Can Dogs Eat Pretzels? Not a Good Idea — Here's Why

Why pretzels are a poor choice for dogs

A plain pretzel is mostly refined wheat flour, coated in coarse salt. The flour offers your dog nothing useful, and the salt is the problem. The AKC's cookout guide lists pretzels with chips, peanuts and popcorn as salty snacks that should stay with people, and quotes an FDA veterinarian saying the odd pretzel probably will not do harm, but a whole bag could make a dog really sick.

Too much salt pulls water out of the body's cells and upsets the balance of electrolytes in the blood. The ASPCA warns that it causes extreme thirst and urination at first and, in severe cases, tremors, seizures and even death. Smaller dogs reach a dangerous level with far less.

For dogs that gulp anything new, a slow feeder bowl or a lick mat keeps portions small and eating slow.

Pretzels that are more dangerous

Chocolate-covered pretzels add chocolate, which is toxic to dogs, and dark or baking chocolate is the most dangerous. Yogurt-covered pretzels carry sugar and sometimes sweeteners. Flavored pretzels, such as honey mustard, ranch, buffalo or everything seasoning, often contain garlic and onion powder, which damage a dog's red blood cells.

Soft pretzels from a stadium or mall are large, salty and often brushed with butter and served with cheese sauce or mustard. Pretzel bites in party mix can come with nuts, including macadamias, which are toxic. Call a poison line or your vet if your dog ate any of these.

What to do if your dog ate pretzels

If your dog ate one or two plain hard pretzels, make sure fresh water is available and watch for thirst, vomiting or diarrhea over the next day. Most dogs will be fine. Do not withhold water, and do not try to make your dog vomit at home.

If your dog ate a large bag, a soft pretzel with salt, or chocolate or flavored pretzels, call your vet or a poison control line right away, especially for a dog under 20 lb. Have ready your dog's weight, what was eaten, roughly how much, and when.

Signs of salt poisoning and their timing

Signs of too much salt usually start within a few hours: heavy thirst and urination, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling and a loss of appetite. As it progresses, a dog may seem weak, wobbly or confused, develop muscle tremors, and in severe cases have seizures or collapse.

Any sign beyond mild thirst after a big salty snack means your dog needs to be seen today. Tremors, a staggering walk, seizures or collapse need an emergency clinic now, because treatment involves carefully restoring the body's sodium balance over time.

Puppies and small dogs

Puppies and toy breeds are at the greatest risk from salty snacks, because a few pretzels deliver a lot of salt to a small body. They also tend to raid low coffee tables and bags left on the couch during movie nights and game days.

Keep pretzel bags sealed and out of reach, and ask guests not to share snacks. If a puppy or small dog ate more than one or two pretzels, call your vet for advice rather than waiting for signs.

Better crunchy snacks to share

If your dog wants to join in at snack time, offer something made for dogs or a plain, safe crunch. The ASPCA lists carrots, green beans, apple slices without the core or seeds, and plain air-popped popcorn as safe in small amounts.

The AKC even shares a recipe for dog-friendly apple pretzels baked without salted dough. A frozen carrot stick or a dog dental chew gives the same satisfying crunch with none of the salt.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.