Can Dogs Eat Lucky Charms? What You Need To Know

This breakfast cereal is filled with colorful marshmallows, so it seems harmless. But can dogs eat Lucky Charms? Keep reading this guide to find out how safe (or dangerous) it is.

As a pet parent myself, I’m constantly worried about what Luke and Milo are eating, and I have a feeling you feel the same way. So let’s take a close look at the popular cereal Lucky Charms.

For ultimate pet safety, please ask your vet any questions you have regarding your dog eating Lucky Charms.

What’s In Lucky Charms

Before we look at how safe or unhealthy they are for our fur babies, let’s look at what Lucky Charms are made of. What are the ingredients in Lucky Charms?

According to the General Mills website, Original Lucky Charms are made from:

Whole Grain Oats, Sugar, Whole Grain Corn, Corn Starch, Corn Syrup, Dextrose. Contains 2% or less of: Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Gelatin, Trisodium Phosphate, Red 40, Yellow 5 & 6, Blue 1, Natural and Artificial Flavor. Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Added to Preserve Freshness. Vitamins and Minerals: Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate), Iron and Zinc (mineral nutrients), A B Vitamin (niacinamide), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), Vitamin B1 (thiamin mononitrate), Vitamin A (palmitate), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), A B Vitamin (folic acid), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3.
luckycharms.com

That is a long list of ingredients. And they’re listed in the order of most-used to least, with sugar being the 2nd largest ingredient.

Dog in front of a bowl of Lucky Charms cereal.

Answer: Non-Toxic But Unhealthy

Even though Lucky Charms cereal doesn’t contain any toxic ingredients, it’s still a very dangerous food to give to your dog or to allow them to eat.

If your dog eats a few pieces that fell on the floor, or snuck some from a snacking kiddo, then you can relax. It probably won’t hurt your dog at all. Unless your dog has celiac or issues digesting gluten, small amounts of this cereal won’t hurt your pup.

But the refined sugar in Lucky Charms – from the sugar, corn starch, and corn syrup – could lead to weight gain or contribute to obesity. Overweight or obese dogs are at a greater risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or osteoarthritis.

It’s important to discuss your dog’s diet with your veterinarian if your dog is gaining too much weight. Canines need a diet that is high in animal protein and low in grains, carbohydrates, fats, and refined sugar.

Varieties Of Lucky Charms

In addition to original Lucky Charms, you might see these on the store shelves.

Berry Swirl
Chocolatey Chocolate
Just Magical Marshmallows
Minis
S’Mores
St. Patrick’s Day Green

No matter which kind of crispy sugary breakfast cereal you buy, it’s best to keep it away from your dog.

Are Lucky Charms Nutritious?

They are marketed as being part of a healthy breakfast, and you might even see vitamins and minerals in the ingredients list.

But don’t be fooled. There is no nutritional value in this cereal – especially for your furry friends. This cereal is basically empty calories for dogs.

What About the Marshmallows in It?

No, dogs should not eat marshmallows. Just like any source of refined sugar, you shouldn’t allow your dog to eat these cloud-like sweets.

There are a bunch of different kinds of marshmallows out there. So if you want to keep reading about this ingredient, then check out my guide to dogs and marshmallows.

Beware Of Xylitol

Always read the ingredients list before sharing any kind of snack or sweets with your dog so that you can avoid the toxic ingredient xylitol. You might see it as a sweetener in sugar-free marshmallows or other low-calorie people foods.

The FDA has a guide explaining the dangers of xylitol to dogs. This sweetener is used in a lot of low-calorie human snacks, but it can cause serious health issues for dogs. Pups that eat too much xylitol are at risk of life-threatening hypoglycemia or high blood sugar.

If you think your dog ate something that contains xylitol, call your veterinarian immediately. And watch out for these symptoms:

Vomiting
Lethargy
Weakness
Loss of Coordination
Seizures

How Much Sugar Can A Dog Eat

Dogs should get all of their sugar from natural sources like fruits, vegetables, and grains. Sugar from sources like cane sugar, brown sugar, or corn syrup will spike your dog’s blood sugar and could cause them to gain an unhealthy amount of weight.

Even so, it’s really hard to make sure dogs stay completely away from all sources of sugar. Veterinarians agree that as long as the sugar comes from natural sources (like fruit, not cane sugar) then make sure it only comprises 10% of their overall diet.

Your pup might experience an upset stomach or other digestive issues if they eat too much processed sugar.

Lucky Charms cereal in a bowl on top of a kitchen towel.

Better Idea: Naturally-Sweetened Dog Treats

Instead of sharing your breakfast cereal with your furry friend, make a homemade, low-sugar treat just for them.

I have a bunch of Dog Treat Recipes you can pick from! As far as breakfast items, Homemade blueberry muffins and peanut butter donuts are dog-safe, low-sugar, and really tasty for dogs.

Final Thoughts

The short answer is that it’s not a good idea to share even small quantities of Lucky Charms with your dog. The high sugar content could contribute to a bunch of health problems down the road.

Even though it doesn’t contain any toxic ingredients, there aren’t any health benefits in it, and it isn’t a good idea to share, even as an occasional treat.

More Resources

Here are even more resources about different types of cereals dogs can and can’t eat.

Find lots of articles about human food dogs can eat here on Spoiled Hounds!

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