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The more time we spend with our pets, the more we want to pamper them. Sharing food with our dogs is one of the many ways we show them how much we love them, and every dog owner can attest to how much our pups love sneaking bites off of our plate! 

But, what about foods that contain cinnamon? Is it okay for you to add a little cinnamon to your pup’s birthday cake, or their puppuccino? We’ve got the answers to all of your cinnamon-related questions!

Can Dogs Have Cinnamon?

Yes! Cinnamon is a safe spice for dogs, and it adds a fun little kick to their treats.

However, if you’re going to include cinnamon in your recipe, it’s important to know that there are some risks! Like any goody, too much cinnamon in a treat can cause problems for your pups. Too much cinnamon can cause digestive problems, and some dogs are particularly sensitive to this spice. As a result, they may experience irritation in their mouth or throat.

What to Know About Cinnamon and Dogs

Because cinnamon has the potential to cause issues, there are a few things you should know before you give any to your dog.

First and foremost: you should always practice safe treat-giving practices. Whenever you give your dog a new treat, be sure to stick around and watch them afterward. You’ll want to look for signs of intestinal upset, irritation, and allergic reactions. If you spot these signs, you should immediately discontinue the treat in question.

Can Dogs Eat Cinnamon and Nutmeg?

One of the biggest concerns that you should have when prepping something with cinnamon for your pup is whether or not it also contains nutmeg. Many baking recipes tend to pair cinnamon with nutmeg, so be aware of this when you’re shopping or baking for your dogs.

Dogs should never be given nutmeg because nutmeg contains a chemical called Myristicin, which is toxic to dogs and cats. In high enough quantities, Myristicin can cause increased blood pressure, hallucinations, dry mouth, and seizures! In tiny quantities, the chemical can cause vomiting and upset tummies.

Be Aware of Other Ingredients

In addition to nutmeg, there are plenty of other ingredients that are commonly paired with cinnamon. Many of these are potentially poisonous to dogs. The most common add-on that you’ll want to watch out for is chocolate. Macadamia nuts and raisins are also common dangers with store-bought cinnamon products.

Everything in Moderation

Because cinnamon is often included in sweets, you should be keenly aware of how much you’re giving your dog. With cinnamon treats, a little goes a long way!

Like humans, dogs are not supposed to be gobbling down too much sugar, fats, and oils. Whenever you’re giving your dog cinnamon treats, keep tabs on how much you’re feeding them. The key to healthy, happy treating is moderation!

What Kinds of Treats Can I Make with Cinnamon?

There are plenty of amazing cinnamon-based dog treat recipes out there. Cookies and cakes are some of the most common cinnamon treats that you’ll find, but there are many creative ways to add a dash of cinnamon to your dog’s life.

Carrot Cake

At The Dog Bakery, we pride ourselves on our wide selection of amazing pet-safe treats and goodies. One of them is our Dog Carrot Cake. Made with rice, flour, potato starch, baking soda, honey, egg, and applesauce, our carrot cake treat has just the right amount of cinnamon to kick up some scrumptious flavor.

Snickerdoodles

You may have to do a bit of sleuthing to find the right recipe, but snickerdoodles are a delightful treat for pups. If you want to guarantee that your snickerdoodle is dog-friendly, we suggest purchasing them from a trustworthy source. We make our own Snickerdoodle Cookies from scratch, and they’re guaranteed to be as safe as they are delicious. You may even want to take a bite, too!

For a longer-lasting snickerdoodle experience, we also have our original Snickerdoodle Wheat-Free Bone Treats! These tail-wagging bites are a lot like our cookies, but they have a longer shelf life.

Puppuccinos

One of our favorite ways to offer pups some cinnamon is Rocky Kanaka’s amazing puppuccino recipe. This easy-to-prepare treat isn’t something that you should give your dog every day, but it’s a great way to celebrate a special occasion!

The majority of this recipe is pup-safe whipped cream and pumpkin purée. However, as Rocky says, “For a truly elevated puppuccino, add a tiny dash of cinnamon!”

How To Treat Your Dog Safely

If you want to guarantee a truly safe treat experience for your pup, then you should always bake your own treats or purchase your treats from a trustworthy source. At The Dog Bakery, we guarantee that all of our treats are dog safe. Give us a try! Your dog will thank you for it!

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