Pretzels are hard to resist. They’re a very popular treat. Be it traditionally soft-baked or flavored. Likewise, be it small, hard, and salty or larger. But does that mean pretzels are a snack that our canine friends can also enjoy? Can dogs eat pretzels?
No matter how cute your dog looks when he’s hungry. Or when she’s trying to lure you into feeding her something. Should you give in? To know more, please keep reading…
Can Dogs Eat Pretzels? Are They Good for Dogs?
Photo credit: https://www.pretzelaustralia.com.au/
The short answer here is yes. Dogs can eat pretzels. But it’s not as straightforward as that. I mean just because they can eat them doesn’t mean they should. You might think it’s a safe little treat for your little pooch. But when food offers zero nutritional value, then it’s no good for your pet. The interesting texture and tasty flavor dogs don’t find appealing.
You should know that the taste buds and digestive tract of humans and canines are not the same. What can dogs eat and what can dogs not eat; as a responsible and caring pet parent, you have to know this. And pretzels fall in the latter category. Let me elaborate.
Dogs simply cannot digest certain foods, unlike humans. These foods include onion, garlic, chocolate, and more. These are toxic to dogs. However, pretzels may not be toxic per se. But, at the same time, they’re definitely not high in terms of nutrition either. And since chocolate is toxic, it’s a comparatively safer idea to feed plain pretzels. And not chocolate coated ones.
Now I’ll tell you why pretzels are not good for dogs. Particularly if you feed large amounts of pretzels to your furry companion. That’s because pretzels contain salt. There’s a salt found within as well as salt coated on the outside. But salt, in whatever amount, is not a healthy ingredient for dogs.
As humans, we add salt to each and everything. To enhance the flavor of the food of course. But this is something you should avoid doing with dogs and even cats. It’s not a part of the pet menu at all. For dogs, what should be fed instead are natural foods. This means no processed, baked, or any other form of manufactured foods.
With that in mind, it’s not going to cause any harm feeding pretzels to your dog. As long as they don’t have salt or chocolate in them. Nevertheless, it’s still highly recommended to avoid feeding pretzels. Go for a healthier, natural snack instead. No matter how much your dog enjoys eating pretzels!
Read more: 9 Dangerous Foods for Dogs – You Kneed to Know Here!!
Why Are Pretzels Not Good for Dogs?
Photo credit: https://www.tasteofhome.com/
Most of the risks involved with feeding pretzels to dogs are brought into the picture because of the flavors packed in them. Be it a soft-baked, large pretzel or those hard-baked, smaller ones you get in stores. Let me tell you that these are snacks manufactured for humans to devour. They’re not made for dogs, cats, and other animals.
Another very important piece of information is that pretzels are made of ingredients that are considered to be dangerous for dogs. They may not be poisonous but these ingredients aren’t healthy or safe to consume either. The primary one being salt.
When it comes to dogs tolerating salt content, the outcome is not pretty. The amount of salt a dog can tolerate depends on her breed, age, and size. And also how much salt has her digestive system been exposed to all her life.
Some dogs simply cannot keep salt in their tummy. Meaning they vomit it out immediately. On the other hand, there are some dogs that gobble down salty foods quite happily. But that doesn’t make salt any safer or healthier for them. It’s certainly causing harm on the inside. And in the long run.
But why is sodium or salt so dangerous? It has the ability to affect and throw out of balance your little pooch’s hydration. Even a tiny bit of salt can make your pet feel very thirsty throughout the day. So now you understand why hard-baked pretzels, even one, is not such a good idea for your pet.
What’s worse is feeding or allowing your dog to eat lots of pretzels. In large amounts, this can lead to sodium poisoning. Too much dehydration is obviously going to cause a serious medical problem. At such times, the body starts to expel water in order to neutralize the sodium content flowing in your dog’s bloodstream.
The result of this is wanting to go to the toilet excessively. In short, you’re looking at the possibility of serious harm. Long term risks involve neurological damage. So please remember that the digestive system of your pet is not well equipped to handle salt. This means you should avoid feeding salty pretzels to your canine buddy. In fact, anything salty is a bad idea.
How to Protect Your Dog From Salt Water Poisoning
Can Dogs Eat Pretzels – The Bottom Line
Can dogs eat pretzels with salt? The answer is no. What about can dogs eat pretzels without salt? Well, either way, pretzels offer no nutritional value. So it’s best to incorporate foods or treats that are healthy for your canine. There’s no need to include foods like pretzels.
The snack contains ingredients that simply aren’t going to agree with your dog’s tummy. Be it plain, flavored, or salted! So you don’t have to feel guilty anymore for not feeding pretzels to your dog the next time you’re eating one in front of him. He may not know better, he’s a dog after all. But you do.