Can Dogs Eat Cinnamon? What You Need to Know

Bydanail

If you are preparing nice-smelling snacks such as cinnamon buns, pumpkin pie, or snickerdoodles, your panting pooch will want some crumbs.

As a dog lover, you may want to spoil your four-legged pal with all the world’s goodies, including human meals. So, you are wondering, is it okay to feed your pup cinnamon? Will your canine friend benefit from its nourishing perks? Does cinnamon pose any health threats to your Fido?

Read through for more information.

Can Dogs Cat Cinnamon?

The answer is YES! Your canine friend can safely ingest cinnamon as it provides several health benefits. While desserts and pastries may not be ideal meals to give your dog, there are numerous cinnamon dog snacks they can safely enjoy.

Possible Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Cinnamon isn’t an essential addition to your pup’s diet. Nevertheless, it’s non-toxic, and pets can safely ingest it. This nicely smelling spice provides various health benefits for your furry buddy, such as:

  1. It is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce inflammation and swelling in dogs with sore muscles, joint pain, and arthritis.
  2. The spice comes with many antioxidants that protect your canine buddy from neurological disease and helps in enhancing brain functions such as memory and focus.
  3. Improves heart health. Research on the impact of cinnamon in dogs with high blood pressure and heart issues indicated a significantly reduced heart rate and systolic blood pressure in dogs that ingested a controlled dosage of cinnamon.
  4. It helps in regulating blood sugar in diabetic dogs. Research shows that ½ tablespoon of this spice will aid in controlling blood sugar levels and decreasing insulin resistance. However, this doesn’t mean that cinnamon should substitute any medication prescribed by the vet. So, make sure you consult with an expert first.
  5. Cinnamon has antibacterial properties. Pups with allergies or those suffering from yeast infection will benefit from cinnamon, as it inhibits the growth of bacteria like Salmonella, Candida Albicans, and Listeria. It is also used in food preservation. Just sprinkle some cinnamon over the meal and put it in the fridge.

Is Cinnamon Safe for My Dog?

Cinnamon comes in two forms, Ceylon and cassia cinnamon.

Ceylon comes from the Cinnamomum verum tree produced in Sri Lanka, while cassia comes from the C. cassia tree that grows in China. Cassia cinnamon is dark brown and has a rough texture and thick stick. It’s cheap and widely available.

Ceylon is lighter and sweet. Due to its price, it’s hard to find and is primarily available in specialty spice food markets.

Ceylon cinnamon is the ideal choice for your dog since it has lower levels of coumarin. This substance is toxic to the liver and kidneys in humans when consumed in large quantities. Though there is no information about the quantity of spice that can cause liver and kidney toxicity in dogs, it’s good to be safe by using cinnamon in small quantities.

What are the Dangers of Giving My Dog Cinnamon?

While this spice is safe for dog consumption, it poses some risks.

Cinnamon sticks might cause skin and stomach irritation to your dog, especially if ingested in large quantities. Ingesting powdered cinnamon, cinnamon oil, and cinnamon stick might irritate your dog’s mouth while inhaling the cinnamon powder causing coughing, choking, and difficulty breathing. Call a vet if your pup inhales cinnamon powder and exhibits these signs of cinnamon overdose:

How Much Cinnamon Should My Dog Eat?

According to the pet poison helpline, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder has no harmful effect on your pup. Small breeds require smaller quantities than large breeds. Furthermore, only give cinnamon oil in smaller amounts since their higher concentration levels can cause issues.

If your four-legged pal consumes cinnamon from your pantry or chews sticks of cinnamon, do not panic. However, call a vet for consultation.

Can My Dog Eat Cinnamon Rolls With Other Baked Snacks?

Even though cinnamon isn’t toxic to pups, avoid sharing cinnamon-baked snacks with your four-legged pal. That’s because meals like cinnamon rolls, cinnamon toast crunch, cinnamon bread, cakes, and cooks contain extras that are toxic to dogs.

These meals’ high fats and extra ingredients, such as sugar, butter, cocoa powder, chocolate, xylitol, and raisins, are bad for your dog. Stomach upset, obesity, and pancreatitis can occur when your pup consumes human food in large amounts.

Pay Attention to Nutmeg

Even though cinnamon and nutmeg are complementary spices, don’t give both of them to your pooch. Nutmeg has myristicin, a natural compound found in nutmeg. This compound is toxic to your dog and can lead to:

  • Disorientation
  • Dry mouth
  • High heart rate
  • Hallucination
  • Drowsiness
  • Abdominal pain
  • Seizures
  • Increased blood pressure

However, your pup would have eaten a large amount of nutmeg (more than one tablespoon) to have myristicin poisoning. A smaller quantity of this spice will only cause mild stomach upset.

If you think your dog has consumed nutmeg or baked meals that have nutmeg, call your vet or the animal poison control center.

How Should I Feed My Dog Cinnamon Safely?

As you’ve seen, your dog should have cinnamon in smaller amounts. ½ tablespoon is enough for your pup to reap all the aromatic spice’s health benefits. You also need to prepare pet-friendly cinnamon buns or other cinnamon-baked snacks that your canine friend will love – that is, by excluding any toxic ingredients.

Key Takeaway Points

  • When ingested in small amounts, cinnamon is healthy for dogs and provides numerous benefits.
  • Ground cinnamon can lead to irritation, choking, or difficulty in breathing, while a large amount of this spice will cause diarrhea or vomiting.
  • Please don’t feed your dog any cinnamon-based baked meals unless you are certain they do not have any harmful ingredients.
  • Consult your vet before incorporating cinnamon into your dog’s meal.

Our Verdict

Can Dogs Eat Cinnamon? Yes! Cinnamon is jam-packed with nutrients and antioxidants that will help improve your four-legged friend’s health. If you plan to add cinnamon to your pup’s diet, make sure you do it in moderation. We also recommend you call a vet for consultation.

Further Reading:

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