Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers?

The Short Answer is:

Graham crackers shouldn’t be given to dogs. Despite not containing any toxic ingredients, Graham Crackers are high in salt, sugar, fat, and carbohydrates. Our furry friends’ health is at risk from all of these things.

In this article you will know the answer to the query “Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers?“.

My family loves to snack on crackers with a warm cup of tea whether they are Wheat Thins or Graham Crackers. We decided to make s’mores with Graham Crackers this past weekend. The experience was filled with story-telling and laughter for the whole family. The chocolate involved was dangerous for our dogs so we made sure they could not reach them. But where are the Graham Crackers? The purpose of this article is to explore whether Graham Crackers are safe to consume by dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers? Graham Crackers should not be eaten by dogs. Salt fats sugar and carbohydrates are found in high quantities in Graham Crackers. These components are unhealthy for dogs. Please limit your dogs consumption of Graham Crackers to one occasionally as a rare treat.

Can dogs have Graham Crackers?

Graham crackers should not be given to dogs. Despite not containing any toxic ingredients Graham Crackers are high in salt sugar fat and carbohydrates. Our furry friends’ health is at risk from all of these things. 

Are Graham Crackers bad for dogs?

Lets take a look at the ingredients in Graham Crackers to better understand why they are bad for dogs.

Ingredients in Graham Crackers

• Unbleached enriched flour that contains wheat flour niacin reduced iron thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1) and riboflavin (vitamin B2).
• Folic acid
• Whole-grain wheat flour includes Graham flour. 
• Sugar
• Canola oil
• Molasses
• Palm oil
• A mixture of baking soda and calcium phosphate in the leavening.
• Salt

Unbleached enriched flour is unsafe for dogs with wheat allergy

Graham Crackers should not be fed to K9 friends who are sensitive to wheat or allergic to wheat. In Graham Crackers wheat flour is the main component of the unbleached enriched flour. 

The majority of dogs are not allergic to wheat. The sensitivity to wheat may however increase through constant exposure to wheat products leading to a wheat allergy.

You can try giving your furry friends a tiny amount of Graham crackers if you’re not sure whether they’re allergic to wheat. They may have a wheat allergy if they show the following symptoms: 

• Vomiting
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Asthma
• Itchy and red skin.
• Skin rashes or inflammation. 
• Frequently licking of the front paws and paw pads.
• Sneezing
• Changes in behaviors.
• Itchy anal leading to dogs dragging their bottoms on the floor. 
• Seizure (in severe cases).

Your vet should be contacted immediately if you suspect your dog is suffering from wheat allergies. You may be asked to bring in your furry friends for a check-up by your veterinarian. In this case the vet can perform allergy testing to confirm whether your pet has a wheat allergy or any other type of allergy you were aware of. 

As you may wonder enriched flour is made from wheat whose natural nutrients have been lost in the process of processing it into flour. To restore the original nutrients niacin (Vitamin B3) iron (reduced) thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B1) and riboflavin (Vitamin B2) are added to the flour.

Although iron and B vitamins are important to the health of our four-legged friends it is better that they receive these nutrients from their dog food and not from human snacks like Graham Crackers.

Folic acid is essential for maintaining normal metabolism in dogs

Also known as Vitamin B9 folic acid is a component of the amino acid folic acid. Folic acid is beneficial for our canine friends because it helps prevent: 

• Development and production of red blood cells.
• Tissue repair. 
• The health of the nervous system. 
• Hormones.
• DNA synthesis.
• Immune health.
• Support and maintenance of the digestive tract. 
• Fetal development.
• General metabolic functions. 

Dogs suffering from folic acid deficiency can benefit from folic acid. In case your dog has a folic acid deficiency there are plenty of dog-friendly folic acid supplements to consume instead of Graham Crackers. 

You can feed your dog folate-rich vegetables such as Brussels sprouts eggs kale broccoli and flax seeds as a treat or addition to its main meal. 

Graham flour is safe for dogs that do not have a wheat allergy

Graham Crackers are made of whole grain wheat flour and Graham flour is the signature ingredient. Because of this if your dog is allergic to wheat or sensitive to wheat products you should not feed him Graham Crackers. 

