“You have bones and a new chew toy in your future.” If you get this fortune in your fortune cookie, you might be confused. Maybe it’s meant for your dog? That’s the question. Can dogs eat fortune cookies? Your dog probably thinks so. Actually, fortune cookies are not toxic to dogs (unless they contain xylitol) but they aren’t the healthiest treat. Let’s learn more about fortune cookies and dogs.
Fortune Cookie Nutrition
It turns out that fortune cookies originated in the U.S., not China. They were likely created by Japanese immigrants . They are a small, sugary, wafer of a cookie with a paper “fortune” inserted. The fortune can be anything today though they once used Chinese proverbs and Confucius sayings. They are a nice way to finish a meal in a Chinese restaurant.
Fortune cookies are typically made of flour, vanilla flavoring, sugar, and an oil like sesame seed oil. Other flavorings and ingredients such as almond extract, salt, melted butter, and instant tea powder are sometimes added. Some commercial manufacturers may also add turmeric extracts, baking soda, peanut oil, baking powder, anti-caking agents, and stabilizing agents.
In terms of nutrition, this is usually a little sweet almond cookie made for people so you shouldn’t expect it to be very healthy for dogs.
Most of the calories in these cookies comes from sugar. They contain about 89 percent carbohydrates, 8 percent fats, and 5 percent protein.
One cookie (8 grams) has about 30.2 calories, 6.7 grams of carbs, 0.1 grams of fiber, 0.2 grams of fat, and 0.3 grams of protein. Fortune cookies have negligible vitamins and minerals.
Here’s a homemade fortune cookie recipe if you want to make them yourself.
You can also buy them online and in many grocery stores.
Can You Give Your Dog Fortune Cookies?
Yes, you can give your dog a fortune cookie occasionally but it’s not a very healthy treat. It doesn’t contain anything toxic (unless it uses xylitol instead of sugar). However, it is full of sugar which is not especially good for dogs. If your dog eats foods with too much sugar it can lead to an upset stomach.
Some fortune cookies contain peanut oil which can be a problem if your dog is allergic to peanuts.
And, of course, fortune cookies are made from flour, usually wheat flour. If your dog has problems with wheat sensitivity or gluten-intolerance, the wheat in the fortune cookies would be an issue.
If you are normally careful about the food you give your dog, these cookies can contain artificial ingredients and preservatives that you probably won’t like, especially if you buy commercial fortune cookies.
Otherwise, fortune cookies are safe for dogs to eat in small amounts.
If you really want to give your dog fortune cookies and you don’t want to make them yourself, we found this interesting box of fortune cookies from Bubba Roses Biscuit Co. These fortune cookies are made with the following ingredients: Ingredients: oat flour, rice flour, honey, eggs, almonds, cinnamon and vanilla extract.
Guaranteed analysis: crude protein (min.) 10%, crude fat (min.) 13%, crude fiber (max.) 6%, moisture (max.) 9%
That’s 6 ounces/12 cookies for $9.99.
Using honey instead of sugar might be a benefit though honey is still a sugar. The flours used would avoid problems with wheat sensitivity and gluten-intolerance. Eggs are still an allergen. Almonds are safe for dogs but they are high in fat. Cinnamon (in small amounts) is safe for dogs as is vanilla extract.
How Many Fortune Cookies Can Your Dog Eat?
Since fortune cookies are not very healthy treats for dogs, we suggest that you only let your dog eat one or two of these cookies. They are high in sugar which can lead to an upset stomach, vomiting, gas, diarrhea, and stomach ache.
If your dog eats too much sugar on a regular basis, it can lead to obesity and the health problems that accompany it.
A diet high in sugar can lead to inflammation throughout the body.
High blood sugar from eating food with too much sugar can also show up in these symptoms:
- Highs and lows – a streak of hyperactivity followed by depression
- Agitation
- Bloodshot eyes
- Urinary tract or kidney infection
- Weight gain
Your dog is much better off eating a dog cookie that has been formulated for canines.
How Often Can Dogs Eat Fortune Cookies?
Don’t let your dog eat a fortune cookie too often. You can share a fortune cookie once per week.
Instead of giving your dog fortune cookies, look for some healthy dog biscuits or dog cookies. Many companies make cookies, biscuits, treats, and snacks that are good for dogs. Some of them have added health benefits for dogs of various ages (puppies, adult dogs, seniors) and dogs with different health problems. You can find dog cookies for dogs with hip and joint problems, for growing pups, for overweight dogs, for active dogs, and more.
Dog cookies also come in a wide range of different proteins and vegetable options. They are easy to find online and at the supermarket.
You can also make dog biscuits and cookies for your dog at home. There are countless recipes online that you can tailor to your dog’s specific likes and needs. Many recipes provide substitutions for dogs that have allergies.
Conclusion
We may love reading our fortunes from fortune cookies but fortune cookies are not especially healthy. That’s especially true for dogs – and they can’t even read the fortune. While fortune cookies are not toxic to dogs (unless they contain xylitol as a sugar replacement), they aren’t a very good choice as a dog cookie. If you are looking for a cookie for your dog, look for a healthy dog cookie or dog biscuit that’s formulated for dogs.
