Can dogs eat marmite, and what the heck is it? In this post we will learn all about marmite and whether your pup is ok to have a bite!
What Is Marmite?
Marmite is a savory and salty spread made from yeast extract. It has a unique flavor, with an umami flavor profile, similar to soy sauce or miso. It is popular in the United Kingdom and other European countries. It can be used as a spread on toast and crackers or as a flavor bomb for vegetarian cooking.
Marmite was invented in the late 19th century by a German scientist who discovered leftover brewers’ yeast could be consumed. Today, there are only a few producers that make marmite, but it can be found in grocery stores around the world.
Can Dogs Eat Marmite?
Can dogs have marmite? Yes, dogs can have small amounts of marmite. Because marmite has such a high salt content, it is not particularly good for dogs. Marmite has lots of nutrients, like B vitamins, folic acid, and riboflavin that are all good for dogs but when we consider the high salt content, the risks may outweigh the benefits.
Ingredients in Marmite
To understand why marmite is ok for dogs, but not good, we have to understand what is used to make this salty condiment.
Yeast Extract: Yeast extract is the main ingredient in marmite and is packed with B vitamins and antioxidants that, on it’s own, are good for hair, eyes, and liver function.
Salt/Sodium: Salt is the third ingredient in marmite and a single teaspoon contains 0.4g of salt which is 7% of a humans daily value and double a dogs recommended amount of salt.
Spices and Flavorings: Marmite generally contains some spices, sugar, and vegetable flavoring which is not bad for dogs, but should only be eaten in moderation.
Risks of Marmite For Dogs
The main risk of marmite for dogs is sodium poisioning. Sodium poisoning is when dogs have excessive sodium levels in their blood stream. Some signs of it is dogs are:
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive urination
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
Feeding your dog a small amount of marmite will not result in sodium poisoning. And this risk can be even more mimized by ensuring your dog has plenty of water.
Is Marmite Good For Dogs? Just a Little Bit?
I mean marmite has all those vitamins from the yeast extract, there has to be some good, right? Yes, marmite has yeast extract and yeast extract has vitamins that dogs cannot produce themselves. But marmite also has all that salt that is not good for dogs.
So can dogs have yeast extract, alone? Yes! And overall, it is a better option for dogs than marmite because it has much less sodium. Below are some great B vitamins dogs can benefit from that are found in yeast extract.
Vitamin B12: This is important to the function of the nervous sysetem and red blood cell production.
Vitamin B2: Also known as riboflavin. Riboflavin helps maintain muscle strength and keeps the eyes healthy.
Vitamin B9: Vitamin B9 or folic acid is the base of DNA production and red blood cell production.
Vitamin B1: This vitamin is important for brain function and the immune system.
Vitamin B3: Another aid for brain function, this vitamin also helps with healthy digestion.
Conclusion
Final thoughts on marmite is that in small amounts, marmite won’t hurt dogs, but it should not be added to a dogs diet on the regular. And while it does have vitamins that are not regularly found in a dogs diet, the better option is to add yeast extract to a dogs diet to benefit from the B vitamins.