What happens if my dog eats skittles? And how much is too much?
Welcome to the season of candy! Sometimes it seems like the holidays from fall through winter and even through the springtime are just an excuse to eat an insane amount of candy. But remember to keep that candy up high where your pup can’t get it. We all know that chocolate is toxic for dogs, but what about things like Skittles?
Are Skittles Poisonous?
If your dog ate a couple of Skittles, no need to panic! Although sugary candy isn’t healthy for dogs, small amounts of Skittles shouldn’t harm your dog too much. They will probably just suffer from some stomach upset.
What Happens If Dogs Eat Skittles?
Thinking about sharing your sugary snack with your favorite fur ball? It’s really not the best idea. Even though a couple of Skittles here and there won’t kill your dog, they still aren’t good for your dog. In general, sugar isn’t a healthy thing for dogs to consume. Especially in large amounts, or frequently over time.
Because of the high sugar content in Skittles, your dog will likely have stomach issues like vomiting and diarrhea. And if your dog eats a large amount of Skittles, you should contact your veterinarian immediately—just to be safe.
Can Dogs Eat One Skittle?
Thankfully, Skittles don’t contain anything that is toxic to dogs. So yes, your dog will be just fine from eating one Skittle. But eating sugary snacks habitually is not good for dogs. They will not only suffer from stomach problems like vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, but it could cause them to become overweight and diabetic.
Feeding your dog sugary candies on a regular basis can cause all sorts of issues. So it’s best to stick with things like fruits and vegetables. But check the safety of those before feeding them to your pup too. Not all fruits and veggies are safe for dogs. Check out the Off Leash blog at TryFi.com for more articles about safe and non-safe foods for dogs.
What Candy Can Dogs Not Eat?
Even if you didn’t intend for your dog to eat some of that holiday candy, dogs can be sneaky. And maybe they stole some while you weren’t looking. Here are some of the big problem ingredients to watch out for in some of your favorite candies.
Chocolate
You’ve probably always been told that chocolate is poisonous for dogs, and it’s true. Chocolate should never intentionally be given to dogs. But again, accidents happen. If your dog eats a small amount, they will probably just suffer from some stomach upset. But if they consume large amounts of chocolate—call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-213-6680) immediately.
It’s also important that you find out what type of chocolate they ate, and how much, so you can tell your vet. The more chocolate your dog eats per pound they weigh, the more harmful it is. Do your best to investigate, and as always, try to stay calm.
Xylitol
This is becoming more widely known. But if you haven’t looked it up before, you may not know that Xylitol is very poisonous to dogs. Xylitol is a natural sugar substitute that is healthy for humans, but harmful for dogs. So be careful to check the ingredients of foods your dog may have consumed.
This can get especially tricky with peanut butter. Everyone loves to feed their dog peanut butter as a healthy treat. And most don’t contain xylitol. But make sure to check the ones that are “sugar-free.”
Raisins
Did you know that raisins are toxic for dogs? You would never think that something as healthy as raisins or grapes would be harmful to dogs, but they are. And even though raisins aren’t the most popular ingredient in candy, they are found in some. Typically covered in chocolate, so this one would be a double whammy.
Hard Candies & Nuts
In addition to the risks above, any type of hard candy, or candy containing nuts could be a choking hazard for your dog. Avoid letting them have any. And if they did eat some, contact your vet right away.
Avoid Candy as Treats
Although we all love spoiling our sweet pups, and we want to share our joy with them… Sharing our candy with our dogs will actually cause harm and potentially pain. So let’s go the healthy route and only feed healthy fruits and veggies to our pups as special snacks—and always double check about their dog-safeness first!
For more helpful articles about pet-parenting tips, check out the Off Leash blog at TryFi.com.
Want to know more about TryFi.com? The Fi Dog Collar is a GPS tracking collar that not only keeps track of your dog’s location, activity levels, and sleep patterns, but it also alerts you if your dog escapes your backyard. This is the fastest way to find your dog after an escape. Try the Fi Dog Collar today!