To put it bluntly, your dog isn’t meant to enjoy the sweet flavor of jelly beans. These items contain potentially harmful ingredients like xylitol and caffeine in addition to sugar and artificial flavors and colorings. Ingesting even a small amount of one of these ingredients can be fatal to our canine friends.
It would be easy to accidentally feed your dog jelly beans if you dropped one on the floor and forgot about it. Are they safe for dogs to eat? How risky or safe are they?
You shouldn’t give your dog any jelly beans, but some flavors are better than others. Even if your dog seems fine, you should call your vet for advice if you are unsure what kind it has just consumed. What follows is a look at the likely outcomes and the steps you should take next.
Can Dogs Eat Jelly Beans
In no way, shape, or form should a dog ever consume a jelly bean. They contain many things that are bad for dogs. Caffeine, sugar, xylitol, and pectin are all terrible for pets.
Dogs can develop severe health problems if they consume too much sugar. Sugar itself is not poisonous, but a diet high in sugar can increase the risk of developing diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
Xylitol, an ingredient in sugar-free candies, is harmful to dogs. When a dog consumes xylitol, their blood sugar levels and blood pressure immediately decrease. There will be nausea, vomiting, and possibly seizures and death as a result of this.
Artificial ingredients like dyes and preservatives are also found in jelly beans. The presence of these ingredients can cause allergic reactions in some dogs.
Are Jelly Beans Safe for Dogs?
It’s not advised that you give your dog jelly beans, but accidents do happen. It’s important to check the ingredients if your dog has consumed them to determine if they are safe. The number of them eaten may also determine whether or not they get sick.
Even if your pet only experiences mild stomach upset, you should still visit the vet.
They will know if what was eaten was safe if you read them the list of ingredients. It’s best not to “wait and see” if your puppy will be okay; some symptoms may not appear for a while.
Why Are They Bad for Dogs?
As a sweet, jelly beans fail miserably. They offer no nutritional value and, depending on the ingredients, could be extremely harmful to your dog if consumed.
If your dog also suffers from diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, skin allergies, gastrointestinal issues, or obesity, these can be especially harmful.
Dogs of all ages, but especially younger puppies and those with compromised immune systems, should avoid these foods because of the increased risk of serious complications.
Their potential for harm is modulated by the variety of substances they contain. Some of the ingredients may cause no harm at all, while others could. The following are examples of ingredients that pose the greatest danger to a dog’s health:
- xylitol
- caffeine
- starch or pectin
- sugar
- flavorings
Xylitol
Sugar-free candies frequently use the artificial sweetener Xylitol. In addition to jelly beans, it can also be found in sugar-free gum, peanut butter, jelly, and candy. The same can be said for some brands of toothpaste and mouthwash.
If Fido eats any treats that contain this artificial sweetener, he could die. It brings on hypoglycemia, or a dangerously low blood sugar level, very quickly.
This typically occurs within 30 minutes after consuming xylitol-containing foods, but the time frame can vary depending on how quickly the candy is digested.
A dog’s symptoms of xylitol poisoning may not appear until up to 18 hours after ingestion. If you know they have consumed anything containing xylitol, you should not wait for symptoms of toxicity to appear. Get in touch with your vet immediately.
Symptoms of xylitol-induced hypoglycemia include:
- drowsiness
- vomiting
- excessive salivation
- staggering
- inability to respond due to a lapse in consciousness
- seizures
- coma
Some dogs can develop liver failure after consuming xylitol. Unfortunately, if xylitol toxicity isn’t treated quickly enough, it can be fatal.
Because of this, if xylitol was consumed in any form, you should schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. Consult your vet if Fido exhibits any of the above symptoms and you are unsure whether or not they have consumed xylitol.
Caffeine
Coffee, chocolate, green and black tea, colas, energy drinks, and even some medications contain caffeine.
Some energy candies also include caffeine for its stimulating effects. It’s derived from the same chemical structure as theobromine, the toxic ingredient in chocolate that can kill dogs.
The side effects of caffeine on your dog are much more severe than they are on humans. Even if only a small amount of caffeine was consumed, toxicity symptoms could develop.
Caffeine is absorbed by your dog’s digestive system within 45 minutes after ingestion, and signs of toxicity typically appear two hours later. You should take your puppy to the vet as soon as possible.
Caffeine toxicity symptoms include:
- restlessness
- hyperthermia, or abnormally high body temperature.
- a rapid heart rate
- seizures
- shaking
- irrational response to physical contact or motion
Sadly, caffeine toxicity can be fatal, just like xylitol toxicity.
Poisoning from caffeine and xylitol requires immediate veterinary attention. If you think your pet has accidentally consumed xylitol or caffeine, you should contact a veterinarian immediately. This improves their odds of making it through the ordeal.
Sugar
They taste sweet because sugar was added to the recipe, as is the case with most candies. Dogs may have trouble resisting this, but excessive consumption can lead to health issues.
You should avoid giving your dog excessive amounts of sugar or candy at once because it could cause vomiting and diarrhea. Overfeeding Fido on sweets will lead to obesity. Diabetes and heart disease are more common in overweight dogs.
