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You’re sitting on the couch, watching your favorite show and munching on a bag of Cheetos.

Your dog comes over and stares at you with those big eyes, obviously hoping for a delicious bite.

You hesitate for a moment and decide to check online. Can dogs eat Cheetos? Are they safe for dogs to eat?

Dogs should not eat Cheetos. These snacks are high in sodium and fat and contain additives that can damage a dog’s health. If dogs overeat Cheetos, they may experience vomiting and diarrhea. In severe cases, they could even experience pancreatitis or salt poisoning.

This article will discuss the dangers of dogs eating Cheetos and what to do if your dog gets into a bag while you are away.

We’ll also answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this topic to ensure dog owners can keep their pups safe.

Let’s dive in.

Table of Contents

What Are Cheetos Made Of?

To understand if dogs can eat Cheetos, we need to look at what they are made of.

There are 21 different varieties, so to keep things simple, let’s look at the classic Cheetos puffs.

Nutritional Facts

Per 13 Pieces (28g): 160 calories, 10g fat, 16g carbohydrates (1g fiber, 1g sugar), 20mg calcium, 0.4mg iron, 60mg potassium, 270mg sodium, and 2g protein.

Ingredients

Enriched corn meal (corn meal, ferrous sulfate, niacin, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), vegetable oil (corn, canola, and/or sunflower oil), cheese seasoning (whey, cheddar cheese [milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes], canola oil, maltodextrin [made from corn], natural and artificial flavors, salt, whey protein concentrate, monosodium glutamate, lactic acid, citric acid, artificial color [yellow 6]), and salt. Contains milk ingredients.

Nutritional information came from cheetos.com.

Can Dogs Eat Cheetos?

Now that we know what Cheetos are made of, can dogs eat Cheeto puffs?

Cheetos contain little to no nutritional value for dogs.

Dogs should not eat Cheetos. Although one or two puffs may be safe for them to eat in moderation, it’s not recommended.

The high salt and fat content can be dangerous for dogs and cause health problems.

In addition, preservatives like MSG and other artificial flavors found in Cheetos are not healthy for dogs.

If your do give your dog some Cheetos, make sure it’s only 1 or 2 and not a frequent event.

Dogs who eat too many Cheetos can experience vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and even more harmful concerns like pancreatitis.

So it’s best to give a dog Cheetos.

Can Dogs Eat Crunchy Cheetos?

While we do not recommend dogs eat any type of Cheetos, if they must, it’s better to give them the crunchy kind over the puffed kind.

This is because one puffed Cheeto will have more sodium and fat than a crunchy Cheeto.

While neither is suitable for dogs, one or two crunchy Cheetos is unlikely to harm your dog.

Overall, your dog food should not consist of crunchy Cheetos regularly.

Can Dogs Eat Flamin Hot Cheetos?

Flamin hot Cheetos are a big no-no for dogs.

They contain all of the harmful ingredients in regular Cheeto puffs, but they also have more salt and additional spices, which can irritate a dog’s stomach.

These spices include garlic powder, onion powder, and flamin hot seasoning.

Garlic powder and onion powder can be toxic to dogs in large quantities, and the flamin hot seasoning can cause digestive issues.

Spicy food is never a good idea for a furry friend.

Combine all these spices with high amounts of sodium and fat, and you have an awful treat for dogs.

Dogs should not eat flamin hot Cheetos.

Can Dogs Eat Popcorn Cheetos?

Popcorn Cheetos contain similar ingredients to regular Cheetos except for the popcorn!

The same harmful artificial flavors, preservatives, ingredients, and a good amount of salt are present.

We do not recommend giving dogs popcorn Cheetos. However, the odd piece every so often will not harm them.

Can Dogs Eat Baked Cheetos?

While no Cheetos are good for dogs, one or two baked Cheetos is unlikely to harm your dog.

The baked Cheetos contain 50% less fat than the regular Cheetos.

This makes it a better choice as an occasional treat compared to Cheeto puffs.

However, regular consumption of baked Cheetos can lead to weight gain and other health concerns.

So, baked Cheetos should not be eaten by dogs regularly.

Can Dogs Eat Organic Cheetos (Simply Puffs)?

