Can Dogs Eat Ritz Crackers?

Ritz crackers are not suitable for dogs. If your dog eats even a few Ritz crackers he may suffer health problems. This is because Ritz crackers are loaded with sugar salt carbs and gluten. Dogs suffering from wheat allergies should not eat Ritz crackers. In addition Ritz crackers contain several ingredients that are harmful to dogs.

Can dogs have Ritz crackers?

Ritz crackers are not toxic to dogs but they’re not the healthiest option either. In more detail we will discuss the ingredients in the Ritz crackers later but generally they are not recommended for dogs with soy wheat or gluten allergies.

Ingredients in Ritz crackers that are harmful to dogs

Wheat flour with niacin reduced iron thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1) riboflavin (vitamin B2) and folic acid.
Oils derived from vegetable sources: Soybean canola palm and cottonseed partially hydrogenated oil.
Sugar.
Salt.
Leavings: baking soda and calcium phosphate.
Corn syrup (high fructose).
Soy lecithin.
Malted barley flour.
Natural flavor.

We will discuss each and determine which ingredients in Ritz crackers are unhealthful for dogs as well as the health of the dogs.

Unbleached enriched flour is harmful to dogs that are gluten or wheat intolerant

Ritz crackers are made with unbleached enriched flour as their primary ingredient. Dogs are fine with unbleached flour but its not the best. A dog owner should choose flour that is safe and healthy for their dogs such as Amaranth flour whole-grain wheat flour oat flour coconut flour brown rice flour buckwheat flour and almond flour.

It is not a whole grain to use unbleached enriched flour. In addition enriched flour has been stripped of the majority of its natural minerals and vitamins. The Ritz crackers nutrition label now contains niacin reduced iron thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1) riboflavin (vitamin B2) and folic acid because these essential vitamins and minerals were added back in.

If your dog has a wheat allergy please do not give Ritz crackers to him since unbleached enriched flour is wheat. When your pups are wheat or gluten intolerant it can damage their gastrointestinal tract because their immune system will treat the GI tract as dangerous and attack it.

The following symptoms will be seen in dogs with gluten allergies:

Intestine inflammation.
The skin and feet are itchy resulting in frequent licking and chewing.
Poor skin conditions.
Diarrhea.
Poor hair or balding spots.
Itchy paw pads. Diarrhea. Poor hair.
Chronic ear infections.

Vegetable oil used to make Ritz Crackers is not safe for dogs

Dogs should not be fed Ritz crackers made with vegetable oils. In Ritz crackers for example vegetable oil is made from soybean canola palm and partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil. None of these oils are harmful to dogs.

There are only a few types of oils that dogs should be given:

Coconut oil.
Fish oil.
Sunflower oil
Olive oil.
Flaxseed oil.

Furthermore some dogs are allergic to soy. If your dog has a soy allergy keep Ritz crackers away from him.

Symptoms of soy allergy in dogs include:

Due to ear canal infections dogs scratch their ears or shake their heads.
Excessive licking of hair and skin leads to hair loss.
Diarrhea.
Vomiting.
Inflammation of the eyelids or blepharitis.
An ear infection caused by yeast or bacteria.
Skin rash with white scales or seborrhea.
Infection of the skin is accompanied by pus formation under the skin.

Eating excessive sugar can cause canine obesity

One gram of sugar is found in one serving size or five Ritz crackers. Despite the fact that it may not seem like a lot our canine friends certainly appreciate it. In the form of carbohydrates dog food provides dogs with their required sugar intake. Additional sugar is not necessary.

Extra sugar consumption can lead to long-term health problems such as diabetes weight gain metabolism changes and even pancreatitis.

There is also a possibility that your dog has dental problems such as cavities and enamel loss. As a result the acid in your dogs mouth uses the sugar that is stuck between their teeth to produce acid. Acid is bad for your dogs’ teeth because it eats away at their enamel which is the outer coating of the teeth. Dental problems will result as a result.

Dogs can also experience upset stomachs from consuming too much sugary food. Symptoms include vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

High fructose corn syrup is extra sugar that dogs don’t need

In terms of sugar high fructose corn syrup tastes even sweeter than regular table sugar. All forms of sugar including regular sugar and high fructose corn syrup are bad for dogs.

