Click to Skip Ahead
Breakfast just isn’t solely a very powerful meal of the day, however you could assume it’s the most effective one, too. Whether you’re chowing down on pancakes, bacon, oatmeal, or eggs, it’s arduous to not love this meal. However, what’s a canine proprietor to do when Fido is all of the sudden eager about what you’ve received in your plate or in your bowl? Can you share your breakfast along with your canine? What if it’s one thing processed like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal?
It could be finest in the event you didn’t share Cinnamon Toast Crunch along with your canine. Read on to seek out out why and to be taught if different breakfast cereal choices are extra applicable to your pet.
Why Can’t Dogs Eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal?
Dogs shouldn’t eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal for quite a few causes. As an entire, most breakfast cereals don’t supply a lot by way of vitamins.
Let’s take a fast take a look at the primary few components in a field of Cinnamon Toast Crunch1: whole-grain wheat, sugar, rice flour, canola and/or sunflower oil, fructose, maltodextrin, and dextrose. The ingredient record doesn’t finish there, although, as there are 15+ extra listed afterward.
You can see that Cinnamon Toast Crunch can’t present your canine with the identical stage of vitamins as a meals made particularly with canines in thoughts. But if that’s not sufficient to persuade you to not give your canine this unhealthy cereal, let’s look extra intently at a number of the risks related to providing this meals to your pet.
Dangers of Feeding Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal to Dogs
While grains like wheat and flours like rice flour present in Cinnamon Toast Crunch can present a supply of vitamins for canines, that’s the place the nourishment on this cereal ends.
Sugar Content
Sugar is as dangerous for canines as it’s for us, and being that it’s the second-listed ingredient on the Cinnamon Toast Crunch label, you may guess it’s current within the cereal in giant portions. But it’s not simply the “sugar” you must take note of; the record of components additionally incorporates “fructose” and “dextrose,” that are each varieties of sugars. A single serving of the cereal incorporates 12 grams of sugar or one full tablespoon.
While sugar just isn’t poisonous for canines, it’s very unhealthy. Eating an excessive amount of sugar actually will increase the quantity of energy in a canine’s weight loss program, and everyone knows that extra energy typically equals weight achieve, even weight problems. Excess weight and weight problems can contribute to chronic issues such diabetes and joint points. Not solely that, excessive quantities of sugar can contribute to dental illness in case your canine’s tooth aren’t correctly cleaned after consuming it.
Oil Content
Canola and sunflower oils aren’t poisonous for canines both, however they’re not notably wholesome for them. Canola oil, particularly, is controversial within the canine diet world as it could come from genetically modified crops.
Both oils are excessive in fats, which can lead to obesity and its associated situations if eaten in extra. High-fat diets are additionally linked to pancreatitis, so avoiding extra and pointless fats is usually beneficial.
Cinnamon
According to the Pet Poison Hotline2, powdered cinnamon just isn’t poisonous to canines. If your canine consumes lower than a teaspoon of cinnamon, they need to not expertise detrimental results (that is, after all, breed and dimension dependent). However, greater than a teaspoon of cinnamon may result in abdomen upset, like vomiting and diarrhea. It may additionally result in potential liver illness and a change in coronary heart fee at even greater quantities.
Since your canine would wish to eat greater than a teaspoon, they might in all probability must eat your complete field or extra, so cinnamon toxicity will not be an enormous downside right here, however it could positively contribute to some yucky emotions.
Maltodextrins
Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal incorporates maltodextrin, {a partially} hydrolyzed sugar compound originating from varied starches like potatoes, oats, and rice. It’s utilized in human and pet meals as a binder and thickener. AAFCO has authorised its use for pet meals, and it’s a “GRAS” (Generally Recognized As Safe) meals additive.
One examine discovered that maltodextrin can improve the expansion of micro organism like E. coli3. While E. coli is discovered naturally within the intestines of a wholesome canine, some strains could cause life-threatening infections in younger puppies. The similar examine discovered that maltodextrin also can change the composition of intestine micro organism in people in a manner that would make another prone to illness. While this has not been replicated in canines, it’s nonetheless value realizing.
What Do I Do if My Dog Ate Cinnamon Toast Crunch?
If your mischievous pup received into your bowl or field of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, don’t fret. As we talked about, there are not any poisonous components within the cereal. That doesn’t imply your pup received’t endure any repercussions from their sugary breakfast, although. They might expertise gastrointestinal upset and exhibit indicators similar to vomiting, diarrhea, or a tummy ache.
However, in the event that they’ve eaten a complete field of cereal, you could need to attain out to your veterinary group for recommendation.
Are Any Breakfast Cereals Safe for Dogs?
While a number of the less complicated breakfast cereals could also be okay for canines to eat often, you must take into account the dietary advantages (or lack thereof) earlier than providing any to your pet. Cereals don’t add a lot dietary worth to a canine’s weight loss program and shouldn’t actually be provided.
However, in the event you completely can’t resist the pet canine eyes your pet is supplying you with, the next cereals are typically secure to supply carefully:
- Plain cooked Cream of Wheat
- Plain cooked oatmeal
- Bran Flakes
Some cereals, similar to these containing raisins, chocolate, or xylitol, are poisonous to canines and ought to be prevented always.
Conclusion
So, can canines have Cinnamon Toast Crunch? While this cereal isn’t inherently poisonous for canines, one should take into account the dietary advantages of providing it to your pet. Processed meals and people excessive in sugar usually are not wholesome for our canines, so it’s finest to stay to meals and treats made along with your pet in thoughts to make sure they’re getting the diet they should thrive.
Featured Image Credit: Ksmphotography707, Shutterstock