Apart from their regular dog food, dogs also love to eat some human foods, but you can serve them as a special treat only. It is known that most dog owners enjoy sharing food with their dogs, but there are some human foods that dogs should never eat. Some foods are very dangerous for dogs.
Remember that a dog’s digestive system is too sensitive and it is not able to tolerate certain human foods. It is important to be well informed about the foods that your dog can eat and others that may not be good for your dog.
In this article we will talk about pretzels and their impact on a dog’s health. If you love pretzels, you may be wondering if you can share them with your dog. Are pretzels safe for dogs or they may be poisonous? Continue reading this article and you will find out, but first we will tell you something more about pretzels.
More about Pretzels
Almost all people love eating pretzels. Pretzels are crisp biscuits baked in the form of a stick or knot and flavored with salt. Actually, pretzel is a type of baked bread product that is made from dough. Pretzels originated in Europe in the Early Middle Ages. The most common seasoning for pretzels is salt, but there are also sugars, chocolate, seeds (read our article on sesame seeds) or nuts.
Most people love pretzels but what about dogs? Can we share pretzels with our canine friends? Just continue reading and you will find out.
Are Pretzels Safe for Dogs?
If your dog has already eaten a single pretzel, you don’t have to panic immediately. Nothing bad will happen if your dog has eaten a small amount of pretzels. A single pretzel doesn’t contain enough salt that could harm your dog. Dogs usually can’t resist them. But, it is known that pretzels are very salty, so they are not the best choice for your dog.
A small amount of pretzels won’t do any harm to your dog, so you can use them once in a while. Studies have shown that dogs can eat pretzels as an occasional snack. Of course, you should not feed your dog pretzels too often and in large amounts. Although pretzels may not be harmful if eaten in small amounts, they still won’t provide your dog any necessary nutrients, so it is best to choose some other snack for your dog.
As we have already said, large amounts of pretzels can be very harmful for your dog. Too much salt can cause excessive urination and thirst to your dog and lead to sodium ion poisoning. Symptoms of this poisoning are vomiting, diarrhea, elevated body temperature, depression, tremors and seizures. In some serious cases, this poisoning can also lead to coma and even to death. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should stop feeding your dog pretzels and find some other treat. Also, if you notice the signs of a sodium poisoning, it is recommended to take your dog to the vet as soon as possible.
You may have probably heard of sweet pretzels. If you are wondering if these pretzels are safe for your dog, we have bad news for you. Sweet pretzels can be just as dangerous for your dog as salty pretzels. You should avoid pretzels with raisins because raisins are toxic to dogs. As we have said, it is best to avoid pretzels at all.
But, if you decide to introduce pretzels in your dog’s diet, you should do it slowly. Your dog’s digestive system is sensitive so large amounts of pretzels can be very bad for your dog’s health. Start with a very small amount and watch carefully the reaction of your dog. If there are any side effects, it means that your dog’s digestive system is not able to tolerate this type of food.
Summary
As you have seen in this article, you can feed your dog pretzels once in a while. You should not use pretzels too often because they are covered with salt, which can be very dangerous for your dog. As we have already said, too much salt can lead to salt poisoning and even to death.
To avoid any health risks, it is better not to feed your dog pretzels at all because they won’t provide your dog any valuable nutrients. It is best to ask your veterinarian to recommend you a quality food for your dog, so that you can be sure that your dog has a healthy and well-balanced diet. A well-designed diet will provide your dog with all nutrients that he needs in order to be healthy and active.
You should keep in mind that you are the only responsible for your dog’s health, so think well before feeding your dog any new food. Read about our articles on coconut oil and more for dog to keep your pooch safe.
