Don’t you just love the holidays? The tree’s up in the room, with lights twinkling and the fireplace going in the background. There may be snow outside, but inside it’s all nice a warm. What a cozy picture is that! However, while you were admiring the coziness of the room, your dog decided to go for a candy cane on the tree! Oh no! Now what?
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First, don’t panic. We’ll walk through this and see what needs to take place.
Are Candy Canes Toxic to Dogs?
The answer is it depends on the ingredients in the candy cane. Some candy canes are made of sugar, while others are made with an artificial sweetener called xylitol. Neither type of sweetener is especially good for dogs, but the worst one is xylitol. This is extremely toxic to dogs.
So, before calling the vet, see if you can find the packaging for the candy canes. Then, check the ingredient list for sugar or xylitol.
If your dog has eaten one candy cane sweetened with sugar, he should be OK. He may have an upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea; however, these should pass.
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On the other hand, if your fur baby has eaten a candy cane that contains xylitol, then you’ll need to head to the vet’s right away. This is a medical emergency.
Can Sugar Canes Cause Other Issues for Dogs?
That’s a great question, and the answer’s yes! Not only can the candy cane ingredients be bad for your dog. The wrapper can also be harmful. If swallowed, the wrapper can become stuck in your dog’s throat. This can lead to choking.
And if the wrapper’s swallowed, it could cause something called an intestinal blockage. This can be deadly if not treated right away.
What else could be wrong with giving my dog a candy cane? There is another problem. Candy canes are very smooth until they’re broken or chewed. When dogs chew on a candy cane, very fine, sharp pieces can come off the candy cane. These can cause lacerations in the mouth, tear the esophagus, and more. Chewing on a candy cane could also break your dog’s teeth.
While candy canes seem harmless for dogs, it’s really not the case. Candy canes can be dangerous to your dog and other pets. So, if you’d like to have candy canes for the holidays, be sure not to put any on the tree. Keep them in a bowl, out of your dog’s reach. And when you’d like to enjoy that sweet treat, have a dog-friendly treat ready for your fur baby, too!
Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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