Because of the added weight, they are also at a higher risk of developing painful arthritis in their bones and joints. As with most sweets, sugar is detrimental to their oral health.
Safer options include sugar-free or low-sugar treats. Talk to your vet about which treats are safest and healthiest for your dog.
Pectin or Starch
The jellylike texture of most jelly beans is achieved through the addition of starch. Some sweets contain the starch pectin.
It is also included in some diarrhea treatments for pets. Even though pectin isn’t poisonous, it can cause digestive issues in your dog, including constipation, if consumed in large amounts.
Flavorings
Many different flavors of jelly beans are available. Many of these treats are synthetic and could give your dog an upset stomach if given in large quantities. Fido shouldn’t eat any of them because they contain potentially toxic ingredients like chocolate (cocoa) or grape.
It’s hard to tell how much flavoring is in these products and whether or not it’s harmful. This is yet another compelling argument against giving them to your dog or for making an emergency trip to the vet if your dog has consumed any.
My Dog Ate Jelly Beans – What Do I Do
It’s good news that your pet can probably handle eating one or two jelly beans as long as they don’t contain xylitol.
The presence of xylitol in jelly beans is a potential health risk for your dog, so check the bag’s ingredients if your pet got into some.
Your dog’s stomach will likely become very upset. Lethargy, tremors, drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea are all symptoms of toxicity that you should look out for.
Talk to your vet if you see that your dog’s behavior has changed after eating jelly beans.
What Will My Veterinarian Do?
In order to provide proper care, your vet will need to know exactly which candy was consumed. When taking your dog to the vet, it’s a good idea to bring the candy wrapper along so the doctor can check the ingredients. They could also consult poison control for advice on their potential toxicity.
It’s possible that your vet will induce vomiting in your dog to help get rid of the poisons in its system before they are absorbed.
Injections are a viable option for accomplishing this. If the candy was just eaten or if there are no symptoms of poisoning, this is the standard treatment.
Unless instructed to do so by a vet, you should never induce vomiting in your dog at home. Some of the home remedies for making a dog throw up are harmful and could put Fido in harm’s way. Your veterinarian is in the best position to assess the situation and recommend a course of action.
Your dog may require additional treatment or observation and an overnight stay at the animal hospital if they are ill. In order to reduce your dog’s exposure to the toxins, you should get him or her to the vet as soon as possible.
Can Dogs Eat Licorice Jelly Beans
In large doses, licorice root is toxic to dogs. Consequently, a handful of black jelly beans probably won’t be enough to cause any harm to your pet.
Please inform your veterinarian if your dog consumes an entire bag of licorice jelly beans. Keep a close eye out for any symptoms of hypertension.
Learn more about licorice and canines.
Can Dogs Eat Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
Most people would agree that Jelly Belly jelly beans are among the best-known varieties. Don’t let them near your dog. They’re full of sugar, which can cause cavities, weight gain, and even diabetes.
It’s likely that your dog is perfectly healthy despite eating a few jelly beans. Please monitor them closely and restrict their access to any additional sources of sugar.
Can Dogs Eat Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans
Those jelly beans from Jolly Rancher? They’re made with artificial flavors and colors. These treats could be extremely harmful to your dog if he or she has an allergy to artificial ingredients. Don’t let them near your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Starburst Jelly Beans
The apple juice used to sweeten Starburst jelly beans is artificial, as are the other flavors and colors.
Your dog should stay far away from these jelly beans because they are extremely harmful to them. If your dog accidentally consumes any of this, keep an eye on them for any unusual behavior and contact your vet immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my dog ate xylitol?
Even if they have only eaten a small amount or seem fine otherwise, you should call your local veterinary clinic immediately.
A canine’s blood sugar can drop dangerously low if they consume too much xylitol, which can be fatal. A vet’s examination is necessary so that your dog can receive proper care.
What are the symptoms of xylitol poisoning?
Hypoglycemia, a dangerously low drop in blood sugar, can result from xylitol poisoning. Toxic shock syndrome is characterized by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, staggering, loss of consciousness, convulsions, and eventually death.
Do not wait for symptoms before calling your vet if you suspect your dog has ingested xylitol.
Can one jelly bean kill a dog?
Jelly beans may contain xylitol or caffeine, two substances that are fatal to dogs, even if only a small amount is consumed.
In place of human sweets, you should give your dog treats that are better for its health. Call your vet immediately if you suspect that your dog has eaten candy.
Final Thoughts
Intentionally feeding your dog jelly beans is not a good idea. Check the ingredients for xylitol or caffeine if you suspect your dog has accidentally consumed either of these substances.
Dogs should not ingest these because they are highly poisonous. If Fido has consumed anything with xylitol or caffeine, you must immediately contact your vet.
Without xylitol or caffeine, the sugar and starch content of jelly beans is still likely to be too high to be tolerated. They might get fat, develop diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and tooth decay if given enough time.
Dogs shouldn’t be given candy as a treat. Consult your vet for suggestions on nutritious treats for your dog.