If they like to eat apples, can dogs eat Apple Jacks? Keep reading this complete guide to learn why you should keep this sugary cereal away from your furry friend.
There is so much information out there about what dogs can and cannot eat. As an overprotective pet parent, I want to make sure my fur babies only eat what’s good for them. So, I sifted through all the information and I’m sharing what I found.
For ultimate pet safety, please ask your vet any questions you have regarding your dog eating Apple Jacks.
What Are Apple Jacks
Apple Jacks is a breakfast cereal produced by Kellogg’s. It has a recognizable red and green color to mimic red and green apples. They advertise it as a nutritious part of breakfast. In fact, their website says, “Made with three delicious grains, Apple Jacks provides 15 grams of whole grain per 39g serving and is an excellent source of 7 vitamins and minerals.”
So that sounds nutritious, right? But are they made with apples? What’s in Apple Jacks? Let’s look closer at the ingredients.
Corn flour blend (whole grain yellow corn flour, degerminated yellow corn flour), sugar, wheat flour, whole grain oat flour, modified food starch, contains 2% or less of vegetable oil (hydrogenated coconut, soybean and/or cottonseed), oat fiber, salt, soluble corn fiber, degerminated yellow corn flour, dried apples, apple juice concentrate, cornstarch, cinnamon, natural flavor, modified corn starch, yellow 6, wheat starch, baking soda, yellow 5, red 40, blue 1. Vitamins and Minerals: Reduced iron, niacinamide, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), folic acid, vitamin D3, vitamin B12.
The main ingredients are corn flour, sugar, wheat flour, and oat flour.
But they added a bunch of vitamins and minerals to it too in order to make it healthier.
Nutrition Information
According to the Kellogg’s smart label, Apple Jacks has the following nutrients in 1/4-cup serving:
- 140 Calories
- 190 mg Sodium
- 32 grams Carbs
- 1 gram fiber
- 12 grams Sugar
- 1.8 mcg Vitamin D
- 40 mg Potassium
- 70 mcg Folate
- 40 mcg Folic Acid
Safe In Small Amounts
The good news is that Apple Jacks doesn’t contain any toxic ingredients for dogs. So if you drop some on the floor and your pup gobbles it up, they will probably be just fine.
But that doesn’t mean you should pour them a heaping bowl of cereal, either.
Even though Apple Jacks are safe in small amounts, they are still really high in sugar and calories – which are two things that could contribute to health issues. Apple Jacks also contains food colorings – yellow 6, yellow 5, red 40, and blue 1.
Food coloring is iffy. Some sources say that food dyes could cause allergies or cancer (if they eat too much of it). The fear around food dyes comes from the fact that food coloring is produced from petroleum.
Other sources say that since there aren’t enough studies on it, and since the FDA says it’s safe, it’s safe.
As a fellow pet owner, I think that if you can keep the food coloring away from your pup, do it! It doesn’t add anything and it’s risky. Your pup doesn’t care what color the food is. Since Apple Jacks has so many different types of food colorings, be safe and keep it away from your dog.
Gluten And Dogs
Apple Jacks contain gluten, which is another worrisome ingredient for dogs. Some pet parents prefer to keep their pups on a grain-free diet. This makes sense to me since dogs are natural carnivores and predators.
But whether you agree with that or not, it’s still best to watch for signs of allergic reactions or stomach issues if your dog eats gluten for the first time.
Look for symptoms like gassiness, diarrhea, coughing, itching, or sneezing. If you notice your dog acting sick or lethargic, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Danger Of Dogs Eating Too Much Sugar
Another reason to keep Apple Jacks away from your dog is because it’s way too high in calories and sugar. Sugar should make up a tiny percentage of their daily calories.
According to WebMD, too much sugar is dangerous for dogs. ” It can make your dog overweight and cause problems with their teeth. It can even lead to diabetes.”
The only sugar dogs should eat should come from natural sources, like fruits and vegetables.
Can Dogs Eat Milk and Cereal
No, dogs shouldn’t eat an entire bowl of milk and cereal. Not only would this be dangerous for your dog’s health, but the milk could give your dog gastrointestinal problems – especially if you don’t know if they are lactose intolerant.
Don’t let your dog eat their own bowl of cereal.
How Much Apple Jacks Can Dogs Eat
It’s best if you don’t give your dog any Apple Jacks at all. If they happen to eat a few that fall on the floor, they will be ok.
But don’t give your dog Apple Jacks as a treat or as a part of their regular diet. Your dog’s diet should be high in animal protein and low in processed sugary food.
Apple Dog Treats
Can dogs eat apples? Yes, they certainly can! In fact, a few apple slices (with the core and seeds removed) is a much safer and healthier treat for dogs than Apple Jacks cereal.
So if your dog likes the taste of apples, I suggest making them a homemade frozen apple treat. It’s made with applesauce and yogurt.
And if you’re celebrating a special occasion, make your dog their very own dog-friendly apple pie. It’s made without sugar, so while we humans might not like it, your dog will gobble it up!
Final Thoughts
If you want to share the flavor of crisp apples with your pet, then it’s better to make a homemade treat with apples and peanut butter than to give your dog this cereal. Even though it’s advertised as a low-fat breakfast cereal, and it’s non-toxic to dogs, it’s still not a healthy treat for them to eat.
More Dog Resources
Here are even more resources about different types of cereals dogs can and can’t eat.
- Can Dogs Eat Cheerios
- Can Dogs Eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch
- Can Dogs Eat Froot Loops
- Can Dogs Eat Fruity Pebbles
- Can Dogs Eat Granola
- Can Dogs Eat Weetabix
Find lots of articles on breakfast foods dogs can and can’t eat right here on Spoiled Hounds.
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