Can Dogs Eat Pretzels?

No, dogs shouldn’t eat pretzels.

It is best to avoid giving dogs pretzels.

The high salt content, additives, and carbs can endanger your dog’s health in the following ways.

Whether tiny, challenging, salted, or more significant, more traditionally American soft baked and flavored pretzels, guilty pleasure foods like pretzels are always a hit.

Our devoted pets have a cute way of appearing hungry and helpless to get a mouthful of what we’re eating.

As a result, you might be wondering if furry friends can eat a soft pretzel.

As you know now the answer to the question “can dogs eat pretzels”, read this blog post before you let your dog eat pretzels.

Why Are Pretzels Unhealthy For Dogs?

many pretzels from near

Pretzels include a variety of chemicals, some of which are toxic to dogs’ health in large quantities.

Following are the substances that can make pretzels unhealthy for dogs:

Salt Content

Pretzels have too much salt in them.

Salt with high sodium poisoning concentration can bring on dehydration, frequent thirst and urination, renal failure, and cardiac issues.

Dogs who consume a lot of pretzels may become salt poisoned; the typical pretzels are salty foods.

The prickly salt enhances the flavor and crunch of the pretzels.

Hard-baked pretzels occasionally have a more awesome salt content; this is done to keep them safe for longer.

Dogs are thought to have a salt sensitivity; thus, anything that throws off the body’s average salt balance can make them sick.

Dogs who consume a lot of pretzels may develop high blood pressure, making them more vulnerable to cardiac issues.

Being a dog owner, it would be best to watch your dog’s daily salt consumption because they are salt-sensitive.

Harmful Flavors

many garlics and onions on a bowl

Different spices used to flavor pretzels can cause dog’s stomach distress in your dog.

Garlic and onion powders are among the herbs used; onions and garlic are toxic and bad for dogs.

In large doses, the allicin in onions and garlic can oxidize red blood cells and lead to damage in the blood.

That’s why you shouldn’t give your dog pretzels.

Similarly, a wide variety of sugar substitutes can be used to enhance the sweetness of pretzels.

In particular, xylitol, one of these artificial sweeteners, is toxic to dogs’ livers and should be avoided at all costs.

A High Amount Of Carbs

The presence of carbohydrates in pretzels is thus another deterrent to feeding them.

Pretzels contain a significant amount of carbs.

That may cause dogs to become obese and gain weight due to increased blood sugar levels.

The cause of this is not implausible because refined wheat flour, specifically, is used to make the majority of pretzels.

Simply put, refined wheat is wheat that has had the exterior grain section removed.

It is implied that these fibers and nutrients are absent when the outer grain of wheat is removed because it provides fiber and some critical nutrients.

Additionally, foods made from refined white wheat tend to raise blood sugar levels compared to other dog diets containing only fat and protein.

Pretzels might not be the best salty snacks for dogs, as we can infer.

Dog’s diet must be carefully planned for healthy weight gain.

What To Do If Your Dog Ate Pretzels

little puppy eating from a food bowl

You should not panic before checking to see what kind of pretzels your dog ate.

They would be fine if they ate just a few plain or peanut butter pretzels.

However, cinnamon pretzels, yogurt-covered pretzels, and salty or flavored pretzels are risky.

Several reasons your dog might consume pretzels without your consent or knowledge, from a sizeable spilled bag that left snacks all over the kitchen floor to a giant soft-baked pretzels treat given to your dog at the family picnic.

If those pretzels are flavored with onions and garlic, or if they are the more unusual chocolate variety, are they an emergency, at least theoretically?

In these circumstances, please ask your veterinarian about their recommendations.

You might be advised to bring your dog in for a checkup or treatment, or you might be instructed to keep an eye on him to watch for any signs.

You should do this if your dog has eaten a lot of pretzels, especially if they are young, puppies, or smaller dog breeds.

That’s because eating all those pretzels at once can have some unpleasant side effects from the salt on them.

Not only can your dog experience stomach pains or throw up, but they may also experience excessive thirst, swollen tongue, or even exhibit symptoms of nausea, disorientation, and dizziness.

Your dog’s veterinarian will likely want to check if these symptoms persist.

Your dog may not fully recover for a few days in these circumstances.

And most important: don’t make your dog’s pretzel snack stealing a habit.

Why Can Salt Poisoning Be Deadly For Your Dog?

pretzel with lot of salt near view

Technically, there isn’t anything in most pretzels that will be toxic to dogs, but almost all pretzels contain such a large amount of salt that it brings about the genuine risk of poisoning if a dog overeats.

Your dog’s body begins to absorb water when it consumes a lot of salt.

Dehydration eventually results from this.

If your dog eats a lot of pretzels and is at risk to get dehydrated, make sure he drinks enough water and doesn’t go too long without any water.

The first systems impacted are your pup’s kidneys and cardiovascular system.

There are many risks linked with overeating salt.

The signs are numerous, and you will notice them.

However, they may vary according to the dog.

Dog owners may occasionally confuse dyspepsia for the signs of salt toxicity.

Here are some of the most common symptoms of salt poisoning:

  • Vomiting

  • Heart disease

  • Diarrhea

  • Excessive peeing

  • Disorientation

  • Swelling

  • Uncontrollable thirst

  • Lethargy

If you see any of these symptoms in your dog, immediately call your vet!

When Do You Need To Contact Your Vet

little black puppy at the vet

Dogs should be taken to the vet immediately if they consumed many pretzels or if the pretzels included any hazardous components.

Whether or not this is an emergency or a dangerous situation depends on quite a few things.

  • First, how many pretzels were eaten?

  • Also, were the pretzels covered or topped with anything toxic, such as onions, garlic, chocolate, or macadamia nuts?

The services of an emergency veterinary hospital should be used if the patient’s regular doctor is closed.

A veterinarian should be consulted in these situations for guidance on what to do next.

A healthy adult dog of average size should be closely watched if only a modest amount of pretzels free of hazardous components were consumed.

Distress in the digestive system could be detected.

Immediate consultation with a veterinarian is advised if there are any worries or inquiries.

A list of clinical indicators of salt toxicity to look out for can be seen above.

Conclusion: Can Dogs Eat Pretzels

one pretzel on grey background

Generally, pretzels are neutral enough for dogs to eat; if served in moderation, they don’t harm your dog or contribute nourishment to your pet’s meals.

Stick to dog food and other healthy snacks with low salt content and high nutritional benefits.

However, the flavorings in pretzels of all colors and sizes pose the most significant danger to your dog.

These dangers include less destructive but unpleasant issues resulting from salt and highly hazardous examples like a coating of garlic dust or onion powder.

Since the signs of hunger and general unease are much harder to detect unless you know what to look for, this is frequently the true culprit and a somewhat sly one.

Because of this, veterinarians and other experts advise against giving dogs plain pretzels as rewards, though it won’t be a primary concern if they accidentally steal one.

There are also a lot of other foods that dogs can not eat.

Click the link above to discover the foods.

Before You Go…

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

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

Mena Emad, DVM
Mena has a Bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine. His expertise, passion for animal welfare, extensive knowledge, and experience in the field of veterinary medicine make him an excellent resource for our readers.