Can dogs eat jelly beans? Before giving your dog a piece of your own food or sharing your snack with them, it’s important to do your research on that food. Although some human food is fine for dogs to eat, others contain harmful toxins that can seriously impact the health of your pup or even, worst-case scenario, be fatal for them.
So, what about jelly beans?
Can Dogs Eat Jelly Beans?
Although your dog may be fine if they grab a couple of dropped jelly beans from the floor, no, they’re best avoided.
Are Jelly Beans Healthy for Dogs?
Jelly beans are one of the least healthy snacks for your dog they could possibly have!
Are Jelly Beans Safe?
Jelly beans may be okay if your dog grabs one accidentally but, in general, they can contain many unsafe ingredients.
The Benefits
When it comes to the benefits of jelly beans, there are pretty much none. Your dog may enjoy them as a tasty snack and it may even seem like they’re your dog’s favorite, but there are plenty of alternative options you can give them that have none of the risks. There are no health benefits to jelly beans (just as there are none for humans either!).
Can Dogs Eat Jelly Beans? The Risks
The first of jelly beans is the amount of sugar in them. Dogs aren’t equipped to handle a lot of sugar, and this can make them very sick — including but not limited to vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms. Your dog may end up with a seriously upset tummy after they eat some jelly beans.
The second risk is obesity. If you continuously feed your dog foods that are high in sugar and calories, even if they don’t have an instant reaction, you risk them developing obesity over time. This can seriously affect them, causing diabetes, heart conditions, and strain on their joints. It’s not good for your dog to be overweight, and you should consult a body condition chart to ensure they’re living their best life. It’s kind to restrict your dog’s food, not cruel!
The most crucial risk is that jelly beans may contain toxic ingredients. Dogs can’t tolerate caffeine, and this can cause poisoning in them.
The other major risk is an artificial sweetener known as xylitol. This is toxic to dogs, and can be found in a bunch of different items. Symptoms of xylitol poisoning include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Clear pain or discomfort
- Lethaergy
- Loss of appetite
- Refusal to drink water
Xylitol poisoning can even lead to death. That’s why it’s important to check out any sweet food you give your dog for the ingredients — even peanut butter, which can often have this!
Help! My Dog Ate Jelly Beans
You may have given your dog jelly beans before you knew this information, or you may have dropped some and your dog grabbed them, which led you here. Don’t panic! If your dog just grabbed a couple off the floor, it’s unlikely to harm them. Still, you should monitor them for a few hours and make sure they don’t show any symptoms of being poisoned by the ingredients.
If your dog is showing symptoms or ate a lot, contact your veterinarian. They’ll be able to advise you on the best thing to do. If it was recent, they may tell you to induce vomiting and give you instructions — otherwise, they may have you bring your dog in so they can examine them.
Alternative Treats
The good news is, there are plenty of sweet treats your dog can have that are actually good for them!
These include:
Even if you think a food is good for your dog because it’s good for humans, it’s essential to check it out first. Grapes and cherries, for example, are also poisonous to dogs.
So, can dogs eat jelly beans? The answer is a firm no! Even if they don’t have an instant reaction to caffeine or xylitol — which they might — they can end up with health problems down the line from being fed so much sugar. Instead, feed them some tasty fruit or find some dog-specific treats they like. Your dog may want those jelly beans, but they just don’t know what’s best for them.
