Can Dogs Eat Hot Cheetos?

Hot Cheetos probably ranks top among your favorite snacks if you love spicy food. Their taste is amazing, a reason behind the snack’s popularity.

If you have a dog at home, there is a high chance it has snacked on your bag of hot Cheetos. Most canines seem to enjoy this snack; they will plead for more and may even lick Cheetos dust off your fingers.

Is hot Cheetos safe for dogs, though? We can’t help but ponder on this subject, seeing that most of us share our snacks with our canines.

Read on to find out if it is okay or not to eat a bag of hot Cheetos with your doggo.

Why Do Dogs Love Hot Cheetos?

Dogs are curious by nature and will want to taste anything you put in your mouth. They avoid the food if it has an unwelcoming taste or smell. Cheetos taste good and have an appetizing scent; no wonder your dog always wants a taste.

Some canine experts are of the idea that dogs do not love spicy foods, including hot Cheetos. Your doggo may eat Cheetos to bond or get your attention.

Is Hot Cheetos Safe For Dogs?

Your dog should not eat hot Cheetos, even if they seem to like it. This snack contains many ingredients that can be toxic to your canine. A single puff won’t hurt it, but overeating hot Cheetos may harm it.

Toxic Additives In Hot Cheetos

As previously mentioned, your doggo should not eat hot Cheetos primarily because of its additives. The following are some of the ingredients that can harm your canine.

1. Salt

Dogs should not have salt, as too much of it may cause sodium ion toxicity. Talking about sodium, Cheetos contains several sodium salts. These are sodium caseinate, disodium inosinate, and disodium guanylate.

Signs of sodium toxicity in dogs are thirst, frequent urination, high temperature, seizures, vomiting, and diarrhea.

2. Cheddar Cheese

Hot Cheetos have cheddar cheese, made by mixing milk, cheese cultures, enzymes, and salt. Dogs can eat different kinds of cheese, including cheddar cheese, in small quantities. The cheese becomes a problem if your dog is lactose intolerant, meaning dairy products can upset it.

Symptoms of lactose intolerance include vomiting, gas, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal upsets. Keep hot Cheetos away from your dog if it has this condition.

3. Enriched Cornmeal

Cornmeal is a primary ingredient in Cheetos, responsible for its crunchy texture. Enriching cornmeal involves the addition of niacin, thiamin, ferrous sulfate, and folic acid to boost its nutrient value. The issue with this ingredient is its high glycemic index. It can be problematic for dogs with diabetes as it causes blood sugar spikes.

Moreover, some dogs are allergic to cornmeal. Exposure leads to reactions like skin irritation, vomiting, abdominal pains, and obsessive licking. You should consult your vet to ascertain if your dog is allergic to any ingredient in hot Cheetos. Keep away the snack from your dog if it has allergies.

4. Maltodextrin

Primarily derived from corn, maltodextrin is a white and tasteless powder used to dilute and evenly distribute seasoning. In short, it is responsible for the flavor burst when you pop a puff of Cheetos in your mouth. It harms dogs and may degrade their gut health or cause nutritional deficiencies.

5. Monosodium Glutamate

Hot Cheetos have a distant meaty essence known as umami taste. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is responsible for this taste. Consumption of MSG is bad for dogs as it may lead to brain damage and increases the risk of cancer.

6. Onion And Garlic

This snack requires a decent amount of garlic and onion powder for flavoring. As we know, dogs should not eat garlic and onions due to sulfur compounds. These compounds can denature red blood cells leading to anemia.

Garlic and onion appear more potent in powder form, so your dog should not eat hot Cheetos.

7. Citric Acid

The tang in hot Cheetos comes from citric acid, which enhances the seasoning. While we enjoy the lemony taste of this additive, citric acid can upset your doggo. It can cause severe tummy aches, sometimes accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping. Citric acid may also trigger peptic ulcers, leading to unbearable pain.

8. The Artificial Colors

Hot Cheetos are famous for their signature bright reddish-orangish color. Red 40 and yellow 6 lake dyes are responsible for the color; without the dyes, this snack would resemble worms. While the artificial colors do justice to the Cheetos’ presentability, they can hurt your dog.

You may notice the dyes in the excrement, which may also make pooping a painful experience, similar to what we may experience after a spicy dish. The artificial colors can trigger allergies: pet experts think they may be carcinogenic.

Do Hot Cheetos Have Nutritional Benefits For Dogs?

You may get impressed when you look up the nutritional value of hot Cheetos. Present nutrients include carbs, saturated fats, protein, fiber, potassium, and sodium.

Despite your dog needing these nutrients, hot Cheetos is not the right food for them. Its regular dog food is safe and contains all the essential nutrients your dog needs.

What Will Happen If My Dog Eats Hot Cheetos?

The effects of eating hot Cheetos depend on many factors, such as the serving, size, and health of your dog. A single cheese puff is bearable; however, eating a whole bag can have serious consequences.

Large and healthy dogs can withstand the effects of eating hot Cheetos compared to the smaller and sickly ones.

The following are some of the reactions to expect when your dog eats hot Cheetos.

• Toxicity

Too much hot Cheetos can cause different kinds of toxicity. Garlic, onion, and sodium salts are major culprits behind the poisoning. The sulfur compounds in hot Cheetos will bring about hemolytic anemia due to damaged red blood cells, while the sodium salts cause sodium ion toxicity. You need to contact a pet doctor if your dog overeats this snack to prevent things from getting out of hand.

