Can Dogs Eat Pretzels? Vet-Verified Nutritional Facts & Safety Guide

Guilty pleasure snacks like pretzels always prove popular, be they the small, hard and salted kind or the larger, more traditionally American soft baked and flavored kind.

But of course, anything we are trying to eat and enjoy is always going to be of interest to our dogs.

More than this, our faithful pets have a cute way of trying to look hungry and innocent to try and get a bite of what we’re eating.

Because of that, you may well wonder: Can dogs eat pretzels? Well, technically they can, as pretzels are not exactly toxic to canines, but they really shouldn’t. It’s unlikely that one or two pretzels will cause any harm to most pooches, but they will certainly not benefit from them. Let’s look into this some more.

Are Pretzels Good For Dogs?

In terms of the short version of events, the answer to if dogs can eat pretzels is a little complex – in short, yes they can, but really rather shouldn’t.

What seems like quite the innocent snack to dogs’ human parents has next to no nutrition to offer pooches themselves, beyond some tasty flavor and interesting texture of course.

Dogs aren’t like people, certainly not as far as how their digestive systems work are concerned.

Because we welcome dogs into our homes and our families so readily, it’s all too easy to forget that dogs simply can’t eat, digest, and enjoy as many things as we human beings do.

The good news is that, unless they expressly have some kind of garlic or onion content – or nutmeg or chocolate coating, for sweeter ones – pretzels are not toxic to dogs.

By and large, the plainer the pretzel, the safer it is for your dog – although you’re only reducing health risks from them rather than adding any meaningful nutritional value.

The reason why so many people recommend against dogs eating pretzels, certainly in large volumes, is due to the salt content found within and often coating them.

Salt is treated as something that adds to the flavor and appeal of certain foods to us, yet it’s that same habit the world over that strikes so many things we eat off the dog’s menu.

Dogs should eat a complete and balanced diet formulated according to the AAFCO guidelines in order to provide them with all the nutrients they require.

That said, you’re certainly not going to cause your pooch any serious harm if you happen to drop a little hard-baked pretzel on the floor and they scoop it up, providing it doesn’t have any of the flavors or ingredients we talked about as being toxic.

However, when it comes to treats for your dog, it’s best to avoid pretzels and think up something more wholesome if you’re looking for regular reward snacks or incentives for good behavior.

No matter how much your dog might seem to enjoy pretzels, eating them as treats in this way is taking things too far.

Disadvantages of Pretzels for Dogs

In all reality, as much as pretzels are not suitable for dogs and should not be given to them, they are unlikely to cause serious issues in most healthy dogs. This will, however, be dependent on the size of the dog, any underlying medical conditions, and the amount of pretzels consumed. Small breeds and puppies will be more susceptible to harmful effects due to their small body size.

Dogs suffering with certain health issues, such as gastrointestinal disease, pancreatitis, or diabetes, should not have any human treats, as they may cause a stomach upset and worsen their condition. Always consult with a veterinarian when making any changes to your dog’s diet or if you are considering offering any new treats. Just because something is not toxic for dogs does not make it safe or appropriate.

Some of the concerns of giving pretzels to your dog, be those big, soft-baked pretzels or the smaller, snack bag style hard-baked pretzels you find in stores come from the flavors they’re often paired with and the amount that dogs may ingest accidentally.

After all, these are snacks designed to be eaten and enjoyed by people, and because of that, there’s often very little reason to want to give your dog one.

The main culprit that steers most dog owners away from giving pretzels to their dogs regularly is salt. Salt tolerance in dogs varies largely by size of the dog and any underlying health conditions. The toxic dose starts from 2 grams/kilogram body weight, which means that more than 0.05 tablespoon of salt can cause toxic signs in XS breeds of dogs, such as Chihuahuas.

Let’s do some math. Ten standard commercial pretzel twists weigh around 60 grams and contain 744 milligrams of sodium, which roughly equals to 74.4 milligrams of sodium per pretzel. A 5-kilogram (11-pound) dog would need to eat around 134 pretzel twists to reach the toxic dose. This is highly unlikely unless the dog scavenged through the bag of pretzels while owners were not looking. Of course, this calculation only applies to the small commercial pretzel snacks, not the homemade or soft baked ones where the salt content may vary greatly based on the recipe.

This shows that we should still be very mindful of the salt content in pretzels and avoid giving it to our pooch, but it’s unlikely that it will cause toxicity in most dogs if they eat a very small number of pretzels. The biggest risk is the salt content in very small breeds and puppies.

Remember, it’s not just pretzels that can be the blame here – it’s anything salty that your dog has eaten in excess, particularly if they do not have access to fresh water.

How Many Pretzels Can a Dog Eat Daily?

Hopefully, it goes without saying that you ought not to be giving pretzels to your dog at all, and certainly not regularly – even if you’re baking them at home and being extra careful about the ingredients.

After all, these snacks also contain plenty of carbohydrates, and those can lead to excess calorie intake over time. Combined with other food and treats, they will not necessarily benefit your pooch. Excess calories greater than daily maintenance needs, particularly when combined with insufficient exercise, can lead to weight gain and increased risk for many health problems, including diabetes and urinary and joint issues. There are healthier and more appropriate treats your pooch can enjoy instead, all while keeping their weight under control.

What to Do if Your Dog Eats Pretzels

Whether it’s a big spilled bag that’s scattered snacks all over the kitchen floor, or a big soft-baked treat being handed over to your dog by a well-meaning relative at the family picnic, there are lots of reasons why your dog might eat pretzels without your permission or knowledge.

If the pretzels contain onions and garlic or any chocolate variety, it’s important to consult with your vet straight away. Your dog will probably require veterinary attention promptly, depending on the amount they have eaten.

You might be asked to take your dog in for a check-up or treatment, or you might be advised to monitor your dog to see if any mild stomach upset signs develop. However, it’s also likely that your dog could be fine and dandy, but don’t look to make your pet stealing pretzels into a habit either way.

Particular care should be taken if your dog has eaten a lot of pretzels, especially young dogs, puppies, and smaller dog breeds. That’s because the salt on those pretzels, when all eaten at once like that, can reach harmful amounts in particularly small dogs, or those that ate very large amounts of pretzels.

Possible signs of too much salt and salt toxicosis in dogs may include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, lethargy, tremors, seizures, breathing difficulties, and loss of balance. If your dog has eaten an excessive amount of pretzels or they have a very small body weight, they are at risk of developing these signs. Your vet will want to examine your dog and will make a treatment plan based on their signs and the amount of pretzels ingested.

Final Thoughts

Plain pretzels are technically safe for most dogs to eat in very small amounts; however, that doesn’t mean they should. Pretzels don’t add any nutrition to your pet’s diet.

Nevertheless, it’s the flavorings that pretzels of all shapes and sizes may have that carries the greatest risk to your dog. Those include a coating of garlic or onion powder, or chocolate in some cases, all of which are toxic for dogs. If your dog has eaten pretzels with any of these ingredients, be sure to contact your vet immediately.

Salt on pretzels may be more of a problem in small breed dogs that ingest a large amount of pretzels, especially if they have no access to fresh water.

There are many safe and appropriate commercial dog treats and homemade recipes, so your pooch can stay away from pretzels. However, if your dog somehow happens to swipe one out of nowhere, it’s not going to be a big deal.

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