Sometimes I’m in the mood to watch a movie, snuggle in, and grab some snacks.
Veggie Straws is one of my favorite chips, so when I open one, I hear my dog come running.
So I wonder, “Can dogs eat Veggie straws?”
Continue reading to find out:
- 6 reasons why Veggie Straws are bad for dogs.
- 5 Veggie Straws ingredients that are not good for dogs.
- What to do if your dog has eaten large amounts of Veggie Straws.
- And many more…
Table of contents
Can dogs eat Veggie Straws?
Dogs can’t eat Veggie Straws because they’re deep-fried chips loaded with salt and fat. It mostly contains potato starches that provide zero nutritional value. Also, with its high fat and salt content, eating large amounts of Veggie Snacks could lead your dog to several health problems.
What are Veggie Straws made of?
#1: Potato flour and starch
From the name Veggie Straws, it’s easy to think that it contains vegetables.
But don’t be fooled; Veggie Straws mostly contain pulverized potato and corn starches.
Potato flour and starches used to be considered safe for dogs.
But the FDA has recently investigated that foods containing high levels of grains, including potatoes, could link to the cause of dilated cardiomyopathy.
Dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs decreases their heart’s ability to generate pressure to pump blood resulting in a larger heart.
While a single Veggie Straw may not cause heart complications, eating large amounts of potato starches will give your dog a higher risk.
#2: Oil
Let’s be honest. Deep-fried foods are some of the tastiest eats in the world.
But they’re not the healthiest either.
Since Veggie Straws are deep-fried, they may not be the best snack for your dog.
According to Dr. Martin Hartogensis, eating deep-fried foods can cause inflammation in your dog’s pancreas, leading to a condition called pancreatitis.
It’s a condition where your dog’s pancreas develops harmful enzymes that damage their intestines.
Aside from pancreatitis, your dog can also develop other health complications from eating oily foods, including:
- Diabetes.
- Lethargy.
- Obesity.
- Gastrointestinal disorders.
- Cardiac disorders.
#3: Salt
Salt adds flavor to your food, but too much can cause several health problems.
Feeding your dog with a lot of salty foods can lead to dehydration and urination.
What’s worse, it could also lead to salt poisoning.
According to a study by Dr. Larry Thompson, dogs that eat too much salt lead to vomiting after several hours.
It could also lead to worse signs like:
- Weakness.
- Diarrhea.
- Muscle tremors.
- Seizures.
Read also: Can Dogs Eat Pepperoni? 7 Shocking Health Risks + 3 Tips
#4: Onion and garlic powder
Onion and garlic powder are tasty flavors to add to your food.
But did you know that onion and garlic, including their powder form, are toxic for dogs?
That’s because onion and garlic contain a substance called organosulfoxides, which is toxic to your dog.
Eating too much onion and garlic could lead to:
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Stomach pain.
Here’s a video of a veterinarian explaining this further:
A study also shows that onion and garlic can cause anemia in your dogs.
It damages their red blood cells, disabling its function of carrying oxygen into their body.
You might also want to check out: Can Dogs Eat Alfredo? 7 Ingredients Reviewed + 7 Dangers
#5: Spinach powder
Spinach is a superfood as it contains several vitamins and minerals, including:
- Vitamins A, B, C, and K.
- Iron.
- Antioxidants.
- Beta-carotene.
But another thing that spinach contains is oxalic acid.
Too much oxalic acid stops your dog’s body from absorbing calcium and magnesium, which leads to kidney damage.
A dog with healthy kidneys can process small amounts of spinach, but long term can lead to:
- Kidney stress.
- Muscle weakness.
- Abnormal heart rhythms.
- Respiratory paralysis.
6 reasons why dogs can’t eat Veggie Straws
#1: Hypernatremia
As Veggie Straws contain a lot of salt, eating too much can cause hypernatremia in your dog.
Hypernatremia happens when there is too much salt in your dog’s blood.
It’s a rare condition, but it usually results from dehydration.
More serious cases result in brain dysfunction in dogs, and severe cases can lead to:
- Confusion.
- Muscle twitching.
- Seizures.
- Coma.
- Death.
Warning: bring your dog to their veterinarian if they ingest large amounts of salty foods to prevent dehydration, or worse, hypernatremia.
Reading recommendation: 27 Easy Ways To Trick Your Dog Into Drinking Water (How-To)
#2: Poisoning
As I’ve discussed, onion and garlic are poisonous to your dog.
So if you prefer the onion and garlic flavored Veggie Straws, you might think twice about feeding some to your dog.
Onion and garlic poisoning signs may start showing within the same day after eating too much of it.
These signs start with gastroenteritis, including:
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Abdominal pain.
- Loss of appetite.
- Dehydration.
- Depression.
These could also lead to anemia, where after a few days, signs of the loss of red blood cells start to show, which are:
- Pale mucous membranes.
- Rapid respiratory rates.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Lethargy.
- Dark-colored urine (reddish or brown).
- Jaundice.
- Weakness.
- Rapid heart rate.
#3: Pancreatitis
As fat is needed in a dog’s daily diet, too much can cause several health complications, including pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis is a condition where your dog’s pancreas gets inflamed. It creates enzymes that get activated early and results in digestion of the pancreas itself, causing extreme pain to your dog.
If your dog is not used to a high-fat diet but then eats large portions of fatty foods, like Veggie Straws, there’s a chance they could develop pancreatitis.
According to WebMD, some symptoms of pancreatitis include:
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Fever or lowered body temperature
- Diarrhea
- Loss of energy
- Difficulty breathing
- Dehydration
- Irregular heartbeat
According to the National Academy of Sciences, an average 14.9 kg (33lb) adult dog should have 5.5% fat in their daily diet.
