wheat crackers?
Yes, dogs can eat wheat crackers assuming that they do not have a wheat or grain allergy. However, it’s important to keep in mind that wheat crackers are not the healthiest option of snack to feed your dog. The main issue is that wheat crackers generally contain large salt contents. Salt is essentially a human food that was created to bring out more flavor within human food. Humans process and digest sodium differently and more efficiently than dogs do. Remember, the recommended consumption of sodium for a 30 pound (13.61 kg) dog is 100 mg.
As an owner, it’s important to make sure that your dog is not allergic to wheat or grain prior to feeding them wheat crackers.
Conclusion
Dogs can consume wheat thins and other types of wheat crackers in moderation operating on the fact that they don’t have a wheat or grain allergy. It’s not a great idea to feed your dog more than 1-2 wheat thins as these crackers contain a significant amount of sodium which will cause obesity and other significant health issues within your dog. There are much better alternatives to feed your dog like dog treats, kibble, or fruit like apples.
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Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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