Nutella is a delicious spread that goes with pretty much anything.
It’s the perfect addition to your morning toast, on top of ice cream, or even in a smoothie.
Dogs enjoy chocolate: but do not confuse Nutella with that tasty treat.
Though Nutella comes from a company famous for its dog-friendly products, its ingredients may not be suitable for dogs.
Therefore, evaluate any pet food for its ingredients before feeding it to your dog.
So, can dogs have Nutella?
No, the ingredients in it can be harmful to them.
For instance, the spread contains sugar, cocoa, milk, and hazelnut, all potentially harmful and dangerous additions to your dog’s diet.
Chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, hyperactivity, and seizures.
The sugar in Nutella may also hurt your pooch.
This article aims to determine if Nutella is toxic for dogs.
In addition, it explains how to handle a dog that consumes too much Nutella.
Is Nutella Safe for Dogs to Take?
No.
The main ingredient in Nutella is sugar.
Although too much sugar won’t kill your pet immediately, it could make them sick and, in some cases, lead to further problems.
For instance, sugar causes hyperactivity and behavioral changes when consumed in large quantities.
It can also spike your dog’s blood sugar levels and cause them to have an upset stomach.
Nutella contains palm oil made from tropical plants like coconuts and palm trees.
These plants are toxic to dogs because they contain glycosides.
These substances can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney failure in dogs if consumed in large amounts over time.
However, Nutella doesn’t have any added nutrients to make up for the nutritional loss caused by vomiting or diarrhea.
The hazelnuts in Nutella may be dangerous to dogs if consumed regularly in high quantities as a result of cyanide content.
Moreover, cocoa powder is potentially harmful to dogs because it contains caffeine which can affect their hearts.
Is Nutella Good for Dogs?
No, its ingredients are toxic to dogs.
The sugar in Nutella is part of what makes it so tasty.
Yet, it can also cause diarrhea or constipation if your dog isn’t used to it.
Milk is also not good for dogs because their bodies aren’t designed to process lactose as humans do.
Whenever your dog eats anything that contains milk (like Nutella), he may get sick or have an allergic reaction that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
Additionally, hazelnuts are also not good for dogs, so you should never feed them on their own.
A component of these products, Prussic acid causes severe inflammation and pain in the mouth, esophagus, and gastrointestinal tract of animals when ingested.
Nutella isn’t nutritionally balanced for dogs.
While it does contain some protein from the hazelnut butter (about 3%), there isn’t enough protein to make up for the lack of other essential nutrients like fiber or vitamins A and C.
Is Nutella Bad for Dogs?
Yes, Nutella contains ingredients that could cause several problems ranging from mild discomfort to death to your dog.
Dogs’ bodies aren’t built to handle large amounts of sugar.
The sugar in Nutella will cause an imbalance in your dog’s blood sugar levels, which can lead to diabetes.
Thus, if you feed them too much Nutella at one time, they can become sick even if they only eat a little bit.
Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine that can be deadly for pups if consumed in large quantities (more than 10 grams).
The caffeine and theobromine in Nutella can cause your dog to experience vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and even death if your dog consumes them.
Furthermore, milk products like cheese and butter are highly acidic and can irritate the stomach lining and cause diarrhea or vomiting in your dog.
If you’re still skeptical about whether or not to allow your canine companion to enjoy this tasty treat, ask your veterinarian for advice.
How Should I Deal with a Dog That Ate Nutella?
If your dog inadvertently eats some Nutella, the situation may not necessarily dire.
As long as he is healthy and does not have any known medical conditions, you can treat him at home.
However, if he has diabetes or another underlying health condition, immediately take him to your veterinarian’s office.
Your dog may need a stomach pump or want to be monitored for signs of poisoning for some hours.
Dogs can experience a variety of reactions due to their poor ability to digest foreign foods like chocolate.
It is possible, for instance, that they could develop pancreatitis, which is potentially life-threatening if left untreated.
If your dog ingests a relatively small amount of Nutella, monitor him for signs of pancreatitis.
Generally, dogs develop significant symptoms within 8 hours after consuming Nutella.
These can include:
- Watery diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Abdominal pain
However, some dogs develop more severe symptoms, including vomiting blood or even jaundice, a yellow discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes.
If your pet vomits or shows signs of discomfort or other complications, your vet can administer intravenous fluids and treat symptoms of low blood pressure as necessary.
In some cases, they may use an antiarrhythmic or anticonvulsant medication to restore or maintain normal heart rhythm.
If you see any stimulator signs, seek immediate medical treatment, including fluid resuscitation and beta-blocking and pain medications.
If your dog eats a large amount of Nutella, induce vomiting.
However, this should only be done with the vet’s guidance because severe illness may result if the vomit is not expelled from the stomach.
To do this, insert a finger into its throat, or use an emetic such as hydrogen peroxide or mustard.
You can also put your dog’s chin or paw into warm water taking care not to burn him.
Activated charcoal administration prevents the bloodstream from absorbing the toxins and significantly reduces complications.
This will prevent his condition from worsening.
To prevent further access to the Nutella, put it where your dog can’t get to.
If it is already empty, clean up any remaining pieces and ensure no other food items are in that area to tempt your dog.
Conclusion
Nutella is a tasty hazelnut spread, but its high amount of processed ingredients, such as sugar and cocoa, are toxic to dogs.
A small amount may cause gastrointestinal distress, diarrhea, or vomiting.
If you are going to try something new with your dog, do some research first.
You don’t want to feed Fido something that could be harmful and potentially fatal.
Moreover, it’s good not to miss out on something that might be beneficial.
So always be cautious when introducing anything to your dog.
Unfortunately, handicapped dogs are much more likely to be ignored when a family is picking out their new pet. Handicapped pets need more care than non-handicapped pets, so it is understandable why they are often harder to rehome.
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