Eating whole-grain cereals is a perfect way to start your day, and Shreddies is one of my go-to cereals.
Since we’re talking about food, sure enough, your dog is by your side, waiting for you to toss some Shreddies their way.
But can Dogs Eat Frosted Shreddies? How about the chocolate ones?
Read on to find out about:
- 5 reasons why dogs can’t eat Shreddies.
- 3 Shreddies ingredients that are toxic for dogs.
- 3 Healthy Shreddies alternatives that are safe for dogs.
- And many more…
Table of contents
Can dogs eat Shreddies?
Dogs can’t eat Shreddies because it has a high amount of sugar that dogs don’t need. Too much sugar intake can also lead to health complications in your dogs. Shreddies also contain whole wheat, which some dogs are allergic to. Lastly, Coco Shreddies contain chocolate that can poison your dog.
3 Shreddies ingredients that are bad for dogs
#1: Whole wheat
Whole wheat is a common ingredient in cereals and can even be found in dry dog foods.
It contains fiber that helps lower cholesterol, steadies blood sugar, and prevents blood clots.
While it may be healthy for humans, whole wheat is one of the most common allergens for dogs.
So if you feed your dog Shreddies and they start to show signs of allergies, it’s best to keep the Shreddies away from them from now on.
#2: Sugar and invert sugar syrup
You may already be familiar with sugar, but what is invert sugar syrup, you may ask?
It’s just syrup made from table sugar.
So if you add sugar and invert sugar syrup in one cereal, it results in a sweet and tasty treat.
But dogs don’t need sugar in their daily diet. According to PetMD, dogs need carbohydrates, broken down into sugar and glucose by the body, so they don’t need refined sugars to operate.
Aside from not needing sugar, eating sweet foods can also harm your dog’s health, which I’ll be tackling later.
#3: Cocoa powder
If you prefer the chocolate-flavored Shreddies over the original or frosted ones, I wouldn’t suggest feeding some to your dog.
Chocolate is toxic to dogs as it contains a chemical called theobromine, as well as caffeine. Dogs digest theobromine and caffeine slowly. That’s why they’re more sensitive.
Here’s a video to explain why dog’s get chocolate poisoning:
Ingestion of high amounts of chocolate can lead to several symptoms, such as:
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Increased thirst.
- Panting or restlessness.
- Increased heart rate.
So think twice before giving your dog a piece of Shreddies.
5 reasons why dogs can’t eat Shreddies
#1: Wheat intolerance
Since whole wheat is one of the most common food allergens in dogs, there’s a chance your dog could be allergic.
Allergies are their body’s way of protecting itself from harm.
While whole wheat is not dangerous, your dog’s body doesn’t recognize it. So it develops an immune response against the ingredient.
According to the VCA, common symptoms of allergies include:
- Skin itching.
- Coughing or sneezing.
- Runny nose.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
According to PetMD, aside from being hereditary, dogs can also develop food allergies at any time of their life.
So don’t panic if your dog suddenly develops allergy symptoms after eating Shreddies, even if their diet already consists of wheat.
Note: If your dog starts to show serious allergy symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, bring them to their vet immediately to avoid further complications.
You might also be interested in: Help, My Dog Is Constantly Scratching And Biting Himself!
#2: Excess sugar
Dogs don’t need refined sugars in their diet. So constantly feeding them with sugary treats can develop various health complications.
These are some of the effects of excess sugar to your dog:
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Cavities.
- Obesity.
Since refined sugars are mostly empty calories, regularly giving them to your dog can increase your dog’s weight.
According to VCA, 25-30% of dogs in America are obese. It is a growing problem usually caused by poor nutrition and lack of exercise.
Obesity can be dangerous to your dog as it’s associated with various health problems, including shortened life span, diabetes, arthritis, and heart problems.
#3: Chocolate Poisoning
As mentioned above, chocolate is toxic to your dog as their body can only slowly digest a chemical called theobromine and caffeine.
According to VCA, baking chocolate and dark chocolate contain 0.004-0.015 oz (130-450 mg) of theobromine.
Milk chocolate contains 0.0015-0.002 oz (44-58 mg) of theobromine, and white chocolate only contains 0.000008 oz (0.25 mg) of theobromine.
It only takes a 22.6 kg (50 lb) medium-sized dog, 1 oz (28 g) of baker’s chocolate, and 9 oz (255 g) of milk chocolate to show signs of chocolate poisoning.
Here’s a list of some of the symptoms to watch out for chocolate poisoning:
- Vomiting.
- Restlessness.
- Agitation.
- Hyperthermia.
- Tachycardia.
- Seizures.
#4: Zero nutritional value
If your dog isn’t allergic, whole grains are excellent sources of carbohydrates that your dog can benefit from.
Aside from carbohydrates, whole grains also contain vitamin B, iron, magnesium, selenium, and fiber.
But due to Shreddies’ high sugar content, it cancels out the benefits your dog gets from whole grains.
If you want your dog to get the benefits of whole grains into their diet, go for a whole grain dog food or dog treat instead.
#5: Choking hazard
Do you sometimes see your dog eat so fast you wonder if they even chew their food?
You’d think you don’t feed them by the speed they finish their meals.
Some dogs don’t chew their food as their throats are meant to stretch to swallow their food whole.
So if they don’t chew Shreddies properly, it can cause your dog to choke because of its size and texture.
You might also like: Why Do Dogs Go Crazy For Food? 5 Reasons + Tips
Healthy Shreddies alternatives for dogs (100% safe)
#1: Whole wheat dog treats
Instead of giving your dog sugary cereals, why not give them a whole wheat dog treat instead?
If you get a high-quality kind, you won’t have to worry about added sugars, artificial flavors or toxic ingredients added.
Now wouldn’t that put a smile on your and your dog’s face?
#2: DIY dog treats
If making homemade dog treats sounds like your thing, then good news! You can prepare whole wheat biscuits using whole wheat flour.
You can even add pumpkin puree, sweet potato, peanut butter, or any dog-safe ingredients as you please.
What’s even greater is you can form them into fun little shapes.
Wouldn’t a bone-shaped biscuit look cute?