I understand the temptation to share your food with your canine companion because I also share my home with two small mixed-breed dogs. When they sit patiently at our feet, watching the food we’re slowly enjoying, it’s hard to say no to feeding them.
However, in order to keep our dog healthy, we need to know which foods are safe before feeding them anything that might be harmful even to a large human.
It’s no surprise that the chewy, tube-shaped licorice candies known as Twizzlers are a favorite among both young and old.
The intense burst of strawberry or happy deliciousness that results from just one bite is hard for even a vegan health nut like me to resist.
Still, there are some very good reasons why you shouldn’t continue feeding Twizzlers to your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Twizzlers?
Dogs don’t have a special preference for Twizzlers, but their sensitive taste buds have the same negative reaction to sugar as humans.
I occasionally spoil my dogs by feeding them peaches, which, while not as sugary as Twizzlers, they still gobble up with great enthusiasm.
Thankfully, there are no reports of dogs having an immediate reaction to or being harmed by Twizzlers. However, taking into account the amount of sugar present in a treat like the Twizzlers, we can confidently state that they are not healthy for our own or the dog’s physiological or dental health.
As an added bonus, the sugar in Twizzlers is high fructose corn syrup, which is cheaper and sweeter than regular sugar but is absorbed by the body much more rapidly.
Therefore, it is not recommended to give a smaller and more fragile creature something that is disproportionately bad for you because it can lead to conditions like insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure in humans.
Are Twizzlers Safe For Dogs?
Incorrect, Twizzlers are not risk-free treats for canines. The high sugar content of Twizzlers makes it inappropriate to both eat them and give them to your dog.
When compared to the effects of high sugar consumption on humans, this can have serious physiological and dental consequences for your dog.
Let me emphasize that providing your dog with a very small amount of Twizzlers on occasion is probably not a cause for concern.
Furthermore, most Twizzlers are not flavored with the licorice plant, an ingredient that can be toxic for dogs in large quantities, contrary to popular belief. If there’s one flavor you should absolutely avoid, it’s black licorice.
A compound called glycyrrhizin is found in black licorice and has been linked to an increase in blood pressure.
Talk to your vet if your dog ate an entire bag of black licorice or other candy flavored with licorice root. People over the age of 40 should also avoid eating black licorice.
To paraphrase the NHS (the United Kingdom’s national health service): “Eating more than 57g (2 ounces) of black liquorice a day for at least 2 weeks could lead to potentially serious health problems, including an increase in blood pressure and an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia).”
This means you shouldn’t eat black licorice Twizzlers and certainly shouldn’t feed them to your dog.
What Ingredients Are in Twizzlers?
The following are the primary components of this sweet:
- Formed from corn, corn syrup
- Floured Wheat
- Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Palm oil
- Salt
- Synthetic Flavors
- Glycerin
- Acide citrique
- Sorbitol, or potassium
- Red 40
- Peanut oil
The ingredients in Twizzlers are definitely not good for the dog’s physical or dental health.
How Can Twizzlers Harm Your Dog’s Health?
A dog with a Twizzlers overdose will exhibit the following signs and symptoms.
- Problems digesting
- lowers blood sugar
- disease of the liver
- Discomfort in the stomach
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Discomfort
- Tooth decay
- Deterioration of teeth
- Problems with hyperactivity and hypertension
- Dehydration
Dogs, like humans, have sensitive gums, teeth, and taste buds that can be damaged by sugar. Too much sugar in a dog’s diet can lead to rotten breath, bacterial buildup, and tooth decay. Diabetic cataract is common in canines, just as it is in people.
As dogs age, their eyes become more susceptible to developing cataracts caused by diabetes. Many dogs have been documented as needing surgery to prevent blindness.
When pets gain too much weight, they become sedentary and unable to get around.
This may be harmful to their health and shorten their lifespan. To the contrary, it has no positive effect on the well-being of your bud. Instead, it can lead to complications at an earlier stage.
How Much Twizzlers Can Dogs Eat?
There is no hard and fast rule about how often or how much sugary food your dog can have, but as long as it is done infrequently and in very small amounts, I don’t think it will be a problem.
Too much sugar can have the same negative effects on dogs as it does on humans. As with humans, dogs are susceptible to a variety of health issues associated with excess weight, including diabetes, tooth decay, and gum disease.
One more thing to keep in mind is that, despite being smaller and lighter than humans, dogs are still extremely fragile.
I know how hard it is to ignore those adorable puppy dog eyes, but remember that you want your dog to be by your side for as long as possible, so prioritizing his health is essential.
Twizzlers are fine in moderation every once in a while, but eating too many of them is not recommended.
What happens if a dog eats Twizzler licorice?
While the sugar in Twizzlers isn’t toxic to dogs, giving them to a dog in large quantities can cause gastrointestinal distress, just as it can in humans.
If your dog eats a significant amount of licorice (relative to its size and weight), it could experience stomach upset and diarrhea.
If you give your dog sugary treats on a regular basis, it may develop dental disease and gain weight.
Be aware that xylitol, a sugar alcohol, is toxic to dogs and may be used in other licorice brands as well.
What to do if your dog ate Twizzlers
First, keep a close eye on Fido and try to determine how many Twizzlers he or she consumed. If your dog ate a large quantity (like an entire pack), you should contact an emergency veterinarian or pet poison hotline immediately.
If the amount was minimal and the dog is acting normally, you may want to simply keep an eye on him for the next day or two.
Conclusion
A small amount of strawberry-flavored Twizzlers is not fatal for your dog.
Be cautious about feeding your dog Twizzlers on a regular basis, as doing so can lead to health problems similar to those experienced by people who consume excessive amounts of sugar.
Never, ever give your dog a Twizzler that contains black licorice.
The licorice plant extract in these products contains a compound called glycyrrhizin, which is toxic to dogs and can cause their blood pressure to spike.
You’re appreciated for reading this piece. I hope that this has been helpful in addressing some of your concerns. If you know someone who could benefit from this article, please send them a link.
FAQs
Can Twizzlers kill my dog?
While it is unlikely that occasionally feeding your dog a small amount of Twizzlers will kill him, making it a regular practice increases the risk that your dog will develop conditions related to high-sugar intake, such as diabetes, dental issues, and weight gain.
Do Twizzlers contain xylitol?
Twizzlers are xylitol-free. It’s important to keep in mind that even trace amounts of xylitol can be fatal for dogs, so you shouldn’t feed it to your pet.
Hypoglycemia can be triggered by as little as 0.1 gram of xylitol per 2.2 pounds of body weight, and liver failure can occur at a dosage of just 0.5 grams. Be cautious!