Before, I used to leave food on the counter, thinking Bobby (my dog) didn’t care about what I ate. One day, I saw he was acting weird – he had eaten my cookies from the coffee table! I quickly asked myself: can dogs eat Oreos? Because of what I knew, I called my vet right away and made sure it wouldn’t happen again.
Key Takeaways
- Can dogs eat Oreos? The short answer is no ❌
- The reason is simple – the chocolate part contains cocoa, which is toxic to dogs ❌
- Vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, and seizures are just a few signs of cocoa poisoning ⚠️
- Even the white Oreos can be harmful – they’re full of sugar, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), and palm oil ⚠️
Oreo Ingredients – Which Are Bad for Dogs?
Oreos consist of two chocolate wafers with a white cream filling in the middle. The ingredient list includes:
- unbleached flour (enriched with iron and B vitamins);
- sugar;
- palm and/or canola oil;
- cocoa (processed with alkali);
- high-fructose corn syrup;
- baking soda and/or calcium phosphate;
- salt;
- soy lecithin;
- chocolate;
- artificial flavor.
Most of these should worry a responsible dog owner, but two are particularly dangerous. Cocoa and chocolate are toxic to dogs (we’ll give you more details later). What’s more, palm oil acts as a laxative in canines, so your pup could suffer from diarrhea after eating sweets containing it. Sugar and HFCS are just empty calories that can contribute to obesity.
Too much fat and sugar in general can increase your dog’s risk of pancreatitis. It’s not worth feeding them Oreos, no matter how much they beg.
Chocolate Is Toxic to Dogs
Can dogs eat Oreos? No. Oreos contain both cocoa and chocolate, which is reason enough not to feed your dog any. Chocolate toxicity is due to a compound called theobromine, which is naturally found in cocoa beans. Theobromine is a heart stimulant and a diuretic. In dogs, it causes:
- vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- excessive thirst and urination;
- panting;
- hyperactivity;
- seizures.
Because of the theobromine, dogs shouldn’t eat chocolate, and Oreos aren’t entirely safe for them. On a positive note, the amount of chocolate or cocoa in these cookies is small, so they’re unlikely to cause serious health issues if your pup gets into some. Having said that, can dogs eat Oreos without chocolate?
Can Dogs Eat Golden Oreos (Without Cocoa)?
The producer of Oreos also offers a vanilla variety. The list of ingredients isn’t too different from that of traditional Oreo cookies, but it doesn’t include cocoa (and therefore theobromine that is dangerous to dogs). So can dogs eat golden Oreos? The answer isn’t obvious.
Even though vanilla Oreos don’t contain cocoa, they shouldn’t be considered as safe for dogs. Why? This is because of the other ingredients that dogs shouldn’t eat, namely sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, and palm oil.
Sugar in a Dog’s Diet
Keep sugar away from your pooch, as it’s the main culprit of obesity and tooth decay. If your dog has diabetes, it will also aggravate their symptoms. Resist the temptation to offer sugary snacks – stick to the healthy dog treats at your local pet store that are both tasty and nutritious, and won’t make your pet hyperactive!
HFCS: Sugar in Disguise ⚠️
High fructose corn syrup is made from cornstarch, so it’s a natural sweetener, but that doesn’t make it good. It’s about 55% fructose, which is a simple sugar, often responsible for obesity, liver damage, and type 2 diabetes in dogs. Yikes!
Verdict: Can Dogs Eat Oreos?
If you’re a responsible owner asking „Can dogs eat Oreos and be okay?” because your pet has gotten into some on their own, don’t worry too much. After a small amount of these chocolate cookies, they’re unlikely to suffer anything more serious than an upset stomach. But never give them any on purpose!
And never leave your dog alone with these cookies, especially if they have a big appetite. Contact your vet if you see any alarming symptoms like drooling, diarrhea and/or excessive water-drinking. It might be that your pup has a sensitive stomach and even small amounts of chocolate make them sick immediately.
