Can dogs eat twizzlers? It’s no secret that dogs love to try human foods.
If you are already a dog owner you know that dogs are fast to eat anything that drops on your floors, from carrots to homemade sweets.
However, although some food items are healthy and safe for your Fido, some are highly dangerous, such as human chocolate.
This is why many dog owners choose to double-check not only pet food labels but labels of human food as well.
For example, you don’t want to see xylitol in anything that you serve to your dog.
When it comes to Twizzlers, should you serve this treat to your dog or you should avoid it?
Twizzlers are one of the most favorite human snacks, but will your Fido enjoy it as well, or you should avoid eating Twizzlers when your dog is around?
Can dogs eat Twizzlers? Twizzlers should be a big no-no when it comes to feeding your dogs.
These snacks are packed with sugar, different flavors, and artificial coloring, that are far from being beneficial, or safe for dogs.
If your dog somehow manages to bite Twizzlers he is most likely to be OK, but any similar situation should be avoided.
Let’s learn more about why you should keep your dog away from Twizzlers.
Can Dogs Eat Twizzlers?
As mentioned earlier, dogs should not eat Twizzlers. This snack is something that should remain a human snack, no matter what.
Still, dogs are creatures with minds of their own, and if they really want to try something they will find a way to bite almost anything.
Dogs, in general, should eat treats that are specially designed for them or should eat homemade treats for dogs that are made by you.
Human sweets can be dangerous to dogs, due to their ingredients, such as xylitol which is highly toxic to dogs.
Know that cheery-flavored candy can contain a specific ingredient names Sodium Benzoate, which is also used to preserve the red colors in Twizzlers.
It is important to note that other ingredients that may be found in Twizzlers can also be harmful to dogs.
Regardless of the candy, harmful ingredients are highly dangerous to dogs if ingest in high amounts.
Are Twizzlers Bad For Dogs?
Dogs should avoid Twizzlers. Still, you may do your best to protect your dog and serve him only the best nutrients, and your dog may still eat something that is forbidden.
This is why you should know about possible risks that your dog might experience if he eats a significant amount of this candy packed with artificial ingredients, especially sweeteners.
If your dog eats Twizzlers he may irritate the mouth or even his intestinal tract.
Since Twizzlers are packed with sugar which might lead to obesity or weight gain. Plus, too much sugar can be dangerous to dogs.
Twizzlers is sweet, after all, it is a candy and as such comes with sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, and their components that may be related to sugar.
It is well-known that corn syrup can easily upset a dog’s stomach and lead to diarrhea.
In dogs, diarrhea may appear due to many reasons. Whenever you notice your dog eating grass when outside, you might expect diarrhea to occur.
In most cases, diarrhea may occur once a day, or throughout a single day. If it lasts longer or you notice any blood make sure that you contact your veterinarian.
Little is known but corn syrup may speed up tooth decay and obesity in dogs.
Plus, too much consumption may cause liver damage or even lead to blood clotting.
The best way to know how just harmful or healthy a product is for your dog is to learn how to read pet food labels.
These labels will always list all the ingredients and as such help you choose the best product for your dog. This applies not only to commercial dog food but treats, and human foods as well.
Some of the ingredients that you may expect to see in Twizzlers always are:
- Corn syrup
- Wheat flour
- Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Artificial coloring
Listed ingredients aren’t known as being highly toxic to dogs, but tend to be very harmful if ingested in a large amount.
It is very unlikely for your dog to feel sick after ingesting a really small amount of Twizzlers, but if he ingests a large amount of this candy some health disturbances may occur.
What To Do If Your Dog Ate Twizzlers?
You may be the best dog owner in the world and your Fido still might get sick. You may serve only high-quality food, provide regular exercise and stick to regular veterinarian check-ups, and your Fido still may get sick.
Not only that he may get sick, but he might put himself into big trouble. This means that no matter how well you might keep human foods far from the dog’s reach, your dog still might grab that food from the kitchen counter.
If you have a small size dog such as Pomeranian chances are minimal of this breed stealing something from the kitchen counter.
On the other hand, if you have a tall breed such as Great Dane you know that grabbing anything from the kitchen counter is super easy for this breed.
Depending on the breed you can somehow be prepared for mischievous moments.
If you want to compare other dog breeds and learn which breeds can really reach the kitchen counter use this compare dog breeds tool to explore other breeds or to find a perfect dog breed if you are just searching for a dog.
The best way to know if your dog is in some kind of trouble or not is to know his everyday behavior. This way you can recognize unusual behavior and react properly. That being said if you suspect that your dog ate Twizzlers make sure that you monitor him carefully.
Monitor him closely for some time to be sure that he actually ingested something that he shouldn’t.
If you notice any unusual behavior, or if you spot on immediately just how much he ate, make sure that you contact your veterinarian or a Pet Poison Hotline.
