Can Dogs Eat Funyuns?

In this research you will know the answer to the query “Can Dogs Eat Funyuns?“.

Funyuns may look like a small fun snack to us but are they actually safe for our canine companions? Do your dogs want some Funyuns chips because you’re eating them right now? You might want to read this before handing over a piece. Spices are often included in human snacks and Funyuns are one of them. Can dogs eat Funyuns? 

Can dogs eat Funyuns?

Dogs should not eat Funyuns since these salty and fatty snacks have no nutritional value. Funyuns contain a high level of salt and are high in fat making them unhealthy for dogs to eat. Your pup would quickly surpass his daily salt and fat intake if he ate a few servings. Do not let your furry friends consume Funyuns. 

Can dogs have Funyuns?

Funyuns should not be given to dogs. It may seem like Funyuns are a fun crunchy and delicious snack for us but our canine friends think quite the opposite. Lets take a closer look at what Funyuns are and what they are made of in order to understand why dog owners should not feed their furry friends Funyuns.

What are Funyuns?

Its made by a company called Frito-Lay if you’re wondering. Frito-Lay describes Funyuns as a “deliciously different snack thats fun to eat with a crisp texture and zesty onion flavor.” 

Despite looking like crisp onion rings Funyuns are actually corn snacks flavored with onion. Funyuns are available in two flavors: the original and the Flamin’ Hot Flavored. 

What are Funyuns made of?

Despite what it looks like Funyuns are not safe for dogs to eat. To understand why Funyuns are not the best snack or treat for dogs lets examine their ingredients. 

Funyuns Ingredients List

• Corn meal is enriched with ferrous sulfate niacin thiamin mononitrate riboflavin and folic acid. 
• There are three types of vegetable oils: corn oil canola oil and sunflower oil.
• Salt.

Funyuns contain less than 2% of the following as well: 

• Corn starch.
• Sugar.
• Corn flour.
• Buttermilk
• Maltodextrin (made from corn).
• Onion powder.
• Monosodium glutamate.
• Hydrolyzed corn protein.
• Dextrose.
• Garlic powder.
• Natural flavors.
• Gum arabic.

Enriched corn meal is not safe for dogs with corn allergies

Funyuns contain enriched corn meal as one of the main ingredients. Usually it is made from a type of corn called dent corn. The soft starch of dent corn makes it easy to mill and is used in processed snacks such as Funyuns. Also dent corn has a strong corn flavor which is perfect for this snack. 

Many of the nutritious brans and germs are removed from corn meal during processing. It is called enriched corn meal because it is enriched with vitamins and minerals in order to add nutrition back to the corn meal. 

• Ferrous sulfate (Iron).
• Niacin (Vitamin B3).
• Thiamin mononitrate (Vitamin B1).
• Riboflavin (Vitamin B2).
• Folic acid (folate or B9).

Dogs who are allergic to corn or sensitive to corn products should avoid eating Funyuns. This crunchy onion-flavored snack includes many corn products including: 

• Corn starch.
• Corn flour.
• Maltodextrin (made from corn).
• Hydrolyzed corn protein.

If you know your pup is allergic to corn products keep them away from Funyuns. If you are not sure whether your furry friend has corn allergies contact your vet. If you are introducing new food to your pooch serve them small amounts first to see how they react. Avoid feeding them more if they react negatively.

Some dogs may be allergic to the vegetable oils used in Funyuns

Funyuns contain corn oil sunflower oil and canola oil as vegetable oils. But sunflower oil is by far the healthiest for dogs. The reasons are as follows:

Our furry friends can benefit from both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids found in sunflower oil which help to keep their skin and coats moisturized clear and shiny. Sunflower oil also gives your canine buddies a boost of energy and this vegetable oil promotes healthy hearts. 

A dogs diet should contain healthy fats such as corn oil. Moreover corn oil is rich in polyunsaturated fat that keeps your furry friends coat and skin moisturized and full. Every day dog owners can add a teaspoon of corn oil to their dogs food. You can add corn oil to your dogs food if you have small dogs. 

Certain dogs however suffer from corn allergies. In the case that your pooch is allergic to corn you should avoid feeding him Funyuns. Fortunately there are plenty of healthy oil sources for dogs who are allergic to corn oil. Here are a few: 

• Flaxseed oil is great for dogs with arthritis or mobility issues. Additionally it can lower blood pressure and help with kidney functions. The next best alternative to fish oil for your pooch is flaxseed oil. Furthermore flaxseed oil is wonderful for dogs who sneeze a lot due to allergies. This oil can reduce inflammation and provide some relief from allergies in dogs.   
• Safflower oil provides your pooch with essential fatty acids like linoleic acid and helps keep your dog’s coat and skin healthy and shiny. You should however only give your pup a small amount as it is high in calories. 
• Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids which improve your dog’s skin and coat and maintain a healthy heart. Oil from fish is good for your dogs skin and coat. 
• Coconut oil is great for dogs with digestion issues. Aside from improving our dogs skin coconut oil can also prevent itching flaky and dry skin. Coconut oil also contributes to a glossy coat on our dogs. Coconut oil is recommended by veterinarians because it can boost your dogs cognitive function as well. 
• Olive oil is also great for dogs because it can help keep your dog’s coat and skin healthy shiny and moisturized. Dogs with diabetes or cardiovascular disease may benefit from olive oil as well. Make sure the oil is 100 percent pure. 

