No matter how much your dog begs, don’t take treats from the Halloween candy bowl. In general, it is not recommended to share candy with pets for several reasons. Some types of candy (such as dark chocolate or those containing xylitol) can make your dog sick and even lead to death. Some can cause stomach upset.
Sweets are bad for dogs and can cause many health problems, including obesity. If you think your dog has eaten candy, contact your veterinarian immediately.
chocolate
Chocolate is one of the most common causes of concern, especially since it is widely available and has an attractive smell to our dog friends. Eating chocolate can cause a variety of concerns for your dog, depending on the type and amount of chocolate eaten. Generally, the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is. Milk chocolate is safer than semisweet chocolate, and dark chocolate is less toxic than baker’s chocolate.
The amount of chocolate and the size of your dog are also important. If your Chihuahua eats 20 milk chocolate bars, you’ll be in trouble, but if your Labrador retriever eats a fun-sized milk chocolate bar, he’ll probably be fine. When you call your veterinarian, be prepared to tell them your dog’s weight and the type and amount of chocolate ingested. Your veterinarian can determine the best treatment.
Why is chocolate toxic to dogs but not humans?
Chocolate contains several active chemicals such as theobromine and caffeine. These chemicals are much more potent in dogs because dogs are not designed to metabolize them the way humans do.
Signs of chocolate poisoning vary from dog to dog and depend on the type and amount of chocolate eaten. Symptoms can take several hours to appear, so don’t assume that just because your dog looks and acts normal that all is well.
In mild cases, a chocolate-poisoned dog may only show the following symptoms:
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vomiting
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diarrhea
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restlessness
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gasp
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excessive thirst
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urination
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high heart rate
Some dogs develop more severe symptoms, including muscle tremors, seizures, heart failure, and death.
If your dog has eaten even a small amount of milk chocolate, contact your veterinarian immediately.
chocolate raisins
Chocolate-covered raisins unfortunately combine two problems for pets: the toxicity of chocolate and the risks associated with eating raisins. We don’t know the exact reason, but dogs that eat just one raisin or grape can become seriously ill and even die from kidney disease.
Symptoms are very similar to chocolate poisoning, but often focus on extreme thirst and urination, loss of appetite, vomiting, and fatigue.
If your dog has eaten any amount of raisins or grapes (including chocolate-covered raisins), it’s important to get him tested right away.
hard candy
Hard candies, especially sugar-free candies that contain xylitol, can be a problem for dogs. Even very small amounts of xylitol can significantly lower your dog’s blood sugar levels, potentially leading to seizures, coma, and death. If you think your dog has eaten at least one sugar-free hard candy, contact your veterinarian immediately for evaluation.
Hard candy can cause choking, and if multiple candies reach the stomach they can “stick together” and cause a blockage. Candy becomes slippery when wet, so it can easily get sucked into the windpipe and interfere with breathing.
If your dog only eats a few pieces of hard candy, you may get away with just an upset stomach, but if your dog eats more than that, or if your dog eats candy containing xylitol, the situation becomes even more difficult. You may fall into it. It often begins with vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue and progresses to loss of appetite, restlessness, panting, and abdominal pain. Severely affected dogs may begin to exhibit seizures and other neurological symptoms.
Call your veterinarian right away and be prepared to tell them your dog’s approximate weight, as well as the type and number of candy your dog may have eaten.
candy corn
Candy corn and other sugary sweets are often found in large quantities in homes, especially around Halloween. Although these are not considered toxic to dogs, they can definitely make your dog sick and cause serious damage to their gastrointestinal tract.
These sugary human treats can cause significant abdominal discomfort in your dog, as well as severe gas, bloating, and diarrhea. In sensitive dogs, inflammation (swelling) of the intestinal tract can spread to the pancreas, causing pancreatitis. This is a sometimes fatal disease for dogs and one that requires treatment.
Signs of these candy problems are similar to those above and often begin with vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, restlessness, panting, and lethargy. However, in the case of pancreatitis, symptoms are often very severe and persistent, and may take several days after exposure to become fully apparent. Some dogs who become sick after eating candy corn may appear to get better, but then get sick again. In cases like this, pet parents may overlook the fact that candy is the root cause.
If you think your dog has eaten sugary candy, such as candy corn, contact your veterinarian for advice. However, for medium to large dogs, less than 2 teaspoons is considered safe.
lollipop
Lollipops, like any candy, come with many risks. It is a choking hazard, can block the intestinal tract, can become slippery and block the windpipe when wet, and contains a lot of sugar. There are many reasons why you shouldn’t feed them to your dog.
If your dog has eaten one or more candies, the symptoms are similar to the candies listed above, and the advice is the same. Call your veterinarian with information about your pet and what it may have eaten, and let them decide on treatment, if any.
candy wrapper
The wrapper may be more of a problem than the candy itself, as most dogs don’t unwrap the candy before eating it. If eaten in large quantities, the wrapping paper can clump together and cause gastrointestinal obstruction. Even in small amounts, wrappers can cause inflammation (swelling) of the gastrointestinal tract, often leading to loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea.
In severe cases, surgery to remove the packaging may be required. In less severe cases, medications that calm the intestinal tract may be all you need.
In either case, when you talk to your veterinarian about the candy your puppy has eaten, be sure to mention the number of wrappers you think it may have eaten.
My dog swallowed some Halloween candy. Well, what?
If you find that your pet has eaten Halloween candy, it is best to seek advice immediately and find out what actions are important for your pet. It is best not to wait for clinical symptoms to appear, as once your pet becomes sick, it means that toxins are being absorbed, which is likely to be more difficult and expensive to treat.
Veterinarian attention may be necessary, especially if your pet has eaten dark chocolate, anything containing raisins, or one or more candy wrappers. Your first call should be your veterinarian if they are open, or your local emergency clinic if not.
You may also want to contact Poison Control. There are several hotlines, some of which are: ASPCA® and Connect with a veterinarian (Chewy). Be sure to seek advice from your veterinarian’s dedicated hotline and have your vet report any recommendations directly to the clinic where your pet will be examined. This will save you time getting proper treatment, but don’t delay a trip to the vet to make a phone call. However, it would be very helpful if you could call us while you are waiting to see your doctor.
Although it may be tempting to induce vomiting, do not do so unless directed to do so by a veterinarian or poison control officer. Induced vomiting can make some problems worse.
Perhaps the most important thing is not to panic. Pets can sense your emotions, and if you’re nervous, they’ll feel the same way. Stay calm and get through the situation with your veterinarian’s help.
Keep your pets safe during Halloween
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Always keep all candy out of reach of pets. It’s safest to keep things out of your home that are toxic to your pet. Therefore, do not buy dark chocolate or xylitol candies to have at home. I take it to work as a snack and leave the leftovers there. If you want to share Halloween treats with your pet, don’t forget that there are all kinds of pet-safe recipes out there.
It’s convenient to have emergency information nearby so you don’t have to look it up when you need it. Enter the number into your cell phone and post the information somewhere in your home where everyone can see it. Please include your veterinarian’s contact information, how to contact his or her two nearest emergency clinics, and your dog’s current weight.
With a little care, you can prevent Halloween from becoming a dangerous time for your pet. Don’t share candy with your dog. pet safe treats Instead!
