Can dogs eat Cheerios? The answer is yes. Dogs can eat plain and wholegrain Cheerios.
There is no need to worry if your dog has eaten Cheerios, and no need to rush to seek veterinary advice unless they are displaying any adverse symptoms.
Cheerios are designed for human consumption and although not harmful to your dog, they are not the best choice for them and there are a few things you should consider.
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Are Cheerios good for dogs?
Cheerios aren’t exactly good for your dog. There is nothing nutritionally that could be categorised as ‘good for dogs’ in them.
Plain Cheerios are mostly made up of whole grain oats, they are low in fat, calories, protein and have little sugar in them. Whole grain oats are not at all harmful to dogs, they are just not something that they need in their diet, and so will take little benefit from eating Cheerios.
Though Cheerios do contain a range of vitamins, calcium, iron and zinc they are found in relatively low amounts and are mostly added during the manufacturing process, they are not naturally occurring.
Suggested reading: How many treats can my dog have a day?
Are Cheerios bad for dogs?
Cheerios are not bad for your dog, but as we have already covered, they don’t really have any nutritional worth either.
Some dogs may suffer from gastrointestinal issues including, diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal pain as a result of eating Cheerios, although usually these side effects will usually be due to your dog eating large quantities of something they are not used to.
If you are at all concerned or you find your dog is out of sorts you should contact your veterinary surgeon for their opinion and have your dog checked.
Can dogs eat honey nut Cheerios?
Yes, dogs can eat honey nut Cheerios.
As with plain Cheerios, honey nut Cheerios are also safe for your dog to consume but there are more nutritious treats available. They are largely just empty calories and in terms of nutrition there is little benefit to your dog.
Safe
- Honey Nut Cheerios*
- Original Cheerios
- Wholegrain Cheerios
- Banana Nut Cheerios
- Apple Cinnamon Cheerios*
- Blueberry Cheerios
- Cinnamon Cheerios
- Honey*
- Maple*
- Strawberry*
Not Safe
- Chocolate Cheerios
- Frosted Cheerios
- Vanilla Cheerios
- Pumpkin Spice
Can dogs eat cereal with milk?
Dogs can eat cereal with milk, but as above, there are some things to consider.
1. Whether the cereal in question contains anything toxic like chocolate, vanilla, sweeteners, or high levels of sugars. If they do, then they should definitely not be given to your dog.
2. The other thing to consider is the milk. Although milk is not toxic to dogs, many are lactose intolerant. Milk is usually fine in small amounts, but bear in mind that it could possibly upset their stomach and cause gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhoea and even pancreatitis.
How much Cheerios can dogs eat?
As with any additions to your dog’s diet, the 10% rule should always be followed – treats and supplementary foods should not make up more than 10% of their daily food intake.
A very small handful of Cheerios is fine, or feeding one at a time as a reward in training. As with trying any new foods you should always look out for adverse reactions and seek veterinary advice should there be anything that raises concern.
Alternatives to Cheerios for dogs
We have already covered that Cheerios are pretty lacking in nutrition for doggos and so that means there are plenty of better options out there.
Bran flakes are a particularly good alternative to Cheerios, a small amount along with their usual food helps things keep ‘ticking along’ downstairs and can help avoid anal gland issues. They can also be fed individually, flake by flake, for rewards in training.
Other human foods that can make good dog treats include apple pieces (not the cores), carrots, cooked chicken or turkey, cheese (in moderation), dog friendly peanut butter, and Seaweed.
Why not have a read through some of our other articles about the foods which are and are not safe for your dog to have:
Can dogs eat Cheerios - final thoughts
While dogs can safely eat Cheerios in moderation they should be limited to an occasional treat and the focus should always be on feeding nutritionally beneficial foods.
As with all new foods and foods that are not designed for dogs, you should always feed with caution and look out for any reaction.
The content within this article is informational only, you should always seek the advice of a veterinary professional if you have any concerns at all. It is always best to err on the side of caution where your furry friend’s health in concerned.
