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Can Dogs Eat Oreos? | PUPPYFAQS

Can Dogs Eat Oreos?

can dogs eat oreo cookies
(Last Updated On: December 15, 2022)

Apart from the creamy center between two dark-colored wafers, you probably know Oreos for their stimulating and additive taste. 

Sugar and chocolate are part of the ingredients used to make these sweet snacks and together combine to provide a tasty explosion in the mouth.

Now, if you have a dog as a best friend, you would probably be tempted to share the treat with them. But should you yield to that temptation?

not safe for dogs to eat

No, your dog shouldn’t eat Oreo Cookies. 

It is not recommended to give Oreo cookies to your dog. A single Oreo may not harm your dog but it does contain sugar, artificial color and flavoring. Oreos may contain sugar-free sweetener that could be toxic.

In this article, we will discuss:

  • What are Oreo cookies made of?
  • Can dogs eat Oreos?
  • Are Oreos nutritious to dogs? 
  • What will happen when your dog takes them?
oreo cookies

What are Oreo cookies made of?

Oreos can be made using different ingredients, but the key ingredients for a classic Oreo cookie include sugar, unbleached enriched flour, pail oil, Cocoa, high-fructose corn syrup, a leavening agent, cornstarch, salt, soy lecithin, vanillin, chocolate, and palm oil.

They are tasty snacks for humans, but are they good for your dog? 

Can dogs eat Oreos? 

This is a common question among dog owners. If you love your dog, there is a sense of belonging, and attachment one has with them that prompts them to share everything they are having with their furry friends.

Just like any other food, dogs can eat Oreos, and anyone can share their Oreo snack with their dog. 

However, the main question is, is it healthy for your dog to consume this tasty snack? While, like most snacks, Oreos are marketed as having nutritional value, they are not as healthy even for humans as they sound. 

The ingredients offer some nutritious additions but very dismal. Therefore, before you feed your dog that Oreo, it is best to know the benefits and the risks that come with it.

In this post, we dive into this subject more in-depth and evaluate the detailed further to help you know whether it is healthy to feed your dog with Oreos or not. 

Related Post: Can dogs eat Nutella?

Are Oreos good for dogs? 

If you are wondering whether Oreos are suitable for dogs or not, the answer is they are not. 

You have probably heard that dogs should not eat chocolate, which is one of the ingredients used to make Oreos. 

While that is true, Cocoa is not the main reason why your dog should not consume Oreos with you when snacking. The chocolate content in Oreos is quite small. 

In some cases, artificial flavoring is used in place of Cocoa, and these are not considered significantly toxic to dogs.

Related Topic: Can dogs eat Jelly Beans?

The real danger lies with the other ingredients, particularly the oil and processed sugar. 

Dogs are naturally canines, and these are not the type of foods their systems are accustomed to processing. 

The sugar is particularly dangerous for your dog and should be avoided entirely. Sugar can facilitate weight gain or lead to your dog getting diabetes. 

are oreo cookies safe for dogs

Amount of theobromine per ounce of chocolate by type according to the Merck Veterinary Manual

  • Dry cocoa powder = 800 mg/oz
  • Unsweetened (Baker’s) chocolate = 450 mg/oz
  • Cocoa bean mulch = 255 mg/oz
  • Semisweet chocolate and sweet dark chocolate is = 150-160 mg/oz
  • Milk chocolate = 44-64 mg Theobromine per oz chocolate
  • White chocolate contains an insignificant source of methylxanthines

Why it is a bad idea to feed Oreos to your dogs 

If your dog steals one or two Oreo cookies, you do not need to panic. That is a small amount to cause significant harm to your dog. 

The damage will come if you feed your dog a whole box of Oreos. Your dog will probably exhibit an immediate reaction, and this often manifests through the following symptoms: 

  • Trembles and shakes viciously and may experience seizures
  • Panting and an increased heart rate
  • Your dog will have a tense stomach, or it will have a swollen abdomen
  • Attempts to vomit but is unsuccessful
  • Your dog tries to defecate but is unsuccessful
  • Diarrhea
  • Dehydration

What to do if your dog has eaten Oreos

Oreo cookies are not poisonous. That is why humans can consume them. However, when taken in large amounts, it results in you having stomach upsets. 

If your dog has only had a single Oreo cookie, then you do not need to panic. The dog may experience a stomachache, but it will subside within a short time. 

