Can My Dog Eat Lucky Charms?
Although a dog could technically eat Lucky Charms as they won’t cause a dog serious harm, they’re certainly not healthy and your vet would definitely discourage it. The argument could be made that us humans shouldn’t eat Lucky Charms! Like the majority of cereals, Lucky Charms are made with refined grains, which aren’t an essential ingredient of a dog’s diet. You shouldn’t be surprised to know that Lucky Charms are also packed with sugar and preservatives, which is tough on a dog’s digestive system and would encourage unnecessary weight gain.
Can Dogs Eat Other Cereal?
It depends on the type of cereal. Although most cereals are safe for dogs to eat (in small amounts), there are some cereals you should completely avoid. Cereal has a lot of empty calories, and won’t add much to your dog’s diet in terms of nutrition, however, some cereals can be safe to offer as a treat compared to others.
(Healthy) Cereals for Dogs
- Cream of Wheat
- Bran Flakes
- Oat Bran
(Safe) Cereals for Dogs
- Corn Flakes
- Honey Bunches of Oats
- Rice Chex
- Cheerios
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch
- Grits
- Rice Krispies
- Special K
(Unhealthy) Cereals to Avoid
- Froot Loops
- Lucky Charms
- Coco Puffs
- Raisin Bran Reese’s Puffs
When it comes to cereal, there’s no rule on a dogs consumption, as every brand of cereal contains different ingredients. Although it may be okay for your toddler to sneak their doggy buddy a handful of Cheerios every once in a while, cereals that contain potentially toxic ingredients to dogs, like chocolate, raisins, or nuts, are always a big no-no.
If you’re going to give your dog cereal, it should always be given very strictly, and you should only stick to low-sugar, whole-grain varieties that have more nutritional value and less fillers and sweetness. These types of cereal could even have some health benefits for a dog, like helping to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol or even boosting your pooch’s energy. If your dog eats a few pieces of cereal that fell on the floor during breakfast, it’s probably fine—but for the most part, you’ll want to offer cereal that’s dry as dairy products like milk doesn’t sit well with every dog—and, as a dog ages, their tolerance for dairy and lactose declines.
Is Cereal Healthy For Dogs?
While there are a handful of cereals that are considered nutritious for both dogs and humans. Cereal just won’t pack the same nutritional punch for your dog. However, some varieties of cereal, like oatmeal (made with water), may sometimes be recommended by a veterinarian to help your dog with digestive issues like constipation and can sometimes be served as a treat, with the go-ahead of your veterinarian.
Many cereals are fortified with minerals and vitamins that are considered to be beneficial to humans, our dogs would have to eat a whole lot of cereal for those vitamins and minerals to make the same impact—and it’s never recommended to offer a dog significant amount of cereal, even if it’s considered the “healthy” variety, because of the high risk of causing tummy troubles. While some cereals are OK to offer on occasion as a treat, the cereal should never replace your dog’s regular diet because its high grain content means it’s not particularly nutritious for dogs. Another important point to make is that lots of cereals also tend to be processed with additives that make the breakfast staple far less nutritious to both humans and dogs.
The good news is that since most cereals are relatively low in fat and calories, it’s unlikely to promote significant weight gain in your dog as long as it’s given in moderation.
Dangers Of Cereal For Dogs
When it comes to cereals with high sugar content, or any cereal varieties that contain chocolate or other toxic ingredients such as raisins or nuts, these types of cereal should always be off-limits to your dog. Examples of cereals that aren’t only unhealthy, but potentially unsafe, for dogs are cereals that have over 10 grams of sugar per serving, and even that amount could be too much. Sugary cereals can cause symptoms of digestive distress for a dog, such as diarrhea, while consuming cereals containing chocolate or raisins could potentially be deadly.
Long-term consumption of sugary cereals could also cause obesity in your dog, and increase the risk of getting a serious disease like pancreatitis. Just like humans, too much sugar will also cause dental issues in dogs, including tooth decay and tooth loss, and cereal is often a culprit for dental decay because sweeter brands can get sticky and cling to the dog’s teeth.
Depending on the size of your dog, there’s the chance that lucky charms cereal could be a choking hazard. Sometimes pieces of cereal can clump together, particularly if it’s already been soaked in milk, which can be both difficult for the dog to swallow as well as having the potential to become lodged in your dog’s digestive tract.
