— Whatcha got there? — my pup’s eyes asked as I spread some peanut butter over a rice cake.
I was about to share some of it — after all, I’m not a big fan of PB, and I already knew dogs could eat peanut butter. But, wait, can dogs eat rice cakes? I honestly didn’t know.
Turns out that letting dogs eat rice cakes is not that simple. Read on to find out what I mean.
Can Dogs Eat Rice Cakes?
Yes, dogs can eat plain rice cakes in moderation. This means they shouldn’t have added salt or spices.
Rice is found in most commercial dog foods, and the right type of rice can be beneficial for dogs. However, some rice cakes have refined white rice, which has no nutritional value for canines.
Furthermore, rice cakes can have dangerous ingredients, like chocolate, xylitol, onions, and garlic. These are extremely toxic to dogs, and if your dog ate a rice cake with one of these ingredients, you should immediately take them to a vet.
Are Rice Cakes Good for Dogs?
Plain rice cakes with no added salt and spices can be beneficial for dogs. The best type of rice for dogs is brown rice or wholegrain rice. The husk remains intact and can provide many health benefits to dogs.
They’re a good source of carbohydrates, which provide energy, and high in fiber. Dogs need fiber to help with digestion and bowel movements.
Rice cakes also contain minerals and vitamins, like vitamin B and vitamin D. Finally, rice cakes are low in fat and calories, making them a good snack option for dogs who need to lose weight or are diabetic.
However, don’t feed your dog too many rice cakes. High fiber content can cause digestive problems if fed in large amounts.
Are Rice Cakes Bad for Dogs?
Not all rice cakes are beneficial to our furry friends — some contain harmful or toxic ingredients and very little nutritional value. Let’s look at the ingredients to watch out for.
Refined White Rice
Rice cakes are not necessarily made with brown rice — in fact, most commercial brands use white rice instead. The problem is that white rice’s outer layer is removed — and so is most of its nutritional value. White rice doesn’t have much protein, fiber, or nutrients.
It does have a high glycemic index — which causes blood glucose imbalance. Blood sugar can increase fast, which is hazardous to diabetic and overweight dogs. Do not feed refined white rice to diabetic dogs.
Salt
Just one commercial plain rice cake can have 25 mg of sodium. This is too much even for a medium-sized dog — they typically need 100 mg per whole day. Smaller breeds need significantly less.
This means that your furry companion might be getting too much sodium if you feed your dog rice cakes regularly. Excess sodium leads to salt poisoning, which is a severe medical condition that can cause the death of a pet.
If you notice your dog vomiting, having diarrhea or bloating, and being unusually thirsty, you should call a vet immediately.
Carbs
One plain rice cake has about 0.56 oz of carbs. And this is without various flavors, like chocolate, which adds to that number.
Such quantity is too much for any dog. If you feed rice cakes to your dog regularly, you are putting them at risk for weight gain, obesity, diabetes, arthritis, pancreatitis, and cancer. If your dog is overweight and diabetic, avoid rice cakes altogether.
Different Types of Rice Cakes
Before looking at different rice cakes, you want to make sure your dog isn’t allergic to rice. If you aren’t sure, it’s best to take them to a vet so they can run the tests and determine allergies.
Thankfully, this allergy is relatively rare. You can read more about common dog allergies here.
Many rice cake brands use harmful or downright toxic ingredients to dogs. Don’t forget — rice cakes are human foods. Let’s look at popular types and if you should let your dog eat rice cakes at all.
Can Dogs Eat Plain Rice Cakes?
Yes, dogs can eat plain rice cakes in moderation.
If plain rice cakes have no added salt or flavoring, they are the best option for our four-legged friends.
Serve them as an occasional treat because they are still high in calories. Too many rice cakes can lead to weight problems, diabetes, and related health issues.
It’s best to choose brown rice and avoid rice cakes made of refined white rice.
Can Dogs Eat Puffed Rice Cakes?
Yes, plain puffed rice cake is safe for your dog in moderate amounts.
Puffed rice cake is made with puffed rice. It’s flat, hard, and — crunchy. Most dogs enjoy crunchy food.
They are usually plain in flavor. However, some puffed rice cakes have various flavorings, like chicken, sweet chili, chocolate, butter, cheese, butter, apple cinnamon, or caramel.
While it is alright to feed your dog plain puffed rice cake, make sure there is no added salt or harmful substances like chocolate, onions, garlic, and xylitol.
Furthermore, don’t overfeed your dog. Even if it’s a plain cake with brown rice, too many rice cakes will cause an upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Can Dogs Eat Apple Cinnamon Rice Cakes?
No, your dog should not eat apple cinnamon rice cakes.
These rice cakes are very high in sugar and carbs. If fed regularly, they will lead to tooth decay, obesity, diabetes, arthritis, and pancreatitis.
Moreover, some of these contain soy lecithin — if your pet is allergic to soy or other additives, they might trigger an allergic reaction. Should this happen, take your pet immediately to a vet clinic.
Can Dogs Eat Caramel Rice Cakes?
No, don’t let your dog eat caramel rice cakes.
First off, these rice cakes are already high in salt, sugar, and carbohydrates. Adding caramel to is only increasing the sugar content.
