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Your dog is a part of your family. Dogs are curious about candy and other indulgent snacks that many people can safely enjoy in moderation. The majority of these snacks, however, can be harmful to your dog. You already know that chocolate is off-limits for your canine companion, but the list doesn’t end there. Most processed snacks made with refined sugar pose risks to the health of your dog.
Before you share your gummy candy, here’s what you need to know.
Gummy bears certainly don’t offer any nutritional benefits to humans — we don’t eat them because they’re good for us. We eat them because they’re fun and they taste good. This is a decision that people should be making when considering a balanced diet. If you choose to indulge in gummy bears from time to time, you’re well within your rights to do so. Your body knows how to digest them.
Your dog is a different story. Gummy bears are loaded with sugar, and sugar isn’t something that dogs just encounter in the wild. Their bodies are made to be efficient. Dogs obtain the nutrients they need from appropriate foods and use those nutrients to sustain themselves. Sugar throws a wrench in those gears, and its effects can have serious consequences.
Gummy bears (or any sugary treat) won’t do anything valuable for the health of your dog. Refined sugar is not an essential nutrient. Whenever your dog (or you) eats sugar, it’s a game of balancing its negative effects with the enjoyment of the way it tastes. Your dog is less equipped to handle sugar than you are.
Dogs need to have their teeth brushed to promote their oral health. They’re susceptible to tooth decay just like people are. Chances are, you’re probably not brushing your dog’s teeth twice a day. The minimum recommendation is three times a week, though.
Gummy bears get stuck in teeth. When your dog eats gummy bears, the sugar will stick and stay. This sugar feeds oral bacteria, allowing them to set up shop and multiply in your dog’s mouth. As the bacteria consume the sugar, they excrete an acidic substance that eats away at the enamel of your dog’s teeth. This can lead to painful tooth decay and possible tooth loss.
Sugar is too much for your dog’s digestive system to handle. The consumption of things like gummy bears can lead to gastroenteritis, a painful but temporary condition that may cause vomiting and diarrhea. Your dog may become dehydrated and lethargic as a result of this fluid loss. Gastroenteritis can also lead to low blood sugar, leaving your dog feeling dizzy and weak.
The formula and serving size of your dog’s food is calculated to provide optimal nutrition for a dog their age and size. When you start feeding your dog calorie-dense treats like gummy bears that fall outside of these parameters, chances are very slim that your dog will exercise more to burn off the excess of sugar and junk.
Gummy bears, or any calorically dense and unhealthy treat, can easily lead to diabetes in dogs. While healthy treats can be enjoyed in moderation, just a few gummy bears contain as many calories as an entire banana or a spoonful of peanut butter. It’s wise to choose treats for your dog to enjoy that provide some kind of nutritional benefit to their overall diet.
If the gummy bears you want to feed your dog don’t contain any sugar, this might make you feel as though the same rules don’t apply. Unfortunately, it might be safer to give your dog a real sugar gummy bear than a sugar-free gummy bear.
Sugar-free candies are made with artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which can be fatal to dogs. If your dog ingests any amount of xylitol, you need to contact your vet immediately. Xylitol can cause your dog difficulty with coordination. Your dog may walk sideways, collapse, or have difficulty supporting their own weight.
Xylitol consumption can also cause nausea, abnormal heart rate, vomiting, and dark-colored stools with a tar-like consistency.
You should contact your vet if your dog has ingested xylitol, even if your dog isn’t presenting any symptoms. Your vet will be able to observe your dog and provide proper treatment in the event that these symptoms arise.
Nothing in gummy candy or treats is beneficial to your dog — this may feel a little contradictory when you consider gummy vitamins or CBD gummies.
Your dog may need additional vitamins, nutrients, medications, or supplements. A gummy seems like a fun way to encourage your dog to ingest things they need, especially since dogs get wise to pills or tablets, but gummies are full of junk that your dog just doesn’t need — adding in healthy ingredients doesn’t negate the artificial syrups and gelatin and everything else in those “puppy gummies.”
Most dogs get all the vitamins and minerals they need from a well-balanced diet made with whole foods. High-quality dog food is made with real meat and vegetables, and is fortified with necessary vitamins or minerals that may not naturally be present in sufficient amounts.
If your vet prescribes medication for your dog in the form of a pill, hiding that pill in a spoonful of peanut butter or sticking the pill inside a quarter of a banana will encourage your dog to take their medicine without complaint.
Additionally, there are tinctures and drops that support wellness, too. VETCBD Hemp’s Pet CBD is specifically formulated for pets. It’s dispensed through a special plastic dropper that won’t crack or shatter if your dog decides to take a nibble on it. If your dog isn’t a fan of the dropper, you can incorporate the oil into sweet treats that are safe for your dog to eat, or you can drop it right into their food — it even absorbs better when taken with food.
Your dog’s diet should be perfectly balanced without the use of treats. But you love your dog — why wouldn’t you want to give the family pet something tasty and special to break up the dietary monotony? While gummy candies of all kinds should be permanently off the menu for your dog, there are plenty of sweet treats that are healthy for your dog in small amounts.
Your dog’s diet should be 90% nutritious, well-rounded dog food. The other 10% is open for healthy treats.
If you’re having a family beach day or if your dog has burnt off a ton of energy running around the park, a modest amount of a healthy treat is in order.
Here are our favorites:
All of these fruits can be combined with sugar-free, sweetener-free varieties of yogurt or peanut butter. You can mix berries or fruit with unsweetened yogurt and freeze the mixture, creating pup-safe ice cream that your dog will love on a hot day.
You can also mix fruits with yogurt or peanut butter to disguise the taste of medicine or CBD supplements. You’ll be boosting your dog’s wellness and serving up a little happiness at the same time.
Treats make everyone happy. Think about how your favorite treat can help to turn your day around. Your dog feels the same way, but a dog’s needs are much different from a person’s needs. Truth be told, the whole family would likely benefit from healthier treats.
VETCBD Hemp understands your pet’s special needs. Our CBD is perfect to soothe stressed dogs through fireworks and thunderstorms or to help support overall joint mobility in senior dogs and young pups alike, while also working to support normal brain function and a healthy GI system.
Combine it with some healthy treats — not gummy bears — and put the pep back in your pup’s step.
Sources:
Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth | VCA Animal Hospital
What is Xylitol? The Dangers Of Xylitol for Dogs | American Kennel Club
Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Can or Can’t Eat – American Kennel Club
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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