Can Dogs Eat Fig Newtons?

No, even as a treat, dogs should not eat Fig Newtons because they are unhealthy for dogs.

Fig Newtons are high in sugar, fat, sodium, and carbohydrates.

Dog eating Fig Newtons can cause obesity, diabetes, and even pancreatitis.

However, Fig Newtons are not toxic to dogs, so if your dog eats one, don’t panic.

As you know now the answer to the question “can dogs eat fig newtons”, we’ll examine the nutritional makeup and contents of Fig Newtons in more detail, as well as what happens to our dogs’ health when they consume this frequently.

Why Are Fig Newtons Bad For Dogs?

a lot of white and brown sugar

Due to their high added sugar content, cookies are considered junk food.

They don’t offer canines much regarding nutrients and health benefits.

Your dog is in danger of gaining weight due to the high sugar content of these cookies.

Diabetes is more likely to develop in dogs who eat large amounts of sugar.

Keeping your dog from eating too many calories and getting overweight is crucial.

While watching videos about obese dogs may be fun, their extra weight puts them at risk for various health issues.

Two potential health problems that all this extra weight may bring are intestinal blockages and cardiac conditions.

Hydrogenated cottonseed oil, found in Fig Newton bars, is one of the most pervasive and dangerous ingredients for canines in various processed human foods.

They contain relatively little of this oil, but it’s vital to be aware that high doses can be dangerous to dogs.

High fructose corn syrup is another ingredient that is highly bad for dogs.

Dogs who consume this kind of sugar are more likely to develop diabetes.

You should also watch out for signs of gluten allergies since they are made with wheat flour.

This includes symptoms including coughing, itching, and sneezing.

What Happens If A Dog Consumed Fig Newtons?

bowl full of figs

Because Fig Newtons are not inherently harmful to dogs, your dog will be fine.

Even though Fig Newtons don’t contain any harmful components, your dog might not be able to tolerate them.

If consumed excessively or repeatedly, Fig Newton cookies can harm your cuddly pet in several ways.

Upset Stomach And Diarrhea

Dogs who consume too much sugar from Fig Newtons will experience harmful effects immediately.

Dogs who consume excessive amounts of sugar may have stomach discomfort because doing so upsets the average balance of good and bad bacteria in their digestive system and stomach.

Your dog may begin vomiting and experience violent, bloody diarrhea due to an imbalance of healthy and harmful bacteria and other germs in its digestive system.

Your dogs may become dehydrated if they continue to vomit and have diarrhea.

Weight Gain

Dogs who regularly eat sugary treats and meals like Fig Newtons will start gaining weight. Remember that most sweet foods and snacks include empty calories.

This means that sweet food merely makes your dog gain weight and offers no nutritional benefits to its health.

When your dog begins to gain weight, it may impact his physical, emotional, and mental health.

This is because increasing weight might strain their joints and develop joint issues.

They might also have respiratory issues.

Your dog may become tired and less energetic due to all of this. He might no longer like playing as much or could choose to stay in bed all day rather than go for a walk.

As we can see, his quality of life will decline because his physical health might impact his mood and mental health.

He may stay inactive if feeling down, apprehensive, or depressed, leading to a vicious cycle of weight gain and inactivity.

These are just a handful of the health issues your dog may experience.

Obese dogs may also risk developing diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and respiratory issues.

Canine Obesity

If not consumed in moderation, fig newtons can cause weight gain in dogs.

Overweight dogs are more likely to develop diabetes mellitus, which can cause renal disease and other major health issues.

Obesity symptoms might include breathing issues, arthritis, and joint pain.

Diabetes

Like one containing fig Newtons, a sugar diet raises blood sugar levels and hinders insulin synthesis.

As a result, giving your dog too many fig newtons could cause them to experience hypo- or hyperglycemia (sugar low).

Diabetes-prone dogs must be given a special sugar-free fig newton or none.