Wheat flour in particular whole grain wheat flour is safe for dogs to eat but keep in mind that our canine friends do not really require flour in their diets. Grain-based foods are not natural to our furry friends. For our dogs diet we should stick to meat fruit and vegetables for protein. 

We strongly suggest that you feed your pooch whole grain flours derived from buckwheat barley oats quinoa or peas if you still prefer to feed them whole grain flour. Coconut hazelnut almond and potato flour can all be used instead of grains. Before feeding your furry family member flour that contains nuts make sure they are not allergic.

Sugar is unnecessary and harmful to dogs

If you’re wondering “how much sugar is in Graham Crackers?” let’s take a look at one of the most popular brands of Graham Cracker to find out.

There is one gram of sugar in one Nabisco original Graham Cracker. It is table sugar that is used to make Graham Crackers and our furry family members do not need table sugar in their diet. 

Carbohydrates are an important part of a well-balanced wholesome doggy diet. When dogs consume carbohydrates they are converted to simple sugars that are easily absorbed by them. They should be able to get enough sugar from carbohydrates in their dog food that day.

Therefore any excess sugar intake from snacks like Graham Crackers can cause harm to our four-legged friends as it can exceed the sugar intake limit and result in excessive sugar consumption. 

Consuming sugar regularly can lead to negative health effects including: 

• Gaining weight; eating sugary food regularly can lead to obesity in dogs.
• Dental issues include cavities tooth decay and eventually tooth loss. 
• Dogs with Type I Diabetes are common.
• Low energy levels loss of muscle tone and fat storage are caused by changes in your dogs metabolism.   

By the time they are 3 years old 80 percent of dogs have canine periodontal disease. We should not contribute to the problem of gum disease and periodontal disease in dogs.

Molasses in small amounts is safe for dogs

The natural sweetener molasses is derived from beet sugar or cane so it is a natural sweetener. Sweetening their food with a small amount of this sweetener without adding chemicals can be a perfect complement. This is because molasses contains these essential vitamins and nutrients:

• Calcium
• Magnesium 
• Manganese
• Vitamin B6
• Iron
• Copper
• Selenium
• Potassium

It is important to note that not all molasses are the same. Our K9 friends are extremely toxic to the sugar-free sweetener xylitol which is found in some molasses. Make sure the molasses added to your dogs food or treats are natural and do not contain any artificial sweeteners.

Palm oil is extremely toxic to dogs

Unfortunately palm oil is harmful to our canine friends. Please contact your vet immediately and seek immediate treatment if your pooch got a taste of the palm oil. 

If your pooch eats foods containing palm oil he may experience the following symptoms: 

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Extreme dehydration
• Gastric blockage (in severe cases with large consumption)
• Failure of the liver (in severe cases with large consumption)
• In severe cases kidney damage may occur

We therefore recommend that you do not give your dog Graham Crackers.

Canola oil is fine for dogs

Dogs can safely consume canola oil since it is not toxic but it is not the best type of oil for them. You may share the following types of oil with your canine friends as these contain natural fat and healthy oils: 

Fish oil: The omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) improve your dogs coat and skin health and soothe inflammation caused by allergies.

Coconut oil: Skin and coat are moisturized leaving them shiny and healthy. Dogs with gut issues can also benefit from it. Also many dog owners rub a little bit of coconut oil on their dogs teeth to remove tartar and plaque.

Olive oil: Make sure you feed your pooch 100% olive oil and not mixed with other oils like canola oil. As a good source of fat olive oil benefits dogs’ skin and coat boosts their immunity and prevents diabetes and cardiovascular disease. 

Sunflower oil: The omega-6 fatty acids found in this type of oil are great for dogs as they keep their coats healthy and shiny and maintain smooth skin. 

Flaxseed oil: Dogs with high blood pressure kidney problems and arthritis benefit from flaxseed oil. It is also helpful in easing inflammation and relieving allergies. Flaxseed oil can also be used if your canine friends are allergic to fish oil or seafood.

Leavening is not necessary for a dog’s diet

Unlike our feline friends our canine friends do not need leavening agents like baking soda. Calcium and phosphorus can also be obtained from the proper nutrition of dog food rather than leavening agents.

