Did your dog eat a Twinkie, and you’re worried they might get sick? Don’t panic! A little Twinkie won’t harm your dog’s health, but you should make it a point not to treat them to a Twinkie or any other snack that contains added sugar. To your question about whether dogs can eat Twinkies, we have discussed all the health issues associated with dogs eating Twinkies. We’ll also help you find healthier alternatives to feed your dog instead of Twinkies.
Should Dogs Eat Twinkies?
The most straightforward answer to this question is: No!
Dogs are carnivores, and anything that is not a part of their natural diet should be completely avoided until and unless allowed by a vet.
Dogs will not refuse any treats offered to them and will munch on it happily. However, if you care about your canine’s health, you should carefully monitor their diet. Anything that has a poor nutritional status and contains a ton of calories should be avoided by your four-legged buddy and you.
Twinkie is one such snack loaded with sugar. If your dog has too much of it, it will fall prey to a huge list of sugar-induced diseases. Also, the enormous amount of sugar packed into these tiny cakes could easily offset the normal sugar level of a small diabetic dog and be potentially life-threatening.
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Twinkies: Nutritional Facts
Before diving deep into why Twinkie is bad for your puppy’s health, let’s first look at the nutritional value that a pack of this cream-filled cake has to offer.
- Calories: 280 g
- Fat: 9 g
- Sugars: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
Why Is Twinkie Bad For Your Dog?
Although you could allow your dog to nibble on a tiny piece of Twinkie occasionally, regular consumption of these sugary snacks is nowhere near recommended for a dog. Moreover, unchecked consumption for a long time could be lethal.
Read on to find out what is in a Twinkie that makes it so harmful to your canine’s health
1. Rich in Calories
As you can see above, a single serving of Twinkie is loaded with sugars, fat, and many empty calories. Devouring so many calories in one go is not fit even for a healthy adult human, so how could a dog not be expected to be affected by it? If not burned through exercise, the calories gained through this snack will accumulate, leading to obesity. Obesity in itself paves the path for a multitude of health issues.
2. High in added sugar
We all know how hard it is to resist offering your dog some divinely sweet Twinkies you’re munching on. But if you discover how bad sugar can be for them, you’ll probably throw away all sugar-containing food from your home.
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Twinkie is filled with sugar to an unhealthy extent, and since dogs are more prone to diseases than we are, they are likely to fall sick after a sugar-rich meal. Diabetes tops the list of these highly life-threatening sugar-induced diseases, followed by heart and other conditions.
3. Preservatives
Did you know a packet of Twinkies could last over a month before going bad? That means it contains an incredibly high amount of preservatives. This is not good for your dog’s health, as artificial preservatives can induce allergic reactions and skin irritation and interfere with normal digestion.
4. Xylitol Poisoning
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is harmless for humans but toxic to dogs. While the cake part of a Twinkie may be free from any xylitol, the inner cream filling will surely contain it. In some dogs, even a small amount of xylitol can lead to low blood sugar, weakness, poor mental status, seizures, collapse, and in severe conditions, even death.
5. Refined flour
Another reason you should not let your canine buddy have a Twinkie is that it is made of refined flour. Processed flour has no nutritional value and is not only bad for humans but also for dogs. Consuming this flour could lead to many health consequences for your pet. Processed flour works more or less similar to sugar by altering blood sugar. Moreover, it can cause various digestive problems like indigestion and bloat. Also, processed flour could trigger a chain of allergic symptoms like itchy skin if your dog is hyper allergic.
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How Can Twinkies Harm Your Dog’s Health?
You probably know all about the unhealthy ingredients and chemicals used to manufacture Twinkies. Discover how these harmful products can adversely affect your dog’s health.
Following is a list of diseases your pooch can suffer from if he has been munching on Twinkies for a long time.
- Cavities -The first detrimental effect that the sugar-rich Twinkie can have on your dog’s health is tooth decay. This can cause dental pain and loss of appetite in your four-legged friend and needs to be treated before the condition deteriorates.
- Diarrhea -Some immediate signs of a possible toxin consumed by a dog manifest in the form of gastrointestinal conditions such as vomiting, diarrhea, and flatulence. If this happens, you should rush your dog to the vet.
- Diabetes -As Twinkies is a sugar-rich snack, overconsumption can induce diabetes. The evil doings of sugar are much more potent in dogs than in humans. This means they are at a greater risk of diabetes if their sugar consumption goes unchecked.
- Obesity -Too many Twinkies can make your dog gain weight, placing them at a higher risk for other serious conditions such as heart disease and cancer.
- Pancreatitis -The cream inside a Twinkie is rich in fats, and anything with a lot of fat increases the chances of causing pancreatitis in dogs. Therefore if your dog eats a lot of Twinkies, there is a higher chance of them having pancreatitis.
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Can Dogs Die From Eating Twinkies?
Although eating a single Twinkie will not kill your dog, they probably get sick because of xylitol poisoning.
However, if you’ve been feeding your dog Twinkies for a long time, they’ll likely die from serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or pancreatitis. Therefore it is best to avoid letting your dog have a Twinkie and keep them out of reach.
Frequently Asked Questions– FAQs
What to do if my dog eats a lot of Twinkies at once?
If your dog accidentally ate more than one Twinkie without you knowing, the first thing to do is not panic and think clearly. Carefully inspect your dog, and if you notice any unusual behavior or sign of sickness, such as drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, or seizure, immediately rush your pet to the vet.
If your dog doesn’t show any of these signs and is acting normally, then make sure they drink a lot of water and closely examine them for any unusual changes.
Is it okay if my dog ate only one Twinkie?
Yes, you shouldn’t worry if your dog ate one Twinkie as it requires a significantly high amount to poison a dog. But it’s a good idea not to introduce the taste to your dog as it’s very addictive, and your dog might try to look out for more. Also, if your dog is small or sick, you must not let them have even one Twinkie, as it could greatly affect their health.
Can dogs eat the cream of Twinkies?
No, do not let your dog eat the cream of Twinkie because of two reasons. Firstly it is very fatty, and that can cause pancreatitis in dogs. Secondly, the cream contains xylitol which is toxic to dogs. So to be on the safe side, do not let your dog lick on the inner filling of Twinkies.
.What are some healthy dog treat alternatives to Twinkies?
There are plenty of other options that are nutritionally rich and loved by dogs. The following list contains some of these healthy options.
- Carrots
- Piece of chicken
- Apples
- Fish
- Peanut butter
- Probiotic yogurt
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What other foods should you avoid feeding your dog?
Dogs cannot tell healthy food apart from unhealthy food. Therefore, you are responsible for ensuring their diet consists of food fit for dog consumption.
While your canine friend can enjoy some human food, the following items should be avoided.
- Sugary food such as candies, ice cream, and cakes
- Chocolate
- Avocados
- Grapes and raisins
- Pizza
- Salty food such as chips and salted nuts
- Caffeine
- Garlic and onion
How to find out which food is bad for my dog?
To find out which food will suit your dog and not harm them, give a small sample first and look for signs of allergy or reaction. If you notice any, it’s best to avoid that product.
You could also consult your dog’s vet when introducing a new food into their diet.
Or do online research to know what products are good for dogs.
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The Bottom Line
Now that you know all the health risks linked to eating Twinkies that your puppy could suffer from, you should refrain from purposely feeding it to them. While one Twinkie may not be harmful, your dog will likely plead for more after the first treatment since it is highly addictive.
Therefore it’s better not to cultivate a bad habit in the first place. Also, try swapping these unhealthy snacks with plenty of other healthy options.