Imagine this– It is Christmas, and you sit with a cup of coffee, dip a marshmallow, and sprinkle cinnamon on the top. You are about to take a sip, and you see your pooch begging to smell and eat that heavenly spice- cinnamon. In such a situation, you may wonder – can dogs eat cinnamon?
Well, yes. Dogs can eat cinnamon safely, but only occasionally. End of the day, it is a spice that can cause risks to your dog.
To help you with that, we have covered all the benefits and risks of cinnamon.
Are There Any Benefits of Serving Cinnamon to Dogs?
Starting on an aromatic note- cinnamon can bring quite a few benefits to your dog. If you serve your dog cinnamon occasionally, they can show positive results.
Here are the benefits of feeding your dog cinnamon:
1. Anti-inflammatory properties
Cinnamon is famous for its anti-inflammatory properties. If you feed them correctly, they can help to reduce inflammation, swelling, and redness. Also, they have antioxidants! This means cinnamon can fight off fungus and bacteria to protect your dog from catching infections. In short- this flavourful spice can improve your dog’s immune health if fed in moderation.
2. Bad mouth odor, who?
After eating cinnamon, your dog’s mouth will have a fresh breath. This spice can cut off the smelly particles and take over to give that soothing essence. So, if your dog has a date – remember to sprinkle some cinnamon magic on their kibbles!
3. Flavor bliss
Does your dog not like kibbles? Worry not; add cinnamon powder to it! It can enhance the flavor of any food item. For example- Think of the worst-tasting food. Now, add cinnamon to it. Like- it still would taste bad, but the smell! Wouldn’t that help!?
Is Cinnamon Bad For Dogs?
Everyone likes cinnamon, but nothing comes without risks. These yummy and full-of-flavor cinnamon sticks can lead to problems in dogs IF not fed correctly.
So, here are the potential risks of feeding or overfeeding your dog cinnamon:
1. Allergies
If your dog is sensitive to allergens, don’t worry! It’s a case with hundreds of other dogs, too. Allergies are one of the common health problems in dogs. Especially considering certain food items, dogs may react differently. Similarly, cinnamon can also lead to allergic reactions like sneezing, redness, runny nose, or irritation.
To prevent this, always start with minimal amounts of cinnamon in their food. If they react just okay, then gradually increase the dosage over time.
2. Upset stomachs
Just because dogs CAN eat something does not mean they SHOULD eat tons of it. Anything in excess will always lead to digestive problems in dogs. Cinnamon might seem like a spec of brown dust, but adding too much can cause upset stomachs.
From diarrhea to acidity- all at once. No mercy. Your dog might vomit everything out if they overate cinnamon.
3. Dusty coughs
Another red flag about cinnamon is that they can be VERY MESSY. If your dog finds a box full of cinnamon, THEY WILL dig their nose (yep! They let their intrusive thoughts win). Sadly, inhaling cinnamon is far more dangerous than ingesting it. The cinnamon powder dust can cause a burning sensation in the respiratory tract.
You might also observe signs of breathlessness and severe sneezing. If your dog inhales cinnamon power and is struggling, please get in touch with your veterinarian immediately. Even small amounts of it can cause distress in dogs.
4. Blood thinner: boon or bane?
Cinnamon also has this magical property of thinning the blood (article). Blood thinning has its benefits for dogs with cardiac issues. However, it has a negative side that can adversely impact a dog’s health. Too much blood thinning can lead to nose bleeds and even blood in stools. This can be a very severe problem that needs immediate medical assistance.
If your dog already suffers from blood infections or conditions, please consult your veterinarian before serving them cinnamon or other human food.
5. Interaction with meds
Another significant risk of serving your dog cinnamon is that it can react with other medications. Especially if your dog takes medicine for diabetes, cinnamon may or may not interact with it negatively.
Always confirm with your veterinarian and nutritionist before feeding your dog anything new.
Things to Keep in Mind When Serving Your Dog Cinnamon
So what, you cannot feed your dog cinnamon coffee? It is always essential to choose health over taste. So here are four things you must keep in mind before serving your dog cinnamon:
1. Moderation
When serving your dog human food or any food, you must remember to feed in moderation. Feeding anything in excess will woof away the benefits and instead cause harm. Cinnamon is ultimately a spice that may not react well with every dog.
Hence, keeping the moderation is the key for cinnamon not to cause any harm to your dog.
2. Do not use the cinnamon dupe
If you buy regular cinnamon, it is probably Cassia cinnamon. However, cassia is not suitable for your pooch’s health. While the other type- Ceylon cinnamon, is far better and healthier than cassia. Ceylon is the natural cinnamon and has less coumarin.
Coumarin is a toxin to dogs and should not be fed in high amounts (study). So when you get cinnamon for your dog next time, ensure it is Ceylon, not cassia.
3. Mixing in all the meals is not good
You and your dog love cinnamon; we get it! But we do not recommend showering your dog’s meals with cinnamon powder. It is unhealthy, and your dog may get addicted to its flavor. As mentioned before, cinnamon is only beneficial if fed in moderation, and you must adhere to it. You should not add cinnamon to all dog meals as it can create health problems over time.
4. Monitor your dog
If you have cinnamon 24/7, you must monitor your dog’s sniffy little nose. They love to play scenting games and often land themselves in problems. It is hazardous for dogs to sniff or overeat the cinnamon accidentally. As a responsible parent, you should hide the cinnamon jar from your dog and monitor their actions.
You should always have a safety kit or dog supplies for such situations. Your veterinarian can always guide you in these cases. But please only take the matter into your own hands if your veterinarian advises.
Conclusion
Cinnamon can add a flavorful element and benefit your doggo. But to show positive results, you must feed it in moderation. Going gaga over adding cinnamon to all their meals may result in severe risks.
But, if you’re careful and feed you dog cinnamon in moderation, they might just snuggle up to you, while they enjoy a cinnamon treat!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can feed your dog cinnamon applesauce, as both ingredients are not harmful. The only catch is to make homemade applesauce. Do not add sugar to the sauce, as it will make it unhealthy for dogs. Rest, they serve benefits to dogs if fed in moderation and can also be a yummy summertime treat.
Even though a hint of cinnamon is not toxic to fogs, serving them cinnamon rolls is not ideal. It has a lot of sugar, fat, and sometimes yeast. All these ingredients are a massive NO for dogs. You can serve cinnamon in minimal amounts for essence and taste, but it should be the whole snack.
If your dog took a bite of cinnamon cookies or licked the stick, it should cause any harm to your dog. However, call your veterinarian immediately if they sniffed the cinnamon powder, ate the whole stick, and showed signs of allergies or vomiting. Inhaling cinnamon can lead to respiratory problems. It is not fatal to dogs, so do not panic. Your dog may go through a lot of discomfort due to burning sensations.
You can feed your dog cinnamon toast crunch safely. The only catch is to feed it in moderation and keep it away from diabetic dogs. Cinnamon toast crunch should only be served as an occasional treat, as it does not hold any nutritional value. There are far better alternatives that are also healthier.
You should not give your dog more than a teaspoon of cinnamon. To be safe, decrease it to half a teaspoon. Also, sprinkling cinnamon here and there would be best for its essence. You do not have to change the flavor of the whole meal to cinnamon for it to show benefits. If you serve cinnamon in your dog’s food occasionally, it will bring benefits without harming their health. Lastly, avoid adding cinnamon altogether if your dog is allergic to it.