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Can dogs have jello: Safe or toxic?

Can dogs have jello: Safe or toxic?

Jello (or Jell-O) might not be a healthy food, but it’s definitely a fun food! And a great dessert! Now, given that jello has basically no nutritional value, is it still safe for dogs? Can dogs have jello?

Jello contains powdered gelatin, sugars, and artificial sweeteners and it’s basically just a gelatin treat. So nothing that is toxic to dogs, right?

Well, in this article we’re going to answer the question can dogs have jello (if the same rule like with gummy bears applies) and explain everything around this delicious dessert!

Before we start, we have other articles on different human snacks and candy and whether they are safe for dogs or not:

Can dogs have jello – The truth

The short answer to the question can dogs have jello is kind of, but not really. Here’s what we mean. Basically, jello doesn’t contain any ingredient that is toxic for dogs.

However, it does contain one ingredient that can potentially be dangerous for your dog’s health – it’s sugar.

can dogs eat jello
Jello contains a lot of sugar, which can be dangerous for your dog’s health

Generally speaking, small amounts of jello really won’t harm your dog. That is, as long as it doesn’t have xylitol in it. But, the thing is that many experts advise dog owners not to share any jello with their canines.

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The most obvious reason is that it has absolutely no nutritional value for your dog. So why bother anyway? If you want to give your dog some human food as a treat you can opt for different fruits for example like blueberries, pineapple, applesor blackberries!

Why sugar is bad

As mentioned above the main reason why jello isn’t good for your dog is that it contains a lot of sugar. And we all know how harmful that for dogs is.

Basically, too much sugar over an extended period of time can lead to serious health issues and problems for your canine companion. Diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay are just a few of them.

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Besides these most common problems, your dog’s digestion can suffer too because of sugar. You see, all the sugar your dog consumes upsets the balance of bacteria needed to digest food, which can lead to diarrhea and vomiting.

Also, too much sugar can cause inflammation which can then cause serious conditions in your dog like arthritis, dermatitis, and pancreatitis.

And lastly, all that refined sugar that can be found in human food isn’t healthy for us either, but for dogs, it just means more empty calories they don’t need anyway. Too many excess calories lead to weight gain.

What about gelatin

Gelatin is another major ingredient of jello, but is it safe or dangerous? Well, dogs can eat plain, unflavored gelatin. As a matter of fact, it’s healthy for them! Plain gelatin is great for your dog’s skin and joints!

Plain, unflavored gelatine is healthy for dogs

Benefits of gelatine on your dog’s overall health:

  • Improves bones and joint health
  • Great for fur and skin
  • Can improve memory and brain function
  • Can prevent cancer growth
  • Helps to prevent liver damage
  • Helps with gut flora

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So even though jello is not healthy, gelatin is! You can for example mix it with your dog’s food or just sprinkle it on top of your dog’s meal.

My name is Jackie and I am a veterinarian with a degree in veterinary medicine. With extensive experience in treating various animals, I am known for my compassionate and personalized approach to animal care.