Can Dogs Eat Marshmallows? Are Marshmallows Good Or Bad For Dogs?
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Question of the Day: Can dogs eat marshmallows? Are marshmallows bad for dogs? Scroll down for detailed questions.
Dogs eat the weirdest foods from time to time. We may associate dogs as strictly meat eaters, but we all know dogs love their sweets and treats! Dogs may try to swipe as much food as possible, preferring to fetch the meat, but dogs will also try to eat snacks and sugary treats.
When it comes to sweets, what's the one thing no one can resist? That sweet sin everyone craves and loves to eat regardless of the time of day or whether it might contain too much sugar. Well, the answer to that is marshmallows, of course! Marshmallows are gooey and tasty, often reminding us of our childhood. Marshmallows are a bit of comfort food for most and can be added to almost anything that can be enjoyed. Cookies, cakes, graham crackers, and pies can all contain marshmallows. Marshmallows are also eaten as popcorn, put on hot drinks, or used as a topping for treats such as cereal and ice cream. No matter how much you like (or dislike) the marshmallow, your dog will likely follow the majority and secretly lean in for his share of the marshmallow stash on the counter.
We all love marshmallows and snack on them while watching a movie or roasting them over the bonfire, but can you share the fluffy goodness with your dog, for example? Can dogs eat marshmallows, or would it be better to leave them out and focus on feeding them something else? The answer for most would be to skip the marshmallows and offer a healthier treat or ignore your dog's begging altogether. But what's fun ignoring your dog or offering an uneventful vegetable when you can share marshmallows with your dog on a summer night? Should marshmallows be avoided by dogs altogether, or are these treats harmless but only occasionally?
Let's find out!
Can Dogs Eat Marshmallows?
Marshmallows are not recommended as regular treats for your dog. However, once in a while, it's okay if you want to hide some medicine in there.
Marshmallows sound like the perfect treat for your pup, right? They're the ideal size and shape and taste great, too. Usually, with human food, a dog will turn up his nose at the smell or texture or may not like the food offered since his handler first left the vegetable alone on his plate. Human food is also not intended for canine consumption due to the risk of choking and toxins. Marshmallows are small and soft and seem to slide down a dog's throat relatively easily and possibly melt before any choking hazard arises. Marshmallows may seem like a safe treat to serve your dog, but can you give them to your dog without too much risk?
Most dog owners will agree that if your marshmallows are fed to the dog, the serving size is much like pumping the dog with sugar, not the vitamins and nutrients needed for proper development. Marshmallows contain no vitamins or minerals beneficial to dogs and have such a high sugar rating that any benefit to your dog is quickly negated.
Added sugar can cause multiple health problems in dogs, including dental cavities and gum disease. Humans aren't the only creatures to develop sugar-related health issues and weight gain. Dogs are also at risk, perhaps even more, since dogs lack the digestive ability and logic that humans have when it comes to food.
Feeding your dog marshmallows also promotes obesity. Marshmallows aren't the best option for your pup to eat (even as a treat), but again, moderation seems to be everything. Any type of food deemed non-toxic and non-choking hazard is technically safe to offer your pet, but be sure to only provide special foods occasionally and in small amounts. You should never forget that you don't really want to get into the habit of feeding your sugary dog snacks or feeding your dog marshmallows daily in the long run. A marshmallow once in a while is good. Dogs enjoy chocolate-free more than we do, but only leave out the treat once per season. Adding marshmallows to his diet will only make things worse for you and your dog.
Marshmallows aren't recommended for feeding dogs for any reason other than humans want to provide them. However, marshmallows can be helpful when the dog is sick and needs his medication. Unfortunately, most dogs will have difficulty accepting medication and refuse to take it. Dogs even have the insane ability to eat around a medicine pill and spit out the medicine while having licked off the entire bowl of food. The trick to getting your dog to swallow medication is knowing how to administer the pill.
Marshmallows will step to the rescue when they need medicine. You might be surprised, but using this as a health-boosting tool can be a great way to hide medicine inside a marshmallow. Your dog will happily eat the sugary treats with the medicine and be none the wiser. The marshmallow will mask the capsule's look, feel, and taste.
