As a dog owner, you should know that some foods are good for dogs while others are bad despite the fact we can enjoy them. Can dogs eat cinnamon? Yes, they can eat cinnamon and it is rather safe. But there are a lot of things you need to know about this food and all the pros and cons. This is something you should know about every food you are planning to feed your pet with.
Cinnamon: First Things To Know
Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of a tree. The tree is Cinnamomum. There are two main types. Before we answer the question, can dogs eat cinnamon, you need to know about the basics. Cassia Cinnamon comes from China and Indonesia. The tree is dark in color and cinnamon has a very strong taste. It is extremely common but not recommended for dogs due to the high coumarin count.
Ceylon Cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka. It is more expensive, has a lighter color and it is safer for dogs. Keep in mind that you may need some time to find it but it will be worth it.
Cinnamon Has Health Benefits To Dogs
In a nutshell, cinnamon has health benefits and it is a wonderful addition to the diet. Dogs and humans can both benefit from it. This is due to the presence of cinnamaldehyde. According to scientists, this compound is an extremely beneficial and important ingredient that is responsible for all the benefits below.
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Rich In Antioxidants
Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants. These will kill free radicals hence preventing them from damaging and killing the cells. Your pet can enjoy this benefit and he will be in better health overall. There are countless other perks like better memory, better focus, etc.
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Anti-Inflammatory Perks
Cinnamon will help dogs with arthritis, pain in the joints, and also sore muscles. In a nutshell, cinnamon has strong anti-inflammatory benefits.
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Anti-Fungal Perk
If your pet has yeast infections on a regular basis, cinnamon is an ideal addition to his diet. It has strong anti-fungal properties that are especially beneficial for threats such as Listeria, Salmonella, and many others.
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Promotes Blood Sugar Regulation
Cinnamon will help your pet with high blood sugar. It can decrease it and it will also promote insulin resistance. This is possible when a dog gets small amounts of cinnamon.
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Better Health of The Heart
Dogs who have high blood pressure do need cinnamon. It can decrease blood pressure and maintain the overall health of the heart. Keep in mind that a dog will need precise amounts of cinnamon in order to get this perk.
Ideal Cinnamon Amount For Your Pet
Foods that you can feed your pet with massive amounts are not ideal. As a matter of fact, any food in large amounts will be bad. Even fruit can be bad in that case scenario. This applies to cinnamon as well. Large amounts are bad, period.
We can generalize the issue here. A large dog will need one tablespoon of cinnamon per day. There will be no health issues and this amount will not be toxic to a dog. A smaller dog will need a smaller amount of cinnamon. Keep in mind that cinnamon oils can be used as well but in very small amounts due to high concentrations of compounds.
Always give cinnamon to your dog in these amounts and he will get benefits only. Even if he eats more than you would like, he will probably be fine. But if that happens it is better to take him to a vet or at least call him and get help in a form of information.
Possible Risks
First of all, there are no side effects of eating cinnamon. We are referring to dogs. But, if your pet eats too much cinnamon (powder, sticks, oils, or something else) he may suffer from certain problems. Usually, this means that a dog will have symptoms like:
- Heart rate will change
- Liver disease
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Low blood sugar level
All of these can happen if your pet eats too much cinnamon. If he inhales it, he can have the same symptoms but additional ones will be present as well. They are coughing and mouth irritation.
If this happens to your dog, take him to a vet as soon as possible. These are not deadly issues but they can be very complicated and your dog will need therapy. Your dog will be fine soon and he won’t have any complications. Sadly, there are no a lot of things you can do at home so you will need to take him to see a vet.
Here we must add that commercial products that have cinnamon are not ideal treats. They will contain artificial chemicals, sweeteners, and all kinds of additional chemicals. One of them can be xylitol. It is toxic to all dogs and it is something you will have to avoid like a plague!
A much better option is to get treats that are made from cinnamon but are designed for dogs. These are 100% safe and they come in all sizes, shapes, and with all the perks you can imagine. Your only mission will be to find the one that your pet likes the most and go for it. Even then, don’t make cinnamon treats a big part of the diet. A dog needs small amounts of it on a daily or even weekly basis.
The Final Word
We hope that you have your answer now. Can dogs eat cinnamon? Yes, they can and they can get all kinds of benefits and health perks. You must remember that dogs can and should eat small amounts of cinnamon only. Too much cinnamon will cause health issues. Always start with the smallest possible amount and gradually increase it as your pet gets used to it. The best part is that you can find all kinds of treats made from cinnamon that are safe and delicious.