Is sugar bad for dogs? Eye-opening advice and reasons
Is sugar bad for dogs? Sugar is not toxic to dogs but in particular bad for them as it is very unhealthy in large amounts. Therefore it would be best if you did not give your dog:
- White sugar
- Brown sugar
- Processed sugar
- Xylitol
- Candy or lollipops
- Chocolate
- Corn syrup
Equally important, sugar can also hide in, for example, chips, bread, or crackers.
What about vanilla ice cream? A bite or two is ok now or then, but dogs can also be lactose intolerant, and therefore should not have ice cream.
Why is sugar bad for dogs?
To explain, sugar has the following consequences:
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Tooth decay
- Overweight
- Low energy levels
- Muscle tone may decrease
- Decrease in ability to fight diseases
- Bad digestion
- Inflammation
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Discomfort
- Gas
- Metabolic changes
What About Sugar Water for Dogs and Puppies?
Some people might suggest sugar water for hypoglycemia in dogs and puppies. However, this isn’t a treatment recommended by veterinarians. They might rather, recommend a high-protein meal.
Why is Xylitol bad for dogs?
Although Xylitol is not dangerous for humans and many other animals, it is for dogs. Because dogs have a different metabolism for xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used in things like chewable vitamins, toothpaste, gum, keto baked goods, and much more. It can create a massive insulin release in dogs. This can bring the blood sugars way down and can cause hypoglycemia.
A few symptoms of hypoglycemia in dogs:
- Weakness
- Staggering
- Vomiting
- Liver damage
Source: Dr. Eric Berg
Many vets believe that dogs should not eat sugar at all. If you are giving your dog dog-safe fruits, it should not make up more than 10% of the diet. You can mix it with some vegetables as it does not contain as much sugar as fruit. Sugary treats can result in obesity which can shorten your dog’s lifespan, and cause multiple secondary diagnoses that include diabetes.
What about sugar for humans? How bad is sugar?
You might also be interested in this blog post: About apples for parrots from Tony Silva.