Giving your dog a piece or two of marshmallows certainly won't hurt him. However, don't feed your dog a bowl full of marshmallows. It will probably make him sick. Moderation is the key here. Marshmallows won't kill your dog, but they will make him ill and possibly cause damage. Marshmallows given to your begging buddy often can also create a dog that refuses his kibble. Refusing dog food and waiting for treats is a common offense in spoiled dogs and one you should avoid at all costs. Dogs need their diet to come from a breed-appropriate diet, not a diet based on the sugar, marshmallow, and human food you feed.
What Happens If Your Dogs Ate Too Many Marshmallows?
Sometimes, however, accidents happen. Your dog can find a bag full of marshmallows and finish them all. If this happens, your pup will likely suffer from diarrhea and vomiting. That would be too much sugar to eat in one place. In addition, your pet's body won't be able to process all that sugar at once. A human body, let alone a dog, couldn't process that much sugar at once. Dogs don't have the digestive makeup to tolerate the amount of sugar in a bag of marshmallows; however, there are not enough toxins in marshmallows to cause poisoning. Be sure to check with your vet that your dog will be safe if you find an empty bag of marshmallows and a whining dog in the corner. Your vet will likely advise you to keep your dog outside (for easy cleaning), rested, and hydrated until the sugar passes through the system.
Another side effect caused by too much sugar is indigestion. Consider that your dog's digestive system was not created and prepared for such foods, so indigestion seems to be a natural effect. In addition, dogs don't have the ability to take Tums or any other heartburn aid, so your dog may suffer from indigestion for a more extended period of time than you do. Dogs should not suffer from human illnesses such as heartburn. But sometimes it will if the sugar is consumed too much. There are homeopathic remedies that dogs can ingest to relieve indigestion if you notice your dog having trouble staying comfortable or feeling like him/herself. A veterinarian can advise you on natural methods to reduce your puppy's pain.
Too much sugar causes diabetes, heart disease, strained blood vessels, fatty liver, and high cholesterol.
Best Products for Dogs
Unhealthy Treat
Marshmallows do not contain any natural substances. Instead, they are made with sugar, gelatin, cornstarch, artificial flavors, and colors. Even the sugar is artificial and processed. What does this mean for your dog?
This means that if your dog were out in the wild, he probably wouldn't come across this candy. In addition, your dog's body was designed to eat meat; it is a natural conclusion that he would be unable to consume much sugar. That's why it would be best if you take it easy and don't give him excessive amounts of this treat.
Your dog may eat a marshmallow or two, but that's it! It is definitely not a healthy food for your dog. Instead, you should focus more on providing your pup with nutritious food. Food that contains all the vitamins and nutrients your dog needs to grow up healthy and happy.
Why Are Marshmallows Bad For Dogs?
The ingredients for plain and regular marshmallows include sugar, water, and gelatin. In general, veterinarians recommend avoiding sugary treats because dogs' systems are incredibly sensitive to sugar.
Sugar wreaks havoc on dogs' teeth and can lead to diabetes and obesity in dogs.
Standard marshmallows are mostly sweet, and fat-free or sugar-free marshmallows often contain the sweetener xylitol, which is extremely toxic to dogs.
Unfortunately, some of the symptoms of xylitol consumption appear as many problems, such as indigestion, lethargy, jaundice, or shaking and shaking.
If you know for sure that your dog ate marshmallows containing xylitol, even if it was just one, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Depending on the number of marshmallows and how long your dog has ingested them, your vet may have you bring your dog in to induce vomiting.
If your dog has eaten sugar marshmallows, you should always check in with your veterinarian about your dog's well-being. For example, if your dog picked up a mini sugar marshmallow that fell while you were cooking, you should be fine. But if they ate anything more, you should call your vet.
Be sure to keep all human treats, especially sugary ones like marshmallows, away from your dog. If you tend to drop food, avoid marshmallows and any other food containing xylitol when your dog is around.
Conclusion
In conclusion, whether you are giving the dog a treat or a meal, you should always focus on offering him something healthy to snack on. Picking up a bad habit when it comes to your dog's diet will catch up with him later and lead to a series of nasty health complications.
Dogs can eat marshmallows, although it is not recommended. If your pup is looking at you with those big eyes asking for a bite, you can feed him once in a while. Remember, marshmallows are loaded with sugar, and we all know what sugar does to your dog's body and yours. So be very careful and try to eat something else that is healthier and not almost entirely made of sugar.
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