Can Dogs Eat Wheat Thins?

The Short Answer is:

Owners of dogs should avoid giving their dogs Wheat Thins because they are unhealthy for them. Wheat Thins can cause many health problems for your pooch when fed regularly.

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

Are you currently eating Wheat Thins or dipping them in hummus cheese or creamy salsa dressing? I’m guessing your dogs are staring at you with those puppy eyes intently. My experience was similar to that. I craved Wheat Thins after snacking on Cheez-Its crackers for weeks and my furry friends could hear me crunching away from the other side of the house! Before I handed them Wheat Thins I wondered if they were safe for dogs to eat. 

Can dogs eat Wheat Thins? Wheat Thins should not be eaten by dogs because they contain a lot of salt sugar fats and carbohydrates. In spite of the fact that Wheat Thins are not entirely harmful to dogs it does contain BHT a preservative that can be harmful to them. Keeping Wheat Thins away from your dog if he is allergic to wheat is a good idea. Consider giving them just one or two Wheat Thins occasionally if you must. 

Can dogs eat Wheat Thins?

It is not recommended that dogs eat Wheat Thins. Lets quickly review what Wheat Thins are and what the ingredients in these wheat crackers are so that we can better understand why Wheat Thins are not healthy for dogs.

What are Wheat Thins?

A Wheat Thin is exactly what it sounds like. These snacks are made for human consumption.

The crispiness and crunch of Wheat Thins make them a popular whole-grain cracker. When compared to other crackers like Goldfish crackers Wheat Thins have a rough grainy homemade texture rather than a smooth texture. 

Ingredients in Wheat Thins

• Whole grain wheat flour.
• Canola oil.
• Sugar. 
• Cornstarch.
• Malt syrup from corn and barley.
• Salt.
• Refiner’s syrup.
• Baking soda and calcium phosphate leaven the dough.

Additionally the packaging states that BHT was added to the packaging material to preserve freshness.

Can dogs have Wheat Thins?

In the ingredients list you can see that some ingredients are not healthy or safe for dogs. The health of your dog can be affected by each of them so lets examine them. 

Whole grain wheat flour is safe for dogs that are not allergic to wheat

Wheat Thins contain whole grain wheat flour as one of their main ingredients. The whole grain wheat flour in Wheat Thins is safe for dogs and cats with no wheat allergies. 

There are three parts to whole grains: the bran or outer layer which contains fiber antioxidants and B vitamins. It also contains vitamins healthy fats proteins and minerals germ. Lastly you have the endosperm the largest starchy part of the grain which contains protein and carbohydrates. 

Whole grain provides all these nutritional benefits to your canine friends. Whole grains also provide the following health benefits: 

• Cancer and heart disease risks can be reduced.
• Lower cholesterol.
• Manage weight.
• Maintain blood sugar levels. 

It is important to note however that Wheat Thins should not replace any of your dogs regular meals. Wheat Thins can be fed to your dogs occasionally as a snack. 

Make sure you do not replace wheat grain with chicken beef or pork for protein.  

It is important to keep in mind that dogs may develop wheat allergies over time. Your canine pooch may not be allergic to wheat products right now but with increased exposure to wheat products he or she may develop an allergy over time. 

Be sure to consult your vet first before giving your pup a Wheat Thins cracker if you do not know whether hes allergic to wheat. To determine if your pup has allergies your vet may ask you to bring him in for a checkup. 

Canola oil is fine for dogs

Dog owners debate whether canola oil is safe to feed to their pets. As compared to other types of oil such as olive oil or coconut oil canola oil is not generally toxic to dogs. 

Pet owners also worry that canola oil may be derived from genetically modified crops so they do not feel comfortable feeding their pooch canola oil-based food. 

Canola oil contains about 63% monounsaturated fat and 7% saturated fat so it is considered a healthy and safe oil by Dr. Guy Crosby of Harvard School of Public Health. A high percentage of polyunsaturated omega-3 fat can also be found in canola oil. 

Canola oil is extracted with hexane so there may be residual hexane in the oil according to Dr. Crosby. In addition canola oil contains trans-fats which are highly associated with health problems. Since I own two furry family members I would be cautious of feeding food that contains canola oil to them if it can cause health problems in humans.

