Nutella is a tasty treat for both kids and adults.
This cocoa-based spread could be enjoyed in a variety of ways but, if you are a pup owner one thing that must cloud your mind is, is it safe for your pup to enjoy Nutella?
Nutella no doubt tastes like rainbows on your tongue but to put it simply, NO, it is not safe for your dog to eat Nutella. Even in small doses, it could be harmful to your dog. The ingredients used in Nutella are not dog-friendly and can lead to serious poisoning and disorders. Before we talk about why Nutella is not safe for your pooch, we should explain what are the worrisome contents of Nutella.
Concerning ingredients of Nutella:
Cocoa
Chocolate of any kind is terrible for your pooch. Chocolate contains a toxin Theobromine. Theobromine induces epilepsy, internal bleeding, vomiting, restlessness, and elevated heart rate. Theobromine is toxic to both dogs and animals but we humans can metabolize Theobromine much better than dogs.
Theobromine associated poisoning is explained in detail down below.
Sugar
Too much sugar is bad for anyone, the same goes for your furball. Dogs can have sugar from natural resources like fruits and vegetables but processed sugar are rather harmful to dogs as they don’t have as impeccable metabolism as humans. They may be hyperactive and then sad, gain weight, get bloodshot eyes, be irritated, and get an infection of the kidney or urinary tract if they consume too much sugar.
Palm oil
Like most of the other constituents of Nutella palm oil is also harmful to dogs. While palm oil is not inherently harmful to dogs, it can have a laxative effect on them. It may cause may induce diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration even if ingested in tiny amounts. It may also cause gut obstruction, liver failure, and severe pancreatitis and kidney damage are eaten in large amounts.
Saturated fat
Dogs should only be allowed necessary fat that too with animal-based protein i.e. beef, chicken, fish, etc. only 2 tablespoons of Nutella contains 11 gram of fat. That much saturated with such a small dose could prove to be harmful to your pooch
Soy
Soy is a constituent of many dog foods but that doesn’t make it any less harmful for your dog. Although some dogs are allergic to soy, in others it can cause damage to kidney stones, bloating, gas, and thyroid.
Other contents
To smoothen the texture of the spread, a slight amount of lecithin is applied to Nutella as well. It is derived from non-genetically engineered beans, and because of the high protein, it is often healthy for dogs. It’s also used for that same purpose in dog diets and dog products. Even, it is advisable to feed the dog all in balance.
It is also understood that certain canines are allergic to the protein content of milk. You should particularly lookout for signs such as diarrhoea and vomiting if your dog ingests Nutella in your absence.
Synthetic vanillin is another ingredient that’s used to produce Nutella. To have the same scent as natural vanilla, this is achieved. Because of the alcohol content, natural vanilla extract isn’t suitable for dogs. Vanilla extracts that are alcohol-free are typically made from vegetable glycerin, so vanillin is one of the additives you don’t need to think about in Nutella.
Cocoa-associated poisoning:
A natural alkaloid compound, Theobromine, is an element in every chocolate. Despite the name not being on the box, this is real. Different varieties of chocolates can have different amounts of this toxin.
All chocolates are not the same and theobromine can have more than the others in some varieties. Theobromine is a chemical present in cocoa that makes it bad for dogs to make chocolate.
Excessive chocolate consumption can cause the dog to be poisoned by theobromine, which is marked by intense hyperactivity. It can lead to the following symptoms as well:
- Seizure
- Heart attack
- Internal bleeding
- Muscle tremors
Dark chocolate and chocolate used for baking purposes will do more damage to dogs because they contain more white and milk chocolate than Theobromine.
A dog’s size is also a determining factor as to how much chocolate is healthy for them to eat. Some vets are against feeding chocolates to puppies and, relative to older dogs, younger dogs are considered to have a more responsive stomach.
In a dog that weighs about 30 pounds, around two tablespoons or an ounce of cocoa powder can result in mild to extreme toxicity. It is also advisable to get medical care if your dog has eaten sweets, but he has no signs.
Symptoms of cocoa poisoning:
If even with your undivided attention your pooch may still be able to gulp down some of your spread, this instance requires you to be familiar with the signs and symptoms of Theobromine toxicity. The tiny amount of Nutella may not be potentially fatal but, we better be safe than sorry. Symptoms may take 6-12 hours to appear and may last up to 3 days.
Common signs and symptoms associated with chocolate or Theobromine poisoning may include:
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Rapid pulse
- Seizures
- Excessive panting
- Anxiety (often called zoomers)
- Increased basal temperatures
- death
What to do if any of these symptoms appear?
