Rice cakes, a simple and nutritious food item, are always a good option and can be found in most kitchens. But could a dog eat them without getting sick?
Dogs can safely eat rice cakes, but only if they are cut into very tiny pieces and given infrequently. Even though rice is a common ingredient in dog food, giving your pet too much could lead to stomach problems.
The taste, the size, and the absence or presence of potentially harmful ingredients are all things to consider before feeding your dog a rice cake. Read this article to make sure your rice cakes are safe for Fido before you feed him one this afternoon:
Can Dogs Eat Rice Cakes?
To reiterate what we just said, rice cakes by themselves pose no health risks.
While rice cakes’ enriched white rice base means they don’t offer much in the way of nutritional value, they’re still preferable to most other human foods. Especially with flavored options, the issue lies in the additional ingredients.
Despite the fact that there is a seemingly endless variety of rice cake brands and flavors, the vast majority of them are not suitable for human consumption. Ensure your dog is getting only plain, low-sodium rice cakes if you plan to feed them.
High-sodium foods, like rice cakes, can cause dehydration and other health problems. An occasional plain rice cake is fine as long as you’re providing a balanced diet for your dog.
Are Rice Cakes Good for Dogs?
While rice cakes aren’t dangerous for your dog to eat, they also aren’t particularly good for his health. One common ingredient in both dog food and human cuisine is rice.
Wheat is a great source of carbohydrates, which are essential for both humans and dogs, and is therefore one of the most widely consumed grains on the planet.
However, even rice can be harmful to dogs with diabetes and weight loss because it can cause a spike in blood sugar levels.
Enriched puffed white rice, a common ingredient in many rice products, loses nearly all of its nutritional value during the processing that renders it into a rice cake.
An occasional rice cake is fine as long as your dog is eating a balanced diet.
Health Benefits (or Risks) Of Rice Cakes for Dogs
While rice cakes may be a low-cal treat for humans, that doesn’t mean they’re a good idea for canines. As we’ve established, some dogs can even have reactions to rice.
Since white rice is an “empty-calorie” food in comparison to brown rice, eating white rice cakes is not going to do much good for your health. To give your dog the benefits of human food without the excess calories, you can feed them other human foods.
The main benefit is that they’re harmless to dogs, so you won’t have to take your pet to the emergency vet if it gets ahold of one.
The small amount of protein and abundance of carbohydrates in rice is an advantage.
After the rice cake production process is complete, however, only a small amount of these nutrients remain. If you give your dog a piece that is too large, it could choke on it.
Can Dogs Eat Flavored Rice Cakes?
Flavored rice cakes are not safe for dogs to eat. Flavored rice cakes typically contain sugar and dairy, both of which can be bad for your dog’s health.
In addition to causing spikes in blood sugar and putting on weight, sugar is also linked to dental issues.
Popular ingredient dairy is generally safe in moderate amounts but can trigger painful indigestion in lactose-intolerant canines.
Avoid any and all rice cakes that contain spices like garlic powder or onion powder.
Both garlic and onions can be toxic to dogs, causing them to vomit and have diarrhea, among other symptoms.
Unless you know for sure that a particular spice is safe for dogs, it’s best to avoid giving them to your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Rice Cakes?
It’s critical to get your dog to the nearest 24 hour animal hospital if it eats raw rice. They will either give you instructions on how to treat your dog at home or request that you bring them in.
Your dog’s stomach will growl and bloat from eating raw rice because it absorbs water. If your dog is particularly small or if it has eaten a lot of rice, this can lead to blockages.
In addition to vomiting and diarrhea, your dog may experience increased thirst, pale gums, or even dehydration.
It’s possible that your dog could experience the same tiredness, hair loss, tooth damage, and anemia that humans do if they eat a lot of uncooked rice, but there seems to be more information out there about the effects of raw rice on humans than in dogs. Food poisoning can also be caused by the bacteria found in raw rice.
As we’ve already established, it’s not a good idea to try inducing vomiting at home without first consulting a medical expert. Uncooked rice is especially harmful for your dog.
The solidity of the substance, combined with the fact that it will grow in size inside your dog, means that it may not be as simple to expel as it was to swallow.
Quality dog food is best, and you shouldn’t try to experiment with human food.
Can Dogs Have Cooked or Baked Rice Cakes?
Yes. Rice cakes, once cooked and baked, are acceptable for dogs, but only in very small portions. All rice cakes sold in stores have been processed and baked, making them convenient to eat straight from the package.
Plain rice cakes, whether purchased precooked or prepared at home, are safe to consume because cooked white rice is generally safe to eat and can even be a remedy for an upset stomach.
If your dog has a sensitive stomach, you should start with smaller portions and monitor his or her reaction.
