Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers? 11 Healthy Alternatives For Graham Crackers

Can dogs eat Graham crackers? This question seems quite interesting to all of us. We all love feeding our pet dogs with different favorite snacks.

But unfortunately, dogs can not eat everything that humans eat. So, we need to know what foods that you can feed your dog.

This article tells you everything that you need to know about feeding your dog Graham crackers.

Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers?

The answer is yes. Of course, you can feed your dog Graham crackers, but in moderation. Graham crackers contain an excessive amount of sugar which can damage the health conditions of your dog leading to several health issues.

So, it is not a good thing to feed your dog graham biscuits very often.

Some Facts About Graham Crackers

• Another name for Graham cracker is Graham water.
• Graham cracker had been discovered by the followers of Sylvester Graham who strongly believed in his preaching.
• It was discovered in the 19th century.
• It was first invented to make the first vegetarian movement in America.

What Happens When Your Dog Eats Graham Crackers?

Can dogs eat Graham crackers? There is no problem if your dog eats one of your Graham crackers.

But it is not the same after eating it for a long time. If a dog eats graham crackers for a long time then there can be some severe health problems.

Let us examine these health issues, one by one.

Obesity

Nowadays, obesity has become such a serious issue not only in humans; but also in dogs.

According to a report published by VCA Animal Hospital, 40-45% of dogs between the age of 5-11 are overweight in North America.

You may assume that obesity is a normal thing that doesn’t need any of our attention.

But, the problems caused by obesity in dogs will surprise you. Obesity in dogs causes skin infection. It also causes heart and respiratory diseases. Finally, it can decrease the life expectancy of your dog by 2.5 years.

The only way to prevent your dog from getting obese is avoid feeding it sugar often.

If your dog is obese then remember to get it back to shape by making it to exercise more often, and follow a healthy diet.

Diabetes

We all know that eating anything that contains an excess amount of sugar leads to diabetes.

Dogs get diabetes 2 when they eat food with high sugar content. When you eat foods with high sugar content, then the insulin hormone in your body doesn’t function properly.

This is such a major disease that can almost kill your dog.

Dental diseases

Dogs develop dental issues too, as humans do. If your dog eats graham crackers too often then it will develop plague and tartar in its teeth.

Dental infections affect other dog parts as they affect the teeth. Feeding your dog with appropriate food can help resolve this issue. Learn more about dental diseases in dogs and how to cure them.

Sugar Addiction

Dogs contain 1700 taste buds, which is ⅙ the of humans. Dogs can taste sweet, salty, sour, and bitter.

Since a dog is an omnivore, it can get addicted to sugar quite easily like us. So, it may become a lot difficult to stop your dog from eating your crackers once it gets addicted.

The Nutritional Content Of Graham Crackers

Can dogs eat Graham crackers? Graham crackers are generally made of flour, salt, sugar, milk, and cinnamon.

Now let us go through the nutritional content of Graham crackers.

Carbohydrates

For a serving of 28.35 grams Graham crackers contain 21.6 grams of carbs.

As it contains a very high level of carbohydrates, eating graham crackers can easily cause obesity and weight gain in dogs.

Generally, dogs’ bodies don’t have such immunity to digest such an incredible amount of carbohydrates.

Although, all carbohydrates aren’t dangerous. It is dangerous for dogs to eat graham crackers because it is mostly made of simple carbs like wheat flour and sometimes refined flour.

The risk of obesity can be reduced by eating a few complex carbohydrates in place of simple carbohydrates.

Gluten

Graham crackers are mostly made up of wheat flour which contains gluten. In general, gluten isn’t harmful if it is taken in small quantities.

But if your dog has an intolerance for gluten then it can lead to several health issues.

Some of the symptoms that you can observe if your dog has intolerance for gluten are constipation, vomiting, atopic dermatitis, foot chewing, and chronic ear infections.

Sugar

Graham crackers contain 6.5g of sugar which is a lot for a dog. It can cause a small problem like skin inflammation and even lead to diabetes.

Different Types Of Graham Crackers

Nowadays, we can see that there are different types of graham crackers made up of different ingredients.

But every food item may not be suitable for a dog to eat. The given table below gives you complete information about which Graham crackers a dog can eat.

What To Do If Your Dog Eats Graham Crackers?

The first thing to do if your dog eats any of your graham crackers is to check the ingredient list.

