Can dogs eat cinnamon?
For many people, the delicate, Christmas-inspired spice is an absolute must-have in every kitchen: with its unique flavor, cinnamon is instantly recognizable and is perfect for teas, sweets, and even savory dishes like curries. But is this spice also safe for dogs and can our four-legged friends occasionally taste the sweet powder? The answer is: Yes and no, cinnamon is allowed in powdered form for dogs – under certain conditions and only with a specific type of cinnamon. In small amounts, cinnamon poses no danger to dogs, but there are a few important things to consider when feeding it.
How do I feed cinnamon to my dog?
Do dogs even like the taste of cinnamon, and can they smell it as well as we do? Not every dog finds the scent appealing – so your furry friend probably won’t be drooling over it on their own.
Because too much cinnamon can cause discomfort, you should only feed cinnamon to your dog in small doses. If you want to bake dog biscuits for Christmas,bake dog biscuits for Christmas, you can use small amounts of cinnamon to enhance the flavor. Your dog should not chew on a whole cinnamon stick, as the amount of cinnamon would be far too high for your dog.
Cinnamon sticks should be off-limits for your dog, as consuming them can lead to an overdose of coumarin, a secondary plant compound that dogs do not tolerate well.
The type matters
When it comes to cinnamon, you can distinguish between cassia cinnamon and Ceylon cinnamon . The former is often found on our spice racks and is cheaply available at any supermarket. Unfortunately, its coumarin content is very high, an aromatic secondary plant compound that can cause liver disease if consumed in excess. Cassia varieties have no place in your dog’s bowl and can negatively affect your dog’s health.
While the coumarin content in cassia varieties is about 3–9 grams per kilogram, Ceylon cinnamon contains only 0.8 g.
If you want to bake or occasionally enhance your dog’s food, always choose the safer Ceylon cinnamon instead. Although this costs more, you won’t risk any health problems for your dog.
Can cinnamon be toxic for dogs?
Even though the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) only recommends small amounts, the organization concludes that cinnamon is not toxic to dogs. However, there is a maximum limit for coumarin, which is set at 0.1 g per 1 kg body weight. In store-bought gingerbread there is not only chocolate, which is toxic to dogs,, but also high amounts of regular cassia cinnamon. If your dog eats cinnamon-flavored sweets in large quantities, poisoning can indeed occur.
It can also lead to stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, a low blood sugar level and, in more severe cases, liver strain with secondary illnesses. As mentioned, the reason is the coumarin content in cinnamon, which can cause such problems if consumed in excess. If your dog sticks its nose in cinnamon, inhaling it can irritate the lungs. As with all powders, this can lead to coughing fits and in rare cases, even pose a choking hazard.
The rule here is: Better safe than sorry – always store powders like cinnamon tightly sealed and out of your dog’s reach. If you want to enhance your dog’s food, use only a small amount of Ceylon cinnamon or better skip the spice altogether. Instead, you can truly delight your dog with a species-appropriate snack without sugar, grains, or artificial additives:
Give love with our tasty snacks
Healthy spices for dogs
Would you like to feed your dog spices? Your four-legged friend gets everything they need for daily life from their species-appropriate diet and a healthy food. Unlike us humans, dogs cannot digest heavily spiced dishes – in fact, it can even harm their health. Always choose a healthy food that features a short, transparent list of ingredients and fresh components.
Our dog food: healthy, honest, delicious.
If you’re still wondering which spices from your cupboard are safe for your dog, you can check out our list of “Healthy Spices for Dogs.” These always refer to tiny amounts that can be finely crushed and sprinkled as a topping on food.
Healthy herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, sage, coriander, parsley
fennel
ginger
turmeric (note: blood-thinning effect)
dill
peppermint
Which foods can dogs eat?
When it comes to foods, keep in mind that a healthy dog food is precisely tailored to your dog’s needs. Although the myth persists that dogs can live long lives on human foods, species-appropriate is something else entirely. Additionally, many foods are heavily spiced, processed, contain sugar and, among other things, are toxic to our furry friends.
Just as with BARF feeding, dogs may be given foods like fruits and vegetables in small quantities.
Some foods are actually healthy for our four-legged friends and can be eaten by dogs:
Vegetables such as
Fruits such as
Always make sure to choose unsprayed fruits and vegetables of good quality. The rule is: your dog may snack in moderation, but you should slowly introduce them to plant-based treats. Due to the fruit sugar content, excessive feeding can lead to overweight as a result, so you should adjust the feeding recommendations and adapt the food ration if you want to regularly feed fruits and vegetables.
