Can dogs eat rice cakes?

Rice cakes, sometimes called rice crackers, are a tasty treat made from puffed grains of rice that are squashed together into a circular shape. They’re popular around the world and come in dozens of different flavours to suit every taste, from chocolate and yoghurt to salt and vinegar and spinach.

With their satisfying crunch and low fat content, they make pretty good snacks for us humans. However, your dog has no doubt come to investigate whenever they’ve heard you munching. But can dogs eat rice cakes and can you share this scrummy snack with your furry friend?

Can dogs eat rice cakes?

Yes, dogs can eat rice cakes as long as they’re plain and they’re only having a small piece as a treat.

Most plain rice cakes are made with nothing but brown rice, or a little bit of white rice, and maybe a pinch of sea salt. That means there’s nothing in there that’s poisonous to your pooch, or particularly unhealthy either.

Dogs can digest rice really easily, and it’s a fantastic source of slow-releasing carbohydrates which helps to keep them active all day and provide the energy their cells need to function. A single rice cake provides about 26-27kcal, so even if your pooch manages to scoff a whole one it’s not going to ruin their diet or put them at risk of serious illness.

Although plain rice cakes are a fairly safe snack you can share with your dog, they don’t provide your pup with much more than a tasty treat and a few calories of energy. Although rice cakes contain very little fat, sugar, or salt which you need to limit in your dog’s diet, they also provide next to no nutrition. So, it’s not the most unhealthy human food you can share with your dog, but it’s not healthy either and should still be kept as a treat, or not fed to Fido at all.

Finally, make sure any rice cakes you feed your dog are plain and only contain rice and maybe a touch of salt. Check the ingredients to make sure there is nothing toxic to dogs in them, and don’t feed your dog any sort of rice cake that’s flavoured or spiced because it could contain something harmful for your pet.

Can all dogs eat rice cakes?

Some dogs won’t be able to eat rice cakes. Because rice is a high glycemic-index food, it sometimes isn’t suitable for diabetic dogs. If your dog has a (very rare) rice allergy, they also can’t scoff this snack.

You should always ask your vet if a food is safe for your dog to eat according to their individual needs.

Can dogs eat caramel rice cakes?

So, we know dogs can have rice cakes, but can dogs eat caramel rice cakes? The only difference we humans might notice is the flavour, but nutritionally they’re a world apart.

Caramel isn’t poisonous to dogs, but it isn’t good for them because it’s just sugar. A LOT of sugar.

Too much sugar in your dog’s diet can cause problems, just like too much sugar does in our own diets.

Excess sugar can cause plaque and tooth decay because the bacteria in the mouth eat sugar and produce acid, which breaks down the enamel of your pup’s pearly whites.

Too much sugar in your dog’s diet can also put them at risk of becoming obese or developing diabetes. They’re also more at risk of developing sugar cataracts.

Finally, munching a sugary snack like a caramel rice cake can make your dog hyper, because the sugar will cause their energy and blood sugar levels to skyrocket.

As well as the caramel and sugar, caramel rice cakes contain way more calories and often have “flavourings” in them, making it hard to tell what exactly is in there. (And knowing if it’s safe for your dog or not!)

The best thing to do is to not feed caramel rice cakes or any kind of flavoured rice cake to your dog because they’re more unhealthy and they’re more likely to contain an ingredient that could be harmful for your dog.

Can dogs eat chocolate rice cakes?

No, dogs can’t eat chocolate rice cakes because chocolate is toxic to dogs. These kinds of rice cakes are also much higher in sugar and calories so they’re more unhealthy compared to plain rice cakes. If you’ve got a chocolate rice cake, keep it to yourself and out of reach of Rover.

Can dogs eat rice?

Yes, dogs can definitely eat rice because it’s very easy for dogs to digest and contains next to no fat, salt, or sugar.

White rice is one of the easiest things a dog can digest. In fact, vets recommend feeding a dog boiled chicken and rice if they’ve been sick or if they’re recovering from an operation.

This is because your pooch can digest the chicken and rice easily without putting strain on their gut, and it provides the protein they need to repair tissues, as well as the carbohydrates and energy their body needs for their body to function and begin the healing process.

How many rice cakes can my dog eat?

You definitely shouldn’t give your dog a whole rice cake, and they shouldn’t eat them every day. If you’re snacking on a plain rice cake, you can break off a few small pieces and offer them to your dog as a high-value treat. As with any treat you give your pup, you should always stick to the 10% rule.

Any treats and snacks you feed your dog, which includes rice cakes, should make up no more than 10% of their recommended daily calorie intake. The other 90% must come from a balanced dog food which provides all the nutrition they need to stay healthy.

If your dog is eating healthy food and is on a tailored plan like Pure, the amount of food your dog should be eating will be worked out for you. (And you’re always welcome to give us a call if you need some expert advice from our canine nutritionists!)

It’s important to avoid overfeeding your pet because it will lead to your dog gaining weight. Although you might think a chunky canine looks cute, being overweight or obese puts your dog at greater risk of other health issues like arthritis, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

It also shortens your dog’s lifespan by an average of two years. Keeping your dog a normal weight means they can be happier and healthier, with a longer life to spend snuggling you with!

Recap: Can dogs have rice cakes?

Yes, dogs can eat rice cakes as long as they’re plain and it’s in small amounts. Just remember to break it into little pieces and don’t feed your dog a whole rice cake, keep it as a special treat!

You should avoid feeding your dog any kind of flavoured rice cake though because it could contain ingredients that are unhealthy or even harmful for your dog.