Is Cereal a Good Breakfast Option for Dogs?
Although most cereals are loaded with sugar, it is a tasty and convenient breakfast item! Have you ever wondered if your four-legged friend could have cereal as well? The short answer is no, but there is much more to consider. Continue reading to learn how cereal can adversely affect your dog’s health.
You can occasionally add certain types of whole-grain cereals to your dog’s diet. However, cereal does not offer much nutritional value at all to dogs. Most dogs can tolerate small portions of plain cereal, but there is always a chance of an allergic reaction or gastrointestinal issues, primarily if you serve the cereal with milk. It would be best to consider the health risks before feeding cereal to your four-legged friend. Below are some adverse outcomes associated with cereal for dogs.
- Gastrointestinal Upset – Some cereals have high fiber. Although this may improve a dog’s digestive system, large servings of cereal will lead to constipation or an upset stomach.
- Allergic Reaction – Does your dog have a gluten allergy, or are they lactose intolerant? If so, it can have adverse reactions to dry or wet cereal.
- Tooth Decay – Sugary cereals can wear the enamel- of a dog’s teeth. Bacteria in their mouth will feed on the sugar and create plaque and tartar buildup.
- Pancreatitis – Cereal has a high sugar content that can cause rapid weight gain. Obesity puts severe stress on your dog’s joints and increases its chances of developing heart disease and pancreatitis.
- Xylitol Poisoning – Did you know that artificial sweeteners like xylitol are toxic to dogs? Several cereals contain this ingredient which can cause weakness, vomiting, tremors, and seizures.
Cereal can be fed to your dog occasionally, but it must be pet-friendly and free of high sugars or artificial sweeteners. Pay close attention to the nutrition label! As always, speak with your veterinarian before introducing new food to your four-legged friend.
