My Dog Ate an Uncrustable [Paws and Peanut Butter]

Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.

Today, I’ve got a tale that’s sure to make you chuckle, cringe, and maybe even nod in empathetic understanding. 

Picture this: a lazy Sunday afternoon, a delightful spread of peanut butter and jelly Uncrustables laid out on the kitchen counter, and my mischievous canine companion eyeing them like they’re nuggets of pure gold.

Yep, you guessed it – my dog ate an Uncrustable without batting an eyelash!

If you’ve found yourself in a similar situation where your dog ate an Uncrustable, you definitely want to read the rest of this post to figure out if there’s any risk and what you should do.

Let’s dive in.

What Are Uncrustables?

Uncrustables are pre-made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

These are essentially pieces of crustless bread with delicious peanut butter and grape jelly inside. 

Besides grape, the snack also comes in strawberry jelly and honey flavors. There’s also a chocolate-flavored hazelnut variant.

Smucker’s produces this compact snack and they are quite popular among schoolchildren.

Even grownups have been spotted consuming these treats!

Doggy says, you might wanna read this too: my dog ate mulch and is throwing up

Can Dogs Eat Uncrustables?

Dogs can indeed enjoy the occasional Uncrustables because this snack doesn’t contain anything harmful. 

The bread and peanut butter are okay for doggy consumption. Smucker’s uses only safe ingredients. Nothing in there is dangerous for our pets. 

You don’t even need to worry about the grape jelly or the cocoa content unless your furry pal is super sensitive to those ingredients. There’s not enough in the snack to pose a risk to your pet. 

The main thing to watch out for is sugar!

Each Uncrustable can have around 9-11 grams of sugar. That’s quite a lot of sugar for a dog. That’s why the snack is meant to be an occasional small treat and not a replacement for a meal.

Doggy says, you might be keen to read this too: Can dogs drink lemonade?

Are There Any Health Benefits for Dogs in Uncrustables?

Unfortunately, Uncrustables doesn’t offer dogs any substantial nutritional benefits. 

While peanut butter contains some protein and healthy fats, the sugar and additives in these treats tend to negate those potential positives. 

Even while the bread contains a small amount of carbohydrates, it is not enough to significantly satisfy your pet’s nutritional requirements.

You should consider it as junk food that you can give your pet as a rare treat. 

Harmful Ingredients in Uncrustables for Dogs

While they might taste tempting, Uncrustables aren’t exactly the healthiest pick for your furry companion. 

The most harmful ingredient in these snacks is the sugar. This is used to replace the more harmful high fructose corn syrup that was used as a sweetener for the snack. 

However, while sugar is indeed the healthier choice, it is still harmful to dogs especially when eaten in these amounts regularly.

The snack also contains a no-no ingredient – hydrogenated fats. This is usually added to processed food so that they stay fresh and edible longer. 

Hydrogenated oils contain trans fats that are linked to heart disease and other health issues in dogs.

Surprisingly, although grapes are harmful to dogs, the amount of grapes in each snack is negligible and shouldn’t cause major alarm.

It’s worth noting that there’s nothing toxic to your pets in these snacks; however, the less-than-ideal ingredients make them far from an optimal treat choice for your furry friend.

Doggy says, you might be keen to read this too: does wet dog food cause diarrhea?

Risks of Feeding Uncrustables to Dogs

These treats pack a punch of sugar, which can lead to weight gain. That extra weight might contribute to health issues like joint pain, diabetes, and heart problems. 

Moreover, the high sugar content increases the risk of gum disease and cavities. 

Alongside the sugar, Uncrustables contain artificial flavors and preservatives that could upset some dogs’ stomachs. They might even end up throwing up or having diarrhea. 

And some dogs could even be allergic to things like peanuts or the other additives they put in.

What to Do If Your Dog Ate an Uncrustable?

There is no need to worry if your pet grabs an Uncrustable from the table. There’s usually no side effect, especially if they only had one. 

Just watch them for a bit to make sure they’re fine and are not reacting negatively to any of the ingredients. If your furry friend is hypersensitive to grapes or peanuts, you might want to be a little more vigilant.

You can even make up for it by giving them a healthy treat next time. A piece of boiled lean meat or a slice of apple should do the trick. 

When to Visit the Vet

As I mentioned, your pet scarfing down an Uncrustable sandwich shouldn’t be a cause for concern especially if they only managed to get their paws on a few pieces.  

However, if your pet happens to be unfortunately sensitive to any of the ingredients and starts showing signs of an adverse reaction, a quick trip to the animal clinic may be in your future. 

Watch out for unusual reactions like excessive vomiting. Additionally, check if your pet is suffering from severe diarrhea. These two can easily lead to dehydration, which is a more serious concern.

Another thing to keep an eye on is difficulty breathing. This is a sign that your pet could be suffering from an allergic reaction to one of the snack’s ingredients. If your pet experiences this, it’s time to head to the animal clinic for some medical intervention. 

Additionally, keep an eye out for persistent discomfort that doesn’t seem to go away. If your pet seems to be in pain for days, getting some assistance from a medical professional is ideal.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In Conclusion: My Dog Ate An Uncrustable

I personally wouldn’t share my Uncrustable with my dogs. Not that I’m selfish, but they are not the best snacks for them.

There are lots more better choices than you can imagine, so please do your homework before giving them to your dog!