Can Dogs Eat Cinnamon? Yes, but only this kind.
Make sure you know what type of cinnamon is ok for your dog before you feed it.
Pumpkin spice season is back! Who doesn’t love a nice, spiced fall drink? Pumpkin spice is made up of a number of common spices that you cannot feed your dog – nutmeg, for example. One spice that can have health benefits for your dog, however, is cinnamon.
You may or may not be aware that cinnamon comes in two varieties: Ceylon and Cassia. Cassia cinnamon is the one you most commonly see at the grocery store; it is darker and has a stronger flavour. Ceylon cinnamon, on the other hand, is grown only in Sri Lanka and is lighter in colour and sweet. Cassia is cheaper to grow and therefore more commonly found in stores; it’s what most of us tend to pick up when we buy cinnamon powder or cinnamon sticks.
On the left is an example of Ceylon cinnamon sticks; on the right is Cassia cinnamon:
Cassia cinnamon contains coumarin, which is toxic to both dogs and humans in large amounts.
Coumarin is a naturally occurring substance found in certain plants, most commonly found in Cassia cinnamon. It basically gives the plant a certain kind of flavour. However, coumarin is highly toxic to animals, and to humans too, when ingested in large quantities. Studies have shown it can cause severe liver damage and because of the high amount found in Cassia cinnamon, it’s best to avoid feeding this type to your dog.
Ceylon cinnamon has significantly less coumarin.
The reduced level of coumarin in Ceylon cinnamon is why we recommend feeding Ceylon cinnamon to your dog over any other kind. Of course, your dog would have to ingest very large amounts of coumarin to get sick but with small dogs, that amount decreases, and some dogs have sensitivities that may not be known until too late. Better to be safe than sorry!
Ceylon cinnamon does have health benefits for dogs, when fed in the proper doses.
Ceylon cinnamon is a wonderful spice that has health benefits, when used in moderation:
- It can help regulate blood sugar.
- Helps to manage joint pain and reduce swelling due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
- Loaded with antioxidants to fight free radicals; beats out other spices in this regard!
- Aids cognitive function.
How To Feed Ceylon Cinnamon:
Feed 1/8 teaspoon per 15 pounds of body weight.
Don’t give cinnamon sticks to your dog. Sprinkle a little cinnamon powder on their food or you can mix it into a homemade treat recipe. Just keep an eye on the type and amount!
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