Pumpkin spice season is upon us and who wouldn’t love to include their pup in on the festivities? While ingredients like xylitol and nutmeg should be avoided at all costs, your pup can still enjoy the season with cinnamon. Every dog is unique, so you’ll want to consult with your veterinarian before offering your dog cinnamon but, for most dogs, cinnamon provides several health benefits!
How to Safely Offer Cinnamon
While we may enjoy cinnamon sticks or cinnamon essential oil, make sure to never offer them to your dog as they are far too concentrated for them. Only offer Ceylon cinnamon, as cassia cinnamon has higher levels of coumarin, which can be toxic to dogs. Ceylon cinnamon is a lighter tan cinnamon native to India and, unfortunately, less common than the darker-colored Cassia cinnamon, which is native to China. As with everything, cinnamon is best offered in moderation. Large amounts can irritate your dog’s stomach or mouth, so a sprinkle will do just fine!
Antiviral, Antibacterial, and Antifungal Properties
When it comes to fighting off potential harm, cinnamon has dogs covered! Cinnamon inhibits growth of bacteria like Listeria and Salmonella and can help fight viral infections. It also has antifungal properties and can be beneficial to dogs who suffer from chronic yeast infections.
Boosted Immunity and Cognitive Function
Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants which are very powerful in fighting infections as well as boosting immunity. Due to the high level of antioxidants, cinnamon also has benefits to cognitive function. Antioxidants protect dogs--and people--against neurological disorders. It also helps improve memory and focus and slows cognitive aging. A study examining miceshowed that cinnamon can reduce brain cell damage, protect neurons, and improve motor function.
Improved Heart Health
On top of these already impressive benefits, cinnamon can also improve heart health in dogs. One study showed that dogs who were fed small amounts of cinnamon had lower blood pressure and lower heart rates than dogs who weren’t fed cinnamon. This is great news for dogs with high blood pressure and other heart issues.
Joint and Muscle Relief
Another well-established health benefit of cinnamon is its anti-inflammatory properties. Lowered inflammation is a huge help to dogs with arthritis, joint pain, and muscle soreness. If your dog is getting older and slowing down, a small sprinkle of cinnamon in their food may provide some much-needed relief.
Improved Oral Hygiene
As we already know, cinnamon has antibacterial properties. An added benefit of this is that these properties can help fight tooth decay, oral infections, and sores. Besides the benefits of a more comfortable, healthy mouth, cinnamon can also improve stinky breath. Who wouldn’t love their dog's breath to smell like cinnamon?! If you’re unsure about sprinkling cinnamon directly onto your dog’s meal, you can also try cinnamon dog treats.
Stabilizes Blood Sugar
One resounding trend in the benefits of cinnamon is its anti-diabetic effects. Cinnamon lowers the amount of sugars that can be absorbed into the bloodstream after eating, therefore improving sensitivity to insulin and lowering blood sugar levels. This is a great fit for diabetic and prediabetic dogs.