If your Fido ate just a tiny amount and he continues acting all normal then you should just continue to monitor him closely throughout the day.
If he seems fine in the next few days, he is most likely fine. However, if you notice anything unusual contact your veterinarian.
For this type of situation and many others, it’s crucial to have great communication with your veterinarian.
Always do your best to find the right veterinarian for both you your dog and you in terms of communication.
Once you find one, make sure that you check their policy on the emergency situation and if they’re available during the holiday season, initial holidays, and weekends.
If they are off on specific days, you will be better prepared and will have to form a plan B for ‘just in case moments.
Signs That Twizzlers Are Harming Your Dog
Even if your dog shows no signs of any health disturbance, you should monitor him closely if you think that he ate some Twizzlers.
If you know for sure that your dog ate some Twizzlers, make sure that you monitor him closely for any of the following symptoms:
- Head shaking
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Upset stomach
- Excessive drooling
- Gas
- Bad dog breath
- Vomiting brown-colored waste
- Drinking water excessively
- Having seizures
- Throwing up heavily
These symptoms may appear whenever your dog ingests something that is potentially dangerous for him.
Although vomiting and gas may happen due to many reasons, and are often food-related, seizures and throwing up heavily is your sign to call your veterinarian.
If you suspect that your dog has swallowed an object, take Fido for a checkup immediately.
How Much Twizzlers Can Dogs Eat?
Now that we know what Twizzlers are made of and what may happen if your dog eats some, let’s see how much Twizzlers are safe for a dog to consume.
Before we continue, know that the best amount of Twizzlers for your dog to consume is not to consume it at all.
As for the precise amount it’s hard to answer. There is no pre-determined amount of Twizzlers for dogs that is safe to consume.
All in all, as long as your dog eats Twizzlers in very tiny amounts and rarely your furry friend should be fine.
Don’t forget that even if your dog tolerates Twizzlers much better than you expected him to, don’t forget that sugar is still an issue.
Too much sugar in a dog’s diet will eventually lead to weight gain or obesity, which will lead further to troubles with blood pressure, heart and so on.
Obesity In Dogs
Obesity in dogs is on the rise across the globe and you don’t want your dog to be part of this negative trend.
Once you get a dog you are directly responsible for his weight.
Weight gain is something that can be treated and reduced, but it will demand extra time, additional work nutrition-wise, and a strict exercise regime.
To keep your dog’s weight in balance, you should provide the following:
- Serve high-quality food
- Know how much you should feed your dog and when
- Learn what a bloat is
- Learn which human foods are OK to serve, and what human foods are harmful
- Always provide easy access to clean and fresh water
- Provide regular veterinarian check-ups
Know that some breeds are more prone to weight gain than others.
For example, popular Pug is highly prone to weight gain.
Bear in mind that extra weight can create additional pressure on a dog’s joints and other issues.
Can Dogs Eat Licorice?
Simply said, no. Dogs should not eat any kind of licorice candy, including licorice Twizzlers. The licorice plant is commonly used to add flavor to different textures.
Did you know that there are over 50 plants that are dangerous to dogs? The licorice plant is considered to be dangerous to dogs if ingested in high doses.
Licorice is high in sugar and dogs don’t tolerate sugar as humans do. What if licorice is sugar-free? Even without sugar, licorice may still contain toxic ingredients that are highly dangerous to dogs, such as xylitol.
All in all, in large amounts licorice root can be highly toxic to dogs. On the other side, a very small amount of licorice is unlikely to cause any harm to dogs – still, better be safe than sorry, just avoid any kind of licorice root consumption in general.
Are There Any Twizzlers Alternatives For Dogs?
People make Twizzlers at home, but does it make it safe for dogs to consume? Or is it really worth the effort?
Should you make something that your dog should not eat in general? If you want to serve your dog some new flavors, or fresh treats you should focus on food that they can actually eat.
Many commercial dog treats are specially designed for dogs, therefore they are safe to consume.
Commercial dog treats are not only safe for adult dogs, but they are safe for puppies as well.
In fact, these treats are usually based on the dog’s size and age. Here are some of the best alternatives of Twizzlers to serve to your dog today:
- Dog treats like pig ears
- Nylon bone for extra long chewing
- Kong toys that can be stuffed with small-size treats are always a great option
- Milk bones
- Homemade treats
- Cucumber
- Carrot
Don’t forget that moderation is the key when it comes to serving treats to your dog.
Treats should be an occasional reward. Dogs are food-driven begins and they will always respond great to food-driven training sessions.
The Bottom Line
Can dogs eat Twizzlers? No! Ingested in large amounts, Twizzlers can create many health disturbances in your dog due to its ingredients.
To prevent any health disturbance in your dog, make sure that you serve your Fido only 100% healthy treats that are specially made for dogs.
As for the human snacks, avoid them and serve occasionally foods that are safe like some fruit and vegetable. This is the best way to keep your dog healthy.
