Ignore those puppy-dog eyes: These popular Halloween treats can be deadly for your dog

If you are reading this because your dog has already eaten dark chocolate, raisins, or anything containing xylitol, call your veterinarian immediately or contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 (fees may apply).

Trick or treat! It's time again to roam the neighborhood, risk the spooky decorations and load up on candy, with bowls of Halloween goodies ready to hand out at the door or buckets of the sweet treats spilling out across the living room floor after the happy, exhausted kids get home. Enjoy! In moderation!

And keep it far, far away from your dog.

Most Halloween candy is potentially dangerous and some of it is deadly for your beloved family pet, even in small quantities. So no matter how adorably they beg, keep the treats out of the dog's reach.

Here are the Halloween candies to watch out for.

How much chocolate can a dog eat? Go with none

Every dog owner should know that chocolate is bad news for canines. It's not the most toxic food a dog can scarf down — a large dog eating a small quantity of milk chocolate probably won't be affected — but it's probably the most common because it's so easy for a dog to get, especially around holidays such as Halloween, Easter and Christmas.

Chocolate contains active chemicals such as theobromine and caffeine, called methylxanthines. Dogs don't metabolize these chemicals as well as humans, so they hit harder to "speed up the heart rate and stimulate their nervous systems," according to the America Kennel Club.

In general, the darker the chocolate your dog eats, the greater the chance for a bad outcome. Dark chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate while semisweet chocolate and unsweetened baker's chocolate are worse, and cocoa powder is the most deadly of all. But as the popularity of premium chocolates or European brands with higher cocoa concentrations continues to rise, any delicious dessert can be suspect.

Body weight and the amount eaten make a big difference. According to the Merck Manual, which provides an online chocolate toxicity calculator, one ounce of milk chocolate per pound of body weight is a potentially lethal dose for a dog. Snapping up a fun-size bar might not be an issue for larger breeds, but your smaller pooch grabbing a standard 1.5 oz chocolate bar may be in serious trouble.

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning, according to PetMD:

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Restlessness

• Panting

• Excessive thirst

• Urination

• High heart rate

Symptoms usually begin within 6 to 12 hours after eating chocolate and can last up to 72 hours. In extreme cases, they can lead to muscle tremors, seizures, heart failure, and death.

What to do if your dog has eaten chocolate: Don't wait for symptoms to show up, they may take hours to develop while the toxins are already doing their damage. Contact a veterinarian immediately if your dog has eaten chocolate, even a small amount, or contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 (fees may apply). Be ready to tell the vet what your dog ate, how much, and how much your dog weighs.

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Even one raisin can be fatal to a dog

Whatever your thoughts are on raisins in baked goods (yummy? a betrayal?) for dogs they can be deadly. Chocolate-covered raisins add the risk of chocolate poisoning, making them even worse.

Grapes and raisins are highly toxic to some dogs, with no proven safe amount. Even gulping down one grape or raisin can kill a dog. Experts have not pinned down what the toxic compound in grapes is yet, or why it affects some dogs and not others, but breed, sex and age has no influence on the risk, the American Kennel Club says.

Symptoms of eating raisins, according to PetMD:

• Vomiting and/or diarrhea, usually within the first few hours

• Loss of appetite

• Lethargy or unusual quietness

• Abdominal pain

• Dehydration (panting, dry nose or mouth, pale gums)

• Increased urination or drinking a lot may indicate the initial stages of kidney failure.

• Decreased urination or not urinating may mean the kidneys are shutting down.

What to do if your dog has eaten raisins: Contact a veterinarian immediately if your dog has eaten even one grape or raisin, or contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 (fees may apply).

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Hard candies, xylitol can lead to hard times, very sick dogs

There are a variety of problems with dogs eating any hard candies. They can lead to choking if not completely chewed up, and if your dog swallows more than one they can stick together and cause obstructions in the digestive system, according to PetMD. Smaller candies may obstruct breathing if they are inhaled into the windpipe.

But some sugar-free candies contain the sugar substitute xylitol and that's a different thing altogether. Dogs absorb xylitol much faster than humans and it causes them to secrete large amounts of insulin quickly, often within a half hour, which can lead to their blood sugar crashing down to potentially fatal levels.

"Even a very small amount of xylitol can cause a severe drop in blood sugar in dogs," PetMD says, "which can also lead to seizures, coma, and death." The equivalent of one or two pieces of sugar-free gum can be enough, and xylitol has become a popular additive even in items that aren't marked sugar-free. Always check ingredients before sharing with your furry friend.

Symptoms of eating hard candies with xylitol, according to PetMD:

• lethargy

• weakness or stumbling

• dullness or confusion

• seizures

Even if your dog gets past the initial symptoms, xylitol can cause liver failure and bring a loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, confusion, and yellowing of the skin. Some dogs may form blood clots.

What to do if your dog has eaten anything with xylitol: Contact a veterinarian immediately if your dog has eaten anything containing xylitol, or contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 (fees may apply). If signs of hypoglycemia develop before you can get to a vet, Dr. Jennifer Coates of PetMD suggests dribbling a little dissolved sugar solution, Karo syrup or honey in the dog's mouth if you can do so safely.

Candy corn, gummies, lollipops, other sugary treats: Down, boy

Sugary candies are not considered to be toxic to dogs. But they're not a good idea.

Even aside from the general health issues of too much sugar, high-sugar treats can cause abdominal discomfort, severe gas, bloating and diarrhea in your pooch, according to PetMD, and some dogs may develop inflammation of the intestinal tract and pancreatitis, which can be fatal.

(They're also not great for your dog's teeth.)

What to do if your dog has eaten sugary candies: Contact a veterinarian for advice if your dog has eaten more than a couple high-sugar snacks to determine if treatment is necessary.

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The wrappers can be worse than the candy

"Most dogs don’t unwrap candies before they eat them," PetMD says, "and the wrappers can sometimes pose more of a problem than the candies themselves."

Wrappers can become lodged in your pet's throat or intestinal tract, causing irritation and inflammation (which can mean poor appetite, vomiting and diarrhea) or obstruction, which may require surgery. Obstruction can interfere with digestion and cause dehydration and unbalanced electrolytes. In severe cases, blockages can cause necrosis or perforated bowels.

Symptoms of blockage, according to PetMD:

• Vomiting

• Loss of appetite

• Abdominal pain

• Weakness/lethargy

• Diarrhea, difficulty defecating or straining to defecate

• Weight loss

What to do if your dog may have an obstruction: Contact a veterinarian immediately. Induced vomiting within the first couple of hours may be possible, otherwise more elaborate treatment may be necessary.

How to keep your dog safe from Halloween candy

• Don't leave bowls, bags or individual candies where a dog can get to them or knock them over.

• When it's time to go over the night's haul, use a table or the kitchen counter instead of spreading it across the floor where it could be grabbed or individual pieces might be missed under the furniture.

• Keep dog-friendly carob treats handy to share so you have something to offer those puppy-dog eyes while you enjoy the forbidden chocolate and candy they can't have.

• Keep your veterinarian's phone number in a prominent place.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Halloween candy with chocolate, raisins, xylitol can be fatal for dogs