Can Dogs Eat Oreos? 6 Reasons Fido Is Better Off Without It

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Quick Summary

Although one Oreo probably won’t hurt your dog, it is still not recommended that you feed these cookies to your pet.
Chocolate, the main ingredient in Oreos, is toxic to dogs and can lead to increased heart rate, diarrhea, seizures, and tremors.
High sugar, salt, fats, and palm oil, are some of the harmful ingredients in Oreos that can cause a number of health issues to dogs especially such as gastrointestinal upset, dehydration, diabetes, and obesity.

Oreos are one of the most popular snacks as cookie sandwiches made from two wafers and white crème. The two wafers of cookies may come in different flavors like chocolate or vanilla, like in the golden Oreos. In any case, the answer to the question, ‘can dogs eat Oreos?’ is No. Unfortunately, even golden Oreos have little or no nutritional value to offer dogs and several harmful ingredients.

Oreo Ingredients That Are Harmful to Dogs

Unbleached enriched flour

The flour used to make Oreos is not suitable for canine consumption. These entail white pastry and all-purpose flour. The problem with enriched flour is not about the wheat but rather the processing. It is not healthy for your pup, and such elements may lead to long-term health problems.

Alternatively, wheat or gluten are often the causes of dog allergy. Dog treats made from flour should be composed of amaranth. This is not a grain but has the dietary minerals and protein to benefit the dog.

Chocolate toxicity

This is the biggest risk of a dog eating Oreos. The typical Oreo cookie is made of chocolate wafers. The levels of chocolate are not that high, but this is still quite toxic to dogs. Humans can digest the chemicals present in chocolate like Xylitol and theobromine [1], but that is not the case with dogs, and it produces effects such as increased heart rate, diarrhea, seizures, and tremor— these are enough reasons to stop if your dogs eat Oreo cookies.

They are so toxic, one remedy is inducing vomiting though it would be advisable to consult the veterinarian before proceeding. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that is present in Oreos as well. If your dog eats something with Xylitol, it stimulates insulin production in dogs, reducing blood sugar levels.

It is dangerous because that can lead to hypoglycemia which can lead to seizures and even death. The symptoms of chocolate toxicity are quite acute and may occur after a few hours of consumption.

Sugar

One Oreo cookie has 4.7 grams of sugar which is quite high—another reason why I would not give my dog Oreos. Dogs have a lower tolerance for sugar, and that is why they cannot eat sweets or candies. Their bodies get all the sugar they need from carbohydrates in regular food. These are broken down during digestion into glucose, and their bodies use these to generate energy.

Salt

Believe it or not, an Oreo cookie comes available with about 45 milligrams of salt, which is very high as a medium-sized dog should only eat 100 mg of sodium each day. If your dog eats Oreos, they run the risk of sodium poisoning, which presents in dehydration in the short term and heart disease in the long term.

Fats

It may not be apparent, but Oreos have a high level of fat which is dangerous for dogs. Dogs have a low tolerance for processed fats meaning they tend to store them when ingested in high quantities. That will typically lead to rapid weight gain and obesity, which will compromise your dog’s overall health.

Palm oil

This is a vegetable oil that is a common ingredient in processed foods. It is high in saturated fats, which are not suitable for canines in large quantities. Palm oil tends to be a laxative, so it may lead to cramping and diarrhea in dogs if taken in large quantities. The caloric levels as well as high from this ingredient, so it does lead to increased weight gain.

What Happens If Your Dog Ate Oreo Cookies?

Depending on the amount, if your dog ate Oreos cookies, there are short and long-term effects. Unfortunately, none of these are good, as Oreos have minimal nutritional benefits for your furry friend.

Gastrointestinal problems

Eating Oreos tend to result in tummy issues because of the sugars present. It would be the same thing as eating tons of junk food for humans, as sugars can lead to nausea and vomiting for dogs. That also happens if you find your dog eating oreo ice cream. The gastrointestinal issues do not end there, as sometimes, your dog will also experience projectile diarrhea. Oreos do not agree with their systems, so you will do a lot of cleaning up afterward.

Dehydration

The snack is also high in sodium which is not good for dogs. Since vomiting and diarrhea make the dog lose fluids, sodium intake worsens the situation, resulting in dehydration. If they accidentally consume Oreos, you should give them a lot of water before calling the vet.

Should your pet be unable to drink, it may also be an alarm. One of the ways to check the dehydration levels is to pinch the skin around the shoulder blades. If the skin snaps back quickly, they are relatively hydrated, but slow repositioning means the animal is dehydrated.

Diabetes and obesity

The refined sugars and syrup present in Oreo cookies present a risk for diabetes in dogs. That is because the body stops producing insulin following the resistance of the cells. It results in glucose accumulation in the blood, otherwise known as hyperglycemia.

When the condition is left untreated, it can lead to kidney failure, blindness, and an enlarged liver. There is no cure for it, so the condition would have to be managed.

FAQs

Can dogs eat Lemon Oreos?

These do not have any natural lemons but have artificial flavoring and minimal nutritional value for dogs. It is not advisable to allow dogs to eat them because they have high palm oil, sugar, and high fructose corn syrup concentrations.

How many Oreos can a dog eat?

It is not advisable to have dogs eat Oreos because of the many harmful ingredients. Though, dogs can eat one Oreo only before developing acute symptoms.