 The Short Answer is: |
It is technically possible for dogs to consume butterscotch. Once the alcohol has been cooked out of the vanilla extract, butterscotch is not toxic in the short term. However, we want to make the best decision for our tail-wagging best friends so they can live long and happy life. It’s best to avoid giving our dogs butterscotch because it’s very high in fat and sugar, and because of the long-term health effects of a lot of fat and sugar. |
The purpose of this article is to explain “Can Dogs Eat Butterscotch?“.
All forms of butterscotch are delicious lets be honest. It is a candy that I myself enjoy as hard candy as a soft chew and even as a warm topping on ice cream.
We may find ourselves wanting to share butterscotch with our four-legged companions just as we do with many other treats.
Our love for them however makes us ensure that their food is safe to consume.
In this article we’ll look at butterscotch what its made from what its found in and if dogs can eat it. Its because we love our dogs that we conduct these studies.
What is Butterscotch made from?
Its surprisingly easy to make butterscotch. You just need butter brown sugar salt heavy cream and vanilla extract.
There is only one ingredient in this recipe that is dangerous for dogs: vanilla extract. Extract from vanilla beans is a form of vanilla that contains alcohol and is very concentrated.
It is possible for a dog to become ill if he ingests pure vanilla extract due to the alcohol content.
You should watch out for diarrhea disorientation vomiting slow heart rate lethargy dehydration and seizures if your dog consumes vanilla extract.
It is even possible for a smaller dog to die if he ingests a significant amount of vanilla extract.
Fortunately when vanilla extract is cooked all of the alcohol is cooked out.
Thus if your dog eats food that has vanilla extract in it they are unlikely to experience any negative side effects.
If you look at the other ingredients there is nothing in small doses that will harm your pet.
This last sentence emphasizes a very important concept small doses. Your dog will not be affected by a little sugar butter salt or heavy cream in the short term.
Over time however foods that are high in fat like butter and heavy cream and sugar like sugar can have a negative impact on your dogs health.
Cavities weight gain diabetes and other issues can affect dogs who consume a lot of fat and sugar.
So can dogs have Butterscotch?
It is technically possible for dogs to consume butterscotch. Once the alcohol has been cooked out of the vanilla extract butterscotch is not toxic in the short term.
However we want to make the best decision for our tail-wagging best friends so they can live a long and happy life.
Its best to avoid giving our dogs butterscotch because its very high in fat and sugar and because of the long-term health effects of a lot of fat and sugar.
A second issue needs to be addressed here and that is giving our dogs hard candy.
Butterscotch is most often consumed in the form of hard candy which I consume over the course of twenty minutes.
To be blunt feeding our dogs any type of hard candy is dangerous. Choking on it can easily result in death because they are vulnerable to choking.
What to do if your dog is choking?
In the event your dog chokes on hard candy or any other object it is imperative that you act quickly in order to save your dog.
Your first step should be to open their mouth and look down their throat with your hands. You can try to dislodge the object with your fingers if you can see it.
My experience tells me that you should be prepared to get bitten if this happens. It is likely that your dog is in a panic struggling to breathe and may bite you accidentally.
Although it may be painful you will be rewarded when you save their life.
In the event that the object cannot be dislodged or is not visible when looking down the throat you should perform a Heimlich maneuver quickly.
Heimlich uses air already in the body to force it up the throat dislodging any objects in the throat.
If you are working with a small dog place your palm against the belly below the rib cage and roll them onto their back.
You want to push up and in smoothly forcing the air to rise and dislodge the object.
In the case of larger dogs you will not be able to get them onto their back. Place your fists below their ribs at the same spot where your arms are wrapped around them.
The air will be forced to dislodge the object by moving in the same manner as your hands. Instead of pushing your palm you will pull your hands up and in.
The same thing happened to my dog when it choked on an apple as I mentioned before. After the object is dislodged the person is likely to vomit anything in their system.
They will have a sore throat for a few days and you should have them checked out by a veterinarian as soon as possible to make sure there is no damage in their throat.
What is Butterscotch Found in?
There are no foods in which you would be surprised to find butterscotch which is a good thing.
The majority of foods that contain butterscotch do so specifically to add butterscotch to them. For example candy pudding and ice cream all contain butterscotch.
You should double-check that anything you give your dog is safe for him but it is very unlikely that a food item contains butterscotch without you knowing.
Butterscotch should still be avoided around dogs however.
Sugar isnot good for them in high doses just like humans but they still enjoy it.
Butterscotch or even hard candies will probably be eaten if they happen to find them.
You will find numerous stories on the internet about dogs eating butterscotch snacks that were left out.
Butterscotch and other high sugar snacks can make your dog sick just like kids if they eat too much sugar in too short a time.
Keep an eye on their health and if possible take them to the vet for a quick examination.
Dog Safe Butterscotch Snack? Can Dogs Eat Butterscotch?
If you want to share butterscotch with your dog you can prepare a few recipes that they can eat in small amounts.
Many of these recipes use small amounts of butterscotch in combination with other ingredients that are safe for them.
You still want to keep their treats to small doses to prevent long-term negative effects on their health.
My favorite recipe is for Nutter butter puppy chow. It requires the following ingredients:
- There are six nutter butter cookies
- ¼ Cup of butterscotch chips
- ¼ Cup of Peanut Butter
- 3 cups Rice Chex Cereal
You should start by grinding the cookies in a Ziploc bag into small pieces and crumbs. You will then microwave the butterscotch chips and peanut butter mixing them until there are no lumps. Mix the Butterscotch/Peanut Butter with the Rice Chex Cereal and stir until everything is coated. Lastly you will want to pour everything into the nutter butter cookie crumbs and shake everything together until everything is coated. Store tightly closed to preserve the freshness of the puppy food. There are some recipes online that call for powdered sugar but I thought it was too much sugar for my fur babies so I omitted it. However you choose to prepare your puppy food your pup will love it.
Conclusion
There are many things that our furry friends cannot enjoy even though we wish we could. We are responsible for their health and well-being which includes knowing what they can and cannot eat. Butterscotch is technically safe for them to eat but it is not safe for them in the long run. Taking care to limit the amount of sugar they consume while still letting them enjoy the taste is the best way to do a recipe like the one shared above. In addition it is important to know what to do in the event that something terrible happens to our pets. Because I was able to help my Pomeranian Foxxy when she was choking she lived a long life. Preparing for the unexpected is just another way to show our love for them.
Amanda (Author)
With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.
Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)
Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.