Canola oil is not entirely toxic to dogs but there are plenty of oils that are safer and healthier for them including: 

• Coconut oil: Not only does coconut help to improve your dog’s skin and coat health but it can help with digestive issues in dogs. You can also use coconut oil to get rid of yellow plaque and tartar on your dogs teeth by rubbing it over them.
• Fish oil: Contains omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) which improve skin and coat health and relieve allergies-related inflammation. 
• Sunflower oil: Sunflower oil provides your dog with omega-6 fatty acids which will keep their hair healthy and shiny and their skin smooth and moisturized. Sunflower oil also contains omega-6 fatty acids which promote a healthy heart in dogs.
• Olive Oil: 100% olive oil provides a healthy coat and skin in dogs as well. Dogs are also protected from diabetes and cardiovascular disease by it. The best part is that olive oil can improve the immune system of a dog. 
• Flaxseed oil: If your pooch has kidney problems high blood pressure or arthritis going with flaxseed oil may help. As an anti-inflammatory and allergy reliever linseed oil has proven to be useful for dogs. Flaxseed oil is an excellent substitute for fish oil if you do not have any on hand or if your pup is allergic to seafood. 

It really isnot necessary to use canola oil when so many dog-friendly oils are available! 

Sugar is harmful to our canine friends

Sugar is naturally sourced from carbohydrates in our furry friends’ main meals or dog food. It is considered excessive sugar intake if they consume sugar outside of their main meal. Sugary food or drinks are not recommended for dogs. There are many health problems that dogs can experience as a result of doing so. 

Our furry family members can suffer from the following conditions if they consume too much sugar:

Weight gain can lead to canine obesity

It is considered empty-calorie food for our dogs to eat snacks that are full of sugar and have little nutritional value. Providing your dog with Wheat Thins that contain 0.3 grams of sugar regularly can lead to weight gain.

Eventually this will lead to obesity and other health problems such as difficulty breathing lethargy joint problems caused by heavy pressure on the joints as well as heart disease. 

Dental issues such as cavities and loss of enamel

In addition to being unfit for your dogs diet sugar also should not be allowed in his mouth. That sugar is consumed by bacteria in your dogs mouth which produces acids that destroy the outer coating of your pups teeth. As a result cavities form and teeth are lost. Sugar should be kept to a minimum!

Upset stomach 

The microorganism balance in our dogs gut can be disrupted by too much sugar and this can lead to bloody and explosive diarrhea. Your pooch may vomit too because its body thinks the extra sugar is a toxin and will try to get rid of it. 

Changes in your pup’s metabolism

It is possible for your dogs energy level to change due to changes in its metabolism. Poochs weight may cause them to become less active. Moreover you’ll notice an increase in fat storage and a decrease in muscle tone. 

Malt syrup from corn and barley is too much sugar for dogs

Sugar is the main ingredient in corn syrup and barley syrup. Despite our discussion barley malt syrup is not suitable for dogs. Your canine pooch does not need any additional sugar in their diet since this ingredient makes the Wheat Thins sweet. 

Sugary snacks such as Wheat Thins can cause canine obesity diabetes and in severe cases pancreatitis so avoid them. There is no need for it for your furry friends.

Refiner’s syrup is sugar that is not good for dogs

Sugar is the main ingredient in refiner syrup. This is the third time we have seen sugar referred to as something else. Whatever its name may be sugar is harmful to our dogs’ health and can lead to addiction.

You should therefore keep Wheat Thins away from your dog. There is a possibility that your pooch may become addicted to Wheat Thins crackers and will try to sneak a bite or two when you are not watching.

Cornstarch is generally fine for dogs

It is generally not necessary for our canine companions to consume cornstarch. Cornstarch however is a better substitute if your dog is allergic to corn flour. Oats potatoes and barley are healthier carbohydrates alternatives to cornstarch for dogs.

Salt in excess is harmful to dogs

Wheat Thins crackers contain 13 mg of sodium per serving! To humans that may not seem like much but to our furry friends its a lot. In general dogs need between 0.25 grams and 1.5 grams of salt per 100 grams of the food. 

