Can Dogs Eat Cheez-Its? Vet-Approved Health & Safety Facts
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Most dogs seem to have an innate sense for knowing when we’re about to crack open the snacks, and of course, they want to be involved! Whether it’s a Super Bowl party or a movie afternoon on a rainy weekend, Cheez-Its are the perfect snack for many different occasions.
But should you share these small salty and cheesy crackers with your dog? Are Cheez-Its safe for dogs? The short answer is no, dogs cannot eat Cheez-Its. There’s absolutely nothing in these crackers that will be of any nutritional benefit to your dog. While the occasional cracker won’t do your dog any harm, this foodstuff isn’t something you should be feeding your dog on a regular basis.
What do Cheez-Its Contain?
Cheez-Its contain a pretty lengthy list of ingredients, however, the main ingredients in their OriginalTM product are:
- Enriched flour (containing wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, vitamin B1 [thiamin mononitrate, vitamin B2 [riboflavin], folic acid)
- Vegetable oil (high oleic soybean, soybean, palm, and/or canola oil with TBHQ for freshness)
- Cheese made with skim milk (skim milk, whey protein, salt, cheese cultures, enzymes, annatto extract color)
- Also contains 2% or less of salt, paprika, yeast, paprika extract color, soy lecithin
A standard-sized serving of Cheez-Its, which works out to about 27 of these small crackers, contains:
- 150 calories
- 8 grams of fat
- 3 grams of protein
- 17 grams of carbohydrates
Cheez-Its also come in a range of other flavors, including hot & spicy and pizza flavors. These may contain ingredients that could be toxic to your dog. For example, the “Hot n Spicy” snack crackers contain both onion powder and garlic powder 1. Onion and garlic are toxic for dogs.
What’s Bad About Cheez-Its for Dogs?
From the nutritional information of Cheez-Its, it’s fairly easy to see that they are designed as a snack for humans and lack any meaningful nutritional value for dogs. Dogs are facultative carnivores and need a diet with plenty of good-quality animal protein and fats. Cheez-Its will not provide that.
In addition to the poor nutritional value of Cheez-Its, the other risk factor with the product is that certain flavors contain ingredients that are toxic for dogs, such as the aforementioned onion and garlic powders. Likewise, there may be other ingredients in the recipe that, while not toxic, might result in an upset stomach episode for your dog.
The dairy content in Cheez-Its can also cause allergy flare-ups for some dogs. The Cummings Veterinary Center at Tufts University lists dairy ingredients as one of the major canine food allergies.
As if that wasn’t enough to put you off giving these to your dog as a snack, Cheez-Its are relatively calorie-dense. Consuming too many crackers with inadequate exercise over a prolonged period will likely result in your dog becoming overweight.
Homemade Alternatives for Your Dog
There are many homemade recipes that you can use to prepare a healthy snack for your dog. A healthy dog pancake can be cut up into small squares that resemble Cheez-Its, allowing your pup to enjoy a snack while you eat Cheez-Its.
Puppy Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1/2 tsp Ground Flaxseed
- 1 tbsp Peanut Butter (Organic or Pure, Xylitol and additive free)
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Medium Sized Banana
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth in consistency. You may add some water if needed, depending on the consistency desired.
- Pour your batter into a griddle or hot pan.
- Flip over once the pancake is done on one side, to ensure even cooking on both sides.
- Cut the pancakes into small pieces (Optional)
Notes
Another way to serve pancakes for your dog is to leave the pancake whole and top it with washed blueberries, banana slices, or some boiled or broiled chicken (ensure the chicken is free of seasonings).
Final Thoughts
Cheez-Its don’t contain any meaningful nutritional value for your dog, and some variations of Cheez-Its contain ingredients that are toxic for dogs. Therefore, the risk of feeding your dog these crackers just isn’t worth it.
It’s always best to feed your dog a nutritionally balanced diet, made up of primarily their main dog food, which is designed to meet their needs better than Cheez-Its! Choose a high-quality brand of dog food that’s approved by the AAFCO for your dog’s particular life stage.
You can always make your dog some healthy treats instead, and feel great knowing they’re packed full of healthy ingredients and are a great alternative to the not-so-healthy Cheez-Its!
Related Reads:
- Can Dogs Eat Refried Beans? What You Need to Know!
- Can Dogs Eat Goldfish Crackers? What You Need to Know!
- Can Dogs Eat Peaches? What You Need To Know!
