Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal Raisin Cookies?
Does your dog like to hover in the kitchen whenever you have something in the oven? Chances are that your dog likes to hang out in the kitchen in hopes of scoring some tasty treats. However, is it safe to share your baked goods with your dog– like your oatmeal raisin cookies, for instance?
Raisins are toxic to dogs. It is for this reason that dogs should not eat oatmeal raisin cookies. While it may seem that there are not enough raisins in the cookies to do any harm, it is not worth the risk!
What Are Oatmeal Raisin Cookies?
As the name suggests, oatmeal raisin cookies are a tasty baked good that contains oatmeal and raisins. They are soft and melt in your mouth, while the raisins add an extra bit of chewy texture to enjoy. Oatmeal raisin cookies are also fairly polarizing– people typically either love them or hate them! These baked treats are firmly in the “humans only” category, as some of the ingredients can be harmful to your pet.
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Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal Raisin Cookies?
As we discussed above, oatmeal raisin cookies are not safe for your dog to consume. Not only do they contain raisins, which are toxic to dogs, but they also contain ingredients like sugar and milk, which can cause stomach issues for your pet, since dogs cannot properly process these ingredients.
When it comes to plain oatmeal cookies, though, these are not toxic to your pet. They do still contain some ingredients that are not healthy for dogs but should be okay in moderation.
Risks of Feeding Your Dog Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Oatmeal raisin cookies can be harmful to your pet, and this is because of some of the ingredients in these cookies. While these ingredients are okay for human consumption, they can cause digestive issues or even kidney failure in a dog.
Raisins
Most of us know that raisins are dangerous to dogs, but may not know why. These are the most dangerous ingredients in oatmeal raisin cookies, from your pet’s perspective. This is because the raisin is a dried grape (grapes are also known to be toxic to dogs). Eating raisins can lead to raisin toxicity in dogs, which can lead to kidney failure. This is attributed to a fungus that grows on the fruit. Some signs that your dog is experiencing raisin toxicosis are vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and even seizures. These symptoms typically occur within 6-12 hours of consumption.
Dairy
Depending on the recipe that you use for your oatmeal cookies, milk or other dairy products may be a required ingredient. Dairy can lead to loose stools, diarrhea, bloating, and gas in dogs– and in some cases, vomiting. This is because your dog is unable to process dairy products in the way that your body does. Small amounts are typically fine, though this may change if your dog is a small breed or has a sensitive digestive system, to begin with.
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Sugar
Sugar can be harmful to your dog as well and can cause stomach discomfort or diarrhea– especially if your dog has eaten several cookies. This is because sugar is not a part of your dog’s regular diet, so its body is unaccustomed to breaking down and digesting these sugars properly.
What If My Dog Eats an Oatmeal Raisin Cookie?
If your pet does ingest an oatmeal raisin cookie, you should monitor it for any signs of unusual behaviour or allergic reactions. Some examples of this are vomiting and tremors. It is also wise to contact your vet, just to be on the safe side. They can then recommend the next steps– such as if you should bring your pet into the office, or remain home and continue to monitor for signs. The amount of raisins in an oatmeal raisin cookie is low, so is often not significant enough to cause an issue.
There is also a two-hour window after the consumption of foods that is important if your dog eats something harmful or toxic. In this window, your vet can still induce vomiting to expunge the item from your pet’s stomach to avoid any further issues. They can also administer treatments such as active charcoal to further eliminate any toxins, and then administer intravenous fluids and monitor the dog for a bit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my dog eats an oatmeal raisin cookie?
Oatmeal can be good for dogs, but raisins are known to be toxic to canines. They can cause tremors, seizures, or even kidney damage. However, the amount of raisins in an oatmeal raisin cookie is so small that it will likely not be an issue. The sugars and dairy ingredients in the cookie can still cause digestive issues or vomiting, though, especially if your pet is sensitive.
What if a dog eats a raisin cookie?
You should monitor your pet if it eats a raisin cookie, as raisins can be toxic to our four-legged friends. It may not be an issue, due to the low amount of raisins in cookies, but it is better to be safe, rather than sorry. Your vet should be contacted as well and given information such as the number of cookies your dog ate– they are qualified to advise on the best course of action here.
How bad are oatmeal cookies for dogs?
Plain oatmeal cookies are not bad for dogs. In fact, oatmeal, in limited amounts, can actually be good for your pet! However, if it is an oatmeal cookie with chocolate chips or raisins in it, this can be dangerous for your dog, as both chocolate and raisins are known to be toxic to dogs.
Will a few raisins hurt my dog?
One or two raisins will not necessarily harm your dog, but you should not risk it! Dogs with weaker systems or who are small breeds will be affected faster by raisins than other dogs. Even small amounts of raisins can still cause health issues such as toxicity, which will then lead to kidney failure.