Who wouldn’t want to treat their dog with delicious Cheerios? Since the introduction of Cheerios in 1941, it has been one of the common cereals found in households across America. They are usually advertised and claimed to be rich in fiber, calcium, and iron. And like many dog owners, you might be thinking to treat your dog with cheerios. But, can dogs eat cheerios?

Yes, Dogs can eat cheerios. Cheerios are crunchy cereals that contain very low sugar. But as it is mostly made from whole grain oats, these cereals won’t benefit your dog’s health. They can surely be used as filler for your dog’s diet. Now, before you feed cheerios to your furry buddy, make sure to read this article.

Are Cheerios Harmful for Dogs?

Cheerios are one of the most common cereal items to get spilled on floors, and even picked up, and munched by pets.  But are cheerios harmful to dogs? Regular Cheerios are not harmful to your dog. But, there are some ingredients that you should avoid as they can be dangerous for your dog’s health. Let’s discuss them in detail, shall we?

Ingredients To Watch Out For

Raisins

We enjoy the sweet and sour taste of grapes. But make sure to never share grapes or raisins with your canine companions. It is unclear as to why grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs, though. Researchers suggest that pesticides or some fungus might be the root problem, but no single cause has yet been determined. Many of the adverse effects of consuming raisins are lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, and kidney failure. So it is better to avoid grapes and raisins from your dog’s diet.

Also, check out 10 Reasons why you should avoid feeding raisins to dogs.

Xylitol

Some versions of Cheerios may contain Peanut Butter. Peanut butter has Xylitol as a sweetening agent. Not only Peanut butter but chewing gums, yogurt, and most dairy products have xylitol. Particularly small quantities of xylitol can induce hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), epilepsy, liver failure, or even death in dogs. It is best to avoid xylitol for your dogs. However, peanut butter that does not contain xylitol is safe for your dog. Want to know more? Read our article about peanut butter for dogs.

Macadamia nuts

While experts have not discovered the precise explanation why macadamia nuts are harmful to dogs, one thing is certain that even a tiny quantity of macadamia nuts will significantly affect your dog’s health. Dogs who consume these nuts can have symptoms such as dehydration, hyperthermia, fatigue, and even depression.

Chocolates

Chocolates or other cocoa items are particularly harmful to dogs because they contain toxins such as theobromine and caffeine. Since theobromine cannot be quickly broken down by a dog’s body, it slows down its digestive process. As a result, this provides time for the toxic amount of the chemical to accumulate in their bloodstream. Whereas caffeine consumption accelerates the heart pace of a dog, possibly leading to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, a disease that causes the heart to beat irregularly.

Are Cheerios Healthy for Your Dog?

Regular Cheerios are totally safe for feeding but other flavor variations are not recommended at all. No matter which Cheerios your dog consumes, it doesn’t have a huge nutritional benefit for them, so make sure you just feed them small doses.

Remember, plant-based diets are generally more challenging for your dog’s tummy. Never substitute cereal for your dog’s food, as it will not provide nearly the same nutrients as their food.

Can Dogs Eat Cheerios and Milk?

Plain Cheerios and milk are safe in small amounts but don’t give your dog a heaping bowl. Milk contains fat and if your dog consumes too much fat it could contribute to health problems like obesity.

What about skim milk? Honestly, it won’t harm your dog in small amounts. Just like the cereal, it doesn’t have any nutritional benefits, so you can give it to them in small amounts as treats occasionally. You can also use water instead of milk if your dog is lactose tolerant.

You might also be interested in “Can Dogs Drink Skim Milk?”

Conclusion

Overall, Dogs can eat Cheerios. But as they do not provide enough nutritional value for your dog, we don’t recommend that you feed these to your dog more often. And if you still aren’t sure if you want to feed Cheerios to your dog, try bran flakes which are much safer and healthier for dogs.

Now that you know what type of cheerios are safe for dogs, explore more cheerios-related dog articles on cereal for dogs.

Have you ever tried sharing cheerios with your pooch? What flavor do you give to them? Our community would love to know. Please share with us by leaving a comment below!