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Home » Can Dogs Eat Licorice? What to Know About Dogs and Licorice

Can Dogs Eat Licorice? What to Know About Dogs and Licorice

Renee Dobbs · October 6, 2020 · 3 Comments

licorice root sticks
Twizzlers candy
a bowl of red licorice candy
a bowl of black licorice candy
dog wondering about licorice

Other than the sugar, is licorice bad for dogs? Can dogs eat licorice? This is what you need to know before you let your pet eat one.

If you enjoy snacking on Twizzlers, Red Vines, or even black licorice, you might wonder if it is safe for you to share these snacks with your furry friend. Keep reading and learn all you ever wanted to know about dogs and licorice.

assorted licorice candy

For ultimate pet safety, I recommend consulting with your vet about all the questions you have about your dog eating licorice.

Table Of Contents
  1. Can Dogs Eat Licorice
  2. What Is Licorice Root
  3. Can Dogs Eat Licorice Candy
  4. Can Dogs Eat Black Licorice
    • Is Black Licorice Bad For Dogs
    • Can Dogs Eat Black Licorice Candy
    • My Dog Ate Black Licorice
  5. Can Dogs Eat Red Licorice
    • Is Red Licorice Bad For Dogs
    • My Dog Ate Red Licorice
  6. Can Dogs Eat Twizzlers
    • Are Twizzlers Bad For Dogs
    • My Dog Ate Twizzlers
  7. Is Licorice Bad For Dogs
  8. Licorice Root For Dogs
  9. Final Thoughts
  10. More Dog Food Resources

Can Dogs Eat Licorice

whippet dog wondering about licorice
Zephyr wondering about licorice.

There are a few different kinds of licorice and a lot of different ingredients in them. The one thing all types of licorice have in common is sugar. Dogs should not eat too much sugar. It can lead to tooth decay, diabetes, obesity, and related health issues.

Do not feed your dog licorice. Let’s look closer at the different types of licorice, how safe they are for dogs, and what to do if your dog eats licorice.

What about small amounts? Even though a tiny bit might not hurt your dog, it is still not a good idea to give your dog any type of food where the main ingredient is sugar.

What Is Licorice Root

Licorice extract comes from a plant known as glycyrrhiza glabra. The extract of the licorice plant has anti-inflammatory properties. Some people use it to treat joint pain.

Before you start using homeopathic remedies like this, please talk to your veterinarian. Trying to treat health issues on your own might lead to serious health problems without you knowing it.

Can Dogs Eat Licorice Candy

No, dogs should not eat licorice candy. There is far too much sugar in the candy for dogs. The sugar in the candy could rot your dog’s teeth.

The sugar will also lead to obesity and blood sugar issues. There are lots of different ingredients in the candy, depending on who makes it.

Avoid any candy that has xylitol in it. Xylitol is toxic for dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Black Licorice

a bowl of black licorice candy

Few types of candy are as divisive as black licorice. People either love it or hate it. It’s even been used in herbal medicine for sore throats.

What about dogs and black licorice – is it safe to share it with them?

No, you should not give your dog any black licorice. Let’s look at why.

Is Black Licorice Bad For Dogs

Black licorice is bad for your canine friend. Black licorice is flavored with licorice root. This herb is toxic to dogs in large quantities.

A few bites of black licorice might not hurt your dog, but eating too much could upset your dog’s stomach.

If your dog eats an entire bag of black licorice or any other candy flavored with licorice root, contact your vet. Watch for signs of glycyrrhizin toxicity like these:

  • Raised blood pressure
  • Muscle weakness
  • Vomiting

Can Dogs Eat Black Licorice Candy

Dogs should not eat black licorice candy, whether it has licorice root in it or not. The candy will have far too much sugar for your dog to eat.

My Dog Ate Black Licorice

If your dog eats black licorice, talk to your vet. Keep the licorice bag with you so you can show your vet the ingredients.

Watch out for any serious symptoms such as muscle weakness or vomiting.

Unless your dog at an entire bag of licorice, they should recover safely at home.

Can Dogs Eat Red Licorice

a bowl of red licorice candy

Red licorice might not be flavored with licorice root but it does have a high amount of sugar which increases your dog’s risk of tooth decay.

You should always keep the red licorice away from your dog, just like you keep all candy and types of food with high sugar content away from your dog.

