For the longest time, coconut oil has been used as a healthy ingredient in canine diets.
Furthermore, feeding your dog raw coconut minus the husk is equally healthy.
But the big question is, can dogs eat coconut cookies?
It all boils down to the ingredients used.
There are human foods and ingredients we find tasty but are very toxic to dogs.
Be aware of such ingredients while making coconut cookies with your dogs.
Ingredients not to use in coconut cookies?
If you want your dog to enjoy every serving of coconut cookie, you have to do away with these ingredients;
- Chocolate
- Nutmeg
- Raisins
- Vanilla extract
- Macadamia nuts
Dogs cannot digest chocolate and vanilla extract.
In large quantities, vanilla extract can cause alcohol poisoning.
Chocolate has a toxic ingredient called theobromine which can lead to caffeine poisoning.
Nutmeg, raisins, and macadamia nuts, in large amounts, are equally fatal to a dog.
Macadamia nuts can cause limb weakness when consumed in large amounts.
Excess nutmeg in dogs will cause:
- Stomach upsets
- Hallucinations
- Dry mouth
- Increased heart rate
- High blood pressure
Raisin poisoning can cause kidney failure in dogs.
Ingredients to use in coconut cookies
Do your research before incorporating any ingredients to dog cookies.
For coconut cookies shared with your dog, use harmless ingredients like;
- Flour
- Sugar
- Butter
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Eggs
- Coconut extract/oil/milk
Be careful of the sugar though.
While sugar is not harmless to dogs, it is not beneficial to their health either.
Excess sugar can cause obesity in dogs.
Diabetic dogs should not eat coconut cookies with a lot of sugar in them.
Brown sugar is less processed than white sugar.
But even brown sugar in large quantities will cause excess weight gain.
Dogs do not have a strong taste for sugar.
If the coconut cookies are solely for your dog, then sugar can be omitted.
Learn More:
What other healthy ingredients can be used in coconut cookies?
There are human foods that are healthy for your dogs.
The best part, you can use these foods as ingredients in coconut cookies.
Healthy human foods for dogs include;
- Pumpkin
- Sweet potato
- Peanut butter
- Cheese
- Turmeric
- Chicken broth
Sweet potato is rich in fiber and a great substitute for processed sugar.
Unprocessed peanut butter is rich in proteins and fats that benefit your dog.
Cheese is a healthy protein but make sure your dog is not lactose intolerant.
Chicken broth is rich in vitamins and minerals and adds flavor to the cookies.
Turmeric has plenty of anti-inflammatory properties.
The right turmeric dosage for dogs can help alleviate toothaches, bruising, chest pain, menstrual issues, and hemorrhaging.
Conclusion
Dogs can eat coconut cookies if they are free from toxic ingredients.
Ensure all your cookie ingredients are safe and pet-approved.
Find out if your dog has any food allergies before feeding them coconut cookies.
