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If you’ve been doing some baking recently and accidentally spilled some of this spice onto the floor, you may be wondering whether or not dogs can eat cinnamon and if your pet can handle it if it enters their system.
According to ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) – cinnamon is harmless to both dogs and cats in the right moderation. This spice is labeled as non-toxic to canines, but you still need to use some discretion when certain human food items are introduced to the diet of a dog.
Cinnamon may actually have some health benefits for canines. A very small dose of cinnamon each day may be good for helping dogs who have stiff joints and it can also help regulate blood in dogs who are diabetic or who are at risk of becoming diabetic.
A little bit of this cooking ingredient probably won’t be a problem, but anything more than 1 tsp could be hazardous or at the very least cause an upset tummy.
You should also be cautious in keeping cinnamon scented essential oils out of reach. It is possible for a dog to overdose in either form; which can result in there being a change in heart rate. Too much cinnamon can also cause your dog diarrhea, vomiting and could possibly contribute to liver disease.
However, a little bit of cinnamon can also have some health benefits for your dog – primarily regulating blood sugar levels and aiding with the resistance of insulin.
A half a tsp sprinkled on your dog’s food may be good, but use your best judgement – more than this can be too much for a canine or cat’s system.
Note: Make sure that you don’t leave any cinnamon sticks lying around for your dog to discover and be cautious about where you place cinnamon-related aromatherapy products.
The bottom line here is that although it’s deemed safe for dogs to have some cinnamon and although it may even have some healthy benefits; you really want to be in control of when they eat it and how much. Again, about 1/2 tsp should be plenty.
Cassia cinnamon is the more commonly used form. Chances are it’s the kind that you have in your cabinet right now. It’s much darker than the slightly more expensive Ceylon form. Cassia cinnamon contains coumarin; which is a safe compound for humans, but in too large a dose given to your dog can be hard on their liver. If you are considering feeding your dog cinnamon; consider using a very tiny amount and try to look for the Ceylon form instead. Your dog will thank you!
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