Imagine it’s the morning, and you are eating your pancake breakfast. Plain pancakes can be tasty, but you want to spice them up a bit. Well, maybe sweeten them up a bit is more like it!
So, you add some maple syrup to the fluffy stack. Delicious!
But what happens if some of that syrup-soaked pancake falls to the ground? Who runs to clean it up? If you have a dog in the house, then you know the answer!
And this can worry many dog owners concerned that maple syrup may harm their dogs. So a question many of us dog lovers have is, “Can dogs eat maple syrup?”
In this article, you’ll learn whether or not dogs can eat maple syrup. You’ll also learn if maple syrup has health benefits and/or if it can have any harmful effects on our dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Maple Syrup?
The short answer is it depends on the maple syrup. Dogs might be able to eat maple syrup. Maple syrup is okay food for dogs. But at the same time, it can also be harmful food. Read on to learn more about dogs and the type of maple syrup you should NEVER give your doggo.
Good versus Bad Maple Syrup
It is essential to know that there are two types of maple syrup: natural and artificial. The first is natural because it comes from tapping maple trees and is pure.
The latter contains artificial ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup and preservatives. This type of syrup is the kind that is unhealthy for your dog (and you, for that matter!)
Precautions Against Feeding Maple Syrup to Dogs
It is important to remember that both types of maple syrup are high in sugar, especially natural maple syrup. And this could be very dangerous to dogs.
That is especially true if you feed them large amounts of maple syrup. Feeding too much sugar to dogs can cause trouble for their health. It puts them at risk of having diabetes, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), or even weight gain.
Some artificial maple syrup may also be toxic to dogs due to its ingredients. Certain artificial maple syrup may contain xylitol.
Xylitol is an ingredient that is an artificial sweetener. It will decrease the calories of foods yet taste sweet at the same time. Foods containing xylitol must never be fed to dogs.
Xylitol can cause severe hypoglycemia or a significant decrease in the blood sugar levels of dogs. This condition can be fatal to dogs.
Xylitol can also directly and possibly severely damage the liver. This can be bad not just for dogs but for pretty much every organism.
Are There Benefits of Maple Syrup for Dogs?
On a brighter note, maple syrup may offer a few nutritional benefits to dogs. For instance, it is rich in Vitamin B2, Zinc, Manganese, and Calcium.
Maple syrup has Vitamin B2. Vitamin B2 aids in the production of red blood cells.
Maple syrup contains the mineral zinc. Zinc is a mineral that promotes healthy joints and regulates a dog’s metabolism.
Maple syrup is an excellent source of manganese. Manganese is a mineral that promotes metabolic functioning and good bone health.
Maple syrup is also rich in calcium, which helps develop bones and teeth. Add to that; it can be a good source of calcium for lactose-intolerant dogs.
In conclusion, it is best only to feed maple syrup to dogs in moderation. And ONLY maple syrup that does not contain xylitol.
But if your dogs eat your pancake on the ground or lick your syrup off your plate – fine, but we suggest you keep it at that.
Overfeeding your dogs maple syrup can harm their bodies and cause conditions such as diabetes.
Learn More About What Human Foods Are Healthy or Harmful for Dogs
This article is part of our special series of articles about “What Human Foods Can Dogs Eat?“
In the next articles of this series, find out: Can Dogs Eat Hot Cheetos?