Clearly, you’re here because your dog just ate one or more Goldfish Crackers, and you’re kind of freaking outright?
Or it could just be that you don’t have any dog food in stock right now, and you want to give your fluffy friend a little snack in the meantime?
Whatever your reasons are for feeding your dog Goldfish Crackers, we understand that you want some reassurance about this.
We all know about and love these tasty little treats. And usually, when we find something yummy and crunchy, our canine friends tend to as well.
Plus, these crackers seem like the perfect size for training tools with your animal – don’t you think?
So, is it ok to give them Goldfish Crackers?
Well, put it this way, your dog probably isn’t going to have any serious problems if it eats a few Goldfish Crackers now and again.
However, if you want to do it regularly though, you might want to consider a few things before doing so…
What Are Goldfish Crackers Made Of?
You would think that if we can regularly enjoy these snacks, that they can too, right?
Well, it depends on the ingredients. And, you have to consider that you might be buying crackers that are similar to the original brand but not made in the same way.
The Goldfish we know and love are fish-shaped cheese crackers made by Pepperidge Farm. They are actually a division of the Campbell soup company, and the crackers have been in production since as far back as 1962.
But interestingly, the inventor of these fishy looking snacks was a Swiss man Oscar J. Kambly. He made them fish-shaped as an honor to his wife – who was the star sign Pisces.
Back to the ingredients…
You have to consider that there have been dozens of goldfish cracker flavors available throughout the years. These include Pizza, Parmesan, Pretzel, Ranch, and many more, along with the well-known Original/Saltine flavor.
So let’s focus on the Saltine flavor of the purposes of this article. These crackers are usually made from yeast, flour, and baking soda. These ingredients shouldn’t present any issues for your dog’s digestive system.
Here’s the more serious warning…
Other key ingredients they put in are salt, onion powder, and garlic powder.
And as you might very well be aware, too much salt is not good for your dog. This is because it can cause sodium ion poisoning and hypernatremia.
So one piece of solid advice is to make sure at the very least that your dog drinks plenty of water if they’ve been eating Goldfish Crackers. This should help wash down the salts better.
What about the onion and garlic?
Toxicity Issues
Unfortunately, onion and garlic are both toxic to dogs. If they eat too much of these ingredients, that can be known to show unhealthy reactions. They could start vomiting, start showing blood in their urine and even get anemia.
And what’s more…
There is a possibility of many other symptoms as a result of them consuming too much onion or garlic. Therefore, the best advice is to try and avoid feeding these tasty snacks to your dogs. Or if you do, don’t make it a regular thing.
But you might be thinking…
Your dog absolutely craves these things! Every time you open a pack, he or she will sit there tentatively waiting with a drooly look on their face. It might be very hard for you to resist the urge to give them a few.
What’s the solution to this?
Why Not Make Your Own?
The basic ingredients of these crackers are very simple, cheap to buy, and the process of making them is fairly easy. And there are plenty of goldfish cracker recipes out there that you can easily alter to suit your dog’s dietary requirements.
As well, if you do make them, you’ll have a tastier and healthier snack for all the family to enjoy!
The key really is not to add any onion or garlic powder in the making of them. Plus, you should only add in a very small amount of salt, if any. (We do suggest a little to make sure they don’t turn out too bland.)
Also, bear in mind, you don’t have to spend time trying to get perfect fish shapes. As long as they are small and crunchy, they should do the job fine.
Additionally, why not get creative and add some other “dog-friendly ingredients” into the mix? It might be best to consult a vet before you make them a regular treat for your dog.
Also, it might be an opportunity to add certain foods that will help to balance out any health issues they may have.
An example is some dogs are lacking in iron. By adding ingredients such as egg yolks or liver into their treats, you can help them regain healthier iron levels. Although, you should be aware that such ingredients will not have such a long shelf life as the regular snacks.
If you really can’t be bothered to make dog treats, the other obvious solution is to…
Find Goldfish Cracker Alternatives
Why not visit the pet store?
Store-bought dog treats may be a little more expensive than making them or using original Goldfish Crackers. But it could be the right solution for you to feed your dog the right treats.
Whether you go into a local pet store or more conveniently order your treats online, you’ll be surprised at the vast selection of crunchy treats and snacks on offer.
What about human foods that dogs can eat?
There are quite a few different foods that are fine for your dog to snack on with you. They include:
Carrots
Cooked or raw carrots provide vitamins, minerals, fiber, plus they are low in sugar and low in calories. Dogs can eat them – we recommend them raw as bitesize crunchy snacks.
Plain Popcorn
Plain popcorn without the added salt oil or butter is perfectly fine for dogs. Make sure, however, that you feed them only fully popped popcorn as they otherwise might become a choking hazard.
Fresh Pineapple
In small doses, fresh pineapple is a great way to add more nutrients to your dog’s diet. This fruit is full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. But don’t let them eat too much, or they may end up having diarrhea and nausea.
Watermelon
Here’s another fruit dogs can swallow. Just ensure the seeds are taken out. It’s a good source of vitamins C and A.
Bread
Various breads are usually fine for dogs to eat as a treat now and again.
These are just a few ideas. There are many other human foods and snacks that you could research out for yourself.
Also, bear in mind that your dog could be allergic to any of the foods we’ve mentioned.
Other Foods To Be Cautious About
As a bonus, it might interest you to know that these particular foods might not also be so great for your dog…
Ice cream isn’t something you should feed them. It is full of sugar and really doesn’t work well if your dog is lactose intolerant. As well, many of the added ingredients like nuts and chocolate might be fine for people to consume from time to time, but they don’t digest so well in dogs.
French fries are also another food product that you should avoid feeding your dog. The high sodium (salt content) makes them hazardous for dogs. But also, the fat and oil content in them plays havoc with their digestive system.
Raisins are definitely a no go! They are very toxic to dogs and can cause a plethora of issues or even death! Kidney failure is one of the main issues they can develop eating these small and sweet dried fruits. SO JUST SAY NO TO RAISONS.
Anything with Xylitol included in its ingredients list is to be avoided. This mostly applies to various types of candies.
What is Xylitol?
It’s basically a sugar substitute. For humans, this is regarded as a good food additive instead of sugar as it is meant to promote better dental health. But, for dogs, it causes super low blood sugar levels, which is clearly not a good thing.
Furthermore, some of the symptoms of Xylitol poisoning are motor function failures and even seizures – so best to stay clear.
Lastly, here’s a list that you can use to check on what dogs shouldn’t eat…
- Coffee, chocolate, and anything with caffeine
- Chives, onions, and garlic
- Raw meat and eggs
- Raisins and grapes
- Salty foods
- Nuts – especially macadamias
- Alcohol
- Medications – such as painkillers
The Bottom Line
Ideally, you shouldn’t be feeding your dog Goldfish Crackers at all. They have a high sodium content and can contain garlic and onion powder, which are toxic to dogs.
If you have just fed your dog some or have found that they’ve broken into the packet and eaten the whole lot – don’t worry too much.
Try to make sure they do drink lots of water to flush out the salt. And, just keep a close eye on them for a few hours to make sure they are not showing any strange symptoms or behaviors.
Ultimately, a few now and again should be OK, but don’t make it a regular thing!
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