Since Veggie Straws are deep-fried in canola, safflower, and sunflower oil, it contains 0.24 oz (7g) of fat.
You might also be interested in: Can Dogs Eat Burritos? 7 Reasons Why + 7 Dangers & 9 Tips
#4: Kidney Problems
If you have an older dog, feeding them salty snacks can give them higher risks of developing kidney problems, like Chronic kidney disease (CKD).
According to VCA, CKD stops your dog’s kidneys from filtering out blood waste products.
Some symptoms of CKD include:
- Increase or decrease in water intake
- Increase or decrease of urine
- Lethargy
- Significant weight loss
- Pale gums
- Significant decrease in appetite
- Mouth ulcers
- Intestinal seizures
So if your dog already has kidney problems, it’s not advisable to feed them salty snacks, as their kidneys will have a harder time filtering out excess salt in their kidneys.
Tip: Consult your dog’s veterinarian for the proper diet needed for kidney problems.
#5: Heart disease
Junk foods like Veggie Straws are deep-fried goodness that may be delicious now but can be the cause of your dog’s heart disease in the future.
Feeding your dog with foods with high-fat content can lead to fat build-up in their arteries.
Heart diseases affect their heart’s ability to pump blood throughout their body.
According to Dr. Ruth Macpete, the valvular disease makes up 70-75% of heart disease in dogs. Heartworm disease causes 13% even though it’s completely preventable.
Lastly, dilated cardiomyopathy makes up 8%, mainly affecting large breeds of dogs of all ages.
Heart disease symptoms to look out for:
- Exercise intolerance
- Weakness
- Coughing
- Breathing difficulty
- Increased breathing rate
- Abdominal swelling
- Fainting
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
#6: Obesity
Obesity or excess body fat in dogs is caused by poor nutrition, overfeeding, and lack of exercise.
Constantly feeding your dog high-fat content junk foods, like Veggie Straws, can lead to weight gain that could eventually turn to obesity.
Symptoms of obesity in dogs include:
- Weight gain
- Excess body fat
- Inability or unwillingness to exercise
- High body condition score
Obesity in dogs shortens their lifespans by 6-12 months, compared to healthier dogs.
It can also make them more likely to develop other diseases, including:
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
- Osteoarthritis
- Urinary bladder stones
- Anesthetic complications
According to WebMD, it’s alright to give your dog treats as long as they don’t go beyond 5% of their calories.
They also recommend going for low-calorie, low-fat, and high-fiber treats to prevent weight gain.
Tip: If you already have an obese dog, ask your dog’s veterinarian for a healthy food plan to reduce their weight safely.
#BONUS: No nutritional value
Surprise, surprise…
Despite its name, Veggie Straws don’t actually provide any nutritional value to your dog.
No matter how tasty they are to you, there’s no point in feeding them to your dog.
So instead of worrying about diseases, your dog can get from eating junk food, why not give them a healthy dog treat instead?
Related topic: 9 Reasons Why Dogs Shouldn’t Eat Goldfish Crackers + 5 Tips
What to do if your dog ate Veggie Straws
The worst-case scenario: ”My dog ate a lot of Veggie Straws. What should I do?”
First of all, don’t panic.
Take away the excess chips so your dog can’t access them.
Give your dog small amounts of water at short intervals to prevent them from dehydrating from the excess salt.
The severity of the effects of eating a lot of Veggie Straws depends on the size and weight of your dog. They may or may not develop any symptoms, but it’s best to keep an eye on them.
Here’s a list of symptoms to look out for:
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Dehydration.
- Nausea.
- Upset stomach.
- Difficulty in walking.
If your dog has eaten plain Veggie Straws, just keep an eye on them and monitor their symptoms. If they develop diarrhea and vomiting that last for more than 24 hours, it’s time to call a veterinarian.
But if your dog has eaten a lot of onion and garlic flavored Veggie Straws, call your veterinarian immediately.
Healthy Veggie Straw alternatives for dogs (100% safe)
Instead of feeding your dog deep-fried snacks that offer no nutritional value, here are healthy alternatives that are safe for them:
#1: Vegetable dog treats
Instead of feeding your dogs human junk food, why not give them a vegetable dog treat instead?
There are plenty of dog treats available that are packed with vitamins and minerals that can add to your dog’s daily needs.
You can even choose from a variety of shapes and flavors. Some treats even come with fruits or meat.
Tip: Choose the ones that don’t contain any preservatives or artificial flavoring, so you don’t have to worry about them affecting your dog.
#2: Fresh vegetables
I know what you’re thinking, “Human food? I thought we shouldn’t feed our dogs human food?”
Hear me out, there are human foods that aren’t good for dogs, and there are human foods that are good for them.
If you don’t have any dog treats at home to spoil your dog, but do have plenty of vegetables, then why not give them a slice or two?
Here’s a list of vegetables that your dog can snack on:
- Broccoli
- Brussel sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Celery
- Green beans
- Fresh or frozen peas
Tip: Ask your dog’s veterinarian the proper portions of vegetables that you can feed your dog as some vegetables cause side effects if fed in excessive amounts.
#3: DIY vegetable dog treats
Now, if you want to spoil your dog, why not make them a DIY vegetable treat at home?
There are several dog treat recipes available that will take your dog treats to a whole new level.
You can use carrots, zucchinis, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, or parsley.
You can even add a bit of fruit for added flavor like bananas, blueberries, apples, apricots, or cranberries.
Ingredients like peanut butter, applesauce, and yogurt are safe for dogs and can add more flavors to their treats.
You can even customize your treats to your dog’s dietary needs if they have allergies or medical conditions.
As long as you’re using high-quality ingredients, you can provide your dog with a delicious and nutritious treat.
Note: Remember to look up fruits and vegetables that are safe for dogs, or ask your dog’s veterinarian.