Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My puppy swallowed hard candy. Should I be worried about xylitol?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My 9 week old lab puppy got ahold of a hard candy and swallowed it whole. Do I need to be concerned? Or can she digest it?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on January 4th, 2017

It is likely this hard candy will be broken down in her stomach by the stomach acid, but the sugar from it may give her a tummy ache. I would check the ingredients of the hard candy to make sure there is no xylitol in it. That's because xylitol is highly toxic to dogs, and if it does have that ingredient, she will need to see a vet immediately. Xylitol ingestion can be fatal. Otherwise, she should be fine aside from the chance of GI upset in the form of vomiting and/or diarrhea. Should you see that, withhold food for 12-24 hours, then feed a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in her normal diet.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

My dog ate candy with sugar, no xylitol. Will he get sick from it?

As long as there is no xylitol, the worst you may see is some minor stomach upset (vomiting or diarrhea). As long as Charlie is behaving normally, you should be fine. Minor stomach upset can typically be managed at home with a short fast followed by a bland diet fed in small, frequent amounts until symptoms resolve. Transition slowly to the regular diet afterwards. Symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian may include: persistent or worsening stomach upset, loss of appetite, abdominal pain or lethargy.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog ate Brach's jelly hearts. Should I worry about xylitol?

If the Brach's contained xylitol, it would say it on the label. Since the ingredients say sugar, it won't contain xylitol, so they won't get poisoning from this. I would be concerned they may have some stomach upset, such as vomiting or diarrhea. If you see that, a loss of appetite, or lethargy, have them seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog chewed xylitol gum, didn't swallow, seems fine. Is he okay?

This quantity is unlikely to give any problem other than mild gastrointestinal upset. Toxic effects seen with ingestion of 0.15 g/kg consist of hypoglycemia and hepatic failure. Based on this calculation your dog should have ingested 1,95grs; even though chewing gum pieces have surprisingly variable amounts of xylitol depending on their flavor the maximum amount I have found is 0.3grs per gum. Having said that, in Harley's case we are definitively far away from toxic dosages. I would recommend to monitor him for the next 4-6hours and, should any sign occur, like vomiting and diarrhoea, a check up would be required.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog ate hard candy caramels. What symptoms should I watch for?

This should not be a problem, however some dogs can react to this large amount of sugar with a bloated stomach or diarrhea or even vomiting. If any of this occurs you need to take Chloe to your veterinarian for an exam.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog ate a honey menthol cough drop. Will the sugar hurt her?

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Fortunately, there are no toxic ingredients for dogs in this product. Ingestion of large amount of sugar may produce vomiting and transient diarrhea but Kahlua should not develop any more serious symptoms. Please, offer your puppy small amounts of water every 30-60 minutes and monitor her closely at home. If she does develop diarrhea and profuse vomiting, you may have to take her to your local vets to get symptomatic treatment.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My 15lb dog ate a sugar-free mint. Is xylitol poisoning a concern?

Hi there. Yes, if the mint contained xylitol, this is very concerning as it only takes a very small amount to be toxic - especially in a small dog. I would recommend looking up the brand name of the mint online to check the ingredient list. If xylitol is listed as an ingredient, you need to take her to the vet immediately for treatment.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog ate a lollipop. Is it dangerous? What should I watch for?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It really depends on what was in the lollipop. If the lollipop had some sort of gum or filling, it can cause an obstruction in her intestines. If she also ate the stick, that may cause problems such as a perforation, especially if the stick was plastic. The sugar content may make Hazel slightly hyper or shaky as well. I recommend bringing her to the vet if you are worried, as any of the conditions above are easier to treat the earlier they are diagnosed. You can also watch her for vomiting, lethargy, and loss of appetite. Good luck with Hazel!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share