Too much salt is harmful to dogs

In just 1 serving size or 13 Funyuns there is 280mg of salt! We can not let our beloved pup have that much salt. Remember that a 33-pound dog should only consume 100mg of salt a day or less. 

We can put our furry family members at risk of sodium poisoning if we allow them to easily consume Funyun chips which are capable of causing distress and death. Here is a list of some common signs and symptoms of salt poisoning: 

• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Frequent urination due to excessive thirst.
• Possible dehydration if there is not enough water.  
• Lethargy.
• Walking drunk.
• Loss of appetite. 
• A buildup of fluid inside the body of the dog. 
• Potential kidney failure. 
• Muscle tremors.
• Seizures (in severe cases). 
• Coma (in severe cases).  
• Death (in severe cases and left untreated). 

In the event your pooch has just consumed a serving size of Funyuns make sure there is plenty of fresh cool water available for him as he may be very thirsty. Make sure his water bowl is easily accessible so he stays hydrated. 

The next best thing to do is to call your dogs veterinarian and ask if you should bring him in for a physical exam. Your veterinarian will probably give your pooch IV fluids if he is severely dehydrated from salt poisoning.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is extremely toxic to dogs

This Funyuns snack contains monosodium glutamate a flavor enhancer. Several studies have shown that monosodium glutamate can cause brain damage in dogs and it is toxic to organs such as kidneys thymus brains and livers. 

If your dog has an upset stomach after eating Funyuns you can give him 2 tablespoons of OTC Pepto Bismol or 10mg of Pepcid. You can use either of these remedies. In addition you can keep your pooch hydrated by giving him a little Pedialyte. You should feed your furry pup a bland diet so that the food will stay down in the stomach such as white rice and chicken. 

Each dog will react differently to monosodium glutamate since each dog is unique. Therefore we strongly encourage you to consult with your dogs veterinarian and ask for appropriate treatment if your pooch reacts to monosodium glutamate or does not feel well after eating Funyuns. 

Sugar can cause canine obesity and other various health issues in dogs

Despite the fact that Funyuns contain less than 1 gram of sugar in one serving size it is still considered too much sugar for our canine companions. We do not need to add any sugar to the diet of our furry friends.

Normally dog food contains carbohydrates that provide sugar to dogs. Dogs who eat too much sugar frequently are more likely to gain weight develop diabetes and suffer from dental issues such as tooth decay or enamel loss. A dog may also be at risk of pancreatitis in severe cases. 

Onion powder and Garlic powder are both toxic to dogs

Garlic and onions are extremely dangerous to dogs whether they are fresh raw cooked powdered or fried. There is no part of the onion or garlic plant that is safe for dogs. This includes processed powders used to make Funyuns. 

The amount of garlic and onion powder is less than 2% so one serving of Funyuns chips is unlikely to harm your pet. While it would take a lot of Funyuns for your pooch to get onion or garlic poisoning we still do not recommend feeding them Funyuns. 

Because every dog is different one dog may react harshly to the small amount of garlic and onion powders in Funyuns while another dog may not. 

Garlic and onions both belong to the allium family so eating them in a moderate to large amount can cause onion and garlic toxicity in dogs as well as other serious medical problems. Make sure you are extra careful if you have dogs such as Akitas or Shibu Inus because they are extremely sensitive to onions and leeks. Leeks and onions can both be fatal to them even in small amounts. 

When your furry friends consume enough onions to equal just 0.5% of their body weight they can become very ill according to VCA Hospital. Even 0.05 amounts of onion can make a Chihuahua that weighs 10 pounds sick. 

The allium family includes onions and garlic which contain N-propyl disulfide a toxic compound that can attack your dogs red blood cells. Therefore your dog does not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body which would lead to anemia weakness and lethargy.

In addition this toxic compound can enlarge the dogs blood vessels and relax their heart muscle. These effects can make blood circulation difficult.  

The following are other symptoms of onion and garlic poisoning in dogs:

• Inflammation of the digestive tract or gastroenteritis.
• You may feel nauseated and vomit. 
• Diarrhea: Loose or watery stool.
• Excessive drooling. 
• Feeling lethargic.  

Make sure you contact your vet right away if you suspect your pets have onion or garlic poisoning. They will need immediate medical attention. 

Fortunately a whole bag of Funyuns or 450 grams of Funyun chips would not contain more than 9 grams of onion powder or garlic powder. If your dog weighs over 4.4 pounds then a bag of Funyuns would not be harmful to him. However if your Teacup Chihuahua weighs less than 4.4 pounds he may be at risk of allium toxicity.

So Can dogs eat Funyuns?

No absolutely not. We as responsible dog owners always want what is best for our pets which includes making sure they eat food that is healthy for them and avoiding eating food that contains toxic ingredients. 

Dogs will eat anything we give them so its best for dog owners to know when not to give in and feed their pooch Funyuns. Funyuns as you can see are loaded with salt and fat and just half of one serving will exceed the recommended daily amount of salt intake. 

Salt and fat can negatively affect the health of our four-legged friends if they are consumed in excess. Therefore the next time you are tempted to hand over the Funyuns chips think twice!  

If you want to read more about dog food tips read here: Dog Food Tips and Tricks.

Can Dogs Eat Funyuns? (Watch Video)