Anna has a passion for keeping pets healthy and happy. She grew up with a Great Pyrenees as a family dog. Currently and currently has an orange tabby. She worked at a dog grooming and bathing salon where she learnt more about canine behavior and bathing. She lives in Wisconsin, in the United States. When she is not writing, she helps her partner run their small business, knitting, and enjoying local parks.
Can dogs eat marshmallows? If your dog has ever joined you at a campfire, you may have wondered if you could share a marshmallow or two. Unfortunately, most experts agree that marshmallows are not a safe snack for a dog.
Let’s find out more about marshmallows and what makes them an unhealthy dog treat. We’ll answer the question “can dogs eat marshmallows?”
Marshmallows Are High In Sugar
Marshmallows in general are absolutely loaded with sugar and calories. They also don’t have any important vitamins or other nutrients. While this makes them a fun occasional treat for a human, a dog will be badly affected by the high sugar concentration. This is especially true if your dog eats marshmallows on a regular basis.
High sugar consumption over time can cause even a healthy dog to develop health conditions like diabetes and pancreatitis. If your dog already has diabetes or weight issues, it’s even more important for them to avoid high-sugar snacks like marshmallows.
What If My Dog Eats Marshmallows On Accident?
Even if you keep unsafe foods out of reach, it can sometimes be hard to prevent dogs from eating them. If your dog has just eaten one marshmallow, they’re unlikely to develop diabetes or pancreatitis. However, you will want to check for symptoms of a digestive blockage. These can include vomiting, loss of appetite, and decrease in fecal production. If your dog has recently eaten the marshmallow, it’s not a bad idea to induce vomiting just in case.
Eating multiple marshmallows in one sitting can cause more serious problems. Along with a potential digestive blockage, high sugar levels in the body can cause severe digestive upset. You’ll probably see vomiting, decreased appetite, and diarrhea. If these symptoms stick around for one to two days, they may lead to pancreatitis. Contact your emergency veterinarian right away if your dog has eaten multiple marshmallows. They will probably recommend inducing vomiting to prevent the worst of these digestive symptoms.
Can Dogs Eat Marshmallows – What About Sugar-Free?
Though sugary regular marshmallows aren’t great, sugar-free marshmallows with artificial sweeteners like xylitol are even worse for dogs. Xylitol is a no-calorie sweetener that causes a quick insulin release for a dog. This will cause major issues if your dog eats a xylitol marshmallow.
Not only does xylitol cause digestive issues, it can lead to a loss of balance, known as ataxia. If your dog has eaten any amount of xylitol in any form, please call your emergency vet right away. Xylitol toxicity will most likely need veterinary attention.
Other Toxic Marshmallow Ingredients
Xylitol is not the only potentially toxic ingredient in marshmallows. Flavored marshmallows are best avoided entirely, especially if they’re flavored like foods that are toxic to dogs, like chocolate, coffee, and green tea.
Chemical artificial colors and preservatives are also not the best for dogs. The popular Easter marshmallow treat, Peeps, are not only artificially colored but have an extra layer of sugar around the already sugary marshmallow.
Obviously, since s’mores are a treat that have a chocolate bar in them, these are off-limits to dogs as well. The same applies to marshmallows from hot chocolate mixes.
Are There Dog-Safe Sweets?
More recently, many pet food companies and bakeries have started producing dog-safe sweet treats. These include cookies, cakes, and even ice creams. Most of the time, these are lower in sugar than sweets sold for human consumption. They can also include healthy ingredients like oats, fruits, vegetables, and all-natural colors and flavors.
When shopping for a sweet treat for your pup, make sure to check all ingredients to ensure the treat won’t trigger any allergies. If you’d prefer to control the ingredients yourself, there are many recipe options online for dog-safe cookies, biscuits, cakes, and even marshmallows.
In addition, you can always give your dog a sweet treat of safe fruit instead. Pears, apples, blueberries, and watermelon are all safe for your pup in small amounts. They also have good nutrients and fiber. Make sure to feed any fruit in moderation, as it should make up the smallest percentage of your dog’s diet. As always, check with your vet before feeding your dog anything new.
Marshmallows Are Not Good For Dogs
Now you know the answer to “can dogs eat marshmallows?” Due to their high sugar content, they are not the safest or healthiest treat for dogs. Their lack of nutrients means they’re not as healthy as other sweet foods, like fruits. High sugar consumption can cause a dog to develop serious health conditions, like diabetes or pancreatitis. In addition, some marshmallows have toxic or unhealthy ingredients for dogs, like the artificial sweetener xylitol.
Your dog may accidentally eat one or several marshmallows. We recommend contacting your vet if this happens, and keeping an eye on the situation.
Anna has a passion for keeping pets healthy and happy. She grew up with a Great Pyrenees as a family dog. Currently and currently has an orange tabby. She worked at a dog grooming and bathing salon where she learnt more about canine behavior and bathing. She lives in Wisconsin, in the United States. When she is not writing, she helps her partner run their small business, knitting, and enjoying local parks.
