Not recommended — dogs and licorice
No form of licorice is appropriate for dogs. Licorice candy is sugar, artificial flavouring, and sometimes xylitol. Real licorice root contains glycyrrhizin — a compound that disrupts electrolyte balance and raises blood pressure, with documented toxicity in dogs at relatively low doses.
🏆 Pet Care Community Safety Score™ — Licorice for Dogs
"Most dogs in Australia encounter licorice as Allen's licorice allsorts or Darrell Lea soft eating licorice — which technically don't contain any real licorice root at all. They're anise-flavoured sugar confectionery. Not healthy, definitely not appropriate for dogs, but the glycyrrhizin toxicity concern doesn't apply to anise-only candy. The actual danger is real licorice root products — herbal teas, supplements, natural pet remedies, and genuine licorice twists from health food stores. Those contain meaningful glycyrrhizin concentrations and that's where I'd be seriously worried about a dog that ate a large amount."
Two completely different things wearing the same name
Here's the confusion at the centre of this question: "licorice" in Australia means almost nothing consistent. It can mean Allen's licorice allsorts (essentially just anise-flavoured sugar), Darrell Lea red licorice (no licorice plant material at all), real licorice root from a health food store, or a herbal supplement with licorice extract.
The answer to "can my dog eat this?" depends entirely on which one.
Short version: none of them are appropriate, but the actual toxicity risk varies significantly. Let me break down why.
The real licorice root problem: glycyrrhizin
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) contains glycyrrhizin — a triterpenoid saponin that accounts for roughly 4–25% of the root's dry weight depending on the variety. In the body, glycyrrhizin is hydrolysed to glycyrrhetinic acid, which inhibits the enzyme 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.
That enzyme does one important job: it stops cortisol from acting like aldosterone in the kidneys. When it's inhibited, cortisol activates aldosterone receptors, causing sodium and water retention and potassium loss. The clinical result is elevated blood pressure, hypokalaemia (low potassium), and in serious exposures, muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmias.
This is well-documented in humans who consume large amounts of real licorice confectionery — there are case reports of cardiac events from chronic heavy licorice intake. In dogs, the toxic dose isn't precisely established with the same certainty as some other toxins, but the mechanism is real and dogs process the compound similarly to humans.
The dose that matters: therapeutic applications of licorice root in herbal medicine use roughly 200–400mg glycyrrhizin in humans. A health food store licorice root supplement might contain similar concentrations per tablet. Dogs are much smaller. A medium-sized dog eating a meaningful portion of real licorice root extract warrants a call to the Animal Poisons Helpline.
Australian licorice candy: technically not licorice
This part surprises people. Go pick up a bag of Allen's licorice allsorts or a packet of Darrell Lea soft eating licorice and check the ingredient list. You won't find Glycyrrhiza glabra extract. What you'll find is sugar, glucose syrup, wheat flour, anise oil, and food colouring.
The "licorice" flavour in most Australian confectionery comes from anise oil — specifically from star anise (Illicium verum) or anise seed (Pimpinella anisum). These have a very similar flavour profile to real licorice root but are completely different plants with different chemistry. Anise oil in small amounts isn't toxic to dogs; the issue is everything around it.
A dog that ate Allen's licorice allsorts got: a significant sugar load (~60–70g per 100g), possibly artificial dyes, potentially wheat (not a concern for most dogs), and flavouring. Not a toxicity emergency. Probably some loose stools and a post-sugar crash.
Still not a treat I'd give. But not the glycyrrhizin emergency the word "licorice" suggests.
The xylitol danger in sugar-free licorice
There's a growing category of "healthy" licorice products in Australian health food stores and online — sugar-free licorice, keto licorice, diabetic-friendly licorice. These products substitute sugar for artificial sweeteners.
Some use xylitol. In dogs, xylitol causes rapid insulin release leading to severe hypoglycaemia within 30–60 minutes. Higher doses cause acute liver necrosis. If you are not certain what sweetener is in any licorice product your dog ate, treat it as a potential xylitol exposure and call the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738 immediately.
Terms to look for on labels: "xylitol," "birch sugar," "sweetener (967)," "sugar alcohol." If any of these appear: call, don't wait.
The herbal supplement angle — the one most owners miss
Licorice root is used extensively in both human and animal herbal medicine. It appears in: - Herbal teas (licorice root tea is common at health food stores like The Source Bulk Foods) - Pet herbal supplements marketed for "adrenal support," "digestion," or "anti-inflammatory" properties - Some raw feeding diet supplements - Natural throat-soothing products for pets
If you have any of these in your home and your dog got into them, this is the highest-risk licorice exposure scenario. These products contain actual glycyrrhizin in concentrated form.
| Licorice product type | Contains real licorice? | Glycyrrhizin risk | Action if eaten |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allen's / Darrell Lea confectionery | No — anise only | Low | Monitor for GI upset |
| Imported European licorice sweets | Often yes | Moderate to high | Call Animal Poisons Helpline |
| Licorice root herbal tea | Yes | Moderate | Call Animal Poisons Helpline |
| Pet herbal supplements with licorice | Yes | High per body weight | Call Animal Poisons Helpline |
| Sugar-free licorice candy | Possibly | Xylitol risk — very high | Call immediately |
What to do right now
If your dog ate standard Australian licorice candy (Allen's, Darrell Lea, supermarket brand): check whether it was sugar-free. If not sugar-free, monitor for vomiting and diarrhoea over the next 4–8 hours. Not an emergency unless large amounts were eaten.
If your dog ate real licorice root, a licorice herbal supplement, or any sugar-free licorice product: call the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738. Tell them the product name, the amount, and your dog's weight.
🚨 My Dog Ate Licorice — What Now?
For real licorice root or extract ingestion, call the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738. For sugar-free licorice with possible xylitol: call immediately. For standard licorice candy: monitor for GI upset, contact your vet if symptoms are severe.
Signs that warrant a vet call:
- With licorice candy: vomiting
- diarrhoea
- sugar crash. With real licorice root or extract: vomiting
- diarrhoea
- elevated blood pressure
- muscle weakness
- sodium retention (look for unusual thirst and bloating). With xylitol-containing sugar-free licorice: weakness
- disorientation
- collapse — call immediately
If your dog ate a large amount or is showing the signs above: Don't wait — call immediately.
📞 Animal Poisons Helpline: 1300 869 738Available 24/7 across Australia. Have your dog's weight, breed and approximate quantity consumed ready when you call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — licorice root is used in integrative veterinary medicine for its anti-inflammatory and adrenal-supporting properties. This doesn't mean you should give it to your dog without direction. The therapeutic and toxic doses overlap enough that it should only be used under veterinary guidance with specific dosing. "Natural" does not mean safe in all quantities.
For more on sweet treats and dogs, see our dog food safety hub and our guides on what happens when dogs eat xylitol-containing foods.
📚 Sources & Further Reading
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Licorice Root. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
- Stormer FC, et al. Glycyrrhizin — biochemical mechanisms of the toxicity. Pharmacology & Toxicology 1993.
- European Medicines Agency — Assessment of glycyrrhizinic acid and its derivatives. 2017.
- Australian Veterinary Association — Companion Animal Toxicology Guidelines. https://www.ava.com.au
