Because they are made of fruit, fruit roll-ups should be considered a nutritious option for a snack, right? But hold on a second there. In reality, fruit roll-ups are flavored candies that are high in sugar content. Can dogs eat fruit roll-ups?
Outside of their primary diet, treats and snacks are some of a dog’s favorite foods.
They get quite excited whenever they come upon a new reward.
You can tell this by the way their tails wag in response.
When it comes to snacks, fruit roll-ups can look like a nice choice for your dog, but they’re actually not.
What Are Fruit Roll Ups?
A Fruit Roll Up is a sort of fruit snack that is typically rolled up in a material that resembles paper. Fruit Roll Ups are typically sold at convenience stores.
They are also known as Fruit Strips and Fruit Twists, in addition to the name Fruit by the Foot.
These munchies have been present since the 1970s and continue to maintain their popularity in modern times.
These snacks are available in a variety of flavors.
The most popular of which being strawberry, apple, grape, cherry, banana, orange, and lemon.
Can Dogs Eat Fruit Roll Ups?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. Fruit roll-ups are not suitable for dogs to consume. If you give your dog fruit rolls, you are inviting a host of health problems as well as other hassles into their life.
This is mostly attributable to the fact that the fruit roll-ups contain a number of additives.
These include GMOs and substances that are known to cause cancer.
This article will provide you with an in-depth look at the topic to help you understand why fruit roll-ups should never be given to dogs and what could go wrong if you did give them some.
Are Fruit Roll-Ups Safe For Dogs?
Dogs should not consume fruit roll-ups. Their sugar, artificial flavorings, and carbohydrate content are all at dangerously excessive levels.
Carbohydrates and sugars should only be given in moderation to dog. They can cause serious health problems if given in excess.
In order to protect your pet, you should avoid any and all situations that could cause them harm.
Ingredients Of Fruit Roll Ups
Fruit roll-ups are examples of foods that undergo extensive processing.
A fruit roll-up is essentially a fruit puree that contains a significant amount of sugar and carbohydrates in addition to the fruit itself.
It also contains other additives that are harmful.
These include corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup.
Corn syrup gives the fruit roll-ups a tough and sticky consistency and makes them difficult to eat.
Fruit roll ups contain the following:
- Sugar
- Cottonseed oil
- Sodium citrate
- Citric acid
- Fruit pectin
- Natural fruit flavors
- Artificial colors
- Acetylated Monoglycerides
Because they are not designed to be consumed by animals, fruit roll-ups provide your dog very little, if any, health benefits.
The Consequences of Feeding A Dog Fruit Roll-Ups
The amount of Fruit Roll-Ups that a dog really consumes, in addition to the dog’s size and overall health, are important factors that determine the precise and immediate impact of the dog eating Fruit Roll-Ups.
In the best case scenario, if a healthy dog just takes a small amount, it will most likely be able to withstand the eating of such a snack without any significant adverse effects occurring as a result of its consumption.
If a dog consumes a large quantity of Fruit Roll-Ups, the dog will most likely have abdominal pain as a result of the excessive consumption.
However, these are only some of the immediate repercussions that could occur as a result of your dog eating Fruit Roll-Ups.
The impacts are substantially more significant if you purposely offer this food to your pet. Particularly in bigger quantities and on a more frequent basis.
These unfavorable effects can include obesity, diabetes, dental decay, pancreatitis, and other health concerns.
How Can You Keep Your Dog from Eating Fruit Roll-Ups?
Since you are now aware of the potential health risks that Fruit Roll-Ups bring to dogs, your level of concern should ideally have increased to the point where you will no longer knowingly give them these sugary snacks intended for humans.
On the other hand, accidental ingestions of the substance are still a possibility.
The following are some recommendations for preventing similar misfortunes in the future:
If you have just set a Fruit Roll-Up on the counter or kitchen table and need to step out of the room, you must not leave the snack unattended with your dog while you are gone.
This is especially important if you have just put the Fruit Roll-Up there.
Either put the Fruit Roll-Up in a secure location or take the dog with you when you leave the room.
In addition, if you have only partially opened the snack, there is an increased possibility that your dog will consume the roll-up while the plastic backing is still attached to it.
This can result in even more serious digestive and other health problems, which will require a trip to the veterinarian.
Choose a Safe Location
Some canines have even figured out how to open the doors of cupboards and pantries all on their own. So you shouldn’t always store your goodies in the cabinets in your home.
As a consequence of this, you need to exercise caution.
Pick a spot where your dog won’t be able to get to it.
This is especially important to do if your dog is particularly smart or big and has the ability to figure out how to get to it.
If you frequently bring people over to your house, you will need to establish certain guidelines for their behavior.
It’s possible that at first, this will strike you as odd, but doing so is essential in order to keep your dog safe.
Specifically, you need to let all of your guests know that they are prohibited from feeding your dog in any way.
If they persist on offering treats or food to your dog, then you should give them foods that are suitable for dogs to use instead.
What Should You Do If Your Dog Consumes a Fruit Roll-Up?
In the event that an accident does place and your dog consumes a fruit roll up while you are not looking, the first thing you should do is evaluate the circumstances.
Take the time to determine how much your dog ate while you were distracted.
If your dog is enormous and has only eaten a very small amount, it is likely that you won’t need to take any action because you won’t be in any danger.
On the other hand, if your canine companion is on the smaller side but still manages to eat a considerable amount of fruit roll ups, there is a good chance that they will feel substantial stomach discomfort.
Home remedies for milder occurrences of this type of digestive upset include consuming a meal that is plain in texture and drinking a lot of water.
Visit a Vet if Needed
Intervention from a veterinarian is required in cases of stomach distress that are more severe.
This is in order to achieve stabilization more quickly and a more comfortable recovery.
If your four-legged friend has a pre-existing condition such as diabetes or gastritis, it is strongly recommended that you take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible after he accidentally ingested a significant amount of fruit roll ups.
This is especially important if he ate a lot of fruit roll ups.
As a consequence of this, dogs suffering from such diseases are at a much elevated risk of developing complications, which calls for a more professional approach to the issue.
What Should You Give Your Dog Instead Fruit Roll-Ups?
Instead of going for a nearly worthless, sweet snack like fruit roll ups, dog owners have the option of feeding their pets a wide array of different fruits.
If provided in moderation, a variety of fruits, including bananas, apples, watermelons, and strawberries, can be beneficial to the health of your canine companion.
Bananas
Bananas are an excellent source of vitamin K, which is a nutrient that is critical for maintaining a healthy heart.
They also include a sizeable quantity of vitamin B6, which is an essential nutrient for healthy brain function.
Bananas include a lot of fiber, which is good for maintaining a healthy digestive system. This is an additional benefit that bananas provide.
Watermelon
Because of its scrumptious flavor and remarkable capacity to keep those who consume it adequately hydrated, watermelon is one of the best kinds of sweet treats you can give your dog.
Because of its high vitamin content, it is a fantastic way to keep puppies hydrated.
It is also a healthy snack throughout the warmer months of the year.
Strawberries
Strawberries have a high concentration of the antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin A. Both of which are good to the immune system.
It’s no surprise that canines look forward to getting their mouths on these tasty morsels.
Apples
The consumption of some chopped apple every once in a while is excellent for dogs.
Apples provide them with fiber and antioxidants.
A healthy dose of vitamins can be delivered to your dog in a manner that is both tasty and invigorating.
Can Dogs Eat Gushers?
Although there isn’t anything in fruit gushers making them technically toxic to dogs, they still should not eat them.
This is because fruit gushers contain a lot of calories and sugars.
There is nothing really beneficial to a dog in gushers, when it comes to nutritional value.