Dogs love to eat candies and sweet treats, but as pet parents, we need to be the responsible ones. For example: can dogs eat Reese’s pieces? The answer is yes, but occasionally. Read on to know why we are saying this.
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Dogs’ health and fulfilling their daily nutritional content is a matter of concern for every dog master. Dogs love eating candies and chocolates; however, pet owners have to research whether a particular food item is toxic for them or not.
In this article, we will explore whether Reese’s pieces can be fed to the dogs or not. We have also mentioned the ingredients list of this candy. Stay tuned to understand more about it.
Can Dogs Eat Reese’s Pieces?
Dogs can occasionally consume Reese’s pieces candy because it doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients like chocolate and raisins.
What Ingredients Are There In Reese’s Pieces?
Reese’s pieces are delicious peanut butter bites present in the form of crunchy candy. They do not contain chocolate, so they are not immediately toxic for dogs.
However, one thing which can bother you is that it has a high content of sugar and fat, which can be bad for your dog. The good news for all the masters is that it is chocolate free.
If you focus on the quantity, that is, if you feed only one or two Reese’s pieces to your dog, it won’t harm them. However, dogs love its delicious and crunchy taste. They don’t like to stop at just one or two of these candies.
Let’s explore in-depth the main ingredients present in this candy to understand why we think its not good for your dog
Peanuts
As per the label on the packet, these candies are made up of partially defatted peanuts. The good news is that dogs can consume peanuts, and it doesn’t harm them. It is rich in antioxidants and proteins, so it’s suitable for dogs.
However, it has a high content of fats. It becomes difficult for the dogs to digest fats, and thus it can result in vomiting, diarrhea, and an upset stomach.
Corn syrup
Corn syrup is not harmful to dogs. However, it is a cheap sweetener widely used in the industry. Because of its high sugar content, it is not suitable to be fed regularly. The high sugar content can lead to obesity and diabetes.
Corn syrup should never be fed to dogs who suffer from diabetes. As corn syrup is rich in fructose, it can also cause problems in the teeth.
Sugar
The sugar content in Reese’s pieces is very high, i.e, 31% of the RDV for a human being. High sugar consumption in dogs can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and an upset stomach. It is recommended that you do not feed high sugary candies to your dog as it can lead to several problems.
As human beings, the other topic of concern is that sugar can lead to weight gain, lethargy, joint problems, diabetes, and heart disease. Due to the extra weight on the chest, it becomes difficult for them to breathe easily.
Thus feeding sugary candy to the dogs isn’t recommended. Sugar consumption also affects their metabolism and makes your dog lazy.
Soybean oil and palm kernel oil
Though palm kernel oil is a rich source of antioxidants, saturated fats are not suitable. 6g of saturated fats are present in these oils, which is 30% of the RDV for a human.
6g of saturated fats is 100% of the daily fat consumption for a dog.
Fats are not as bad for dogs as they are required to retain healthy eyes, coats, and skin. However, an excessive quantity of fats can be harmful to dogs, leading to arthritis, diabetes, and obesity. High consumption of saturated fats in your dog’s diet can cause renal disease.
What Happens If A Dog Eats Reese’s Pieces?
A dog can consume Reese’s pieces because it doesn’t contain any dangerous ingredients for dogs. However, dogs must not consume it in large quantities as it is high in fat and can cause various diseases like obesity, acute pancreatitis, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Make sure that you feed them these candies only once in a while, as when fed in high quantities, these candies can cause acute pancreatitis, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Make sure that you feed these candies periodically and don’t overfeed them. You won’t come across any side effects if fed in small quantities; however, you can visit the vet shortly if they suffer from any side effects.
Can Dogs Eat Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups?
Dogs like consuming peanut butter; however, a component present in chocolate is not suitable for dogs. Chocolate contains a toxin named theobromine that is very difficult for dogs to digest.
Dark chocolate has higher levels of theobromine which is more dangerous for them. So, the short answer to this is that dogs shouldn’t have peanut butter cups.
What To Do If My Dog Eats Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups?
When you realize that your dog has consumed Reese’s peanut butter cups or any form of chocolate, you need to visit the veterinarian if they suffer from any symptoms like vomiting or side effects.
The veterinarian can help you understand whether the chocolate consumed is excessive for your dog and how dangerous the condition is. If your dog has ingested a lot of these candies, it is essential to start the treatment immediately.
How Many Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Are Too Many For A Dog?
Most veterinarians suggest avoiding Reese’s peanut butter cup altogether for dogs. Even if your dog is a large breed, it is always recommended to avoid Reese’s peanut butter cup.
Even one peanut butter cup is considered an excess for a dog of any age. A large dog can eat this; however, they may suffer from side effects like a disturbed stomach.
Frequently Asked Questions
#1. Do Reese’s Pieces Have Peanut Butter?
Yes, Reese’s pieces have peanut butter. Dogs love eating peanut butter so that it can be few to the dogs. However, always keep in mind that excess of these pieces can harm them as sugar and fat are a toxic combination for dogs.
#2. Is There Chocolate In Reese’s Pieces?
No, Reese’s pieces don’t have chocolate, so if your dog craves Reese’s pieces, then you can feed it periodically. But make sure you focus on the quantity.
Closing Thoughts
Dogs love eating peanut butter and sweet candies; however, it negatively affects their health. If your dog likes eating candies, then you can feed them occasionally.
However, make sure the quantity doesn’t exceed the limitations as it can harm them. In this article, we have mentioned the ingredients present in this candy and whether it should be fed to your pet dog or not. So please go through and understand so that you can keep your dog safe.You might also like to read about other sweet candies that are harmful to your dogs such as gummy bears and Swedish fish.