Are Marshmallows Safe for Dogs?

You catch your dog trying to eat marshmallows during your ‘smores fest. He’s pawing and chomping away. But waaait! Are marshmallows even safe for dogs? Well, your hound might be hungry for some squishy-sweet marshmallow treats, but the last thing you or your dog wants is a trip to the emergency vet. Even though your friendly veterinarian staff at VEG ER for pets are here for you 24 hours a day!

CAN I FEED MY DOG MARSHMALLOWS?

If you were wondering, if dogs should eat marshmallows, we’re here to give you the official, veterinarian-sourced word on the topic. While these puffy lumps of spun sugar are a favorite of humans, they’re not so Fido-friendly.

There are potential risks that go with feeding marshmallows to your dog, and why a dog-appropriate snack is a better option. Let’s take a chewy bite into some reasons why dogs and marshmallows don’t mix.

WHY CAN’T DOGS EAT MARSHMALLOWS?

Marshmallows are mostly just sugar. Just as you wouldn’t spoon-feed your dog straight from the sugar bag, it’s not a good idea to pop marshmallows into your begging beagle’s mouth either.

High sugar intake, especially on a regular basis, can lead to various health issues. These include:

• Dental problems
• Diabetes
• Weight gain/obesity

SET A NO-SUGAR RULE FOR YOUR DOG’S DIET

The canine health problems above can lead to more severe and complicated conditions that impact quality of life for your dog, (and for you as his caretaker). Think of it this way. Maybe one tiny treat won’t spoil your spaniel, but what happens when your doggo starts to expect his share of your candy stash? That’s when it can affect your canine’s health.

If you can keep sugar off-limits to your dog, you’ll be doing him a great favor in the long run. He won’t think of marshmallows and other sugary snacks as foods meant for him. And he won’t associate treat time with sweets.

Best of all, you won’t have growing veterinary health issues related to sugar intake to worry about as your dog ages.

DOGS AND ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS: THE XYLITOL RISK

Here’s another marshmallow-related risk to your dog to be aware of. Sugar-free marshmallows can actually be toxic to dogs. They’re often made with xylitol, an artificial sweetener that can be life-threatening to the canine population.

Hypoglycemia and liver failure are two of the biggest risks if you keep sugar-free marshmallows or other treats around that your dog could potentially get into.

Symptoms of xylitol poisoning include:

• Coordination loss
• Rapid drop in blood sugar level
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Weakness

Immediate veterinary care is crucial to managing xylitol poisoning effectively. If you’re pretty sure or even think your dog ate sugar-free marshmallows, take him to your nearest VEG ER for pets for emergency vet care immediately.

THERMAL INJURY FROM ROASTED MARSHMALLOWS

When marshmallows are toasted, their internal temperatures reach over 150ºF and that heat helps make chocolate bars all melty when making s’mores! However, because of their gooey adhesive properties, coupled with how quickly dogs try to gobble up treats, it can lead to dermal or full thickness thermal injuries in their mouth or esophagus.

A dog eating a toasted marshmallow can result in:

• Discomfort
• Reluctance to eat
• The need for pain medication or local wound care

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG EATS MARSHMALLOWS

If your dog consumes marshmallows, look at the packaging to see if xylitol, or any other artificial sweetener like aspartame, is an ingredient. If it is, you’ll be bringing your dog into VEG, where our 24-hour emergency veterinarians will help.

If an artificial sweetener is not an ingredient, monitor your dog for signs of distress.

Identifying symptoms of distress in dogs

• Collapse
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Seizures
• Stomach upset

If you spot any of these in your dog after he accidentally ingests marshmallows, call your nearest VEG animal emergency hospital and let us know you’re coming in.

The importance of veterinary intervention

Quick action can be the difference between a minor issue and a severe complication. VEG ER for pets is equipped to handle such emergencies.

We offer prompt assessments and treatments to help your dog recover after eating something he shouldn’t have that may harm his health. Trust VEG’s veterinary professionals to guide you and administer medical care to your dog at critical moments like this.