My Dog Ate a Tootsie Roll or Pop Will He Get Sick?

Tootsie Rolls and Pops are candies enjoyed around the world! Who could avoid eating something that’s something like taffy with a chocolate flavoring? But what about sharing these with your dog?

What is in Tootsie Rolls?

Tootsie Rolls are a bit like taffy, and they have a cocoa taste. These long-lasting, chewy candies are chocolatey goodness. They were first developed by Leo Hirshfield, who owned a small candy shop in New York City. He first began making these candies back in 1907, and they’ve been popular ever since.

Tootsie Rolls contain sugar and chocolate, both of which taste great together. However, these can be bad for dogs.

Sugar & Chocolate: A Bad Combination for Dogs

Sugar, on its own, is bad for dogs. This is because too much sugar can lead to tooth decay, weight gain, obesity and even diabetes. When a dog has too much sugar, they may experience times of hyperactivity when they have a sugar high, and then they have a low, when the sugar high crashes down. Dogs may also experience agitation, blood shot eyes, urinary tract/kidney infection, and more.

Then there’s chocolate. Chocolate is a known toxin to dogs. This is because it contains two substances that dogs are not able to metabolize: theobromine and caffeine. Even small amounts of chocolate can be very bad for your dog due to these ingredients. While it may seem that Tootsie Rolls don’t contain a large amount of chocolate, they do have enough to make your dog very sick.

It’s important to note that different types of chocolate don’t have the same amount of theobromine in them—it varies. For example, dark chocolate has more theobromine that milk chocolate.

Not only that, but your dog’s weight and the amount and type of chocolate he’s eaten will determine how toxic the chocolate will be for him.

Symptoms of Chocolate Toxicity in Dogs

You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten chocolate:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Agitation
• Hyperactivity
• Excessive drooling
• Increase in thirst
• Racing heart
• High blood pressure
• Heart arrhythmias
• Seizures
• Tremors/twitching
• Cardiac failure
• Muscle rigidity
• Collapse
• Death

If you notice these symptoms, then call your vet immediately—this is a life-threatening medical emergency. With fast treatment, most dogs will make a full and complete recovery.

As you can see, chocolate and sugar, even in Tootsie Rolls, is not safe to give your dog. And if your dog accidentally eats a Tootsie Roll, then it’s extremely important to seek treatment right away.