Pet parents are always wondering about human foods and whether their dogs can eat them. For example, can dogs eat Sweetarts? What about other candies? Which ones can they eat safely? Let’s take a look at all this in the article below.
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When we’re not looking, our fur babies get themselves into situations they shouldn’t be in. Here, food is what is often the source of trouble, and sweets, snacks, chocolates, and baked products are all fair game.
These things aren’t always good for dogs to consume. They can make them sick. Sweetarts are among the most popular candies in the world. Dogs love sweet things, and most of the time, we want to give them treats. But are these candies safe for dogs? In this article, we will look at reasons why you should not give Sweetarts to your dog.
What Are Sweetarts?
Sweetarts are a popular candy loved by kids and adults alike. They are available in a range of flavors, each individually packaged. These delicious candies were first introduced to the world in the 1960s when Tootsie Roll Industries started manufacturing them in the US.
Below is the nutritional info of a pack of 1.8 oz Sweetarts (13 pieces):
- 13 gram Sugar
- Zero Fat
- Zero Sodium
Below are the ingredients of the same pack:
- Maltodextrin,
- Dextrose,
- Natural Flavors,
- DL-Malic Acid,
- Additives (less than 2%): Calcium Stearate
- Coloring: Red 40 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, Blue 1 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake.
Can Dogs Eat SweeTarts? Are They Toxic?
No, Sweetarts are not toxic to dogs.
Having said that, are they good for your dog? The answer is probably no.
Can you give it to your dog? It depends on the size of the sweetart and your dog’s weight. If your dog is under a certain weight, they can eat 1-2 Sweetarts every day.However, if they are over a certain weight, they should not eat any at all because it can cause obesity and diabetes.
Sweetarts are full of sugar and carbs in the form of Dextrose and Maltodextrin, which are both dangerous for dogs if they consume these in high quantities regularly.
Many candies can be toxic to dogs because they have artificial sweeteners such as xylitol that can increase the risk of diabetes, heartworms, and seizures. However, Sweetarts ingredients do not include Xylitol.
What Makes Sweetarts Harmful To Dogs?
If you look at the Sweetarts container and check the nutritional information, you’ll notice that this candy is not suitable for a dog. 13 grams of sugars are there in each 1.8 oz serving of these treats.
Chemicals, fillers, and artificial coloring ingredients are all present in Sweetarts. None of this is beneficial for you or your dog. Furthermore, the producer, Ferrara Candy Company, isn’t clear on what “Natural Flavors” means.
How Many Sweetarts Are Allowed For Dogs To Eat?
If your dog eats a few pieces of Sweetarts, it shouldn’t be too dangerous to his immediate health. They may become agitated or even vomit. Aside from that, they’ll make it.
However, if they consume more than half of a bag, you should take your pet to the veterinarian to be safe. This much sugar can cause severe problems such as pancreatitis
What Should You Do If Your Dogs Ate Sweetarts?
If you’re not sure how much the dog ate, keep an eye on him for a few hours. Take him to the emergency clinic as soon as possible if he is nauseated and vomiting frequently. However, if the vomiting occurs only once, a visit to the veterinarian is not required.
The best line of action is to refrain from over-feeding your pet with sweets. If you must give them anything sweet, do it in moderation.
You can also make your dog work for their desserts by feeding them a small amount of sugar on occasion rather than offering it to them all the time. It will benefit them both physically and in terms of their state of mind as well.
How Do You Know Whether Your Dog Ate Sweetarts Or Not?
Aside from the obvious indicators of illness, several other symptoms could indicate your pet consumed too much sugar.
Darkening of light-colored or white fur, lack of energy, wet, chilled paws due to increased urination, and bloating/distension are only a few symptoms. Vomiting can also be a sign for some dogs, and it all depends on the dog!
If your dog ate a lot of sweets, you should expect them to puke at some point. If they don’t, they may have ingested something poisonous that needs to be dealt with right away. In this scenario, you must immediately take your dog to a veterinarian!
What Other Candies To Avoid?
While dogs are not allowed to eat Sweetarts, other treats can hurt your dog if consumed. As a result, it’s critical to pay attention to what you can and cannot feed your dog.
- Chocolate: when a dog eats chocolate, it can cause poisoning. Seizures, an elevated heart rate, and vomiting are all possible side effects, and death is a possibility under challenging situations.
- In dogs, xylitol (a sugar replacement) can lead to liver failure. Weakness in coordination, collapse, and convulsions are some of the symptoms.
- Trimming fat can cause pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Depression/lethargy, anorexia (loss of appetite), vomiting, and diarrhea are signs of this condition.
- Grapes and raisins can induce kidney failure (symptoms vary depending on how many grapes were consumed; if your dog swallows a significant number, they will have acute renal failure; if your dog consumes a modest amount, the effect will be chronic).
Human Foods That Do Not Harm Dogs
Although dogs should not consume Sweetarts, there are other human foods that you may offer your dog without fear of them becoming ill.
- Yogurt Plain (helps keep dog teeth clean)
- Carrots, for example (carrots contain vitamin A and are high in fiber; the crunchy texture is suitable for their teeth)
- Fish (although feeding fish lowers protein levels in your dog’s diet, it does include omega-three fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory effects; avoid mercury-containing fish like tuna or swordfish)
- Pumpkin (high in vitamins and minerals; good for digestion)
A Few Final Words
Sweetarts are a popular candy among humans, but are they safe for dogs to consume? The answer is contingent on how much sweet-tart your dog consumes.
Some puppies may be able to consume one or two pieces without experiencing any problems; however, others may develop stomach distress and diarrhea.
Consult your dog’s veterinarian if you’re unsure whether or not they should have this sugary delight. They’ll be the best judge of whether or not they’re healthy enough to enjoy a sweet pleasure now and then!
We hope we have given answers to all the queries in your mind regarding Sweetarts. If you have other questions regarding Sweetart and other candies, do write to us in the comments section. You might also want to check out other sweets that are bad for dogs such as Gummy worms and grape popsicles