Can Dogs Eat Fruit Snacks?

Fruit Snacks are generally regarded as a fun and delicious yet healthier snack than some other alternatives.  Unlike other gummy candies, fruit snacks are often made with real fruit and without any preservatives. Additionally, they can be gluten-free.

If you have wondered can dogs eat fruit snacks, this article will provide guidance on whether fruit snacks are safe for dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Fruit Snacks?

Yes, dogs can eat Fruit snacks, but they shouldn’t be a regular part of any dog’s diet.  You need to be careful which fruit snack flavors you feed as some flavoring shouldn’t be fed to dogs.  In addition, the sugar content and other ingredients provide no health benefits and could even be harmful in large enough quantities.

Potential Hazards Of Giving Your Dog Fruit Snacks

The main issue about giving your dog fruit snacks is that most variants contain grape-flavored gummies.  Grapes are toxic to dogs, and since many of these treats are made from real fruit, the grape flavor is a potential hazard. Some variants also contain star fruit, which is also a known pet poison.

While a piece or two of the wrong flavor of fruit snacks might not be too troubling for large dogs like Labradors and German Shepherds, it could be life-threatening for smaller dogs like Pomeranians and Chihuahuas.

If your pup accidentally gets into some of your fruit snack stash and ingests some grape fruit snacks, watch them for signs of toxicity. The most common symptoms of dog poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, and lethargy. If you observe these or notice a negative change in your dog’s behavior, don’t hesitate to head to your vet immediately.

Flavors Of Food Snack To Avoid Feeding Your Dog

If you love fruit snacks yourself and are keen on tossing a piece or two to your dog once in a while, avoid giving them the deep purple-colored ones that are known to be grape-flavored. You should also avoid the red, strawberry-flavored pieces since they also contain grape puree.

Welch’s fruit snacks are well known brand of fruit snacks that most people are probably aware of.  Generally, you should avoid these Welch’s Fruit Snacks variants where grape puree is listed as the top ingredient:

• Mixed Fruit
• Island Fruits
• Superfruit Mix (also contains star fruit)
• Strawberry
• Apple Orchard Medley
• Citrus Medley
• Fruit Punch
• Concord Grape

Your safest option is the Berries ‘n Cherries variant, which doesn’t contain any fruits that are toxic to dogs.

Fruits Snacks Alternatives For Dogs

Although there are some flavors that don’t contain fruits that are toxic for dogs, it is best to avoid feeding your dog fruit snacks at all.  There are better alternative doggie snacks that don’t contain lots of sugar and artificial ingredients.

If you enjoying making treats for your dog, you can make your own gummy dog treats that are more dog friendly.  Here’s a recipe you can try:

Blueberry Gummies for Dogs

Blueberries are safe for dogs and actually provide incredible health benefits because of their antioxidant content. When making these, make sure you read the label of your gelatin to make sure it doesn’t contain any sinister ingredients like artificial sweeteners.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Blueberries
• 1/2 cup Water
• 1 cup Cold Water
• 6 Tbsp. Unflavored Gelatin

Procedure:

• Combine half a cup of water and blueberries in a blender.
• Blend until pureed and set aside.
• Prepare the gelatin according to package instructions.
• Once the gelatin is ready, add in the blueberry puree.
• Stir the mixture until well combined.
• Pour the mixture into a mold or small molds.
• Chill in the fridge until completely set.
• Remove from the mold and slice into smaller pieces, if necessary.
• Keep in the fridge for a maximum of 2 weeks.

Final Thoughts

Although fruit snacks shouldn’t harm your dog in a small quantity, that doesn’t mean that fruit snacks should be apart of your dog’s regular diet. If your pup really enjoys gummies, you can make a suitable alternative with guaranteed pet-safe ingredients, or you can simply give them portions of fresh fruit like oranges, strawberries, apples, and watermelon.