A bag of Skittles at the end of a tiring day sounds like a fantastic plan. Colourful rainbow gummies ad a lot of colours to your life. However, as the parents, you might have considered the question of feeding your dog Skittles at one point in time. Skittles contain a lot of sugar and can be a very attractive food for your dog. But can your dog eat Skittles without harming themselves?
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Can Dogs Eat Skittles?
Maybe. Skittles contain a high amount of sugar and xylitol. In addition, they are loaded with artificial flavouring and colouring. All these ingredients are incredibly harmful to your dog. However, if one piece of Skittle lying on the floor went into its mouth, it does not become a health hazard. Therefore if your dog has accidentally eaten one odd piece of skittle, do not panic. Read on to know more in case your dog had an accident with Skittles.
What Are Skittles, And What Do They Contain?
Skittles is a brand of tiny candies that Wrigleys produce. Many Skittles flavours are present in one bag and come in various colours. Skittles are chewy in texture. They are a trendy candy that took over America with a storm. It slowly made its way worldwide and is now a popular guilty snack for many human beings. Like any other candies, Skittles contain Complex Sugars and artificial flavours. The sugar-free versions of Skittles also contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener used to replace sugar.
Is Skittles Harmful To Dogs?
Even though dogs are not allergic to anything in Skittles, they are not a healthy treat for dogs. Since Skittles are made up of sugar, they can cause extreme health hazards too. Even though there is nothing inherently toxic in sugar, dogs do not digest sugar well. So yes, Skittles are unhealthy and unsafe for dogs as a regular treat. However, if you want to feed your dog Skittles, you can give them an occasional treat, and it is ok if they eat a piece off the floor.
Feeding your dog Skittles regularly could result in weight gain since Skittles have only empty calories and sugar. So if your dog has pancreatitis, you should avoid feeding your dog Skittles.
Another harmful effect of feeding your dogs kittens is tooth decay. Sugar in Skittles causes tooth decay in animals and humans. So if you want your dog to have a long and healthy life, keep it away from Skittles.
It would be best if you also kept in mind to keep the packaging of Skittles away from your dog, as it could be a choking hazard for your dog. In addition, ingesting plastic could be extremely harmful to dogs and cause blockages in the digestive system.
What Are The Symptoms Of Distress If Your Dog Ate Too Many Skittles?
Skittles do not contain any e specific harmful ingredients for dogs. However, it is loaded with sugar and xylitol and, therefore, could cause the following symptoms:
- Hyperglycemia
- Lethargic
- Diarrhoea
- Upset stomach
- Irritation in the gastrointestinal tract
- Excessive thirst
- Disorientation
Are There Any Health Benefits Of Feeding Your Dog Skittles?
Unfortunately no. There are no health benefits involved in feeding the dog Skittles. It has no nutritional value and adds nothing to your dog’s daily nutrition.
What Are The Alternatives To Feeding Your Dog Skittles?
The best food you can feed your dog is its special dog treats. If you are a pet parent who likes to experiment with your dog’s food, ensure that you conduct extensive research before feeding your dog anything. You can give your dog carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, rice other such treats that are safe for your dog. Remember that all the food humans eat does not suit a dog, and dogs do not have the digestive system to digest complex sugars. Therefore you should avoid feeding your dog any sugary treats.
Conclusion
Even though Skittles are not toxic or fatal to dogs, they are not a very intelligent choice for your dog. Overeating Skittles will only make your dog uncomfortable and not cause severe health issues for fatality. However, If your dog has had Skittles accidentally, it should not be a matter of concern, and less they start showing symptoms mentioned above in the article. If you are actively feeding your dog Skittles, remember that dogs do not have the enzymes to digest sugar, so they react extremely to it. So before you feed your dog Skittles, keep in mind:
- Skittles contain xylitol which can be e a health hazard for your dog.
- Rush your dog to a vet in case it has eaten too many pieces of Skittles.
- Observe your dog for 24 hours after they have had a moderate quantity of Skittles to look for signs of distress in any case.
FAQs
Can Dogs Eat Sour Skittles?
Skittles contain xylitol which can be very harmful to dogs. Xylitol is a sugar-free substitute that is added to foods to make them sugar-free. However, like any other flavour of Skittles, sour Skittles are also loaded with xylitol and could be a health hazard for your dog. Therefore it is best kept away from your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Skittle Candy?
You can feed your dog Skittles on an occasional basis. Skittle Candy is safe for your dog on rare occasions. Please do not make it a Habit for your dog. It is common knowledge for every pet parent that chocolate contains Theobromine which could be fatal for a dog. Therefore ensure that you keep little candies away from your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Skittles Gummies?
Remember that anything chewy can harm your dog’s teeth. Skittle gummies tend to stick to the mouth when consumed and therefore could be e a health hazard. If the coming sticks to your dog’s teeth for an extended period, it could start causing tooth decay.
How Many Skittles Can I Give To My Dogs?
A dog can easily digest 10 grams of sugar which means that your dog can eat ten Skittles before showing symptoms of distress.