Furthermore high fructose corn syrup is not a natural product. There is a high level of processing and it may even contain mercury which is a contaminant that the FDA does not regulate. A dogs dental health may be affected by this sweetener.

Due to this we strongly recommend that dog owners avoid feeding their pooches food or treats that contain high fructose corn syrup.

Ingesting excessive salt can cause sodium poisoning in dogs

There is 105 mg of sodium in one serving or 5 Ritz crackers. Five Ritz crackers may cause your pups to exceed their daily sodium allowance.

Avoid feeding sodium-rich snacks or treats to your canine companion if they have high blood pressure heart disease liver disease or kidney disease. They may develop health problems as a result. It is best not to feed Ritz crackers to older dogs as they are more likely to suffer from these health problems.

Salt poisoning can be caused by consuming too much salt. Dogs with sodium poisoning show the following signs:

Nausea.
Diarrhea.
Vomiting.

Dog owners should not feed their canine companions more than 1.5 grams of salt per pound of body weight. Excessive salt consumption can cause death to dogs.

Leavening is harmful to dogs

There is no difference between yeast baking powder or baking soda when it comes to leaving agents being harmful to dogs. Ritz crackers contain leavening agents that cause the following health problems in our canine companions:

Heart problems.
Seizures.
Spasms.

Because these signs and symptoms do not show up immediately if you suspect your dog has ingested some Ritz crackers take him to the vet right away.

Soy lecithin is not healthy for canines and not great for dogs with soy allergy

Lecithin is a good thing and is commonly found in dog food but soy lecithin is not. Soy lecithin comes from soy as the name implies and soy is usually genetically modified. As a waste product it is not considered food.

The two terms are easy to confuse when you’re looking at the ingredients. Our own experience as dog owners almost prevented us from noticing.

It is highly recommended that dogs avoid soy products. Avoid giving your furry family members Ritz crackers if they are allergic to soy.

Malted barley flour is harmful to dogs with a gluten allergy

You should not give Ritz crackers to your pooch if they have a gluten allergy since malted barley flour contains gluten. Additionally malted barley flour contains tannin. When dogs eat foods containing tannins they may experience the following symptoms:

Ulcers.
Upset stomach.
Seizures.
Kidney damage.

It is clearly stated on the Ritz crackers nutrition label that the following allergens are present:

Soybeans.
Wheat.
Cereals containing gluten.

If you know your dog has soy wheat or gluten allergy its best not to give them Ritz crackers. If you are not sure speak with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will perform a series of tests to confirm whether your pup has any allergies.

Are Ritz crackers bad for dogs?

Because Ritz crackers are high in carbohydrates fats salt and sugar they are bad for dogs. Additionally they contain wheat soy and gluten. Generally we should avoid giving our four-legged friends food containing soy.

Lets examine each in more detail.

Dogs don’t need carbs and Ritz crackers are high in carbohydrates

It is not necessary for our pets to consume that many carbohydrates in order to stay healthy. In fact they do not need carbohydrates in their diet to sustain life. Protein is a key component of our canine friends diet and they usually obtain it from meat.

As long as our pup is eating their regular dog food they should be getting their daily carbohydrate requirements. Most of the carbohydrates they need for the day should come from their main meal. Thus adding any more carbohydrates to their diet would be unnecessary.

One serving of five Ritz crackers contains 10 grams of carbohydrates so if a dog accidentally consumes five Ritz crackers that would be way too much carb consumption.

Here are the negative effects of consuming too many carbohydrates for your pups:

(In severe cases) Protein deficiency disease.
Excessive stool production.
Dogs aren’t as active.
Give dogs more energy and allow them to digest their food longer.

Excessive salt is harmful to a dog’s health

During their main meal our canine pups should receive their daily salt intake. The consumption of salty snacks such as Ritz crackers can be harmful to our furry friends.

Dogs can become extremely thirsty when they eat salty snacks too often. As a result they frequently urinate. Be sure to keep an eye on your dog if he eats Ritz crackers and checks for dehydration.

105 mg of salt can be consumed in just one serving or five Ritz crackers. This amount of salt is not necessary for your dog.

Fats can cause canine obesity

The fat content of Ritz crackers is 4.5 grams per serving. Dogs can gain weight by eating snacks with high-fat content. You would be giving your pooch an extra calorie that they do not require by giving them fat.

