Pretzels are one of the more popular snack foods for us humans. But what if our dog(s) want in on the fun? Can dogs eat pretzels too?
In this article we answer the question so you know whether or not pretzels are safe for your doggos.
Can Dogs Eat Pretzels?
So, the answer to your question is no. For the most part, dogs should not eat pretzels.
That said, giving your dog a very small amount of pretzels should be okay. But definitely not a lot.
Pretzels are not recommended snacks for our dogs and that is for good reason. Pretzels are salty foods. And, just like with us humans, too much salt can lead to a huge health problem.
The difference is, the amount of salt that our dogs can consume to develop health problems is a lot less than ours.
Although a little piece of pretzel should not cause health problems to your dog, it certainly is not a recommended snack. Because they are so salty, dogs can experience salt poisoning if they eat too much. Symptoms of salt poisoning include:
- Increased urination
- Increased thirst
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Lack of energy
However, there are different types of pretzels and not all of them are salty. So that takes out the risk of our dogs experiencing salt poisoning or other salt-related conditions.
Are Pretzels Without Salt Safe For Dogs?
If it’s the salt that’s the issue, what about unsalted pretzels? Can our dogs eat those?
The answer to that is still no. Many of these unsalted pretzels still have high amounts of sugar, and some have too many carbs. Others have too much both.
Too much sugar is definitely not healthy for our dogs. And carbs at a high amount can affect their weight and blood sugar levels.
More About Dogs and Pretzels
With pretzels, it mostly comes down to quantity. When you grab a bag of pretzels, do you just eat one and stop?
Yeah, me neither.
If you give your dog one pretzel, do you think they’ll stop begging for more? Or if they find some pretzels laying around somewhere, do you think they’ll just eat one and stop?
Not any dog I’ve ever met!
As we mention above, having a pretzel or two here or there (especially unsalted) should not cause any health problems for most dogs. However, much more than that (or eating them too often) and you’re just looking for trouble.
And since we all want our dogs to live long, healthy, happy lives, it’s best to avoid pretzels. And other unhealthy foods for that matter.
Better to stick to foods and treats that are made for dogs. And to make sure that you don’t overfeed your dog.
So, bottom line here, pretzels are not toxic foods for our dogs. If they eat a little bit, they should be just fine. However, due to the ingredients, pretzels are definitely an unhealthy food for them.
Learn More About What Human Foods Are Healthy or Harmful for Dogs
This article is part of our special series of articles about “What Human Foods Can Dogs Eat?”
Please read some of the other articles in this series including Can Dogs Eat Radishes?