Then look for the symptoms in your dog. If you observe any symptoms then immediately take your dog to a veterinarian.

What To Do If Your Dog Likes Eating Graham Crackers?

By this time you came to know that Graham Crackers aren’t the most healthy food to feed to your dog. But What if your dog likes eating them? Then don’t worry I got some solutions for you.

Go For Plain Graham Crackers

The only problem for you to feed your dog Graham crackers is its ingredients.

So, look for some Graham crackers that are made up of complex carbohydrates(Oats, Quinoa), protein (milk, eggs), and fat (coconut milk). Search for the products containing the above ingredients and feed them to your dog in moderation.

Make DIY Graham Crackers

If you have searched every store you know and didn’t find Graham crackers that suit your dog, then just go to the kitchen and start making your own DIY Graham crackers.

You can go search the internet for different recipes and choose one that you like and give your dog a nice treat.

Click here to know a diy Graham cracker recipe. It is one of my favorite recipes. Whenever my dog wants a Graham cracker I make it myself instead of running to a store.

This recipe is made up of coconut flour and tapioca flour which is safe for dogs and it doesn’t contain sugar which makes it a very good alternative for store-bought Graham crackers.

Make Your Dog Exercise

The main problem with eating Graham crackers is that it causes weight gain/obesity.

Make your dog run, walk, and exercise daily. By doing this it can burn off those extra calories and maintain a healthy weight.

Take Care Of Its Oral Health

Eating sugar can easily damage your dog teeth. So, it is better to have an oral care routine for your dog.

It can be as simple as brushing your dog’s teeth daily and after eating sugar. You can also give your dog toys and treats to chew that promote oral health and take him to the veterinarian regularly.

If you follow the above tips you can protect your dog’s teeth from getting plague and other oral infections. But remember not to feed your dog too much sugar.

Healthy Alternatives For Graham Crackers

• DIY dog snakes : There are a ton of dog snack recipes on the internet that you can try.
• Peanut Butter : Plain/homemade peanut butter with no sugar/salt can be the best choice. It doesn’t include xylitol. It contains vitamin B and E, healthy fats, and protein.
• Chicken : Boiled chicken without any seasoning can be a  healthy option if your dog has an upset stomach.
• Fish : Salmon and Tuna is a safe option. It contains omega-3 fatty acids which improve a dog’s immunity, skin, and coat.
• Carrots : Carrots can be the best alternation if your dog is suffering from plague and tartar. Chewing carrots can improve your dog’s dental condition. It contains vitamin A which can help in improving your    dog’s immunity, skin, and coat. Remember to take it in moderation as it can be toxic in larger quantities.
• Dairy products : You can feed your dog with milk and plain yogurt unless your dog is having lactose intolerance. But, don’t feed your dog too much as it can cause digestion problems.
• Banana : Banana contains magnesium, which is very good for your dog’s bone health.
• Cucumber : Cucumber contains low calories and can be an ideal snack for a dog as it helps in weight loss.
• Watermelon : Watermelon is a safe food for a dog to eat if all its seeds are removed. Seeds can block a dog’s intestines.
• Turkey : Cooked turkey without any seasoning can be the best source of protein for a dog.
• Apple : It’s completely okay to feed your dog apples. But do it in moderation. It contains several vitamins that can help to maintain your dog skin and coat.

Final Verdict On Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers

Can dogs eat Graham crackers? In short words, I can say that if you feed your dog Graham crackers in moderation then it’s completely okay.

But if it is taken too often then it will be prone to several health issues like skin infections, obesity, diabetes, and dental issues. So, it is better if you feed your dog some other healthy snacks.

But, if your dog likes graham crackers then go for plain graham crackers that are made with a different ingredient list that contains some nutritional value. You can also try making your DIY recipe.

Don’t forget to maintain a healthy weight for your dog. So, give it some time to exercise and move its body.

Take care of your dog’s oral condition too. Can dogs eat Graham crackers? It would be a lot better if you visit a veterinarian and know about its diet so that you can keep the allergenic ingredients away from it. Give your dog some soft rubber toys to chew.

Maintain good hygienic conditions. Don’t let your dog get affected by any infections. Bath your dog regularly. Train your dog to follow your instructions to ensure its safety.

Finally, protect your dog in every possible way.

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Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️