Sugar can cause diabetes in dogs

It would not take your dog long to chow down on some if not all of the Ritz crackers if you leave them out. It is dangerous because excessive sugar consumption can lead to diabetes weight gain and eventually canine obesity.

Are Ritz crackers good for dogs?

If your pups give you puppy eyes and you give in you can give them one or two Ritz crackers. Make sure not to feed them more than that.

There are a number of health benefits that dogs may receive from eating Ritz crackers.

Protein

The serving size of Ritz crackers or one gram of protein is one cracker. Protein supplies your dogs with energy and builds their muscles. They will also feel fuller for a longer period of time with protein.

However we believe that dogs should still get their protein from dog-friendly foods such as chicken and eggs rather than Ritz crackers.

Calcium

One serving size or five Ritz crackers provides 20mg of calcium. Calcium is necessary for building strong bones and teeth. Moreover calcium plays an important role in preventing blood clots in dogs and maintaining muscle function. In general calcium prevents restlessness and muscle twitching in dogs.

We highly recommend that dogs get their daily calcium intake from vegetables such as Brussels sprouts broccoli and kale rather than Ritz crackers.

Iron

The iron content of one serving size or five Ritz crackers is 1mg. This mineral is useful for dogs for the following reasons:

Avoid anemia.
Keep your blood oxygenated.
Maintain proper enzyme function.

Red meat fish heads and fish meat as well as organ meats are the best sources of iron for our companion animals.

Ritz crackers nutrition

Ritz crackers nutrition facts (1 serving size of 5 crackers or 16g)

Name Unit	Amount
Calories cal	80
Total Fat g	4.5
Saturated Fat g	1
Sodium mg	105
Total Carbohydrate g	10
Sugar g	1
Protein g	1
Calcium mg	20
Iron mg	1
Potassium mg	13

Here is one Ritz crackers nutritional information.

Ritz crackers nutrition facts (1 cracker or 3.2g)

Name Unit	Amount
Calories cal	16
Total Fat g	0.9
Saturated Fat g	0.2
Sodium mg	21
Total Carbohydrate g	2
Sugar g	0.2
Protein g	0.1
Calcium mg	4
Iron mg	0
Potassium mg	3

Healthy canine-friendly substitute for Ritz crackers

As an alternative to Ritz crackers we should choose low-calorie and whole-grain treats for our pets. These treats are good for our pets.

So can dogs eat Ritz crackers?

All human food and ingredients are not suitable or safe for our dogs when it comes to their food and diet. Double-check the ingredients on the packet before you feed your four-legged friends. You should not give your dog food or snacks casually. Both immediately and long-term this can damage their health.

Even food that may be dangerous to them is eaten by our furry friends. We as responsible pet owners must make sure our dogs are not exposed to toxic foods and snacks.

Will Ritz crackers hurt dogs?

Eating more than five Ritz crackers may harm your dog but eating one or two crackers would not hurt it. As a result the Ritz crackers have a lot of salt sugar carbohydrates and fats. Providing your dog with Ritz crackers regularly may lead to obesity and diabetes in dogs.

Can dogs eat Ritz crackers with peanut butter?

No. Ritz crackers should not be eaten with peanut butter by dogs. Richt peanut butter crackers are bad for dogs because they are high in sodium carbohydrates and fats. The effects of these three combinations would affect your dogs health both short-term and long-term.

You should not feed your dog Ritz peanut butter crackers regularly since too much of it can lead to obesity pancreatitis and even sodium poisoning. Its fine to eat one or two Ritz peanut butter crackers but eating too many could cause problems.

Can dogs eat Ritz bites?

A couple of Ritz bites would not harm your dog but eating more than that can cause harmful and negative health effects. Ritz bites are fine if you intend to give them to your dog occasionally as a treat. If your dog eats too many Ritz bites it will add extra and unnecessary fat to their diet. When dogs consume too much fat they can gain weight and even develop pancreatitis.

Are Ritz crackers good for puppies?

Ritz crackers are not good for puppies either just like they are not good for dogs. During puppyhood puppies need a nutritious balanced diet so feeding them Ritz crackers can actually do more harm than good. Ritz crackers contain carbohydrates salt sugar and gluten so do not give them to your puppies.

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