Can Dogs Eat Frosted Flakes? What Should You Know?
Do your dogs love Frosted Flakes as much as you do? If so, it might be time to introduce them to a whole new treat that’s just as delicious and nutritious.
Why are dogs eating the frosted flakes off my bag of Frosted Flakes?
Because… Dogs love Frosted Flakes!
Just like people, each dog has a different “sweet tooth”. Some dogs love Milk Duds, others love Skittles, M&Ms, or even Ritz Crackers. But no matter what kind of “sweet tooth” a dog has, he will always be attracted to anything that resembles his favorite human treats.
If you think that dogs can’t eat frosted flakes, then you’re just not aware of the many ways they use them. It’s true! You can feed them with their own teeth.
Can Dogs Eat Frosted Flakes?
Frosted Flakes is probably one of America’s most popular cereals. The sugar-coated cornflakes, which were first introduced in 1952, are still a morning staple in many American households. In fact, Statista estimates that in just one week in 2018, 30.98 million Americans consumed at least a part of Frosted Flakes. Frosted Flakes isn’t simply a favorite among Americans; it’s also a staple in many nations throughout the world, including Latin America, Europe, and Japan.
If you’re one of those folks who can’t get out of bed without a bowl of Frosted Flakes, you’ve probably shared or considered sharing this tasty cereal with your dog. Can dogs, on the other hand, consume Frosted Flakes? Is this breakfast cereal OK for your canine companion?
Is it Safe for Dogs to Eat Frosted Flakes?
No, cereals like Frosted Flakes should not be fed to your dog. Most people are aware that Frosted Flakes are high in sugar and preservatives. This can be harmful to dogs, especially if they consume big amounts of the cereal. Although it is doubtful that a tiny amount of Frosted Flakes can cause a dog to become ill, it is advisable to avoid such a circumstance because there are few dietary advantages for a dog to acquire from eating them.
In addition to gastrointestinal problems, dogs that consume Frosted Flakes on a daily basis may acquire a lot of weight. Instead of Frosted Flakes, consider giving your dog some healthful, nutrient-dense treats. Fruits like blueberries and veggies like steamed broccoli are examples of this.
Want to know what else isn’t good for dogs besides frosted flakes? Visit our dog food database to learn about the 100+ human items that dogs may and cannot consume.
Long Answer
While not necessarily hazardous in moderate amounts, there are a number of reasons why letting your dog to consume Frosted Flakes on a daily basis might be detrimental to his health. First and foremost, let’s try to figure out what this morning cereal is made of.
Frosted Flakes are made up of the following basic ingredients:
Salt Sugar Milled Corn (Contains 2 percent or Less of Malt Flavor)
Iron, Thiamin Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid, Vitamin A Palmitate, and Vitamin D are all vitamins and minerals.
Freshness (BHT)
According to this list, Frosted Flakes contains a number of contentious substances that may be harmful to your dog’s health, including:
Corn
Corn is generally safe for dogs, especially if served in moderation. Carbohydrates, protein, fiber, vitamins, and linoleic acids are all abundant in it. Milled or processed corn, on the other hand, may have high levels of salt and lipids, which are frequently added for added value. As a result, feeding your dog Frosted Flakes on a daily basis may put him at risk for obesity and other major health problems including renal disease.
Some dogs are sensitive to maize, so before you give your dog Frosted Flakes, be sure he isn’t allergic to it. Consider giving your dog a couple pieces of Frosted Flakes, and if you notice any unusual symptoms, stop feeding him this and other corn-based foods.
Sugar content is high.
Frosted Flakes for dogs also have a high sugar level, which is a major drawback. Frosted Flakes has 11 grams of sugar each serving, so you can imagine how much sugar your dog would be exposed to if you feed him the entire packet. There are a variety of reasons why high-sugar diets are not suggested for dogs.
To begin with, sugar is detrimental for your dog’s dental health, just like it is for us. While dogs may tolerate sweet treats on occasion, too much sugar can cause enamel attrition and teeth damage in dogs. If you don’t brush your dog’s teeth on a regular basis, you should avoid offering him Frosted Flakes.
We don’t suggest Frosted Flakes for your dog for a variety of reasons, not the least of which being the risk to your dog’s oral health. Sugar has also been related to a variety of health problems in dogs, including obesity, diabetes, and even behavioral problems. Sugary foods, much like people, can produce blood glucose increases, making your dog cranky and sluggish.
There Are Too Many Calories
Frosted Flakes include a lot of calories in addition to a lot of sugar. Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes have 140 calories per cup, according to Fat Secret.
To maintain a healthy weight, most dogs require around 25-30 calories per pound. If you have a large and energetic dog, 140 calories from a single serving of Frosted Flakes isn’t too awful, but if you have a little dog breed, it’s a different story.
Feeding a few Frosted Flakes to your little dog or toy breed can meet a substantial portion of his daily calorie requirements, but won’t supply much nutrition.
Carbohydrates, proteins, and fat must be balanced in your dog’s diet. Frosted Flakes, being designed for people rather for dogs, falls short of all of these requirements.
BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) is another contentious element in Frosted Flakes that you don’t want to give your dog. Both BHT and its relative, BHA, are known to cause cancer. BHT was discovered to induce liver and kidney damage in rats in a previous research. Despite the fact that this research and many others on BHT are disputed, many pet welfare groups recommend avoiding foods containing these preservatives until science can figure out exactly how they damage your dog’s health.
