Can Dogs Eat Cinnamon?

Cinnamon may have many benefits in a person's diet. It is a powerful antioxidant, an anti-inflammatory, it can help lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity to diabetics that might be insulin resistant, it may help with neurodegenerative diseases, and so much more! It is a common staple present in pantries all across America, but is it safe for your dog to consume?

The short answer is yes. Cinnamon is a relatively safe spice for dogs to consume. As will be mentioned later on, though, the benefits that may be touted elsewhere aren't really fully understood in the context of canines, and feeding your dog cinnamon doesn't come without some level of care and discretion.

What Types of Cinnamon are Safe for Dogs?

Cinnamon is a type of spice that is a staple in most American kitchens. It can be used in both sweet desserts and breakfast dishes as well as savory cooking. Cinnamon is derived from the bark of the Cinnamomum tree.

There are two different types of cinnamon commonly found in markets all over the world. There is Ceylon cinnamon, also called 'true' cinnamon or 'Chinese' cinnamon, and Cassia cinnamon.

Cassia cinnamon specifically comes from the C. cassia tree, found throughout China, whereas ceylon cinnamon comes from the C. verum tree, found in Sri Lanka. Cassia cinnamon is dark brown-red in color with thicker sticks and a rougher texture than ceylon cinnamon. It is also more inexpensive than ceylon cinnamon and the more commonly consumed type throughout the world, including in the United States. Unless you are shopping at a high end, specialty spice market, the cinnamon sticks and ground cinnamon in your pantry and at your local grocery are undoubtedly cassia cinnamon.

Potential Health Benefits

Cinnamon is thought to have many health benefits. Cinnamon is a good source of antioxidants which have anti-inflammatory benefits.

It is being studied for its potential effects in preventing Alzheimer's by preventing build-up of tau-protein in the brain. Cinnamon can also lower circulating blood sugar levels as well as increasing a person's sensitivity to insulin, both of which can be therapeutic for diabetics. There is even some research looking into cinnamon's anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties!

With all of these exciting breakthroughs in human medicine, it stands to reason that well-meaning dog owners would be wanting to give cinnamon to their dog in hopes of seeing these same results. Our understanding of the uses of cinnamon in integrative human medicine is still relatively new, though, and there isn't as much research into if these applications in human medicine translate to our canine companions as well. 

Potential Health Concerns

It should be noted that coumarin, a naturally occurring compound found in plants, can be isolated in both cassia cinnamon and ceylon cinnamon. It has a fragrant, sweet odor and is often added to fragrances and cosmetics, but it also used as a precursor to such anticoagulant medications such as warfarin and Coumadin.

Though cinnamon is technically safe food for dogs to ingest, it doesn't come free from concern and the uses and benefits of adding cinnamon to your dog's daily diet aren't fully known yet. If you want to incorporate cinnamon into your dog's diet, seek the advice of your veterinarian before adding it to your dog's food and before filling your essential oil diffuser with cinnamon oil.