Sneaking a taste with a small amount of Nutella is not likely to cause any fatal damage but it would be wise to contact your vet or animal poison control centre.
In case of ingestion of small amounts, basic first aid provided at home is more than enough to alleviate the symptoms. But if you are unsure of the quantity ingested by your pooch you might want to consider taking him to the vet for proper examination to ensure your dog’s health.
For the next few hours, the vet may ask you to carefully watch your dog and check for the signs and call them back if the situation doesn’t get any better. They can also ask you for an inspection and carry your dog in so they can look for any symptoms of pancreatitis.
They can try one of the following therapies for greater ingestion:
- If it has been less than 2 hours since the chocolate was eaten by your puppy, vomiting may be caused by the vet.
- They can even send multiple doses of activated charcoal to your dog. It helps to get rid of the body’s toxins to avoid them from being released into the bloodstream.
- In extreme circumstances, to help alleviate the symptoms of poisoning, the veterinarian may have supplementary care, such as IV fluids or medications.
When your dog is suffering from epilepsy, you will be asked to leave him overnight at the vet so that he can be closely watched.
Is Nutella safe In tiny amounts?
Needless to mention, considering that cocoa is poisonous to dogs, any quantity of cocoa is evil. Nutella more definitely contain less cocoa than an average Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Cookie, from my professional experience at the ASPCA Poison Control Center.
The compounds present in chocolate are methylxanthines (theobromine and caffeine) that are harmful to dogs to eat. Less than 64 mg of methylxanthine per ounce can be contained in one ounce of Nutella (two tablespoons). This would mean that, for a healthy 10-pound puppy, one ounce of Nutella is unlikely to produce any significant symptoms.
If we use 64 mg/oz as a generous approximation of Nutella dosage, 3.5 ounces or more may theoretically cause serious cardiac and central nervous system complications (CNS). Any amount of Nutella could lead to GI disturbances.
How to keep your dog from eating Nutella?
Giving tiny quantities of milk chocolate cannot be dangerous to bigger dogs, but providing cocoa as a reward to your dogs is also not recommended. Here are a few precautions you should take to ensure that your dog does not slip around your back to eat Nutella.
Out of sight – out of mind
The most logical thing you should do is guarantee that your Nutella jar is held in a position where it is difficult for your dogs to eat them. Other chocolate products, such as cocoa powder or hot chocolate mix, don’t forget. Store them all on a high shelf or in the pantry of a closet.
Over the holidays, you need to be especially vigilant as well. Don’t leave any candy bags sitting around where your dogs can quickly get to them, or organic chocolate treats. You should be sure the dog is not in the same room as you if you want chocolate, so they won’t be able to try it.
If your dog can’t seem to find it only seems fair that we cannot have a taste of it.
Develop the alpha:
You also need to develop a sense of alpha. You need to make understood that YOU are the alpha rather than your dog feeling like he’s the big bad dog. Your pooch must learn to listen to you rather than doing whatever he fancies.
Your dog must learn to respect your command when you say “leave it” this is a simple training command yet always effective in refraining your dog from eating something that could be harmful to him.
Nutella/chocolate substitutes for dogs:
Let’s be fair, Nutella tastes like heaven on earth, we humans can’t get enough of it yet your dog is just a tiny pooch. if you can’t seem to keep your dog away from Nutella you might consider getting a substitute that tastes like chocolate but is not.
Carob chips happen to be one of them, and your dog’s got them perfectly healthy. They can also be seen for people who are allergic to chocolate.
Carob is a plant that is filled with nutrients such as vitamins like magnesium, calcium, and B. It’s both a fantastic source of fibre and protein and is considered to taste like chocolate a lot, but on the sweeter side, it’s a little bit. What makes chocolate different is that it does not contain dog-toxic theobromine, caffeine, formamide, and phenylethylamine.
Carob is quite versatile and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways and you can try various recipes for your pooch to enjoy.
You can also try oatmeal, raw and unsalted peanut butter, apples, and even pieces of chicken are equally delicious yet completely safe treats for your pooch.
Parting words:
Nutella is a treat that is irresistible to both humans and dogs. Unlike humans dogs cannot metabolize chocolate, so to answer the question if dogs can eat Nutella we would say, NO dogs cannot eat Nutella. Avoid feeding your dog Nutella or any other chocolate-based treat as of the sort.
You must keep your furball’s health your top priority and must not include Nutella in his diet. If your dog has consumed Nutella or any other form of chocolate, consult your vet immediately.