Jello is a much-loved dessert and treats for many adults and especially children. So, you may wonder, can dogs eat Jello? We delve into this subject and uncover some answers for you.
Can Dogs Eat Jello?
Let us start, Jello is not exactly the healthiest food for your dog to eat. A lot of versions will not cause any harm to your dog, but there is some that will.
One of the main ingredients in Jello is gelatin. Which is found in things like joints, skins, ligaments, and tendons. Which all can provide you a certain type of nutrient.
From experience, we have seen dogs really look forward to seeing Jello, as they love the gelatin texture. They do enjoy eating it, as it can be quite fun for them. So yes, dogs can eat Jello, well certain Jello based products.
Things to watch out for with Jello
Xylitol
There is a certain type of Jello product’s that contains something called Xylitol. You will find this ingredient in artificial sweetener-based food products. These will usually be marked as ‘sugar-free’ or ‘low on sugar’. You should avoid these products at all costs.
We would recommend that you always read the ingredients of anything you buy for your dog. Xylitol may be fine for humans, but it is fatal to dogs. Some experts have stated that they think it is more poisonous than chocolate, which says a lot…
Now products with just normal sugar in, they are fine for your dog to eat. Although the sugar levels are not the best for your dog’s health. (further information below)
Artificial flavoring and additives
Something you will also need to think about is artificial flavors and additives. These you will find in certain Jello products as well. It does not matter the flavor; you should always check the instruction and ingredients on the packets.
Your best chance is just feeding your dog plain and unflavored Jello products. This may sound boring, but your dog will love them just as much. The reason we say this is because this will lower the chances of any coloring, artificial flavorings, and sweeteners being found in them.
Sugar Levels in Jello
Now we have mentioned that dogs can eat Jello, this does not mean that they should eat it on a regular basis. Like anything that has a high content of sugar, it should only be given as a treat, every once and a while. Too much sugar in a dog’s diet can lead to serious health problems down the line.
Too much sugar in your dogs’ diet can lead your dog to obesity in the long term. Which can lead to more serious health problems later on. Such as the extra stress that is put on their joints and bones from the excess weight. They can also have trouble with damaged internal organs. This type of damage to your dog can be permanent and cannot be fixed easily if fixed at all.
Just like in humans too much sugar can lead to your dog having heart disease, high blood pressure, or even develop hypertension. All these conditions can cause their heart to work a lot harder pumping blood through their body. Which can lead to congestive heart failure.
Another health condition that can happen to your dog is diabetes, this will usually come from obesity. Which will then cause the dog’s body to have a higher than normal of insulin. Basically, once the body cannot keep up with the amount of increased insulin IN your dog’s body, that’s when diabetes occurs.
Lastly, if your dog has diabetes this can lead to pancreatitis, which is where their pancreas starts to become inflamed. The pancreas is what aids the metabolism of sugar. Which creates the insulin and the production of enzymes to assist indigestion.
Further leading to your dog suffering from a fever, heart arrhythmias, dehydration, and depression. Yes, dogs can get depressed!
Bottom line
The bottom line is Jello, can be eaten by dogs but we do not recommend you feeding it to them. There is a lot of things you need to consider and to make sure when you are buying Jello. In the long run, we really think it is not worth it. It can cause so many problems. There are so many different things dogs will enjoy more and will be healthier.
We always recommend that you contact your local veterinarian if you are worried about their health. Even if you are unsure and need a professional opinion, it is always better safe than sorry.
If you would like further information on what food dogs can’t eat please follow the following link. If your dog has swallowed something and you are worried please contact your local vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — (888) 426-4435. You should always have these numbers ready to dial, along with your closest emergency clinic
