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Don’t you just love Starburst? This sweet, tangy candy makes a great snack once in a while. But we’re pretty sure if your dog spots you eating Starburst, he’s going to want some, too! And if you happen to leave a bag of Starburst where your dog can reach them, he may just help himself! But what happens if a dog eats Starburst?
Has your dog eaten Starburst? Are you worried the Starburst will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog eats something like this.
We’ve put together some information about Starburst and whether they can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
What is Starburst?
Starburst is a candy that is shaped like a square and comes in various fruit flavors and colors. The square candies are soft and very similar to taffy. They’re made by the Wrigley Company, which is a subsidiary of Mars, Inc.
Once you start eating Starburst, it’s hard to stop! It’s like eating potato chips or popcorn…you just want one more!
Starburst contain the following ingredients:
- Corn syrup
- Sugar
- Hydrogenated palm kernel oil
- Apple juice concentrate
- Citric acid
- Tapioca dextrin
- Natural & artificial flavors
- Gelatin
- Modified corn starch
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Colors (Red 40, Yellow 6, and Yellow 5)
While Starburst are safe for humans (in moderation), what about dogs? Can Starburst make a dog sick?
Starburst & Dogs
The good news is that there’s nothing toxic in Starburst candies, aside from sugar. Too much sugar can make dogs pretty sick.
However, there’s also another issue. Each Starburst candy is wrapped in colorful wax paper. The wax paper is not toxic, but if a dog eats several wrappers, there’s a chance the wrapper could cause a blockage at some point in the dog’s digestive tract. This is called intestinal blockage and can be a life-threatening condition if left untreated.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Starburst Ingestion in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms in your dog if he’s eaten Starburst and/or the candy wrappers:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
These symptoms can be caused by sugar in the candy. If your dog has diarrhea that lasts longer than 24 to 48 hours, call the vet. The concern is that your dog could become dehydrated. The vet thankfully has medications that can stop diarrhea and vomiting. And if your fur baby is dehydrated, the vet can give him an IV with fluids.
The prognosis is great for dogs that have these issues; most will fully recover.
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain & swelling
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
These symptoms can develop if your dog has eaten wrappers and are a sign your canine companion could have an intestinal blockage. Call the vet immediately—this is an emergency.
Treatment for the intestinal blockage may involve surgery, which is done to safely remove the blockage from the dog’s digestive tract.
Dogs that receive prompt medical care have the best chance of making a full recovery.
So, it’s not a good idea to let your dog eat Starburst. Be sure to keep these out of your dog’s reach and offer him a healthy doggie treat instead!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Julie
Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.
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