Can Dogs Eat Licorice Candy?
No. Licorice candy is not appropriate for dogs, and sugar-free versions may contain xylitol, which is dangerous to dogs. What to do if your dog ate some.
No. Licorice candy is not appropriate for dogs. Ordinary licorice candy is sugar plus licorice root, which can cause stomach upset and, in quantity, affect blood pressure and potassium. Sugar-free licorice is the bigger danger, because it may contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs in small amounts. If your dog has eaten any, call your vet. We sell candy to people, not to pets, and none of what we import is food for a dog. This page exists because the question gets searched, and a clear answer is more useful than no answer. It is general information, not veterinary advice. For anything specific to your dog, your vet is the right call.
The risks, in order of how urgent they are
1. Xylitol, in sugar-free licorice. This is the one to treat as an emergency. Xylitol (also labeled as birch sugar, or E967) causes a rapid insulin release in dogs, which can drop blood sugar dangerously fast, and larger doses have been linked to liver damage. It does not take much, and small dogs are at risk from smaller amounts. If the wrapper says sugar-free, check for xylitol or birch sugar and call your vet or a pet poison service immediately, even if your dog seems fine.
2. Chocolate-coated licorice. Chocolate contains theobromine, which dogs metabolize slowly and which is genuinely toxic to them. Darker chocolate carries more of it. A white chocolate coating carries far less, but the licorice and sugar underneath are still not appropriate.
3. Licorice root itself. Real licorice root extract contains glycyrrhizin. In people, large amounts are known to raise blood pressure and lower potassium, which is why the FDA publishes a consumer advisory about eating a lot of black licorice. It is not something to add to a dog's diet. One stolen piece is unlikely to be an emergency, but it is still worth a phone call, especially for a small dog or a dog with heart, kidney, or blood pressure problems.
4. Salt and salmiak. Nordic salty licorice contains salmiak, which is ammonium chloride, on top of whatever salt is already in the recipe. Extra salt load is not something a dog needs, and salty licorice is a poor choice to leave within reach.
5. Sugar, fat and the wrapper. Sugar and fatty coatings cause vomiting and diarrhea, and repeated exposure contributes to weight gain and dental problems. Wrappers, ties, and long licorice ropes can also cause choking or a gut obstruction, which is sometimes the more immediate problem rather than the ingredients themselves.
What to do if your dog ate licorice candy
1. Take the packaging with you. Note roughly how much was eaten, when, and your dog's weight. That is the information a vet will ask for first.
2. Check the label for xylitol or birch sugar. If it is there, treat it as urgent and call now rather than waiting for symptoms.
3. Call your vet. If your vet is closed, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center runs a 24/7 line at (888) 426-4435. A consultation fee may apply.
4. Do not try to make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to. Home remedies for this can do more harm than the candy did.
5. Watch for warning signs: vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, wobbliness or unsteadiness, tremors, collapse, unusual thirst or urination. Any of these means go to a vet, not wait and see.
Keeping candy out of reach
The practical version is simple. Candy lives above nose height, bags get closed, and dropped pieces get picked up straight away. Dogs are opportunists and a chewy rope on the floor is an obvious target.
If you run a dog-friendly shop, the same logic applies to your displays. Low bulk bins, open scoop tubs, and candy bowls at counter-front height are all reachable by a curious dog, and a spilled scoop is a real risk on a busy Saturday. Keeping pick-and-mix bins lidded and above dog height is good hygiene practice anyway, and it removes this problem at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
Can dogs eat licorice candy?+
No. Licorice candy is not appropriate for dogs. It combines sugar, licorice root, and sometimes salt or chocolate, none of which belong in a dog's diet. Sugar-free versions may contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Contact your vet if your dog has eaten any.
Is black licorice toxic to dogs?+
Black licorice is not classed as an acute poison the way chocolate or xylitol are, but it is still not safe to give a dog. The glycyrrhizin in licorice root can affect blood pressure and potassium in quantity, and the sugar causes stomach upset. Call your vet if your dog ate a meaningful amount.
What happens if my dog eats sugar-free candy?+
Treat it as an emergency. Sugar-free candy may contain xylitol, which can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar within a short time and, at higher doses, liver damage. Check the label, then call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away.
My dog ate one piece of licorice. Should I worry?+
For a healthy medium or large dog, a single sugar-sweetened piece is unlikely to be an emergency, but you should still call your vet and describe what happened. Small dogs, older dogs, and dogs with existing health problems need a call regardless of the amount.
Can dogs have licorice root as a supplement?+
Licorice root does appear in some herbal preparations for animals, but dosing and suitability are veterinary decisions, not something to work out from a candy article. Do not use candy as a route to it. Ask your vet.
Is salty licorice worse for dogs than sweet licorice?+
It adds a problem rather than replacing one. Salty licorice contains salmiak (ammonium chloride) on top of the sugar and licorice root, so it puts an extra salt load on your dog. Neither style is appropriate, and neither should be left within reach.
Gustav Lindqvist · Candy Master
Gustav grew up in Sweden on a strict Saturday-candy schedule, mixing his lördagsgodis bag at the lösgodis wall before he could spell salmiak. He has spent years tasting his way across Scandinavian candy, and now curates the range at TheSweetsTruck, from BUBS sour skulls to the saltiest licorice most people cannot finish.
Last updated 8/23/2026