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Can Dogs Eat Biscuits? Vet Approved Facts & FAQ

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Can Dogs Eat Biscuits

Whether part of a delicious breakfast sandwich or a complement to a full dinner, biscuits are a versatile food that’s found in many American dishes. They may be heavy, light and fluffy, sweet, savory, or paired with gravy and other foods.

Can dogs eat biscuits? Biscuits are generally safe for dogs, but it depends on the ingredients and additions. They’re not exactly healthy, though.

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What Are Biscuits?

Biscuits are a type of baked bread with a firm exterior and a soft, crumbly interior. They’re often served with butter or condiments or combined with other foods, such as meat and eggs for breakfast sandwiches. They are also known as savory American scones.

There are many variations on biscuits. Some bakers add grated cheese to the recipe to make cheesy biscuits, while others may use sweet layers or fruit to turn them into a dessert.  They may be combined with decadent foods like chocolate, icing, jam, or cinnamon. Buttermilk biscuits are also popular.

Outside of North America, biscuits can refer to a lot of foods that differ from American biscuits. In the UK, biscuits may describe cookies or crackers that could be savory or sweet. In some parts of the US and Canada, a biscuit is more like a British scone.

traditional biscuits in white plate
Photo Credit: Pitamaas Agency, Shutterstock

Are Biscuits Safe for Dogs to Eat?

With so many preparations and differences between biscuits, there’s no clear answer. Generally, the biscuits with a hard outer shell and fluffy interior, without any additional ingredients like cheese, spices, seasonings, or excess fat, are safe for dogs in small amounts.

The problem is with what may be added to a biscuit that could be harmful to dogs. For example, biscuits that are made with buttermilk or cheese have a lot of fat, which can cause digestive upset in your dog.

In some cases, it could even lead to pancreatitis, a severe inflammation of the pancreas that can cause serious symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, as well as possible damage to internal organs.

Biscuits may also be paired with toxic ingredients, such as chocolate. Theobromine, an ingredient found in chocolate, is toxic to dogs because they can’t metabolize it. Though they typically need larger quantities of chocolate,than would be found in a single biscuit. Serious complications can arise, such as vomiting, diarrhea, excessive urination, and racing heart rate. In severe cases, it may cause seizures, tremors, and heart failure.

There are plenty of other ingredients that can be added to or paired with biscuits that may be toxic to dogs, such as onions or garlic, grapes in fruit jams or preserves, and xylitol, an artificial sweetener that’s highly poisonous to dogs.

Black domestic dog are stoop body and vomit mucus
Photo Credit: Mumemories, Shutterstock

Precautions for Feeding Biscuits

If you want to feed your dog biscuits, it’s important to feed only homemade biscuits that you made yourself—free from other potentially dangerous ingredients—and only in small quantities. If you’re using ready-made biscuits, read the ingredient list for ingredients like xylitol or chocolate (cacao) that could present a problem.

With the risks, it’s better to stick with biscuits made specifically for dogs from commercial dog food brands. You could also look up recipes for dog biscuits and make your own! Your dog will think it’s getting taboo table food, but without the possible hazards.

If you have any concerns about foods that are safe for your dogs, be sure to speak with your vet.

man buying pet food
Photo Credit: LADO, Shutterstock

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Conclusion

Biscuits are a common baked good that’s generally safe for dogs in small quantities, but the versatility of recipes and ingredients can make them potentially dangerous. If you want to feed biscuits to your dog, it’s important to monitor the ingredients or rely only on dog biscuits.

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Featured Image Credit: HandmadePictures, Shutterstock

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Authored by

Nicole is a lover of animals of all sizes but is especially fascinated with the feline variety. She’s the proud mom of Baby, a Burmese, and works every day so he can relax in the sunshine or by the fire. She’s always had a cat in her home and has spent countless days with others, observing behaviors and softening up even the grouchiest of the lot. Nicole wants to share her kitty expertise with you so you and your cat ...Read more

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