Gummy bears are sweet candies loved by adults and kids alike, but can dogs eat Haribo gummy bears too? The answer is no but read on to know why.
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Dogs love sweet treats, and Haribo Gummy bears are an explosion of sweetness beyond anything you can imagine. So naturally, dog owners wonder: “Can dogs eat Haribo Gummy Bears?”
The answer is a big NO.
Gummy bears are sweet and colorful to eat. But they are not safe for dogs. The sugar candy contains a high amount of sugar and fat, which can cause diabetes, vomiting, diarrhea, or obesity in your four-legged animal.
Additionally, your dog can get tooth decay if it eats too much sugar, and then it will become difficult even to eat his other meals.
In a nutshell, Haribo gummy bears are packed with empty calories and are high in sugar. They are not at all good for your canine. But how sweet is too sweet? Apart from the sugar, is there anything else that is harmful for dogs?
For answers to more such questions, read on. We begin with a complete nutritional profile of gummy bears and continue our analysis further.
You might like to read: Can Dogs Have Honey Roasted Peanuts?
Nutritional Facts About Haribo Gummy Bears
Nutritional Content Of Gummy Bears
According to the United States Department Of Agriculture Food Database, 100 grams of Haribo gummy bears contain 333 calories, 7.69-gram protein,76.92 grams of carbs, and 48.72 grams comes from sugar and 0 gram of fat. It has no minerals and nutrients.
Complete List of Ingredients In Haribo Gummy Bears
- Glucose syrup from corn and wheat
- Dextrose from corn and wheat
- Gelatin
- Sugar
Ingredients Present in Less Than 2% Quantity
- Citric acid
- Flavors (both artificial and natural)
- Palm oil
- Yellow beeswax
- White beeswax
- Yellow 5
- Red 40
- Blue 1
- Carnauba wax
Can Dogs Eat Haribo Gummy Bears?
Armed with the above nutritional stats and information, let’s now come back to the central question about the harm that gummy bears can cause dogs.
It’s difficult for a dog owner to decide which food is suitable for their dog’s health and which food is dangerous. Some foods are safe for you but not suitable for your dog. For example, all we said above was that there are calories in gummy bears, but does that make it dangerous?
Yes. One of the most dangerous foods for dogs is candy. They are not a healthy snack for dogs.
Why is Candy dangerous for dogs?
Additionally, when your furry friend eats gummies, they stick to their teeth which can cause tooth decay. So, if your dog has eaten a few gummies accidentally, you should immediately brush its teeth to avoid tooth decay.
Do Haribo Gummy Bears Contain Xylitol?
Luckily Haribo gummy bears do not contain xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar substitute and is toxic for your dog. It can cause symptoms like lethargy, abnormal stool, seizure, vomiting, collapse, and unstable walking in your dog.
While Haribo Gummy bears don’t have Xylitol, the sugar is nonetheless very dangerous for your dog for the reasons we mentioned above.
Sugar In Haribo Gummy Bears And Its Possible Side Effects
#1. Upset Stomach
Haribo gummy bears come in various colors and are enjoyable to eat. But they are not at all suitable for your dogs because they are loaded with sugar. The sugar comes from sources like glucose syrup from wheat and corn.
If your furry friend eats too many Haribo gummy bears, then his stomach may not be able to digest it well. The excess sugar in Haribo gummy bears disturbs the balance of microorganisms in the gut, which are responsible for breaking down food in the digestive system.
When there are excessive bad bacteria in your dog’s stomach compared to good bacteria, then your dog has chances of becoming explosive or having vomiting or bloody diarrhea.
#2.Tooth Decay
Another health issue caused by overeating Haribo gummy bears is tooth decay. The bacteria in the mouth of your dog produces acids after eating sugar. These acids usually destroy the enamel of your furry friend’s teeth, and it can result in tooth decay and cavities.
#3. Diabetes And Obesity
If your dog eats Haribo gummy bears regularly, he has a high risk of diabetes and obesity, just like a human being.
Haribo gummy bears do not provide any nutritional benefits to your dog. But it increases calories in your dog, which leads to optimum weight gain. When your dog starts to gain weight, he may experience lethargy, heart problems, joint pain, and difficulty breathing. Your dog will soon become obese.
Additionally, too much sugar consumption can affect the metabolism and hormones of your dog. The metabolism of your four-legged animal will change drastically. He may start feeling weak, store much fat in the body and lose muscle tone.
Moreover, overeating sugar can cause type 2 diabetes in dogs, and in extreme cases, your canine may have pancreatitis.
Gelatin In Haribo Gummy Bears
Gelatin alone contains nearly 99 percent protein which is good for the health of your canine friend. But when gelatine mixes with a lot of sugar, artificial flavors, and fats, then they are not all good for the health of your dog. So, it will be better if you avoid giving Haribo gummy bears to your canine friend.
You might like to read: Can Dogs Eat Sugar Cookies?
Citric Acid In Haribo Gummy Bears
The citric acid in Haribo gummy bears acts as a preservative. This ingredient helps the gummy bears to maintain long shelf life. If your canine friend consumes many citric acids, he has a high chance of experiencing central nervous system depression.
If your furry friend loves to eat sour fruits and food, then you need to be extra careful. Keep them in a safe place where your dog cannot reach them.
Artificial Flavors In Haribo Gummy Bears
The Haribo gummy bears use artificial flavors to make the candy taste sweet, smell, and look attractive.
The Haribo gummy bears have artificial colorings like Blue 1, Red 40, and Yellow 5. Many researchers have warned that dyes like Yellow 5 and Red 40 can cause dogs’ tumors, hyperactivity, and allergies.
So, it’s best to avoid Haribo gummy bears from your canine friend.
Carnauba Wax In Haribo Gummy Bears
A study on Beagle dogs showed that carnauba wax in moderation is not harmful to dogs. The Beagle dogs were fed carnauba wax in their diet. After 28 weeks, those dogs did not show any signs of toxicity in their bodies.
Frequently Asked Questions
#1. Can dogs have Haribo Gummy Bears?
Haribo gummy bears are not toxic for your dogs. But it contains a lot of sugar and fats, which are not suitable for the health of your dog.
Additionally, Haribo gummy bears contain traces of wheat and milk. If your furry friend is lactose intolerant or has a wheat allergy, then avoid feeding Haribo gummy bears.
#2. What happens if my dog eats gummy bears?
If your furry friend ate a few gummy bears, then it is probably fine. However, you may still see a few signs and symptoms in a dog like vomiting, diarrhea, and increased heart rate. If you notice these signs, it’s best to consult a veterinary doctor as soon as possible.
#3.Do Haribo gummies have xylitol?
No, Haribo gummies do not have xylitol. But they contain tons of sugar which cause diseases like diabetes, obesity, and others in your dog.
#4. Where does Haribo manufacture its products?
Haribo is one of the biggest manufacturers of sweet candies and jelly sweets in the world. It has to give factories in Germany and 13 in the rest of the European countries. One of the most famous products of the Haribo company is Gummy bears.
A Few Final Words
Haribo gummy bears are a fun sugary treat. But unfortunately, these sweet candies are not suitable for the health of your dog. Your canine friend cannot process excess sugar.
They receive sugar from complex carbohydrates and well-balanced nutritious food. So, if you feed them extra sugar, it can host many harmful diseases. So, always try to give food to your dog that contains protein and essential vitamins and minerals.
We thank you for reading this article and hope that it was able to answer all your queries. If you have more questions, please leave them in the comments box below and we will respond quickly.