Is Gelatin Jello Bad for Dogs & Puppies to Have?
Jello has become the favorite dessert for many people. Since dogs want to have what we eat, you might have wondered if it is healthy for dogs.
The answer is YES. Dogs can eat Jello, which has gelatin, a beneficial nutrient for animals. The downside to eating jello is the presence of some other things in it that might want to guide your decision as regarding giving your pet or how often you want to give it.
Can Your Dogs Like Jello?
Dogs love sweet treats and will always be thrilled to have one.
Jello Safety for Dogs?
The first step to determining jello’s health safety is to look at the ingredients. To start with, consider the major ingredients: gelatin, food coloring, artificial flavor, sugar, and water. The only ingredient beneficial to your dog is Gelatin. Too much intake of the remaining ones can lead to a serious health problem.
The Beneficial Ingredients of Jello: Gelatin
As a result of its availability in Jello, you are exposing your dog to the purest form of protein. Its health benefit is one reason people also enjoy it. On the contrary, it is the only healthy nutrient your dog can get from Jello. Yet, we need to understand why gelatin is important.
- Carbohydrate: Gelatin promotes the digestion of carbohydrate; therefore, it increases the chances of your pet gaining energy.
- Diarrhea: Another function of gelatin is its ability to cure diarrhea.
- Stomach Upset: Even if your pet suffers from stomach upset, you are not worried because gelatin in Jello will help in curing it.
- Brain Damage: With the presence of gelatin in your pet’s bloodstream, he has bigger chances of not suffering from brain damages because this is one of the things gelatin does
- Anti–Inflammatory: Gelatin comes with anti-inflammatory properties useful in the healing process of dogs suffering from irritable bowels, joint diseases, and even arthritis.
What are the Harmful Ingredients in Jello?
Being a sweet product, Jello is filled with excess sugar. When your pet takes more than enough sugar, it is likely to suffer from weight issues.
Although exercise can help reduce the extra pounds, you cannot overlook the impact of sugar on diabetes and several diseases. One other thing you won’t also be able to handle is the upsurge of your pet’s blood pressure, which might later cause cardiac diseases.
Not only that, you can’t overlook the effect of the artificial flavors as well as the food coloring available in jello.
Xylitol’s Presence
Diabetes patients have always been advised to avoid processed foods because of the presence of xylitol, which is an alcohol that happens naturally. They are extracted from plants and used to sweeten food. Although xylitol is natural and has more health benefits for humans, your pet should avoid it.
It hastens insulin release in your pet’s body. When dogs take Xylitol into their body, the released insulins will reduce their blood sugar level, leading to hypoglycemia. One of the results of hypoglycemia can be found when you see your dog is depressing, vomiting, lethargic, lacking coordination, and suffering tremor.
You should also note that another name for Xylitol is reduced sugar, low carb, or tooth-friendly. Many manufacturers adopt one of those names on their products to throw you off the scent of Xylitol. It is, therefore, advisable to scan the Jello can before feeding it to your pet.
The Harmfulness of Jello
Since you have seen the harmful ingredients, you might want to get the summarized result of these harmful ingredients.
- Weight Gain, Heart Disease, and Diabetes: There is a higher chance of your pet getting any of these because of a high intake of sugar. The process starts with weight gain and leads to several other things you might want to avoid.
- Pancreatitis: This is caused by an inflammation of the pancreas, which aids sugar metabolism by creating insulin and producing enzymes to aid digestion.
Alongside the damage it causes to pancreases, the inflammation can result in fever and several other problems. S
- Xylitol Problem: Though addressed before, it is good to be reminded of how much effort must be put into ensuring the safety of your dog.
Should Dogs Consume Flavored Jello?
The answer is No. As explained earlier, flavors are bad for dogs. Although the flavors go by the name of popular fruits, they are not fruits. Fruits are healthy for your pet but these artificial flavors are not. They contain toxic chemicals.
Should Dogs Consume Jello Shots?
Jello shots are the same as jello. Moreover, you can never miss out the presence of Xylitol in these shots, meaning your dogs are bound to suffer the consequences presented if they ever take jello shots.
Should Your Dog Eat Jello Pudding?
Jello pudding is great for your pets as long as you give them in moderation. Remember that there is a higher chance of jello pudding having Xylitol.
Can A Puppy Eat Jello?
Since jello is recommended to be given in moderation to adult dogs, it is not advisable to bring it near your puppies. Allow them to enjoy a few months of human foods before introducing Jello into their diet. Their fragile digestive system exposes them to more harm whenever they take sugar.
When do You want To Make Home-Made Jello for Your Dog?
If you feel you can easily by-pass the problems associated with Jello, you can make it at home. That way, you have control over the sugar and artificial flavors prone to have harmful chemicals.
You might want to try out any of the following flavors because they can improve the nutrients available in the jello: coconut, cinnamon, and pumpkin.
Conclusion
The recommendation here is that you avoid Jello when it has Xylitol. The best option is to provide home-made Jellos or even ensure you look at the list of the ingredient before giving it to your pet. Despite the presence of Gelatin in it, you cannot overlook the presence of the other harmful ingredient.
