How much candy is bad for dogs? A Step-by-Step Guide

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How to Keep Your Pup Safe

Dogs are curious critters, and many dogs “eat before they look.” If they find an exciting morsel of food, they’ll eat it as quickly as they can — probably too fast for you to take it away. So, preventing your dog from eating candy or sweets in the first place is crucial.

But, if your pup does get ahold of something they shouldn’t have (and sometimes accidents do happen even if you’re very careful), it’s important to know what to do, and to act quickly.

Here are some tips for dogs and candy.

  • Keep sweets out of your dog’s reach. Thanks to their sensitive noses, dogs can easily find candy and sweets by smell. Don’t assume your pup won’t discover your stash of Halloween candy or the freshly baked Christmas cookies on the counter. Be sure that any sweets are locked away or high enough that a motivated dog can’t jump to them. And, be extra careful with the toxic sweets mentioned above.
  • Secure your trash can. Make sure it’s not possible for your pup to go “dumpster diving” if they smell something sweet in the trash.
  • Make sure everyone in the home knows the rules. Explain to children why dogs can’t have candy or sweets, and discuss healthier treat options they can give to their favorite pup instead.
  • If your dog ate candy or another sweet, especially something you know to be toxic, call your vet right away. Let them know exactly what your dog ate and how much of it, if you can. Bringing the wrapper or packaging to your vet visit can help. If you can’t reach your vet right away, call an emergency veterinary practice, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control line. Don’t wait for your dog to show symptoms—seek help right away!

    • SEE ALSO: 7 Holiday Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet

    Which Sweets Are Toxic to Dogs?

    Even though sugar itself isn’t toxic to dogs — many other sweets and candy ingredients are very toxic! This includes:

  • Xylitol and other artificial sweeteners: Xylitol is commonly found in sugar-free gums and mints but may also be present in other sweets and drinks, and even in some kinds of peanut butter and toothpastes. This sweetener causes stomach upset, liver damage, hypogylcemia (abnormally low blood sugar levels), and even seizures, liver failure, and death in dogs.
  • Chocolate: Chocolate is toxic to pets — and dark chocolate is even more dangerous (the darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is). Chocolate toxicity (also known as theobromine poisoning since theobromine is the chemical toxic to dogs) can cause stomach upset, muscle tremors, seizures, and arrhythmias (heart rate abnormalities). If severe, it can even cause death.
  • Raisins and grapes: These fruits and their dried counterparts can cause kidney failure in pets. So don’t leave the oatmeal raisin cookies out where your pup can reach them.
  • Caffeine: Just like us, dogs may be enticed by the sweet, creamy smell of a latte or curious about that bag of chocolate-covered espresso beans, but caffeine is toxic to pets, causing the same types of symptoms and dangers as chocolate ingestion.

    • It’s also important to think about candy wrappers, since sometimes dogs swallow candy with the wrappers and all. In large amounts, those non-digestible materials could get stuck in their stomach or intestines and cause a blockage, which may require surgery.

    Did your dog eat something toxic?

    Dont wonder. Get a vets opinion — for free.

    How Much Chocolate Can Kill Your Dog?

    Halloween is just around the corner and Rover.com has the tips you need to keep your dog safe this season.

    Not a health threat in small quantities: Sugary products are largely safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. However, overeating can lead to vomiting and diarrhea.

    Candy corn, Skittles, sour candy, Starburst, Smarties, Blow Pops and Jolly Ranchers are safe for dogs in quantities of less than 10 grams.

    Unsafe in larger quantities: Milk chocolate is safe in small quantities, says Dr. Richter. It may also cause vomiting and diarrhea, but if too much is consumed, especially by small dogs, there can be a problem.

    Almond Joys, Reese’s, M&Ms, Snickers, Kit Kats, Twix, Tootsie Rolls, dark chocolate, Butterfingers, and Milky Ways are dangerous in quantities of more than 10 grams.

    Chocolate is toxic to dogs, more so in dark chocolate because of the higher cacao percentage. Other factors include the amount ingested and the size of the dog. Symptoms of chocolate toxicity include hyperactivity, tremors, elevated heart rate and seizures. It can be fatal in high enough quantities.

    To summarize, Dr. Richter rates the worst Halloween treats, from deadliest to least harmful: Anything containing xylitol, raisins, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, sugary candy.

    It can take hours or even days for pets to display symptoms of chocolate toxicity. In many cases, by the time a pet is noticeably sick, it may be too late.

    If a pet ingests dark chocolate, raisins or macadamia nuts, call a veterinarian or animal poison control immediately at 888-426-4435.