Can Dogs Have Marshmallows?
If you’ve ever gone camping with your dog, chances are you’ve wondered if your dog can eat marshmallows. Marshmallows are fluffy and tasty, they seem like the perfect treat for a dog. But can dogs have marshmallows?
The answer is no, dogs should not eat marshmallows. Marshmallows are packed with way too much sugar. This much sugar does not need to be part of your dog’s diet. Even just as a small snack, it’s really terrible for your dog to eat. Plus, some marshmallows contain chemical sweeteners that could prove lethal to your beloved pet.
There are lots of human foods that dogs can eat, but we don’t recommend marshmallows to be one of them. They are too full of sugar, and especially for smaller dogs like the Havanese, there is a choking hazard involved as well.
Are Marshmallows Bad for Dogs?
Marshmallows are bad for dogs because one of the main ingredients is sugar. In fact, marshmallows are nothing more than sugar, gelatin, and a bit of water. Every veterinarian strongly recommends keeping your dog away from treats that are packed with sugar.
But why is sugar so bad for dogs? First of all, sugar can directly lead to a dog coming down with obesity. Also, sugar ruins doggie teeth in the same way it can ruin human teeth.
Now you’re probably wondering, what about sugar-free marshmallows? The answer is still no. Even marshmallows without sugar are dangerous for dogs. They still contain sweeteners to make them taste good. Usually, this is a sweetener called xylitol, and it’s known to cause liver failure, hypoglycemia, and on rare occasions, death.
To give you an idea of just how bad this chemical sweetener is for your dog, it’s more toxic than the chemical found in chocolate. Everybody knows chocolate is toxic to dogs – but sugar-free marshmallows are even worse.
What to Do if Your Dog Eats Marshmallows
If your dog accidentally gets into a bag of marshmallows, you may need to contact your veterinarian immediately. If one of the ingredients in the marshmallows is xylitol, even if your dog only ate one marshmallow, you should contact your vet right away. Your veterinarian may have to induce vomiting.
However, it’s not always so dramatic. If your pooch only ate one or two marshmallows and some time has passed and it doesn’t show any symptoms, it could be fine. Some of the signs that your dog has been poisoned by marshmallows include lethargy, shaking, violent trembling, problems with digestion, and jaundice.
If you know your dog got into some marshmallows and they seem to be sick, you need to get to the vet right away.
Can Marshmallows Kill a Dog?
When it comes down to it, the truth is that marshmallows can kill a dog – and it can happen pretty fast. As we discussed before, the ingredient xylitol is horribly toxic. Hypoglycemia brought on by the ingestion of xylitol, commonly found in marshmallows, can kill your pet in less than an hour. Even if your dog survives, it could have permanent liver damage.
Whatever you do, keep marshmallows away from your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Peeps?
Peeps are just about as bad as marshmallows. Peeps contain sugar, gelatin, corn syrup, and flavourings and colourings. Peep candies are super unhealthy, they can give your dog an upset stomach, and all the sugar will leave them grouchy and lethargic. They could also get sick, your dog can get diarrhea, and if they eat enough Peeps, you may need to take them to a veterinarian for medical assistance.
What Are the Best Deserts for Dogs?
Forget trying to feed your dog snacks packed with sugar. Marshmallows and other candies should be kept far away from dogs. Instead, try a dog-friendly desert, something that will still taste yummy and sugary to your dog while being healthy. There are plenty of healthy snacks that taste just as good to your dog as something like a marshmallow.
One of the best desserts for a dog is peanut butter. In fact, any healthy snack made with peanut butter is a great choice for a dog, just make sure it contains no sugar or harmful toxins. Peanut butter biscuits, peanut butter cookies, and even just raw peanut butter all make for great and delicious snacks.
Dogs also love pumpkin. Pumpkin cakes or cookies are great snacks for dogs and also help with digestion. Pumpkin is fantastic for dogs experiencing a bit of constipation or even diarrhea.
Fruit is usually a good choice when it comes to naturally sugary snacks. But you need to be careful of which fruits you feed your dog. Things like berries are really good, blueberries and strawberries and raspberries. Dogs also like bananas and watermelon. Just be sure not to feed them any grapes, as these can make your dog sick. Other great fruit options are jackfruit, apples and plantains and clementines.
Yogurt and pudding are good snacks, as well as sweet vegetables. For example, baby carrots make an amazing naturally sweet treat that your dog will love.
Do Dogs Like Sugar?
Dogs like sugar as much as people do. Just like us, they have a sweet tooth. Just like us, too much sugar can be detrimental to their health. Sugar can cause two main problems when your dog eats too much of it, identical to the problems that come when humans eat too much sugar.
The first issue is obesity. Too much sugar will cause your dog to become overweight. This is bad for obvious reasons. Obesity in dogs leads to all kinds of internal health problems and overall poor quality of life. If your dog has too much sugar and gets overweight, they’ll have low energy, a hard time running, and you can cut their doggie life short as your medical bills skyrocket.
The second issue is teeth. Sugar will rot a dog’s teeth. It’s the same reason people who drink coffee with sugar end up with yellow, rotting teeth. Sugar is basically poison when eaten in large quantities. It should be kept away from your dog!