Why? Caramel in these rice cakes is mainly sugar and caramel coloring. Too much sugar leads to weight problems and diabetes. Furthermore, if your dog is allergic to artificial dyes, the caramel coloring in them might trigger an allergic reaction.
Can Dogs Eat Rice Crackers?
No, your pet should not eat rice crackers.
While dogs prefer rice crackers to rice cakes — they are crunchier — most of them have milk. This is bad news for lactose intolerant dogs. These rice crackers will lead to stomach upset, diarrhea, vomiting, and other issues with a dog’s digestive tract.
Always make sure to check the ingredients.
Can Dogs Have Rice Krispies?
No, dogs should not eat Rice Krispies.
Bear in mind that Rice Krispies have a lot of sugar, sodium, and artificial flavors. Not only that — some of these have xylitol. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener — and it is extremely toxic to dogs. If your dog ate any food with xylitol, immediately take them to a vet clinic.
Can Dogs Eat Rice Bones?
Yes, dogs can safely eat Rice Bones.
As a matter of fact, Rice Bones are made specifically for dogs. They contain all the nutrients a dog needs. They also have a very high-fiber and low-fat content.
You should still not overfeed your dog. High fiber offers many health benefits if taken correctly, but too much fiber irritates the dog’s digestive tract.
Can Dogs Eat Mochi?
Yes, your dog can have small amounts of plain mochi.
Mochi is a Japanese rice cake with glutinous rice, water, sugar, and cornstarch. Plain mochi is safe for your dog in small amounts. However, you should not feed it if your dog has gluten sensitivity or allergy. Too much mochi can cause stomach upset even in healthy dogs.
On the other hand, some types of mochi are flavored with double or mint chocolate, mango, strawberry, vanilla. Avoid these types as they contain toxic substances, especially chocolate. Chocolate is extremely toxic to dogs, and even small amounts can be fatal.
If your dog ingested chocolate, take them to a vet clinic right away.
Can Dogs Eat Tteok?
No, you should not give Tteok to your furry friend.
Tteok are Korean rice cakes. They are made from steamed flour and several grains, including glutinous and non-glutinous types of rice.
This means that dogs with a gluten allergy should stay away from them. Tteok can cause a severe allergic reaction to gluten which can be fatal.
Can Dogs Eat Tteokbokki?
No, dogs should not eat Tteokbokki either.
Tteokboki is not safe — they are Korean rice cakes with stir-fried rice and many toxic and harmful substances. Tteokbokki contains onions, scallions, chili paste, and soy sauce.
Can dogs eat rice cakes with all these flavors? It’s a strong no. Onions and scallions are members of the Allium family, which is extremely toxic to dogs.
Other members of the Allium genus are garlic, shallots, leeks, and chives. If your dog ate any of these, call the Pet Poison Hotline and immediately take them to a vet clinic.
What Should You Do if Your Dog Ate Rice Cakes?
If your dog ate a bite or two of plain rice cake with low salt content, they would be fine. They will probably get some health benefits from it, too.
However, if they ingested copious amounts, they might experience stomach irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea. These problems should resolve within a day or two with a strict diet. If they don’t, it’s time to call a veterinarian.
If your dog ate any other food with rice cakes as ingredients, such as mochi or Tteokboki , you should call the Pet Poison Hotline and take them to a vet clinic immediately.
The problem is that these can contain onions, chocolate, or xylitol, which are toxic and potentially lethal ingredients for your dog.
Onion Toxicity
Onion toxicity is a potentially serious problem for dogs. Onions are part of the Allium family, which also includes garlic, shallots, leeks, and chives.
These plants contain toxins that can damage a dog’s red blood cells and cause them to develop anemia. Anemia can lead to other serious health problems and ultimately result in death.
Symptoms of onion toxicity in dogs include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Pale gums
- Anemia
- Lethargy
- Seizures
- Coma
If your dog has ingested any amount of onions, call the Pet Poison Hotline immediately and take them to a vet clinic immediately. Treatment may include inducing vomiting, giving activated charcoal to absorb the toxins, and administering fluids intravenously.
Best Alternatives to Rice Cakes
There are many enjoyable and healthy treats you can give your dog instead of rice cakes. Dogs love crunchy textures. Some of the healthy alternatives include:
- Celery
- Tomatoes
- Broccoli
- Zucchini
- Cauliflower
- Oats
- Brown rice
Do these seem interesting? Check out the full list of dog friendly human foods and additional precautions.
Homemade Rice Cakes
You can also make your own rice cakes and serve them as dog treats.
Preparing rice cakes on your own is much better because you know all the ingredients. That way, your dog’s health is safe.
However, if you choose to follow some of the recipes online, make sure not to use any toxic ingredients or too much salt. It’s also important not to overfeed the dog because of the high fiber content in rice cakes.
Rice? Not Always Nice
After this overview, you may be wondering: can dogs eat rice cakes at all? They can, but only the plain ones. A plain rice cake with no added salt or toxic ingredients is beneficial to your dog.
However, many rice cakes have chocolate, onions, garlic, chili, and other harmful and toxic ingredients to your dog. Even small amounts in some of these can be fatal for your pooch.
And we don’t want that — we want our four-legged friends to live long, happy, and healthy lives. Just like all of our family members.