If you were to rank any of the Cheetos products from best to worst, the organic Cheetos, also known as the simply puffs, would be the best.

They are relatively low in calories and sodium compared to other Cheetos.

The Cheeto simply puffs also contain no artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors.

While it’s still not considered a healthy treat for dogs to eat, feeding your dog a few of these is unlikely to harm them.

So yes, dogs can eat organic Cheetos in moderation.

Just keep in mind that it’s a filler food with no nutritional value for dogs.

Is It Safe For Dogs To Eat Cheetos?

Cheetos are not acutely dangerous for dogs. They are considered safe in small amounts.

However, specific flavors, like the flamin hot Cheetos, can be more dangerous because of the spices.

Our veterinary consultant, Dr. Littlejohn, considers these to be unsafe for dogs to eat.

Other Cheetos are acceptable to eat in small amounts on occasion.

How Much Cheetos Can A Dog Eat?

Just because dogs can eat a few Cheetos without much risk does not mean they should.

We do not recommend feeding your dog Cheetos regularly.

If you decide to give them some, stick to one or two on the rare occasion.

Never give them any version of flamin hot Cheetos, as these can be more harmful than the other options.

Dangers Of Dogs Eating Cheetos

Dangers Of Dogs Eating Cheetos

While a Cheeto, here or there, is unlikely to inflict harm on your pup, the dangers increase the more frequently they eat them.

In addition, dogs that consume too many Cheetos could face some of these problems.

Here are a few dangers if your dog eats Cheetos:

Too Much Fat

Cheetos contain high levels of fat. This can lead to problems for dogs, increasing their risk of developing pancreatitis. An inflammatory disease of the pancreas.

To put it into perspective, 13 Cheetos contain 10 grams of fat, which is way too much for our dogs to eat.

Eating food that is high in fat can increase your dog’s risk of developing health issues like obesity, heart disease, and even joint pains. In addition, fatty food increases inflammation throughout the body, which can lead to all sorts of health problems down the road.

Salt Toxicity

Another ingredient in Cheetos that can be harmful to dogs is salt. Dogs should not consume more than 100mg of salt per day, according to the American Heart Association. A bag of Cheetos 13 contains 270mg of salt.

Too much salt can cause problems like electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, and vomiting. In extreme cases, it can lead to salt toxicity.

Salt toxicity symptoms include:

Excessive thirst
Lethargy
Depression
Diarrhea
Seizures
Coma

Toxic Additives

MSG is an additive found in Cheetos that can be harmful to dogs. MSG is a flavor enhancer that can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, headache, and dizziness in people. While it’s still safe for humans, MSG has been deemed dangerous for dogs.

In addition, other artificial flavors and colors are added to Cheetos that are unhealthy for a dog to consume.

Preservatives, flavor enhancers, and colorings found in human foods like Cheetos are all unhealthy options for dogs.

Overeating

Last but not least, one of the dangers of dogs eating Cheetos is if they overeat. Dogs may love the taste of Cheetos and could quickly eat an entire bag if given a chance.

Overeating any food can be dangerous for dogs, but overeating Cheetos can lead to some severe health problems. In addition, processed foods are high in calories, and they can pose a threat when eaten in access.

The two biggest concerns are pancreatitis and bloat.

Pancreatitis is a condition that occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed. This happens after dogs eat high-fat foods (like Cheetos). This can cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and even death.

Bloat is another severe condition that could occur from dogs overeating. Bloat happens when the stomach fills with gas and twists. This is very painful and even fatal if not treated immediately.

Both pancreatitis and bloat are serious medical concerns that require immediate veterinary care. So if your dog has eaten a lot of Cheetos and shows signs of illness, get in touch with your veterinarian immediately.

Final Thoughts

While a few Cheetos here and there are not likely to cause your dog any harm, it’s best to avoid feeding them to your pup altogether.

There are plenty of healthy and safe snacks you can give your dog instead of Cheetos. And if you must give them a Cheeto, make sure it’s no more then one and is not any of the spicy flavored Cheetos.

Dogs are much better off eating a healthy, balanced diet that is tailored specifically for them. Processed snacks like Cheetos are not part of a healthy diet for dogs (or humans!).

So it’s best to avoid feeding them to your pup altogether.

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