Can Dogs Eat Saltine Crackers?
For humans, saltine crackers can be a great snack. They tend to be easy on the stomach–I love them if I’m not feeling well.
Whenever we have a snack like this, it’s natural to ask if our dogs can share. After all, some of us do everything together with our pampered pooches!
Unfortunately, dogs shouldn’t eat saltine crackers. While a small amount is unlikely to hurt them, they also don’t provide any health benefits. Large amounts of saltine crackers can cause salt poisoning in dogs.
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This causes symptoms like dehydration, lethargy, and diarrhea. In extreme cases, salt poisoning can cause tremors, seizures, coma, and even death.
In this article, we’ll talk about why dogs shouldn’t eat saltine crackers, what to do if they get ahold of them, and some alternatives to feed your pup.
Are Saltine Crackers Good for Dogs?
If your dog eats a significant amount of saltine crackers, give them some water to prevent dehydration.©Ermolaev Alexander/Shutterstock.com
Saltine crackers are not toxic to dogs, but they provide little nutritional benefit. In addition, they’re high in salt.
This can make them unhealthy and even dangerous in large amounts. While one small piece isn’t likely to hurt your dog, they risk salt poisoning if they get into an entire package.
If your dog eats a significant amount of saltine crackers, give them some water to prevent dehydration. Then, keep an eye on them for symptoms of salt poisoning, which include:
VomitingDiarrheaDecreased appetiteLethargyLack of coordinationExcessive thirst or urinationTremorsSeizuresComa
If you think your dog has salt poisoning, contact your nearest emergency vet clinic right away. Treatment can be life-saving!
What Happens if Dogs Eat Saltine Crackers?
So, what happens if a dog eats saltine crackers? Usually, nothing at all!
Whether your dog gets sick depends on their size, health, water intake, and how many crackers they ate.
For instance, a healthy Great Dane who eats one cracker is very unlikely to suffer from it. But a Chihuahua who’s always had stomach problems may vomit or have diarrhea after eating a handful of crackers.
A dog with heart problems might become ill after eating crackers because salt increases blood pressure. Small dogs, in general, are more at risk of poisoning as well.
A dog who doesn’t have free access to water is more likely to become dehydrated and show other symptoms of salt poisoning after eating a lot of crackers than a well-hydrated dog.
What to do if Your Dog Eats Saltine Crackers
If your dog eats saltine crackers, monitor them for the next few days. They might get an upset stomach or, if they’ve eaten a lot of crackers, they might show symptoms of salt poisoning.
With an upset stomach, you might notice diarrhea, vomiting, or discomfort. This is normal when dogs eat new foods or unhealthy foods in excess. It’s kind of like you’d get a tummy ache from eating too much candy!
However, if symptoms persist for more than a few days, it’s time to see a veterinarian to make sure nothing more serious is going on.
If your dog shows signs of salt poisoning, call an emergency vet clinic. You can also call your primary vet if they’re open, but they might advise you going into emergency if your dog’s symptoms are serious or your primary vet is unavailable that day due to previously-booked appointments.
Remember not to panic if your dog eats crackers–they’ll likely be okay. It takes a large amount of salt to poison them, luckily.
But it’s also important to exercise caution and keep a close eye on them to ensure they don’t have a reaction.
The last thing you should do if your dog eats saltine crackers behind your back is to make certain human foods are kept out of reach in the future. Saltine crackers are rarely dangerous, but your dog might not be so lucky next time they get into something they shouldn’t!
Alternatives to Saltine Crackers for Dogs
Homemade dog biscuits are a wonderful alternative to saltine crackers.©Michael Ebardt/Shutterstock.com
Since saltine crackers aren’t good for dogs, you might be wondering what to feed them instead! Generally, it’s best to stick to the following as healthy snacks:
Small pieces of cooked, unseasoned meatDog-safe vegetables like carrots and green beansHealthy kibble additives like plain pumpkin, plain bone broth, or sweet potatoSmall amounts of dog-safe fruit, such as blueberries, strawberries, or banana
Of course, you might be looking for something that resembles what you’re eating more closely. I understand! Even if our dogs don’t care, it’s important to us that they’re included.
In this case, I’d suggest dog treats that are made to resemble crackers. Read the ingredients before feeding them to your dog to ensure they don’t contain unhealthy ingredients, like excess salt or sugar.
Another option is to make your own dog treats and cut them into thin squares. You can use many different recipes for this–just roll the dough out thin and consider baking them a little longer to get that crispy texture.
My favorite dog treat recipes are those that include superfoods like sweet potato or pumpkin!
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