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Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers? | Are Graham Crackers Bad for Dogs?

are graham crackers bad for dogs

For the past 93 years, graham crackers have been the staple of the classic American treat—the s’more!  They have become more popular and have so many more uses now, from key lime pie crust, to pound cakes, to more savory options like graham cracker chicken parmesan!  This treat can be used is an abundance of recipes.  Your dog is probably right at your feet whenever you’re in the kitchen.  Are graham crackers bad for dogs?  Or, can dogs eat graham crackers?  Read on to find out!

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Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers? (The Short Answer)

While graham crackers aren’t necessarily dangerous to dogs, they’re not recommended as being a healthy treat option either.  We would suggest feeding using other, healthier treats instead as there are essentially no health benefits to graham crackers.  So while you shouldn’t worry if your dog eats a graham cracker or two, the high amounts of refined grains, carbohydrates, and sugars in graham crackers aren’t great for them.

It’s important to remember, that even with the best of intentions, accidents happen and dogs can easily eat things they shouldn’t.  Unfortunately, even if those accidents aren’t fatal, they can result in huge, unexpected veterinary expenses.  That’s why we recommend all responsible dog owners get a free, online pet insurance quote from Healthy Paws.

Are Graham Crackers Good For Dogs?

Can dogs eat graham crackers?  Sure.  Are graham crackers good for dogs?  Not so much.  Graham crackers don’t contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs.  However, just because dogs can eat them, doesn’t mean they should.  After scouring through the nutrition labels of graham crackers, there was only one healthy thing about them—they provide 0.5 grams of fiber per cracker.  But at what cost?  Getting that extra half a gram of fiber isn’t worth the calories, carbohydrates, and sugar contents.

That being said, here’s why fiber is important.  Fiber is great for the digestive tract.  In the intestines it is fermented into fatty acids, which keeps any bad bacteria in check and helps regulate the digestive system.  Fiber can also help the colon repair itself from any injury. 

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Are Graham Crackers Bad for Dogs?

We’ve already answered the question, “can dogs eat graham crackers?” Now, let’s learn about the dangers of feeding your dog this food! Are graham crackers bad for dogs?

Yes, graham crackers are bad for dogs due to their unhealthy attributes.  They’re high in carbohydrates, sugars, and don’t offer many nutritional benefits.  The main ingredients in graham crackers are refined wheat and sugar.  Keeping this in mind, a small amount of graham crackers won’t cause any serious problems.  It’s just not advised to use this as an everyday treat because of their nutritional value. 

Let’s take a closer look at what goes into a graham cracker.  In each individual graham cracker there is around 10-20 grams of carbohydrates.  That’s a pretty significant amount for just one cracker!  Dogs do need carbohydrates for energy, but too much often leads to weight gain.  Weight gain leads to a whole slew of other problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory issues.  If you give your pup a graham cracker once in a blue moon, these is unlikely to occur. 

Another issue with graham crackers is their sodium content.  In one graham cracker, there are 67 mg of sodium.  A 30 pound dog only needs around 100 mg of sodium per day.  That means just one graham cracker, in addition to their regular diet, could push them significantly over their recommended sodium intake for the day. 

In some cases where dogs are fed foods such as graham crackers too often, they can get almost addicted to them and begin to lose interest in their own dog food.  Remember, the canine food that you serve your dog already has all the nutrients they need to remain healthy, so additional treats aren’t necessary for keeping your dog in good shape.  Of course it’s always fun to share new, tasty treats with them so it’s important to find a good, healthy medium.

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Other Varieties & Related Foods

Are Honey Graham Crackers Safe for Your Pup?

Honey graham crackers fall into the same category as all other graham crackers.  Honey is safe for dogs in small quantities.  Essentially, honey graham crackers contain most of the same ingredients as other graham crackers, except for the addition of honey.  This still isn’t the healthiest treat option for your dog but, if given sparingly, shouldn’t cause any health problems. 

Can Dogs Eat Honey Maid Graham Crackers?

Honey Maid is one of the leading brands of graham crackers, but the general rule still applies—it’s best to avoid giving them to your dog.  Should you choose to do so, only give them small amounts and not very often. 

Can Dogs Eat Cinnamon Graham Crackers?

Technically they can, but it’s not recommended.  Cinnamon is not toxic to dogs, so these graham crackers aren’t any more or less dangerous for dogs than other varieties.  It’s still not recommended to use this as a common treat, but if your dog takes one without asking there shouldn’t be any serious complications. 

Is Graham Cracker Crust Safe for Your Pup?

Graham cracker crust is pretty similar to graham crackers.  There are slight variations between store-bought and homemade graham cracker crusts.  On average, graham cracker crusts contain more sugar, more carbohydrates, more fat, and more calories than just a plain graham crackers.  This is because when making a graham cracker crust, there is often sugar and butter added into the mixture of crushed up graham crackers.  It’s better to feed your dog a graham cracker rather than graham cracker crust, although neither are particularly healthy or recommended.

In Conclusion: Can Dogs Eat Graham Crackers?

Dogs probably shouldn’t have graham crackers, but if they snatch one up or you choose to give them a bite, there shouldn’t be any serious complications.  Like many foods such as tortillas, whipped cream, and pizza crust, there are few health benefits of graham crackers, but there are quite a few negatives.  High carbohydrate and sugar content are the main reasons to avoid this snack.  There are countless health problems that originate because of diets that are high in fats, sugars, and carbohydrates, so keep that in mind before feeding your pup graham crackers too often! 

Want to Learn More?

Check out these related articles from our “Read Before You Feed” series for more advice on safe foods for dogs!

Disclaimer: We are not veterinarians and this article should not be taken as medical or veterinary advice.  If you have any questions about your pet’s health or dietary needs, please contact your local veterinarian.