You spend every dime you get on treating your dog at the vet. Yet, your dog is not getting better or happier. One question: What differentiates a healthy, happy dog from an unhappy one? Nutrition!
Biscuits are popular treats you will likely want to give to your dog. However, you must ensure they are safe and healthy for your pet. The following insights will help.
Should I Give My Dog Digestive Biscuits?
Digestive biscuits are treats that will unlikely harm your dog when offered in moderation. A serving of digestive biscuits can take up to about 20% of the dog’s daily calorie intake. This amount implies that digestive biscuits can only be offered once in a while.
Digestive biscuits can contribute to multiple health benefits if made with healthy and safe ingredients. With the right ingredients, these digestive biscuits will guarantee your pet traces of iron, protein, calcium, and fiber.
Digestive biscuits could be either plain or chocolate. Plain biscuits contain no harmful ingredients, making them suitable for pets. On the other hand, chocolate digestive biscuits are toxic to your dog.
Dogs with wheat sensitivity should not eat biscuits. If your dog cannot withstand gluten, its immune system will attack the gastrointestinal tract and damage it. Consequently, your pet will not absorb nutrients as expected.
What Are Digestive Biscuits?
Digestive biscuits are described as sweet-meal biscuits that aid digestion in the body. Various ingredients are used in making these biscuits, the primary ones being flour, wholemeal wheat flour, vegetable oil, and partially inverted sugar syrup. Raising agents and salt are also used in this process.
Preservatives and artificial sweeteners, including xylitol, are also used when making digestive biscuits. Xylitol is toxic and causes xylitol poisoning in dogs. Its clinical symptoms include staggering, incoordination, low blood pressure, seizures, and decreased activity.
Biscuits contain salt, which can trigger sodium-ion poisoning. Signs of salt poisoning are diarrhea, vomiting, incoordination, lethargy, and excessive urination and thirst. In extreme cases, your dog will experience tremors, coma, seizures, and fatality.
Digestive biscuits have high amounts of sugar and sweeteners, which trigger obesity, pancreatitis, and diabetes in dogs. This sugar could also cause dental problems for your pet.
A single serving of digestive biscuits provides about 70 calories, taking a considerable portion of the required 325 daily calorie intake. This high amount of calories makes your pet susceptible to multiple health issues, including obesity, cardiovascular complications, and diabetes.
Is Chocolate Digestive Biscuit Safe?
No. Chocolate digestive biscuits contain multiple ingredients that could harm your dog. These biscuits have enough chocolate to irritate the gastrointestinal tract, causing diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Other clinical signs include increased heart rate, tremors, seizures, hyperactivity, and death.
Final Thoughts
Offering your dog the proper treats and in the correct amount will guarantee their happiness and health. However, digestive biscuits are not among the best options to consider for your dog. They contain harmful ingredients, including wheat, sugar, xylitol, and chocolate. While you can offer the biscuits in moderation, it is best to avoid them altogether.