Can dogs eat Cheetos? We know the right answer.
Summary:
Don’t worry if your dog stumbled on an open packet of hot Cheetos and munched on a few ringlets. Just ensure that your offering the snack does not become a habit.
If you need more specific details, please just read the text below.
My Dog Ate Hot Cheetos!
A dog is a man’s best friend who shares an intimate bond with his human master that goes back several millenniums. No wonder that canines share many of their likes and dislike with human beings. So, don’t balk when you find that your pet spaniel has devoured an entire sachet of piping hot Cheetos.
You run around the entire room hollering, “my dog ate hot Cheetos,” giving the impression that your pet has done something catastrophic. Once you cool down, you start wondering if Cheetos could be harmful to your dog. Health-conscious individuals stay away from all kinds of processed or junk foods, including Cheetos.
Cheetos don’t have any health benefits but continue to be popular, thanks to their crispy flavor and tang. So, if you find Cheetos irresistible, then there’s nothing unusual for your pet dog to develop a liking for the snacks.
So, Can Dogs Eat Cheetos?
There is no reason to be alarmed and throw up your hands if your dog has gobbled up a bagful of Cheetos. Any hot snack, including Cheetos, may not be a healthy option for dogs. On the other hand, Cheetos are not toxic either, not if consumed in moderate amounts.
So, strictly speaking, your pet dog can munch on Cheetos once in a while. But never offer the pet snacks like Cheetos regularly. Cheetos contain ingredients like MSG (monosodium glutamate), Maltodextrin, and canola oil that don’t have any nutritional value.
Hence the question of whether you should regularly share Cheetos with the pet does not arise. It could also happen that the dog may refrain from eating Cheetos after tasting a mouthful for the first time. The spiciness of the snack brand could discourage many dogs from developing a penchant for it.
Dogs Munching on Cheetos/Hot Cheetos: Possible Side Effects
The fact that Cheetos is unusually spicy and hot may not endear to the majority of dog breeds. The oil, sodium, and fat content in this snack tend to be relatively high, and so dogs could have a problem digesting Cheetos. Don’t be surprised if your dog has diarrhea after feasting on the snack.
Veterinarians never recommend any spicy food item for house pets as it usually leads to severe side-effects. Cheetos includes a high proportion of artificial flavors, sodium salt, and calories that can cause breathing issues, diabetes, arthritis, and obesity.
Excessive salt consumption at one go could make a dog vulnerable to heart attack, stroke, and hypertension.
An overdose of sodium could lead to ‘hypernatremia’ that in turn could cause seizure, vomiting, dehydration, fatigue. If your pet dog is diagnosed with hypernatremia, it may need emergency veterinary intervention. The flaming hot varieties of Cheetos should be a strict no-no for all dog breeds.
Never offer Flamin’ Hot Limon, Flamin’ Hot, and Cheddar Jalapeno to your dog.
So, the main conclusion:
Don’t worry if your dog stumbled on an open packet of hot Cheetos and munched on a few ringlets. Just ensure that your offering the snack does not become a habit.