Are you making some Marmite on toast or some other Marmite-themed dish and wondering whether your dog can have a bite?
Well, you aren’t alone, and for the half of the population that loves Marmite, there will likely be several situations where you have an opportunity to let your dog try Marmite out.
However, you should understand better if Marmite is appropriate for dogs as if you do not, there could be negative consequences.
Can Dogs Eat Marmite?
Yes, dogs can safely eat Marmite in small portions or as a one-off treat, however, it is not something you should be proactively feeding your dog as it is an extremely salty food.
High levels of salt can be bad for dogs, especially among those with specific health issues that may require them to have a Low Sodium Diet like High Blood Pressure or Congestive Heart Failure.
If your dog has any health conditions that require a low sodium diet, your dog should not eat any marmite at all.
However, even if it is safe, many dogs do not like the taste of Marmite and may choose not to eat it even if it is offered to them.
Just as Marmite is a controversial food for human consumption, it is also one for dogs, and many, especially picky dogs, will turn their nose up at.
What To Do If Your Dog Ate Marmite?
If your dog ate a small quantity of Marmite, perhaps a piece of toast with a light spread, then you most likely do not have anything to worry about.
In this case, keep a close eye on your dog over the next 24 hours and ensure that they do not have any visible symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea.
However, if somehow your dog ate a large amount of Marmite, let’s say most of the contents of a jar, then you may have to take more drastic measures.
In this situation, most dogs would vomit the Marmite back up because of its salt content, but this may not happen to all.
We would recommend ensuring that your dog remains as hydrated as possible during this time and monitoring their behavior and health closely.
If you feel it is required, contact your veterinary professional and get guidance and advice from them on what you should do.
Can Dogs Eat Vegemite?
For our Australian readers, you might be wondering if everything we’ve discussed so far applies to Vegemite.
While Vegemite and Marmite are slightly different, they are both derived from the same ingredients and have a high salt content.
For this reason, yes, dogs can safely eat Vegemite in small portions, but just as we recommended above, you should not proactively feed your dog vegemite as the salt content is not good for them.
Marmite and Brewers Yeast
While we do not recommend that dogs eat Marmite regularly, it will surprise many dog owners to know that their dry dog food might already contain a very similar ingredient to Marmite.
Marmite is derived from Brewers Yeast which is a leftover product from the brewing industry and an ingredient that a huge number of dog food brands utilize in small amounts in their dog food recipes.
Some well-known examples of dog food brands that use Brewers Yeast that you may have heard of include Purina Pro Plan, Royal Canin, and Hill’s Science Diet.
This allows dogs to get similar benefits from their food as they would eating Marmite but without the high salt content.
Brewers Yeast is a dense source of several B Vitamins, such as vitamin B3, B6, B9, and B12, as well as several minerals like Selenium, Chromium, and Zinc.
If you’d like to learn more about Brewers Yeast and why it is used in dog food recipes, be sure to check out our article Brewers Yeast In Dog Food.