Can Puppies Eat Rice Cakes?
Although rice cakes have a high safety profile, they shouldn’t be given to puppies. Puppies should only be fed puppy-safe foods due to their delicate digestive systems and rapidly developing bodies.
That being said, there’s no need to freak out if your puppy manages to get a hold of a tiny piece of rice cake. The rice cake may give you a little indigestion, but it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Should I Give My Dog Rice Cakes?
Any human food, but especially processed snacks, is potentially dangerous for your dog. While rice cakes are probably safe for your dog to eat, they aren’t exactly the healthiest treat.
If you really can’t help yourself, a bite or two here and there won’t hurt your dog. But there’s no shortage of nutrient-rich human foods, like blueberries and strawberries.
There’s also the problem that your dog will eventually beg for whatever you’re eating if you continue to feed it to it.
What if My Dog Eats Flavored Rice Cakes Behind My Back?
In case your dog accidentally ingests some rice cakes that contain fillers, you may want to take a look at the ingredients. If you find potentially dangerous substances, contact an emergency vet clinic or a pet poison control hotline immediately.
When your dog starts showing symptoms, it may be too late to remove the offending food from its system.
Also, there could be internal symptoms, like organ failure, that aren’t obvious until it’s too late.
Advice from a vet or pet poison control hotline is always useful, even in less urgent situations.
It’s best to get their professional opinion because they have more expertise than the average pet owner does in making these sorts of decisions.
After getting in touch with a vet, keep an eye out for signs of illness in your dog for the next few days. Make another call if you see any changes in your dog’s symptoms, as this could affect his or her treatment.
Never try to make yourself throw up at home; doing so can cause more harm than good. Professional advice is the only exception.
Keep an eye out for tummy troubles if your dog eats a sweet or salty rice cake (without toxic ingredients). If you see anything concerning, like persistent vomiting, depression, or diarrhea, consult your vet immediately.
A dog that hasn’t ingested anything poisonous, however, has a good chance of recovering.
How to Prepare Rice Cakes for Dogs
Dogs can eat plain, low-sodium rice cakes without worry. Spread something edible for dogs, like peanut butter, on it.
Before giving a new food or treat to your dog, always read the label to make sure there are no harmful ingredients. If you’re giving your dog a safe treat, like a store-bought or homemade rice cake, cut off a small piece.
The ideal size for a piece of meat for a small dog is no bigger than a quarter. Cut off a piece that’s no more than an inch by an inch in size for medium and large dogs.
If your dog swallows it, he won’t be able to choke to death. Small dogs should only use one piece, while big dogs can use up to three.
We recommend only giving your dog a single rice cake the first time you try it so you can monitor for any stomach upset.
Are Homemade Rice Cakes Better?
Homemade food is typically safer for both you and your dog to consume. The ingredients in a homemade item can be easily evaluated to determine if it is safe to consume.
You can feed your dog homemade rice cakes provided they are flavorless and contain no added sugar or spices.
Natural peanut butter added occasionally is a nice treat in and of itself. Rice cakes made at home can be harmless if they aren’t laced with any harmful substances.
What Rice Cakes Are Safe for Dogs?
It’s safe to give your dog a treat of plain rice cakes on occasion, and your dog may enjoy it. When feeding rice cakes to a dog, it’s best to break them up into small pieces and give them no more than a couple at a time.
Dogs can safely eat rice cakes, but they won’t provide much in the way of nutrition. That’s why you shouldn’t make them a regular part of your diet. Try to find healthier treats for your dog if you can.
One last thing: keep the 10% rule in mind. This means that no more than 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake should come from treats of any kind.
Keeping track of your dog’s calorie intake or exact measurements is unnecessary and will only cause you stress. Approximations are acceptable.
What Rice Cakes Should Be Avoided?
Dogs should not eat rice cakes because of the potential for additives. Moreover, they might have harmful ingredients like spices.
Even if they don’t contain any toxic ingredients, rice cakes with added salt, flavorings, and spices aren’t good for a dog’s health. Sugars from healthy sources, such as fruit, should be your dog’s only source of sugar, and salt intake should be kept to a minimum.
That means you won’t be able to indulge in any rice cake flavors like cinnamon, caramel, etc.
Summary
A small amount of rice cakes is fine for your dog to eat, and they may even be healthier for humans than some other foods.
There’s no need to freak out if your dog accidentally eats a piece of plain, unflavored rice cake that you drop on the floor. You can also break off a small piece, but your dog deserves better.
In the event that you are determined to give your dog a taste of your rice cake, please cut a piece so small that it will not cause choking.
To avoid an adverse reaction from your dog’s digestive system, introduce this food gradually.