Salt
Because dogs have a lower salt tolerance than people, the salt amount that is deemed acceptable for humans may not necessarily be safe for your dog. Excess salt intake in dogs can result in high blood pressure, hypernatremia, electrolyte imbalances, and even sodium poisoning. If you let your dog consume Frosted Flakes on a daily basis, you run the danger of exposing him to all of these problems.
Is Cereal Healthy for Dogs?
While there are a few cereals that are good for both humans and their dogs, cereal doesn’t have the same nutritional value for your dog. However, some varieties of cereal, such as oatmeal (prepared with water), may be advised by veterinarians to aid your dog with digestive difficulties such as constipation and can be provided as a special treat with your veterinarian’s permission.
Furthermore, while many cereals are fortified with vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to humans, your dog would have to eat a lot of cereal for those vitamins and minerals to have an effect—and it’s never a good idea to give your dog a significant amount of cereal, even if it’s a “healthy” variety, due to the high risk of tummy problems. While certain cereals are OK as a treat, cereal should never be used to replace your pet’s usual food due to its high grain content, which makes it unnutritious for puppies. Many cereals are also treated with chemicals that deplete the nutritional value of the morning staple for both people and dogs.
The good news is that, because most cereals are low in fat and calories, they’re unlikely to cause weight gain in your pet if you feed them in moderation.
Are There Better Breakfast Cereals For Dogs?
Because there are so many different varieties of breakfast cereals, there are surely others that aren’t as awful as Frosted Flakes. However, the most of them still have a lot of sugar, too many calories, and chemical preservatives in them. Some brands of morning cereal may be hazardous to dogs.
Chocolate and resins, for example, are two typical additives in morning cereals that have been found to be hazardous to dogs. Any breakfast cereal that contains these two elements is a no-no for dogs.
Many dogs are lactose intolerant, so if your dog is one of them, it’s probably not a smart idea to feed him any milk-based morning cereal. Furthermore, some dogs are unable to digest milk, thus giving them milk-based morning cereals may result in stomach distress and vomiting.
Breakfast cereals, on the other hand, are designed for people and will provide little nutritious benefit to your canine companion. After everything is said and done, sharing any morning cereal with your dog is not a smart idea.
Are There Other Cereals to Worry About?
Aside from the sugar, some cereals have other elements that are unsafe for dogs to consume. Cereal containing any form of chocolate, for example, should be carefully avoided in your dog’s diet. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs, according to the American Kennel Club, and can cause major medical problems if ingested by your pet. In the morning, keep the Count Chocula and Reese’s Puffs to yourself.
Raisins may be found in cereals like Raisin Bran, Great Grains, and Oatmeal Crisp, and according to PetMD, grapes and raisins are poisonous to dogs and can be fatal. If you do decide to share part of this cereal with your dog, make sure you just give him the flakes and not the raisins.
Finally, cereals containing nuts might be hazardous to your dog. Many nuts are unhealthy for dogs, according to Nationwide Pet Health Zone, and can cause stomach difficulties and other medical concerns, therefore they should be avoided totally.
Dangers of Cereal for Dogs
Cereals with a high sugar content, as well as any brands that contain chocolate or other hazardous substances like raisins or nuts, should never be given to your pet. Cereals with more than 10 grams of sugar per serving, and even that quantity might be too much, are examples of cereals that are not only unhealthy but possibly dangerous for your dog. Sugary cereals can cause digestive problems in your pet, such as diarrhea, and cereals with chocolate or raisins can be fatal.
Sugary cereal intake over time may induce obesity in your pet, as well as increase their risk of severe ailments including pancreatitis. Too much sugar may cause dental problems in dogs, including tooth decay and tooth loss, just as it can in people. Cereal is a common source of dental decay in dogs since sweeter types can get sticky and adhere to your dog’s teeth.
There’s also a potential that, depending on your pet’s size and the cereal in issue, this beloved morning meal might be a choking hazard. Pieces of cereal can clump together, especially if they’ve been soaked in milk, making it harder for your dog to swallow and perhaps causing them to become clogged in their digestive track.
How Can I Feed My Dog Cereal?
Small pieces of cereal, such as Cheerios, may make excellent training incentives. They’re low in calories, sugar-free, tiny and simple to eat, and still have that satisfying crunch that your dog will like. You may give your dog a handful of Cheerios as a treat during training or as a snack while you eat breakfast.
You should not give your dog any cereal that has been in your bowl with milk, despite the fact that humans routinely put milk on our cereal. Dogs are lactose intolerant, according to the American Kennel Club, and dairy products frequently cause stomach problems in our four-legged pals. Although modest amounts of milk may be healthy, it’s better to avoid milk completely and give your dog dry cereal instead.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the answer to this question is YES! Frosted flakes are high in protein, which can help you meet daily protein requirements. This cereal is also an excellent source of iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate, pantothenic acid, and vitamin C. The great thing about this breakfast cereal is that it comes with a pre-sweetened, milk-based gravy, and has less than 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of carbohydrates per serving. So you can have a delicious morning with your best friend!
I have been working in animal shelter for the past six years and I have been raising the puppies of different breeds. I have had experience in training the puppies in obedience, agility, and other dog sports.
My main objective is to train the puppies to become good family pets. They should be well-behaved and trained to be loving, loyal, and obedient.
Contact me:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (912) 634-3631
Address: 102 Village Way Crk Saint Simons Island, Georgia(GA), 31522
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