Excessive Salt can cause sodium poisoning in dogs

A Nabisco original Graham Cracker contains 21.3 mg of sodium. For us that isnot much salt but for our furry friends it is definitely too much salt. For every 100 grams of food our canine pups only need 0.25 grams to 1.5 grams of salt. 

In dogs eating more than one Nabisco original Graham Cracker can result in sodium poisoning with the following symptoms: 

• Frequent urination is caused by excessive thirst
• Swelling of the lips tongue and mouth
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Appetite loss
• Nausea
• Headache
• Watery stool
• Diarrhea
• Weakness tremors and muscle spasms
• Rapid heartbeat
• Convulsions
• Breathing difficulty
• Wobbly walking or acting drunk
• Lethargy
• Seizures
• Death (in severe cases)

Are Graham Crackers good for dogs?

Considering the ingredients above it is safe to conclude that Graham Crackers are not good for dogs. As a last resort you can give your dog a Graham Cracker but no more than that.

Also lets take a look at the nutritional profile of Graham Crackers: 

Nabisco Original Graham Crackers Nutritional profile (1 Cracker or 3.9 grams)

Consequently a single Nabisco original Graham Cracker contains about 16 calories 0.4 grams of fat (0.1 grams of saturated fat) and 3 grams of carbohydrates (1 gram of sugar). 

Graham Crackers consist of almost 71% of carbohydrates 23% of fat and only 6% of protein. Because dogs should receive their carb intake from their regular dog food eating Graham Crackers would mean that they are consuming too many carbs. 

The fats we feed our pups are also harmful because they can cause canine obesity in dogs as well as arthritis joint problems heart problems and pancreatitis.

Graham Crackers and Dogs: Different Types

Can dogs eat cinnamon Graham Crackers?

There is no evidence that cinnamon Graham Crackers are toxic to dogs. In general your pooch should be fine if he or she is not allergic to cinnamon. Cinnamon Graham Crackers should only be fed to dogs as a treat and not on a regular basis. 

As Graham Crackers are not the best snack for dogs we do not recommend feeding them to them. In place of cinnamon Graham Crackers there are plenty of dog-friendly snacks.

Can I give my dog cinnamon Graham Crackers?

It is safe to give your dog one cinnamon Graham Cracker since they are not toxic to dogs. But they are not the healthiest treat or snack for dogs and there are several ingredients in Graham crackers that are not good for them. 

Please avoid giving your dog cinnamon Graham Crackers if they are allergic to wheat. 

So can dogs eat Graham Crackers?

Graham Crackers should not be fed to our dogs. To make them feel special you can provide them with one Graham Cracker. Graham Crackers should not be fed to dogs regularly because they can cause many health problems such as diabetes dental problems weight gain heart problems arthritis and joint pain.

A dogs happiness energy level and behavior are heavily influenced by what they eat. When dogs eat the wrong food or unhealthy foods they can become lethargic which can make them feel sad or act out. Before you give them a Graham Cracker or two consider this.

Related Questions

Can dogs eat Graham Crackers?

If your dog does not have an allergy to wheat he or she can eat Graham Crackers. If you must give your pooch Graham Crackers limit it to one or two. Canines should not consume Graham Crackers because they are high in salt sugar fats and carbohydrates.

Additionally Graham Crackers contain ingredients that are unhealthy and unsafe for dogs.

Can my dog eat Graham Crackers?

Graham Crackers are not ideal for dogs but if you must feed your dog Graham Crackers limit its consumption to one or two. The bad thing about Graham Crackers is that they are loaded with salt sugar fat and carbohydrates.

Too much salt can cause sodium poisoning in dogs and too much sugar can cause weight gain that can cause obesity diabetes and dental problems. Dogs should not be given Graham Crackers for these reasons.

Can dogs eat chocolate Graham Crackers?

No dogs should not eat chocolate Graham Crackers. Despite the fact that there is not much chocolate in Graham Crackers for dogs to become seriously ill from we strongly advise pet owners not to feed their dogs any amount of chocolate.

Chocolate can be toxic to dogs because it contains a chemical called theobromine which causes chocolate toxicity in dogs. Dogs may experience symptoms such as diarrhea vomiting upset stomach muscle tremors and internal bleeding because of this. It is also important to keep in mind that chocolate contains caffeine which can cause dogs’ hearts to race.

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.