Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers?

Can dogs eat graham crackers?

Graham crackers are safe for dogs as a small occasional treat. But, they are high in sugar and salt, so can cause health issues if they become a regular snack.

Graham crackers should not form a large part of your dog’s diet, as they offer no nutrition that isn’t already obtained from your dog’s regular food.

Only offer them as an occasional treat, and watch for any signs of allergy or any unsafe additional ingredients.

Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers and Other FAQs

• Can dogs eat graham crackers?
• Are graham crackers bad for dogs?
• Are graham crackers good for dogs?
• Can dogs eat cinnamon graham crackers?
• Can dogs eat honey graham crackers?
• Are smores safe for dogs?
• Can dogs eat graham cracker crusts?
• Can I use graham crackers as training treats?

It’s important to learn about new foods before offering them to your dog. But, there may be times when your dog swipes something from the counter before you can stop them.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about graham crackers and dogs, in case you want to share this treat with your pet. Starting with the important question, can dogs eat graham crackers?

Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers?

Graham crackers are sweet crackers made with graham flour. They were first created by a man called Sylvester P. Graham.

These popular crackers are mass produced and can be found in most stores. They can come plain, or flavored with honey, cinnamon, and other ingredients.

It is safe for most dogs to eat a small amount of graham crackers. So, don’t panic if your dog has managed to get some from your kitchen.

But, health problems can arise when your dog eats too many graham crackers. Or when your dog eats them as a large part of their regular diet.

You should also be aware of any other ingredients added to graham cracker snacks or recipes that use graham crackers. Whilst the crackers themselves are okay in small amounts, added ingredients can be toxic for dogs.

Are Graham Crackers Bad for Dogs?

In large amounts, or as a large part of your dog’s regular diet, graham crackers can be bad for dogs.

As well as graham flour, other common ingredients include oil, lard, molasses, and salt.

Too much salt can cause excessive thirst and urination, as well as sodium poisoning, which can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and even death.

1 serving of graham crackers contains around 3.5g sugar.

Dogs should not consume too much sugar. High levels of sugar in a dog’s diet can lead to tooth decay and poor dental health, diabetes, obesity, and other problems.

So, yes, graham crackers can be bad for dogs if your pup eats too many. Or if he or she eats them too often.

Plus, any dogs that are wheat intolerant should steer clear of this occasional snack.

Signs of intolerance include bloating and gas, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin problems.

Are Graham Crackers Good for Dogs?

Plain graham crackers with no added ingredients can provide your dog with carbohydrates, sugars, and salt, all of which dogs do need. So can dogs eat graham crackers as part of their regular diet?

The nutrients in graham crackers are ones your dog will already be getting in their regular diet.

Eating too many snacks like graham crackers can offset the careful balance of nutrients in your dog’s diet.

Generally, graham crackers aren’t harmful to dogs in small amounts, but they aren’t actively good for our pets either.

Your dog will probably enjoy sharing this little treat with you. But it doesn’t mean that the food is great for him.

Keep graham cracker snacks to a minimum when sharing food with your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Cinnamon Graham Crackers?

Some graham crackers come with added flavorings like cinnamon. Cinnamon is not toxic to dogs, so they can eat cinnamon graham crackers in small amounts, just like regular, or plain ones.

But, just like plain ones, your dog should not eat too many cinnamon graham crackers.

These crackers still contain high levels of sugar and salt. This can lead to health problems if too much is consumed.

Can Dogs Eat Honey Graham Crackers?

Honey is a safe ingredient for dogs to consume, but only in small amounts.

Honey is high in sugar. So it can lead to issues like tooth decay, just like standard graham crackers.

As with the cinnamon versions of these snacks, make sure your dog does not eat too many honey graham crackers.

In general, it is better to offer plain versions of these snacks. But if your dog has eaten a small amount of honey graham crackers, you shouldn’t worry too much.

Can Dogs Eat S’mores?

Graham crackers are a common ingredient in S’mores. To make S’mores, people will put chocolate and marshmallow between two graham crackers, and melt the marshmallow and chocolate inside.

You should never give your dog S’mores.

As well as the extremely high level of sugar from the marshmallow and graham crackers, chocolate is toxic to dogs.

Dogs that eat chocolate can suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, and even death, due to the theobromine and caffeine this food contains.

You can read more about dogs and chocolate in this guide, but never let your dog eat S’mores.

Can Dogs Eat Graham Cracker Crusts

Graham crackers are a popular ingredient in recipes for pie crusts and cheesecake bases.

The main problem with giving your dog graham cracker crusts is the extra added ingredients in your recipes.

Pies and cheesecakes can contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs. And, they will often be very high in sugar.

So, check that all ingredients in your recipe are safe for dogs before offering any. And, never give your dog a large amount, because high levels of sugar are bad for our dogs.

Can I Give My Dog Graham Crackers as Training Treats?

Can dogs eat graham crackers as training treats?

You should not use graham crackers as a regular training treat for your dog. Occasionally, very small pieces of graham crackers can be used, but be careful about the amount of salt and sugar your dog is consuming.

Even regular dog treats are not the best idea for the bulk of your dog’s training food.

For most of your training, it’s a good idea to use dog kibble, subtracted from your dog’s daily calorie allowance.

This means that your dog won’t be eating too much food, and the treats being used will offer the correct nutritional balance for your dog.

Some dogs eat wet food rather than kibble. But if they are able to eat kibble, you could simply buy some just for training, and decrease the amount of wet food your dog eats at mealtimes.

If you feed a homemade diet, simply subtract some of those ingredients for your dog’s training sessions. You may wish to seek advice from your vet on the best way to do this.

Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers? A Summary

Graham crackers are acceptable as a small, occasional treat. But they should not make up a large part of your dog’s diet, due to high levels of salt and sugar.

Make sure you check any extra ingredients in graham crackers before giving them to your dog, and never give your dog graham crackers with chocolate on.

Does your dog enjoy these crackers as an occasional treat?

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References and Resources

• Cole, E. ‘Sylvester P. Graham, “Father of the Graham Cracker”’, The Southern Speech Journal (1967)
• ‘People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets’, ASPCA (accessed Jan 2021)
• ‘Graham Crackers Nutrition Facts’, Nutritionix
• Craig, J. ‘Food Intolerance in Dogs and Cats’, Journal of Small Animal Practice (2018)
• Paterson, S. ‘Food Hypersensitivity in 20 Dogs with Skin and Gastrointestinal Signs’, Journal of Small Animal Practice (1995)
• Bates, N. ‘Chocolate Toxicity’, Companion Animal (2015)