CAN DOGS EAT MARMITE ?

Can dogs eat marmite?

No. As a foodstuff Marmite is not safe for dogs. When you eat it, the clue is in the taste! It is obvious from a tiny smear that it is highly flavoured and incredibly salty. Marmite contains way too much salt for dogs, so it can only be consumed by them in miniscule amounts.

Marmite contains a high level of salt amounting to almost 11% by volume. This alone makes it unsuitable as a food product for dogs. Ironically it is high in protein and low in fat and contains a full range of beneficial B vitamins. There are many favourable aspects to Marmite but it requires a little knowledge and further guidance to understand the dangers and benefits.

Can dogs eat marmite?

We find ourselves continually advising against dogs consuming many human foods or snacks whilst often contradicting this advice with the caveat that it is or could be permissible in tiny doses. This leads to a little confusion. There are tiny traces of cyanide in apple pips which are regularly consumed. So is the answer to Can dogs eat cyanide? Yes but only in small doses? Clearly not, just because you can, does not imply or suppose suitability. Cyanide is a poison, end of story!

Is salt bad for dogs?

So, returning to Salt or Sodium Chloride consumption we must finesse the answer a little. Is Marmite a suitable food for dogs? No it is not. Is salt bad for dogs? No it is not. In fact it is essential for both humans and canines for their health and wellbeing. Just as a complete scarcity will kill, an overdose will cause ill-health and can also cause fatality. So it is our duty to work between the boundaries in the safe nutritional area.

Single foods and snacks get the “prohibited for dogs” due to salt levels label for one main reason. It is our dog’s total consumption which is essential to gauge. Our food chain is permeated by salt, sugars, low grade genetically modified grain derivatives and processed low grade oils. It is extremely hard to find a compound, processed or manufactured food without these items.

What this means is that salt, in this instance, might permeate all the foods of the day, so the total consumption is climbing throughout the day. It is therefore not the smear of Marmite on the toast that was at fault in isolation but the fact that the buttered toast was laden with salt in the sliced bread and in the butter or spread to begin with.

Why is it called Marmite?

On the front of the jar you will see a large earthenware cooking pot, which in France was named a marmite. It is from this French word that the product gets its name. It was originally invented in the 19^th century by a German scientist who discovered that the yeasty brewing by-products could be bottled and eaten. It started to be manufactured in England way back in 1902 in Burton Upon Trent, close to the Bass and other breweries that would be pre-eminent in that area for the whole century. Their beer brewing yeasty bi-products being the main ingredient.

How is Marmite made?

You often here the phrase, “it is a product of the brewing industry”. This is absolutely correct albeit there is still work to be done in order to make the finished savoury spread. During the brewing process the yeast used multiplies many times and increases in volume as a result. Alongside some other bi-products the resulting sludge left at the base of the brewing vessels is pumped out and transported in tankers to the Unilever Marmite plant nearby.

Here it is split using a centrifuge into two products. The yeast extract is heated to kill the yeast and salt and flavourings are added prior to bottling. The resulting stable goo is the thick black sticky spread loved by many.

If you would like to see the process in action take a look at the following video which follows the manufacturing of Marmite:

 

 

So what is in Marmite?

The following table shows the nutritional values for Marmite:

 

TYPICAL VALUES	PER 100G UNPREPARED	PER SERVING UNPREPARED	%* PER PORTION**
Energy (kJ)	1100 kJ	88 kJ	1%
Energy (kcal)	260 kcal	21 kcal	1%
Fat (g)	<0.5 g	<0.5 g	1%
of which saturates (g)	<0.1 g	<0.1 g	1%
Carbohydrate (g)	30 g	2.4 g	1%
of which sugars (g)	1.2 g	<0.5 g	1%
Protein (g)	34 g	2.7 g	5%
Salt (g)	10.8 g	0.86 g	14%
Thiamin (B1) (mg)	7.7 mg	0.62 mg	56%
Riboflavin (B2) (mg)	6.8 mg	0.54 mg	39%
Niacin (mg)	69 mg	5.5 mg	34%
Folic Acid (µg)	1250 µg	100 µg	50%
Vitamin B12 (µg)	24 µg	1.9 µg	76%

 

**% of Reference intake of an average adult (8400 kJ / 2000 kcal)

1 portion = 8 g. ( Pack contains 31 portions )

This information is taken from the Marmite website at the following url : https://www.marmite.co.uk/nutrition-information.html

 

The nutritional values make for really interesting reading. But for the presence of the abundance of salt the profile shows some great benefits:

• Very low sugar content
• Very high protein levels
• Very little fat
• Barely any saturated fat
• Carb content for energy
• High levels of B complex and B12 for increased energy metabolism
• High levels of Folic acid for immune and reproductive system boosts

 

But can Marmite be good for dogs?

Yes it can. You can see from the levels of nutrients above and the fact that they are human nutrition levels that really small amounts of Marmite can supply large quantities of other beneficial vitamins. All within the context of being 30% Carbs and 30% protein which is really great. The key then is to keep the serving to such a small amount so as to negate some of the effect of the salt.

So a little can be beneficial but also be wary of the delivery system as mentioned above. Maybe a plain unsalted cracker or a carrot stick to avoid any further salt intake would be a good plan.

Our conversation here is in no way limited to Marmite. Salt intake needs to be monitored and assessed in all of your dog’s diet and treats. Your dog must also always have access to a fresh supply of drinking water.

Can my dog eat other Marmite flavoured products?

Can dogs eat marmite gravy?

It is hard to see past salt issues again where gravy is concerned. There is also a strong likelihood that other harmful ingredients could be present, perhaps onions and possibly high levels of fats within the sauce. Bought as a composite item it is highly likely to be unsuitable and should be avoided. Fillers and thickenings could also irritate a gluten intolerant stomach.

Can dogs eat twiglets?

Twiglets are not especially related to Marmite although similar in flavour. They should be treated the same as other overly salty, grain based processed snacks and be avoided. They have little or no nutritional benefit but plenty of detriment. They are filled with low grade fillers of grain origin, high in saturated fats and artificial flavourings and of course have high salt content.

Is vegemite safe for dogs?

So what is Vegemite? It is a broadly similar product to Marmite but a little less salty. This of course makes it a little more friendly for our pooches but it is still largely on the not to be consumed list. Again a tiny bit will not harm. Vegemite is the spread of the Australians who defend it vehemently as the savoury spread of choice in preference to Marmite. It is possibly a little milder and easier on the palate.

Do other countries eat Marmite?

Yes indeed they do, it is manufactured and made in many countries to slightly differing recipes.

• United Kingdom – Marmite
• Australia – Vegemite
• Switzerland – Cenovis
• Brazil – Cenovit
• Germany – Vitam-R
• New Zealand – Marmite (Different recipe) 

Marmite is good for humans on the whole and carries many nutritional benefits. This is largely due to our increased volume and mass over a pet dog. We are tolerant of the salt content as it is a far far smaller dose for the human physiology.

Is Marmite dangerous for dogs?

In a large enough quantity then Marmite could be dangerous or even fatal for a dog. We need to consider the effects of an excess of salt on your dog.

Too much salt causes problems including:

• Dehydration
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

An excess of salt causes a condition called Hypernatremia. This is life threatening and needs emergency intervention or veterinary assistance. Salts are isotonic and they maintain correct water levels within the dog’s bloodstream and cells. An abundance can cause a flow of water out of the dog’s cells in order to release water to even out the levels of salt in your dog’s blood. In a severe case this can cause a major cessation of vital cellular level activity. Your dog may become stiff and lethargic and may start vomiting and convulsing. 

It is important then to regulate your dog’s intake and not leave out or available any high salinity products that could be consumed by accident by your dog.

Is marmite good for puppies ?

No definitely not! As with humans, puppies organs are susceptible to damage from salt during their early life stages. Find something with a lower or no salt level and tread carefully with your pups. Carrot or a natural chew will make a better snack or treat. As ever always supervise your pup with treats and remember that they will likely have sensitive tummies in their early months, so just a little at a time is important. Always provide plenty of fresh water for pups just as you would for adult dogs.

How much marmite can dogs eat ?

That very much depends on the size and weight of your dog. From your total food volumes for each day you can use the following as guidance and calculate and monitor your dog’s intake.

Dogs need salt for their cells to function correctly and a healthy and recommended amount of it is between 0.25g – 1.5g per 100g of food. At these levels, salt is not bad for dogs and helps maintain cellular functions like fluid balance, stomach PH and nervous system function. 

We mentioned Hypernatremia early when describing an abundance of sodium in the body and its effect on drawing cellular level water out in an attempt to maintain the bodies vital functions. There is a flip side to that particular coin which is Hyponatremia. This occurs when an abundance of water flushes the sodium, potassium and magnesium levels form the body leaving it unable to function at a cellular level. This is also very dangerous and can cause death. In the endurance athlete world there have been many occurrences of death due to Hyponatremia (a lack of salts) and few if any caused by Hypernatremia (too much salt/s). So although we focus greatly on limiting salt intake for health, be aware that a steady sensible intake is vital for life.

Can dogs eat Marmite reduced salt ?

In 2018 Marmite started to manufacture a version with less salt. The figures below suggest that the reduction is as high as almost a 50% reduction. The company, Unilever however quote a reduction of around 25%. Although this is clearly a help, it still leaves it in the very high salt category. It does however help and is a move in the right direction, so long as that famous Marmite taste is maintained. You will notice too an increased protein level in the reduced salt product which is also a boost.

 

MARMITE REDUCED SALT YEAST EXTRACT SPREAD

TYPICAL VALUES	PER 100G UNPREPARED	PER SERVING UNPREPARED	%* PER PORTION**
Energy (kJ)	1153 kJ	92 kJ	1%
Energy (kcal)	271 kcal	22 kcal	1%
Fat (g)	<0.5 g	<0.5 g	1%
of which saturates (g)	<0.1 g	<0.1 g	1%
Carbohydrate (g)	29 g	2.3 g	1%
of which sugars (g)	0.6 g	<0.5 g	1%
Protein (g)	39 g	3.1 g	6%
Salt (g)	6.1 g	0.49 g	8%
Thiamin (B1) (mg)	13.6 mg	1.09 mg	99%
Riboflavin (B2) (mg)	8.5 mg	0.68 mg	49%
Niacin (mg)	86 mg	6.9 mg	43%
Folic Acid (µg)	1500 µg	120 µg	60%
Vitamin B12 (µg)	25 µg	2 µg	80%
*% of Reference intake of an average adult (8400 kJ / 2000 kcal)
1 portion = 8 g. ( Pack contains 31 portions )

 

**% of Reference intake of an average adult (8400 kJ / 2000 kcal)

1 portion = 8 g. ( Pack contains 31 portions )

This information is taken from the Marmite website at the following url : https://www.marmite.co.uk/nutrition-information.html

 

Recap: can dogs eat marmite?

So to recap, but for its high salt levels Marmite could be a superfood in small and measured doses for both humans and dogs. This would require the salt levels to be slashed to a fraction of what they are though. We are stuck therefore with either steering clear completely or offering a tiny smear from time to time on a non-salty carrier. The latter is perfectly fine given all that we have said above. These discussions are applicable to many other foodstuffs for your dog and the evaluation of them should be part of your daily routine as a pet owner.

Remember also that veterinary guidelines suggest that no more than around 10% of your dog’s dietary calories should be taken in the form of rewards or treats.

As with the human palate you will find that a dog is as susceptible to salt and sugar laden foods as his owner is. Their palate will tend towards them if fed regularly and again as with mum and dad they will move towards salty, sweet and flavoured products and move away from their correct and properly nutritious foods. So remember you are training their habits and preferences as well when administering treats and human foods.

From an early age it may well be a good suggestion to bear the above in mind and offer some prepared sticks of natural treats like fruit and vegetables. They can be prepared to a suitable dimension for your puppy or dog and form the same special opportunity when administered whilst being praised. Remember your dog does not know it is healthy!

Any other things we should know about Marmite?

Marmite is both Vegetarian and Vegan and suitable for humans and dogs on a diet which follows those principles. It produces a meaty and rich umami taste without any meat products whatsoever, which in tiny amounts might be a flavoursome treat for your dog.

Although the yeast extract goes through a centrifuge and washing process it can still contain traces of gluten. It sits and develops in a grain-based brew during the cooking and fermenting process and all trace of this is impossible to remove. It could still however be regarded as very low in gluten, particularly in comparison to many common foodstuffs. Always keep an eye out for grain and gluten intolerances in your dog. They may show themselves as skin issues, itching, eye issues and tummy upsets in your pet.

Marmite contains no alcohol albeit it has lived in an alcoholic fluid. It is also Halal and assured by the national authority for those consumers and their pets!