Can Puppies Eat Cheerios? The Ultimate Guide

In many homes, it’s not uncommon to find a box of Cheerios that the whole family can enjoy. But can puppies eat Cheerios? Since Cheerios are marked as heart-healthy cereals, they’re good for human consumption. But what about dogs? Is it okay for your puppy to dig into some Cheerios or not? Can puppies eat Cheerios?

Is it safe for puppies to each Cheerios?

Puppies can safely eat some Cheerios. So, if you find them digging into your bowl of Cheerios, don’t panic. It’s best to let them have a little as treats because they don’t have any nutritional benefits to puppies. Moderation is vital when feeding puppies Cheerios.

Cheerios are good for human beings. However, these cereals have no benefit whatsoever for your puppy. Therefore, they make more sense as treats than the main meal for your puppy.

Learn all about Cheerios and know when it’s okay for your puppy to have some. While these are empty-calorie foods for dogs, some cereals are good for puppies.

Can My Puppy Eat Cheerios?

Puppies can eat Cheerios and not experience any toxic reaction. Cheerios are low-calorie and low-sugar cereals that many families enjoy. So, a puppy can find a bowl lying around and dig in. If that happens, control how much they have, but don’t panic.

While Cheerios are safe for puppies to eat, these aren’t the best foods for them. While a human being can find lots of nutritional value from Cheerios, it’s the opposite for your puppy. This is considered an empty-calorie food that won’t add any nutrients.

Are Cheerios Good for My Puppy?

It’s important to want to know if the ingredients in Cheerios are good for your puppy.

Cheerios contain whole grain oats, corn starch, sugar, salt, tripotassium phosphate, and Vitamin E. Among these ingredients, whole grain oats stand out as good for puppy consumption.

Whole Grain Oats

Whole grain oats are good for both human and puppy consumption. These are fiber-rich and a good addition to your puppy’s diet. Therefore, whole grain oats are a healthy alternative if your puppy is allergic to wheat.

You can find linoleic acid in oats, a type of Omega-3 acid. Omega-3 is among the most crucial acids your dog needs for proper growth and development. It plays an essential role in skin moisturizing, leaving it strong and healthy.

If you intend to feed your puppy whole grain oats, start by preparing them. It’s the best way to make them palatable to your puppy.

While whole grain oats are good for puppies to consume, they are unnecessary for puppy meals. Cheerios have lots of whole grain oats, but your puppy won’t get any nutritional benefits from them. 1 cup of Cheerios results in 93.3 empty calories.

Vitamin E

Another essential ingredient in Cheerios that’s safe for puppy consumption is Vitamin E. These mixed tocopherols are what Cheerios need to remain fresh longer. Tocopherols are natural preservatives that are part of different puppy foods and treats.

It’s clear that Vitamin E, a natural preservative, is better than alternative artificial ones. Since this is a fat-soluble vitamin, your puppy can benefit from it when eating Cheerios.

Vitamin E benefits for puppies and dogs include improved cell function, boosted fat metabolism, and protection against oxidative stress.

It seems only Vitamin E has potential health benefits for your puppy. The remaining ingredients are good for people but don’t have many benefits for your canine friend.

Are Cheerios Bad for My Puppy?

When you find your puppy eating Cheerios, it’s important to know the good and bad of these cereals.

Empty Calories

Cheerios are safe for your puppy to eat. They won’t cause any toxic reactions, but it’s best to moderate the consumption. See, Cheerios aren’t harmful but are also not beneficial for dogs.

This cereal contains lots of empty calories and carbohydrates. In 1 cup of Cheerios, you find 19.3g of carbs and 93.3 calories. Cheerios have a high carb and caloric content that only works as empty calories for your puppy.

The increased carb and calorie intake add no nutritional value to your dog. Instead, they run the risk of excessive weight gain. If this continues, you might end up with an obese pet. That in itself carries many health risks.

Therefore, if you want to give your puppy Cheerios, do so as a treat. One here and another there is better than preparing a whole bowl. This only loads your puppy up with empty filler calories that won’t benefit them.

Dogs vary in size, and you might see a difference in body composition after feeding on Cheerios for some time. Smaller dogs risk gaining excess weight, which hinders their mobility and affects their health faster. Larger breeds take time to add weight, but it doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

Excessive Sodium Content

Check the amount of sodium in your box of Cheerios. These cereals have a high sodium content, such that 1 cup has 126.7mg. Such a high amount of sodium isn’t good for your puppy to consume.

Puppies need only 0.25mg of sodium in every 100g of food they consume. Anything more than that can have a negative effect. Puppies risk getting salt poisoning if they continue to consume foods loaded with too much sodium.

Suppose you want to know when your puppy has salt poisoning. In that case, they exhibit signs like drinking lots of water due to extreme thirst, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, convulsions, muscle weakness, body tremors, and lack of proper coordination.

High Fiber Content

Cheerios are made using whole grain oats. This means the cereal has a high fiber content. For you, this is good news. But, for your puppy, it’s not.

High fiber content can hurt puppies and all dogs. While they need fiber for proper digestion, too much can lead to diarrhea.

In addition, consuming lots of fiber makes it hard for your puppy to absorb vitamins. Your puppy must get the right amount of nutrients in their body to avoid a deficiency.

Excessive amounts of fiber can cause your puppy to have watery diarrhea and frequent vomiting. It’s common to find that your puppy has had a bathroom accident indoors. At this point, they have little control because of an upset stomach.

How Much Cheerios Can My Puppy Eat?

If you must feed your puppy Cheerios, ensure you give them a small amount. The rule of thumb is ¼ cup of Cheerios and below. This ensures your puppy gets minimal sodium and fiber intake.

However, if you can avoid feeding them Cheerios, it’s better to do so. Again, Cheerios are empty calories for your puppy. They gain no nutritional value after consuming even ¼ cup of Cheerios.

Alternatively, you can have some Cheerios with you during training sessions. Turn them from the main meal to small treats that you use when training your puppy.

Can My Puppy Eat Honey Nut Cheerios?

It’s safe for your puppy to eat Honey Nut Cheerios. However, it’s better to keep the consumption level at a minimum. Honey nut Cheerios are delicious for people, so it’s not uncommon for your puppy to want some when they see you having breakfast.

Still, while the ingredients are good for you, they have little to no benefits for your puppy. Honey Nut Cheerios contain ingredients such as:

• Honey
• Salt
• Vitamin E- mixed tocopherols
• Corn starch
• Whole grain oats
• Oat bran
• Tripotassium phosphate
• Sugar
• Natural almond flavor
• Brown sugar syrup
• Rice bran oil

The sugar content in Honey Nut Cheerios is high. While this can be a tasty treat, it’s not healthy for your puppy to consume Honey Nut Cheerios regularly.