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Yes, it is safe for dogs to eat animal crackers in moderation. Of course, compared to other foods, animal Crackers aren’t as nutritious for your dog. However, animal crackers contain high amounts of phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and vitamins. Animal crackers can also assist in giving your canine access to protein to maintain energy levels.

Animal Crackers
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Safe: This food is generally considered safe by the veterinary community. Dogs can eat this food sometimes or in small amounts but contains little to no nutritional value.

Food Safety  Safe to eat in moderation
Nutritional Value  Phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, vitamins
Potential Risks  Diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, allergies
Every dog is different. For specific feeding guidelines, including quantities and beneficial foods that are best for your dog, please consult your vet.

How Many Animal Crackers are Safe for Dogs?

Animal crackers are typically safe for dogs because they typically don’t contain toxic ingredients. Of course, a couple of crackers won’t harm your dog. However, feeding them large amounts in one go can lead to obesity and weight gain in the long term. Furthermore, some dogs might be allergic to the ingredients found in animal crackers. Therefore, feeding them as an occasional treat or around 5 percent of your dog’s daily diet is best.

What Happens if Your Dog Eats Too Many Animal Crackers?

Overfeeding animal crackers to your dog will not require visiting the vet’s office. However, giving them too much can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain in the short term. Furthermore, please stay away from chocolate-covered animal crackers as they contain theobromine which is very toxic for dogs.

How to Feed Animal Crackers to Dogs

An easy way to give your dog animal crackers is an occasional treat. You can do this by feeding it to them directly out of the box. Moreover, you can also crumble a couple of animal crackers and combine them with their dog food.

Common Animal Cracker Ingredients

  • Flour-Flour is typically safe for dogs as long as your canine companion isn’t gluten intolerant.
  • Sugar-Don’t feed your dog foods containing large amounts of sugar as it can cause weight gain, obesity, and diabetes.
  • Salt-Salt is bad for dogs in large amounts as it can cause heart problems and salt poisoning.
  • Vegetable oil-Moderate amounts of foods containing vegetable oil are perfectly safe for dogs.
  • Artificial flavoring-While some artificial flavorings are safe for dogs; a few aren’t. For example, chocolate flavoring should be avoided by dogs because it contains the toxic chemical theobromine.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Dogs can safely eat plain animal crackers without added ingredients such as too many fats, sugar, salt, artificial sweeteners, and artificial flavoring.

  • Generally, animal crackers don’t contain toxic ingredients. However, please avoid artificially-flavored animal crackers as they contain harmful ingredients.

  • Yes, animal crackers are dog-safe. However, ensure that you give them to your canine companion in moderate amounts without any added ingredients.

About the Writer
Dan Greco , Dog Dad

Having been a dog dad for 5 years, I know how hard it is to make sure your dog gets the right nutrients and stays away from hazardous foods. With the help of a veterinarian who specializes in nutrition, I created this blog to help dog owners quickly access food information they need.

photo of vet holding a pup
About the Contributor
Dr. Hillary Wolfe , Veterinarian & Certified Food Therapist

Dr. Wolfe holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Kansas State University and holds nutrition certifications from the NAVC and CIVT. Her business, Tula Veterinary Nutrition, hosts online courses that teach owners how to cook for their pet for optimal health and longevity. Follow her on Instagram at @doctorwolfe.dvm for dog nutrition tips, recipes and insights.