Skittles are a delicious type of sweet candy that us humans love to enjoy, but you might not want to feed them to your dog. As you probably already know, skittles are full of sugar, which is what gives them their sweet flavor. So, they are not the healthiest snack for a dog to have.
There are so many things that you will need to think about when it comes to giving your dog food that they don’t normally eat, as the last thing that you want to do is to make them unwell, or worse.
In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about whether dogs can eat skittles, so you can find out if they are safe to give to your dog. We will also take a look at whether they are toxic and what can happen if your dog gets hold of some.
Can Dogs Eat Skittles?
No, dogs should not be eating skittles. Skittles are a favorite type of candy among many, and if you are a fan of skittles, you might have wondered if it would be okay to share this sweet treat with your dog. However, something you should consider in this scenario is that skittles are not healthy for people, so they are definitely not healthy for dogs.
To help you to understand why this is the case, it can be helpful to look at what skittles are made of. Skittles are small candies that come in various colors and flavors, and pretty much everyone is familiar with what they are at this point.
They come in different variations to satisfy every type of craving, including extra sour Skittles, fruity Skittles, and wild berry Skittles in small vibrant-looking packets.
However, nothing that tastes this good can have only the healthiest of ingredients, and skittles are far from a healthy snack. These candies are manufactured using large amounts of sugar and food colorings, from the hard shell all the way down to the chewy center.
Are Skittles Bad For Dogs?
Skittles do not contain any ingredients that are specifically toxic to dogs, but there are no nutritional benefits of them either.
Individual dogs can react differently to skittles, and sometimes you wouldn’t even know that they had stolen one or two, but other times, there may be more of a cause for concern, especially if they have eaten a large amount of skittles.
Eating too many skittles can lead to an upset stomach for your dogs and even lead to other gastrointestinal problems like bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The high amount of sugar can also cause cavities, resulting in poor dental health. Something else that you should be aware of is the danger of your dog accidentally consuming the plastic packaging of the skittles.
This is something that can happen if your dog has gotten hold of a packet of skittles without your knowledge, and candy wrappers can cause blockages in your dog’s throat or intestines. This is a cause for a medical emergency. Without immediate attention, this is a situation that can easily become life-threatening.
Can I Give My Dog Some Skittles?
Technically, you could give your dog a small amount of skittles as an infrequent treat, but this is just an all-around bad idea. These candies do not have any nutritional value, so they will only have negative consequences for your dog.
Skittles can cause your dog to be sick, and all dogs react differently to sugar intake. There are so many things that could go wrong that it is best to avoid this altogether.
Overall, eating skittles regularly can cause both dental issues and obesity in dogs, and they are a big no if you want your dog to remain at a healthy weight with good dental health.
Processed sugar can also cause hormonal and metabolic problems in canines, which can lead to more serious health conditions like diabetes.
If your dog does accidentally get their paws on some skittles, then you should keep an eye on them to make sure that they don’t develop any symptoms that could be dangerous.
If they have only had a small amount, they might not have any reaction at all. However, if they have eaten a large amount of skittles, then it is more likely for them to become unwell. If their symptoms become severe or persist, then you should contact a vet as soon as possible.
Can Dogs Eat Sour Skittles?
Sour candy, in general, is something that dogs should avoid, but something that you should know about sour skittles is that they can contain xylitol, which is a sugar substitute that is often used when manufacturing candies and other sugar-reduced products.
This is something that can be quickly absorbed upon ingestion, and it can cause issues with low blood sugar.
If your dog has eaten a fair amount of sour skittles, it could result in xylitol poisoning, and the symptoms of this can include a loss of balance and convulsions. In more serious cases, eating sour skittles can lead to liver failure, which can be fatal.
It is likely that less than 10 milligrams wouldn’t be enough sour skittles to cause serious damage. However, ingesting more than this could easily become dangerous for your dog.
If you think that your dog might have overeaten candy, you should take them to the vet for a checkup. They will be able to treat your dog or rule out any major issues, but it is best to try and avoid this situation entirely by keeping candy out of reach of your dog and never feeding it to them intentionally.