You, however, need to be concerned if you get home and find that your dog has consumed a whole packet of Oreo cookies. It is in such instances that the symptoms highlighted above will manifest. 

If you happen to find your dog in such a situation, there is no need to worry. 

Here are a few things you can do to help take care of your dog and restore it to its normal health.

  • Don’t panic: The state of the dog can cause you to panic, especially if it has taken a long time before you notice the dog consumed Oreos. Do not panic and rush to the vet immediately. Sometimes the damage is not as bad as it may seem.
  • Know the amount of Oreos consumed by the dog: Before you take any action, find out the amount of Oreos your dog has consumed, as this will help inform your decision. If it has taken two or three cookies, then you should not have any cause for concern, and you certainly do not need to take your dog to the vet. But if it has consumed a whole packet of Oreos, you should make haste and take the dog to the vet immediately.
  • Give your dog some water: Give your dog some clean drinking water, especially if the dog has diarrhea. Do not force it to consume the water. The water will help in keeping the dog hydrated and lowering the sugar levels in the body. Also, make sure that the water is safe for drinking. Contaminated water may result in the dog experiencing further stomach upset.
  • Take your dog to the vet: You’ve noticed that the dog’s condition is not improving, and the symptoms are getting worse, rush the dog to the vet for immediate treatment. There they will receive proper medication, and their health should be fully restored within a few days.

See Also: Can I give my dog Pepto Bismol?

can dogs have oreos cookies as a treat

What will happen if you do not treat your dog immediately after taking Oreos? 

If you love your dog, you will keep Oreo cookies away from them no matter how hard that might be to you. 

It can be tempting to enjoy your favorite snack with your best friend with the excuse that they are only getting one or two cookies. 

The fact that you offer them one or two cookies in a couple of days does not change the fact that Oreos are dangerous to their health. 

Some of the consequences of continued consumption of Oreo cookies to your dog include: 

  • Increased weight:Overall quality of life will be diminishing as their weight keeps increasing. This will open doors for other health complications for your dog, such as insulin resistance, type two diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, kidney disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and, eventually, premature death.
  • Unhealthy digestive system:Oreo cookies are high in sugar but low on fiber. This will cause your dog to experience spikes in their blood sugar levels. The resulting high insulin production by the dog’s body to counter the high sugar level. Your dog will end up feeling nauseous, lethargic, or hungry.
  • Poor dental hygiene: Constantly feeding Oreo cookies to your dog is a sure way of rotting the teeth of your canine. The sugar in the cookies can result in the dog developing cavities and other oral infections. If oral hygiene is not observed, your dog will risk losing its teeth and developing further bacterial infections.

Substitutes for Oreos 

The good news is that your dog does not have to starve as it watches you eating Oreo cookies by yourself. 

You can make dog Oreos for your canine that looks just like the real ones. You only need a banana, ½ cup of almond butter, ½-cup brown rice flour, ¼ cup of milk, ½ cup of carob powder, and 8 ounces of almond butter. 

Use these ingredients for baking the cookies as you would bake regular cookies. You can also find several other dog Oreo recipes on the internet. 

If you are not able to bake them, you can add these Oreo cookies to your shopping list. Other than resembling the actual Oreo cookies, they are packed with healthy nutrients that will not cause any harm to your hairy best friend. 

Other than cookies, you can offer them sweet fruits such as cherry, mango, apples, bananas, honeydew, peach, and other healthy treats. 

Nevertheless, these, too, should be taken with moderation as they can spike the sugar levels in your dog’s system if their consumption is not controlled. 

Summary

Oreos are sweet and tasty for humans, but they are not healthy for your dog. If you love your dog and want to snack with them, get them dog Oreos or the healthy fruit options instead. 

can dogs eat oreo cookies?

Liz

I'm a self-employed blogger, life-long pet parent, and lover of dogs. I have always loved animals, especially puppies. So when my family got our first dog 15 years ago, it was love at first sight. We named her Sassy because she was so small, cute, and had a sassy personality! Once we got her home, I wanted to know everything about caring for her, so I researched online. Eventually, this led me to create the PUPPYFAQS website, where I write about nutrition, health, and care of puppies and the latest news in the world of puppies. In my spare time, I volunteer at my local shelter, which is run by volunteers who are passionate about helping homeless dogs find their forever homes. If I'm not working or volunteering for dogs, you can find me spending time with my family, friends, and my puppy. I have been writing professionally online since 2009. In addition to PUPPYFAQS, I also write for several other pet-related publications.

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