Can Dogs Eat Halloween Candy?

Did somebody say treats? Whether you plan to take your family trick-or-treating or you’ll be home all night passing out candy, your dog is sure to take an interest in your sweet-smelling stash on Halloween. Here’s what pet parents need to know about the dangers of Halloween candy for dogs - and what you can do to have a safe holiday with your pup.

Why Is Halloween Candy So Bad For Dogs?

Candy is for kids - and their parents, after the kids go to bed - but it’s not for dogs. Some candies are a choking hazard, most candies contain way too much sugar, and the great majority contain one or more ingredients that are highly toxic to our four-legged friends. Keep an eye out for these ingredients, but remember that dogs should avoid candy altogether.

Chocolate
. As you most likely already know, chocolate is dangerous for dogs. That’s because it contains two stimulants: caffeine, just like your morning coffee, and theobromine, the compound that makes unsweetened cocoa taste bitter. Dogs cannot metabolize these stimulants as easily as we can, and they are much more sensitive to their effects. Depending on the dose, chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, and in severe cases, death.

Raisins.
Grapes and raisins naturally contain tartaric acid, which is highly toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure. Some dogs seem more sensitive to it than others, and it’s unknown how much a dog would have to eat to experience health-threatening side effects, but there are reports of small dogs that have died after eating just a few.

Baked goods.
Many cakes and cookies contain cream of tartar, which contains tartaric acid. As with the naturally occuring tartaric acid found in grapes, cream of tartar can cause toxicity and possibly death.

Homemade slime and play dough.
Some recipes for homemade slime or play dough contain cream of tartar. If you’ll be making your own as part of a display or to hand out to trick-or-treaters, avoid recipes with ingredients that can be harmful to dogs, just in case they get into it.

Tamarind candy.
Tamarind is a tangy, pod-like fruit that’s ground into a paste to make sauces, chutneys, and candies. It’s commonly combined with chili powder and sugar to make spicy candy. Tamarind candies are popular in Mexico and the Philippines, but they’re enjoyed in the United States too. Tamarinds, like grapes, contain naturally occurring tartaric acid.

Sugar-free candy.
Sugar-free candy, dental chewing gum, and certain diet foods contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that’s highly toxic to dogs, even in small amounts. It’s sometimes listed in the ingredients as birch sugar, sugar alcohol, wood sugar, or birch bark extract.

Keeping Dogs Safe On Halloween

Dogs should never be left unattended with a bowl full of candy, even for a moment. Even dogs that are normally well-behaved may be tempted by the sweet aromas of Halloween loot. At the end of the night, hide the candy in a different, inaccessible room, or stash it in the fridge so it’s impossible for your dog to get into it.
Even the most careful pet parents make mistakes. If your dog does manage to eat candy, err on the side of caution and seek emergency veterinary care right away. It’s not always possible to tell how much a dog has eaten, as they usually eat candy whole, wrappers and all. While toxicity is often fatal, most dogs will make a full recovery if they’re treated within 30-90 minutes, before the toxin has reached their bloodstream.
Save yourself and your dog the scary vet visit - which is bound to be packed with other candy emergencies. Keep all sweets away from your pup, and instead stock up on healthy dog treats for you good boy or ghoul this Halloween.