My Dog Ate Marshmallows Will He Get Sick?

Marshmallows, who doesn’t love them! These are wonderful fluffy, light bits of sweetness that are great in smores, hot chocolate, and more. But can dogs eat marshmallows?

Dogs & Marshmallow—Not a Good Combination

The problem is that marshmallows are not very good for dogs. That’s because marshmallows either contain high amounts of sugar, or are sweetened with xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. In addition, they don’t contain any nutritional value for dogs.

The marshmallows made with xylitol are quite toxic for your dog, even in small amounts. That’s because this sweetener can cause extremely low blood sugar, seizures and even death. It’s also toxic to the liver many days after the dog’s eaten this sweet treat.

Even marshmallows that contain sugar can lead to problems with weight gain, obesity, diabetes, and more. Eating too many marshmallows can also cause gastrointestinal issues in dogs such as diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and even pancreatitis. This is especially the case if the dog eats marshmallows on a regular basis.

Marshmallows are OK as a Rare Treat

It is OK to give your fur baby a marshmallow (sweetened with sugar) or two once in a great while. They can also be a great way to get your dog to eat or when he needs to take some medication. You can wrap the marshmallow around the medication, or let your dog know he’ll receive this yummy treat if he takes his medicine.

Otherwise, avoid giving your dog these sweet bits of fluff. They’re just not healthy. Instead, opt for healthier snacks such as cantaloupe chunks, watermelon (in moderation), a section of an orange, mangoes or apples.

On warm days, you might consider giving your fur baby frozen apple or orange slices. These can really cool your canine friend down when it’s hot!

Another treat that dogs love are apple and carrot treats. All you need is one cup of flour, one cup of carrots (grated), one egg and a half cup of apple sauce. Mix all ingredients together, form into patties and bake in a preheated at 350 F, for about 30-40 minutes.

How about some cranberry heart cookies for dogs? They’re also easy to make. You’ll need 2 eggs, 1 ½ cups of almond flour, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, 3-4 tablespoons of coconut flour, and ½ cup of dried cranberries. Preheat the oven to 325 F, then beat the eggs and set aside. Next, combine the almond flour, coconut oil and dried cranberries. Then add in the eggs and knead the mix with your hands. Then add in the coconut flour to create a dough that’s easy to roll. It shouldn’t be too sticky. Then roll out the dough, cut it with cookie cutters, and bake on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet for 15-18 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Your fur baby will love these!

Healthy snacks keep your dog from gaining weight or developing diabetes and other health issues. Just avoid giving him marshmallows, except on very rare occasions.