• A Burning Sensation In The Mouth

Hot Cheetos are extra spicy and can be problematic to your dog. The seasoning may have a burning sensation leading to excess drooling. Your canine may try to cough away the spices voluntarily or repeatedly rub its mouth. A bowl of water may offer much-needed relief.

• Risk Of Serious Illnesses

As previously mentioned, hot Cheetos are made using ingredients that can cause serious ailments. The fat and carb content make your dog more susceptible to obesity, diabetes, and pancreatitis. Food coloring and MSG can cause cancer. These conditions are challenging to manage and may ultimately result in death.

Cheddar cheese can cause reactions in dogs that are lactose intolerant. Moreover, enriched corn can trigger allergies in dogs.

• Weight Loss

Your dog may suffer from weight loss if it eats Cheetos for a long time. This snack makes your dog feel full, whereby it may pass its regular food. The outcome is malnourishment, as Cheetos do not provide some essential nutrients.

What To Do When Your Dog Eats Hot Cheetos?

Looking at the possible side effects of eating hot Cheetos, it is wise to keep them away from your furry friend. However, sometimes your canine may snack on a bag of Cheetos when you are unaware. What should you do in such a scenario?

Start by determining the amount of hot Cheetos it has had. Do not panic if your dog had a handful or less of the cheese puffs, especially if it is a large and healthy dog. Most of the time, the reactions won’t be evident.

Do away with the snack if your canine is still eating the puffs. Be gentle to avoid aggression. You should then watch out for reactions like diarrhea, vomiting, thirst, and abdominal pain. The side effects may last for some hours in a healthy canine. Call your pet doctor if the symptoms persist.

A bowl of water offered at regular intervals helps with the sodium toxicity and relieves the burning sensation in your doggo’s mouth.

How To Stop Your Dog From Eating Hot Cheetos?

You can employ various measures to stop your dog from eating hot Cheetos. Start by keeping the snacks out of their reach. You can use your kitchen’s top shelves for storage.

If you want a bite of the cheese puffs, ensure you are far from your doggo, as it will also want a taste.

Behavioral training comes in handy for discipline. When trained, your dog will keep off hot Cheetos – including the random pieces on the floor.

Alternatives To Hot Cheetos For Dogs

Several snacks are excellent alternatives to hot Cheetos. You can try carrots, which are suitable for your dog’s eyesight and immune function. You can give it raw carrots or boil and mash them with other veggies like squash.

Moreover, you can try fruits like bananas, apples, and mangoes, which provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Related Questions

1. Can My Dog Fall Ill After Eating Hot Cheetos?

Hot Cheetos are not suitable for dogs due to some ingredients that can harm them. Such additives include onion and garlic powder, which your dog should not consume. They have sulfur compounds that damage red blood cells, causing hemolytic anemia.

Also, your dog can ail if it is lactose intolerant due to cheddar cheese, a dairy product. Sodium salts are also present in hot Cheetos and can cause sodium ion toxicity.

The monosodium glutamate and food coloring in the snack are carcinogenic. Other conditions to expect include diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.

2. How Much Hot Cheetos Does It Take for Dogs to Fall Sick?

Your dog can eat a handful or less hot Cheetos without risking various health effects. However, overeating these cheesy snacks can make them sick. The amount of hot Cheetos that will cause a reaction depends on many factors, like health, dog breed, and size.

Healthy dogs can handle the side effects of Cheetos reasonably well. You may notice mild symptoms like drooling and a slight fever, which lasts for a short time. Large dogs can also withstand the adverse effects of this spicy snack. Puppies, aging dogs, and smaller ones will have a harder time.

On dog breeds, Japanese breeds like Akita and Shiba Inu have a lower tolerance to spices. Garlic and onion powder in hot Cheetos will affect them more.

3. Can Dogs Eat Regular Cheetos?

Regular Cheetos contains almost the same ingredients as hot Cheetos. They are still harmful to dogs, courtesy of additives like citric acid, which your dog should not eat, particularly if it has peptic ulcers.

They also contain cheese, which your canine should only eat in small quantities. Cheese is especially bad for dogs that are lactose intolerant.

Your furry friend can handle a small serving of regular Cheetos, as long as it is healthy.

4. Should I Induce Vomiting When My Dog Eats Hot Cheetos?

You must be calm when you realize your pup has been snacking on hot Cheetos. Do not induce vomiting as you may worsen the situation. This treat contains sodium ions that are highly toxic and cause dehydration. Vomiting means the loss of more water. The logical move is to contact your vet for instructions.

5. Can Hot Cheetos Kill a Dog?

Hot Cheetos will not instantly kill your dog unless it ate too much, like two to three bags, an out-of-the-ordinary situation. Nevertheless, this treat can increase the risk of life-threatening conditions like hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and cancer.

Final Words

Most of us can’t resist a bag of hot Cheetos, which we gladly share with our canines. It is not a good move as this spicy snack can upset your dog, especially in large quantities. We learn that most of its ingredients are toxic and may cause issues like tummy aches, diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, and spiked blood pressure. You do not want to deal with such problems, as they can be draining, emotionally and financially.

It is wise to keep Cheetos for yourself and get healthier alternatives, like fruits and carrots for your pup. If your dog overeats hot Cheetos, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian.