Can Dogs Eat Candy?

Can dogs eat candy? Is candy safe for dogs? What if my canine overeats it? Can a candy take your pup to a vet? Being a dog owner, these questions hitting your mind is normal. It shows your love and care for the pet. 

Candies come in different attractive colors and sizes. From chocolate bars to sour, center-filled chewy gums, all are children’s favorites. Do you know dogs, too, have receptors for sweet taste? Can candy be their favorite treat too? Can dogs eat candy? Stick to the blog and get the answers to all your questions.

Can Dogs Eat Candy? 

Canines, like humans, are omnivores. It means that their diet should contain both meat and plant-based foods. The plant-based food is a natural source of sugar for them. It is entirely safe for your canines’ consumption.

Candies contain large amounts of sugar. Some sugar-free varieties contain xylitol. Artificial sweeteners and flavoring agents are a part of almost all candies. They have detrimental effects on canines’ health. Due to these reasons, dogs should not eat sweets. 

Why Is Candy Bad For Canines?

Canines have a sense of sweet taste, but it does not mean that sweets should be a part of their everyday diet. Do you know why experts don’t recommend candies for pups? Here are the reasons. 

High sugar content

Candy contains a high amount of sugar. Such a high intake of sugar is bad not only for canines but also humans. It is one of the major causes of tooth decay. If your furry friend eats it regularly, he will suffer from dental issues, diabetes, and obesity.

Xylitol

Have you ever come across sugar-free candies? Like many people, do you also think that sugar-free candies are not bad for canines? Well! If yes, then you are wrong. Sugar-free candies are not a healthy treat for puppies. They contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is toxic to dogs. 

When dogs eat candies containing xylitol, their blood glucose level reaches an extremely low level which can cause death. Luckily, if saved from death, they must suffer from pancreatitis or liver failure.

Chocolate

Many candies are either filled or coated with chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the more toxic it gets for canines. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine. When dogs eat such candies, they experience chocolate toxicity.

How would you know that your furry friend has chocolate toxicity?

Here are the symptoms;

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea and other digestive issues
• Fluctuation in blood pressure
• Irregular heartbeat
• Frequent urination
• Seizures

Nuts

Nuts like macadamia nuts and walnuts are not safe for dogs. If consumed, canines experience high fever, diarrhea, vomiting, tremors, and other symptoms of nut poisoning. Moreover, some dogs are also allergic to nuts. Therefore, it is better to avoid giving such candies to pooches.

Hard or gummy candy

Dogs find chewing gummy candies hard. If swallowed as such, they can be a choking hazard. Hard candies, upon chewing, break down into small sharp pieces. They can injure the pup’s mouth and damage the gastrointestinal tract.

Wrappers can be a great disaster.

If your puppy finds any stray candy, he might swallow the whole along with the wrapper. The wrapper is made of indigestible plastic. It can get stuck in the canine’s throat or cause intestinal obstruction. It can even be life-threatening. 

All these reasons make candy a disagreeable choice for puppies. Instead, give other healthy sweet treats to your canine, like fruits.

Ways To Keep Your Dog Safe

Now that you know the answer to can dogs eat candy? The next important thing is to understand how you can keep your furry friend safe from the detrimental effects of candies. Let’s jump into it.

1. Keep all your sweets locked in the kitchen cabinet so your puppy cannot reach them.
2. Use capped trash to prevent your dog from digging into the waste to find anything sweet.
3. Tell your children that candies are not safe for dogs. Forbid them from sharing their sweets with the pet.
4. If your canine accidentally eats sweets, call the vet immediately.
5. Feed your furry friend some healthy sweet treats that impart health benefits to them.

Wrapping It Up

Can dogs eat candy? Every pet owner wants the answer to this question. The answer is no. Dogs cannot eat candy. It contains a lot of sugar.

Moreover, the artificial sweeteners and flavors upset the canines’ stomachs. Some candies contain chocolate, xylitol, nuts, etc. All of them are toxic to cats. Therefore, avoid giving candies to your furry companion.