Is Red Licorice Bad For Dogs

A small amount of red licorice is safe for dogs to eat, as long as they don’t eat other foods that are also high in sugar.

You should always keep individually-wrapped candy away from dogs. If they eat the wrappers it could cause bowel obstruction. These are the following symptoms of bowel obstruction:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Lethargy
  • Abdominal pain
  • Difficulty passing stool

My Dog Ate Red Licorice

If your dog ate the red licorice, just watch them. They will probably be just fine. Limit their intake of other sugary foods and give them plenty of water and bathroom breaks.

Can Dogs Eat Twizzlers

a stack of Twizzlers candy

Dogs should not eat Twizzlers. These are not healthy or safe for dogs to eat in large quantities. High amounts of them have dangerous levels of Xylitol in them.

Are Twizzlers Bad For Dogs

Yes, Twizzlers are actually pretty bad for dogs. They have 19 grams of sugar in just 4 pieces.

Some types of Twizzlers might have Xylitol in them. It’s a sugar alcohol that can cause minor to severe health issues if your dog eats it.

Some symptoms of xylitol poisoning include:

  • Live Failure
  • Seizures
  • Blood Sugar Drops
  • Slow Death

My Dog Ate Twizzlers

If you discover that your dot got into a package of Twizzlers, this is what you should do.

First, find the packaging and make sure that your dog didn’t eat any of the wrappers.

Then, make a note of the ingredients in the Twizzlers and how much your dog ate. These are all important bits of information that your dog’s vet will need to know.

Your dog will probably be just fine, but if you notice your dog acting lethargic or unusual, contact your vet.

Is Licorice Bad For Dogs

Yes, licorice is very unhealthy food for dogs. You should not let your dog eat licorice regularly. For optimal health, dogs should avoid foods that are high in sugar and anything with toxic ingredients in it.

Pay attention to the ingredient label too, because xylitol is unsafe for dogs too.

Licorice Root For Dogs

a pile of licorice root sticks

The use of licorice root for dogs is dangerous and debated. Talk to your vet before giving licorice root to your dog.

Licorice root does have known benefits for healthy dogs. Here are some of the health benefits of licorice root it’s known to have:

  • Soothing upset stomach
  • Itching from allergies
  • Used to combat liver disease
  • Boost the immune system

There are also harmful side effects of licorice root on dogs too. Dogs with medical conditions high blood pressure, heart conditions, or kidney disorders could be exacerbated by the herb.

There are also a few other negative side effects that dogs could experience, such as:

  • Increased sodium levels
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Water retention

You should never give your dog licorice root unless you speak with your veterinarian first.

Final Thoughts

Dogs should not eat any type of licorice in large amounts or regularly. Do whatever you can to keep sugary candy away from your pet.

Too much sugar has a slew of negative health effects on your dog.

More Dog Food Resources

Here are some more articles about other human foods and whether they are safe, good, bad, or toxic for dogs.

  • Can Dogs Eat Jelly Beans
  • Is Peppermint Bad for Dogs
  • Is Basil Safe for Dogs
  • Is Salmon Skin Good for Dogs
  • Are Cheerios Good for Dogs
  • Is Ginger Toxic to Dogs

Find lots more articles about what food dogs can and cannot eat here on Spoiled Hounds.

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Filed Under: Dog Info, What Can Dogs Eat

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ellen de Man says

    October 6, 2020 at 1:35 pm

    Hi Renee …My first mail from Spoiled Hounds . So much great information already. I am very happy to have signed up. My Whippet puppy Archie is a lucky boy as I am learning a lot in the future.
    Thanks you

    Reply
    • Renee says

      October 7, 2020 at 6:39 am

      Thank you Ellen and I hope you will continue to enjoy my articles.

      Reply
  2. Rusty says

    October 26, 2021 at 3:48 pm

    Thanks for the info on licorice. I spoil my pup so I gave her a half piece of Australian black licorice. All natural with no high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners just wheat sugar which I never heard of. I won’t make a habit of it but I saw some positives in your article. She seemed to like it.,

    Reply

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faces of a woman and two whippets. Hey! I'm Renee and these are my hounds, Luke and Milo. I love dogs and created this website to celebrate them. Here you can find dog tips, products, and info. Read more about Spoiled Hounds.

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