Dogs do not eat salt from anywhere else except their main meals or dog food and that includes their snacks. When you consume too much salt you can develop sodium ion poisoning which can be deadly. There are several symptoms of salt poisoning including: 

• Frequent urination as a result of being very thirsty. 
• Swelling tongue. 
• Vomiting.
• Loss of appetite.
• Headache and nausea.
• Watery stool and diarrhea.
• The muscles become weak tremble or spasm.
• Tachycardia or an increased heart rate.
• Lethargy.
• Convulsions.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Walking wobbly.
• Seizures.
• Death (in severe cases).

A leavening agent is unnecessary in a dog’s diet

There is no need for dogs to consume leavening agents in their diet whether they are calcium phosphate or baking soda or both. It is best to limit the amount of baking soda per pound of body weight that you feed your dog if you are out of healthy options. 

The calcium in our dogs’ diets should come from their regular dog food or supplements although calcium is crucial in doggy nutrition. Ask your veterinarian for professional advice if you’re unsure. 

In many popular snack foods leavening agents are a key ingredient. Baking soda and monocalcium phosphate are used as leavening agents in Goldfish crackers.

BHT is harmful to dogs

BHT is an acronym for butylated hydroxytoluene. A general rule of thumb is to avoid dog food if you cannot pronounce the ingredients. You may want to consider other alternatives to food. 

According to Wheat Thins’ packaging BHT is added to packaging material to preserve freshness. In essence BHT serves as a preservative. In animal studies BHT has been shown to cause cancer.

It makes my head spin to know that BHT was used (even though it is not listed on the ingredient list). Its enough to scare me away from feeding Wheat Thins to my pooch! 

Are Wheat Thins bad for dogs?

According to the list of ingredients Wheat Thins are bad for dogs. Therefore dogs should not eat Wheat Thins. We take a closer look at the harmful health effects Wheat Thins have on our four-legged friends if the list of ingredients does not scare you away.

Wheat Thins nutrition

The nutritional profile of one Wheat Thins cracker is as follows:

Wheat Thins nutrition facts (1 Wheat Thins cracker or 1.94 grams)

There are 9 calories 0.3 grams of fat and 1.4 grams of carbohydrate (0.3 grams of sugar) in a single cracker of Wheat Thins. 

There are 64.4% carbohydrates in Wheat Thins 31% fats and only 4.6% protein in them. Unlike humans dogs do not require excess carbs from snacks like Wheat Thins since they get their regular carb intake from dog food. 

Our pooch consumes a lot of fat even though 31% is not much for humans. Dogs can gain weight and become obese as a result of this. This health problem can cause joint pain and arthritis in dogs later on.

Last but not least dogs can get protein from foods such as eggs chicken salmon and peanut butter.

Can dogs eat mini Wheat?

Mini Wheat should not be eaten by dogs. There is a wheat cereal called mini wheat that is coated with sugar. Theres no way a dog would eat that. Despite having just 9 calories 0.1 grams of fat and 2 grams of carbohydrates (0.5 grams of sugar) one mini wheat already contains 0.5 grams of sugar. 

Due to the high levels of sugar fat and carbs in mini wheat your furry family member can develop health problems if he or she eats mini wheat regularly.  

Mini wheat should not be given to dogs by their owners. 

Can dogs eat wheat crackers?

It is fine for dogs that do not have wheat allergies to eat wheat crackers. While wheat crackers are safe for dogs be aware of the ingredients they contain. When considering whether to feed your dog wheat crackers consider the following:

• How much sugar and salt were used?
• Which type of oil was used to make the wheat crackers? 
• To preserve freshness does the packaging contain preservatives such as BHT or TBHQ?

So can dogs eat Wheat Thins?

Owners of dogs should avoid giving their K9 friends Wheat Thins because they are unhealthy for them. Wheat Thins can cause many health problems for your pooch when fed regularly. 

Dog food and dog snacks should follow the 90/10 rule and be double-checked for ingredients. There are some human snacks that are unsuitable for consumption by dogs. 

In addition to our dogs’ health dog food and snacks also affect their gut health activity level and lifestyle. Therefore instead of using the Wheat Thins cracker in your hand opt for healthy dog snacks. 

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.