Pet parents should keep candy and other sweets out of reach from their dogs because these treats contain sugar that may upset the stomach and be choking hazards, and may contain toxic xylitol that could prove fatal for a pup.
Make dog popsicles using ingredients you already have at hand! This project is easy for kids to help with (under supervision, of course).
Contents
Gum
Dogs that have eaten gum sweetened with xylitol are at risk after ingesting it, as this artificial sweetener can be fatal for them, leading to severe hypoglycemia (low blood glucose), weakness, depression, low potassium levels and seizures.
If your pet ingests sugarless gum containing xylitol by accident and you detect signs of poisoning, please call your vet or local animal hospital immediately. Xylitol poisoning is potentially deadly; symptoms include hypoglycemia, low blood pressure, seizures and even heart failure.
Try A Cultivated Nest’s frozen peanut butter berry pops for your dog to satisfy his sweet tooth or create your own with yogurt, bananas, blueberries and peanut butter for an oral health-supportive treat that may reduce plaque and tartar build-up and promote dental wellness.
Hard Candies
Hard candies are confectionery treats made of sugar or syrup and often feature additives like colorings, flavorings and other components. They tend to contain high levels of sugar while possessing minimal water content; their production involves numerous steps including ingredient preparation, heating and dissolving processes.
Hard candies, when consumed by dogs in large quantities, can cause choking and gastrointestinal obstructions. Furthermore, artificial sweetener such as xylitol found in some candies may make dogs extremely sick; signs of poisoning from this substance include vomiting, diarrhea and lack of appetite.
To create doggy popsicles, pour the mixture into a mold, KONG or ice cube tray and insert an edible stick. Run under warm water to loosen treats before taking out of mold to serve supervised. These Peanut Butter Berry Pops from A Cultivated Nest make for easy pup popsicles with creamy textures canines love.
Candy Corn
Candy corn is an iconic Halloween treat, beloved for its plastic or candle-like texture and high sugar content. But that’s only two reasons behind its widespread appeal!
Although Halloween treats feature tricolored candy designs that make an eye-catching statement, their taste may divide opinion. Some find it irresistibly sweet while for others it resembles Satan’s earwax.
This contentious candy is made by pouring multiple different colored hot edible icing onto the same kernel-shaped mold and cooling. Its ingredients include sugar, corn syrup, salt, dextrose, sesame oil, gelatin and three food colors – but according to a video resurfaced by Business Insider it also includes confectioner’s glaze made with shellac extracted from insect secretions – making for an odd-looking confectionery treat!
Chocolate
Chocolate may tempt our furry companions, but it should never be fed as treats. Our chocolate contains theobromine which dogs cannot efficiently process and may lead to dental and digestive issues as well as even seizures in some instances.
Keep your dog’s teeth clean and their weight in check by giving them homemade popsicles made with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. They’re simple to create!
Carob coating resembles the chocolate used to dip Easter eggs, and can be used similarly as dog treat icing to frost your pup’s favorite treats and cookies. You can purchase ready-made carob drops, chips and melts that contain sugars and oils for quick application.
Wrappers
Lollipops contain high concentrations of sugar, posing serious dental and weight issues in dogs. Furthermore, they pose serious choking hazards and stomach upset risks – not to mention they contain toxic xylitol that is toxic for them!
Try one of these tasty dog popsicle recipes as a healthier treat option to candy lollipops – they’re quick and easy to make, giving your pup something delicious they’re sure to appreciate.
Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until everything is thoroughly mixed. Pour mixture into popsicle mold or ice cube tray, placing a bone-shaped chew treat or other stick into each pop and freezing before removing from mold and serving to your dog! These treats are sweetened with Blackstrap Molasses which contains potassium and minerals – great sources of nutrition!
