We’ve all likely been in this scenario, especially if we’ve ever had a pat.
It’s 7, maybe 8 in the morning. You’re in a rush to get to school, college, work, or whatever takes up the majority of your day. You’re wolfing down that bowl of Rice Krispies as quickly as you can swallow them.
Then, accidentally, you spill a spoonful of them onto the floor, showering the floor in a tiny little crispy minefield.
Then, from the next room, your dog wanders in and starts licking up the many little puffed rice pieces that have spread across the floor.
‘Well, that’s handy,’ you may think, ‘at least I don’t have to clean that up now’.
However, it may just spawn a few more questions. Is it okay for my dog to be eating Rice Krispies like this? How many, if any, can they eat safely? Are there any effects of their eating this kind of cereal?
Well, that’s what we’re here to answer for you!
In this little guide, we have put together, we are going to explain what ingredients exactly go into Rice Krispies, as well as why it is (sometimes) okay to let your dog eat the occasional Rice Krispie (see also ‘Can Your Dog Eat Corn Chips?‘).
What Are Rice Krispies?
Before we get any further into this topic, we should probably first outline what exactly Rice Krispies are, so that we can better understand how and if they affect your dog’s gut health.
Well, they are pretty much exactly what they sound like on paper: crispy rice!
Rice Krispies are grains of rice that have been popped from being cooked in an oven, in a very similar way to how popcorn is made from corn kernels (see also ‘Can Your Dog Eat Veggie Straws?‘).
Rice Krispies were first sold in the 1920s by Kellogg’s as a breakfast cereal for kids, and has since gone on to be enjoyed by people all over the country!
What Goes Into Rice Krispies?
So, with the groundwork laid as to what exactly Rice Krispies are, we can start discussing what goes into making these tasty little treats, and see whether these ingredients can help us determine whether or not this tiny little puffed piece of rice is safe for your dog.
While there are several trace minerals and nutrients found in Rice Krispies, the following make up the vast majority of ingredients that go into this breakfast cereal:
- Rice (Around 71%)
- Salt
- Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Malt Flavoring
- Vegetable Oil
- Fructose
- As well as many other nutrients and minerals (Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, B12 & D, Iron, and Folic Acid.
Can Dogs Eat Rice Krispies?
So, with all of that information out of the way, can we say with certainty that dogs can or can’t eat Rice Krispies without any serious damage?
Well, the short answer is that, despite being made specifically for human consumption, Rice Krispies are quite a safe food for your dog to eat. At least, from time to time.
As you may have already noticed from the ingredients list that we covered in the last section, Rice Krispies are primarily made of baked or cooked rice, which dogs often eat alongside their more traditional diet of meat (see also ‘Can Dogs Eat Deer Bones?‘).
However, the fact that rice is the main ingredient is also a double-edged sword: While this does mean that your dog can eat Rice Krispies, the fact that rice is often considered an ‘empty’ food when it comes to nutrients outside of carbs and a trace amount of protein, means that your dog just isn’t going to get that many nutrients out of eating rice in this cooked form, with even fewer nutrients.
And that isn’t even discussing the effects of the other ingredients that go into Rice Krispies.
Health Effects Of Rice Krispies On Dogs
So, now that we have discussed a little about what makes Rice Krispies relatively okay to eat for your dog, we should probably turn to the ingredients that make rice Krispies a less-than-ideal food for them.
As we have already mentioned in the ingredients list, sugar is a major component when it comes to the ingredients that go into this cereal, with fructose and corn syrup also being partly made from this ingredient.
Sugar, as we know all too well as people, is an incredibly addictive little ingredient to eat for people, much less in dogs.
This means that, if you feed your dogs more rice Krispies than is healthy for them to eat, you may find that they stop eating the foods that they should normally be eating, and instead will only eat sweeter foods.
Which wouldn’t be the worst effect in the short term, if it weren’t for the fact that sugar can also cause obesity in dogs as easily as it does in us!
So, make sure that you don’t make feeding them rice Krispies a regular habit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can My Dog Eat Rice Krispie Treats?
With all this information circling Rice Krispies themselves, many people often wonder about whether or not the equally popular square-treat Rice Krispie products can also be eaten by dogs.
So, are these treats also as safe to eat as the standard Rice Krispie?
The answer is a solid no. Rice Krispie Treats contain far more sugar and syrups and is otherwise a much more processed food item than traditional cereal food is.
These extra sugars can lead to an increased likelihood of obesity in your dog when fed to them, as well as potentially more serious digestive issues in the short term, amongst many other potential hazards.
In short, while the occasional Rice Krispie will by no means be a death sentence for your dog, make sure that you keep the even more sugary Treat snack away from them.
What Other Cereals Can My Dog Eat?
Well, ideally, you should be keeping all cereals away from your pet pooch, as most will contain some amount of sugar, corn syrup, fructose, or other ingredients that can lead to issues for your dog later on.
However, if you are worried about your dog snacking on any loose cereals that fall from your spoon and plate, remember to keep in mind that the more processed or complicated the cereal is, the less likely it will be safe for your dog to eat.
Cereals such as bran flakes and oat bran are perfectly safe for most dogs to eat, and eating the occasional Special K, corn flakes, or cheerios, won’t be too much of an issue for your dog to eat from time to time.
However, cereals that are high in sugar, such as fruit loops, Reese’s puffs, and Lucky Charms should be kept away from your dogs and other pets at all times.
You should also avoid feeding your dog any cereals with cocoa in them, as cocoa is toxic to dogs when eaten. This means that Coco Puffs should be kept away from your canine companion as well.
Final Thoughts – Silver Lining For Rice Krispies & Dogs?
So, with how we have gone back and forth throughout this article on whether or not Rice Krispies are okay for your dog to eat, where do we stand in the end?
Well, as we have stated multiple times in this guide, Rice Krispies contain enough sugars and other harmful ingredients that you should probably refrain from giving them to your dog regularly.
However, the fact that Rice Krispies are so small does mean that the amount of sugar that they have is also relatively small when it comes to their overall daily calorie intake.
So, if you happen to spill a couple of Rice Krispies as part of your morning routine, or you have a small number of Rice Krispies left over that you don’t want to eat for yourself, give them to your dog as a small treat will not be too dangerous for them.
The result of that was Bunny - a 5 year old labrador who follows me around everywhere and is trained to detect when I’m about to have an anxiety attack. Through our three years together, Bunny can even sense when I’m feeling just a little bit anxious and work to calm me down.
- Are Antlers Safe For Dogs? - January 14, 2024
- Can Dogs Eat Honey Nut Cheerios? - December 23, 2023
- Natural Deworming Remedies for Your Dog - December 18, 2023