Change Of Metabolism

Dogs’ muscular tone may change when they consume large quantities of sugary treats like Fig Newtons or consume them frequently.

Since their bodies store more fat, individuals can no longer have the defined muscle tones they should.

This is because the sugar causes an increase in insulin release, which can have an impact on your dog’s hormones.

A weakened immune system and poor energy levels are the results of this.

Your dog can get weaker, less energetic, and heavier each day.

As a result, they are at risk for infections, hormone-related illnesses, and canine obesity.

Unhealthy Teeth

Sugar is linked to a frequent health issue in dogs: tooth decay.

Dogs’ mouth bacteria produce acid that damages their teeth when they consume sugary treats like fig newtons.

If left untreated, this causes dental decay and eventually tooth loss.

Salt Poisoning

You can see that one Fig Newtons cookie has 55 mg of sodium in it by looking at the nutritional facts.

Although this isn’t much for us, 55 mg of sodium is unquestionably more than your dogs require daily.

Your dog could become poisoned with sodium or salt due to this. Salt poisoning symptoms and signs include:

  • Diarrhea

  • Vomiting 

  • Loss of appetite 

  • Frequent urination

  • Dehydration

  • Excessive thirst

  • Headache

  • Loss of balance and coordination

  • Confusion

  • Convulsions

  • Fluid buildup.

  • Lethargy

  • High fever

  • Depression

  • Muscle tremors (in severe cases)

Please call your veterinarian immediately and take your dog to the closest veterinary hospital or veterinary emergency clinic if you think he may have salt poisoning.

The Pet Poison Helpline is another option as soon as possible must be taken since salt intoxication needs immediate medical intervention.

Pancreatitis

If dogs eat too many fig newtons, their fat can lead to pancreatitis.

Vomiting and stomach pain are symptoms of pancreatic inflammation or pancreatitis.

Vomiting, diarrhea, appetite loss, and weight loss are some signs.

Ingredients Of Fig Newtons

brown white dog eating something on grass

One fig newton cookie contains 5% of the high concentration of sugar, invert syrup, and fructose corn syrup.

This indicates that a cookie’s sugar content is roughly 12gm.

When it comes to dogs, this amount of sugar can be disastrous, even though it is not suitable for humans.

A fig-newton cookie also includes sulfites, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, artificial flavors, and preservatives. These are all very harmful to dogs.

Therefore, it would be wise to refrain from giving them fig newton cookies.

One cookie every so often will be a good idea if you must.

Fig Newtons are made with the following ingredients:

  • Figs

  • Whole grain wheat flour

  • Enriched flour

  • Invert sugar

  • Corn syrup

  • Canola oil

  • Palm oil

  • Salt

  • Malic acid

  • Sodium benzoates

  • Calcium lactate

  • Baking soda

  • Artificial flavors

  • Soy lecithin

  • Hydrogenated cottonseed oil

  • Sulfur dioxide

Conclusion: Can Dogs Eat Fig Newtons?

dog eating from a food bowl

Since Fig Newtons are not poisonous to dogs, there’s no need to get alarmed if your dog consumes a few of them.

Dogs shouldn’t eat them even though they contain elements like sugar, salt, wheat, and others.

It’s acceptable to give your dog one as an occasional treat.

Please don’t do it frequently, and try not to feed them too many at once.

Additionally, if your dog has diabetes or is overweight, it’s generally a good idea to quit sharing your Fig Newtons.

The taste might persuade you and your dog of Fig Newtons if food is involved.

But there is one time when you should strive to be firm in saying “no” to your dog.

Before You Go…

Now you know the answer to the question, “Can dogs eat fig newtons?”.

If you want to learn more, read the following articles too!

Dimitra Kokologianni, DVM
Dimitra holds a Masters’s degree in public health and a Bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine. She is a versatile professional with over 7 years of experience. Her passion for animal welfare and preventive medicine makes her an excellent resource for our readers.