Every kitchen probably has brown sugar stored somewhere. Brown sugar is an essential ingredient in many recipes, including chocolate cakes, fruit cakes, and cookies. Brown sugar is also added in many drinks to add sweetness and more flavor.
Yes, brown sugar is harmless to humans, but this shouldn’t be reason enough for you to give some to your dogs. Regardless of how much you want to spoil your pets, you need to be cautious about what you feed them because not all human foods are safe and healthy for them.
Unfortunately, brown sugar is a no-go for your furry friends. Giving brown sugar to your dogs can lead to the following health risks:
Stomach Upset
Similar to humans, dogs need sugar to convert carbohydrates into energy, but brown sugar isn’t really the safest and healthiest source for them. Brown sugar provides empty calories and will only cause stomach upset in dogs. In worse cases, brown sugar can lead to bloody stool.
Damaged Cavities
Brown sugar can increase the activity of bacteria in your dogs’ mouths, which can cause a drastic increase in acid. When this happens, the outer part of your dogs’ teeth loses minerals, putting them at risk of developing dental diseases, such as plaque, tartar build-up, and gingivitis.
Overweight And Obesity
Due to its high-calorie content, feeding brown sugar to your dogs can lead to obesity. Excessive weight can put stress on your dogs’ joints and bones, which can increase their risk of arthritis.
The excess fats in your dogs’ bodies can also impact their heart health and energy levels. Obese dogs are more prone to develop cardiovascular diseases and lethargy as they age, reducing their lifespans.
Diabetes
Diabetes is associated with obesity. Because of the increased levels of inflammation and fatty acids in your dogs’ bodies, obesity can lead to insulin resistance, which can trigger type 2 diabetes. Dogs diagnosed with diabetes have poorer quality of life as they’re at risk of cataracts, enlarged liver, and urinary tract infections.
Sugar Rush
Brown sugar can trigger a sugar rush in dogs. And while this isn’t a health condition per se, a sugar rush can cause your dogs to chew and destroy items in your house. Some dogs might even bully other pets or nip their owners when they’re in a sugar rush.
Drastic Changes in Metabolism
Brown sugar can increase the secretion of insulin in your dogs’ bodies. These drastic and sudden changes can weaken their immune system and lower their energy levels. When this happens, your dogs will become sickly and no longer find joy in their regular activities.
What Should You Do When Your Dogs Eat Too Much Sugar?
The answer to this question depends on the amount of brown sugar your dogs ate. If they only consumed small amounts of brown sugar, chances are, their bodies can tolerate it.
The bigger problem usually takes place when your dogs ate two or more cups of brown sugar. If your dogs start to vomit more than once, rush them to the vet immediately. Make sure that you give them access to clean water to prevent dehydration.
Time is important here because when left untreated, brown sugar can lead to pancreatic inflammation in dogs. Some of the most common symptoms of this health condition include fever, abdominal pain, and decreased appetite.
How Can You Prevent Your Dogs From Consuming Too Much Sugar?
Aside from crossing brown sugar off of their diets, it’s also important to pay attention to the ingredients in your dogs’ foods and treats. Brown sugar comes in many names, and you might be feeding your furry friends with foods that are packed with too much sugar without your knowledge.
Some dog food and treats will list sugar as:
- Beet pulp
- Caramel
- Corn syrup
- Fructose
- Honey
- Molasses
- Sorbitol
- Sucrose
What Sugar Is Good For Dogs?
Similar to humans, there are good and bad sugars for your dogs. Good sugars are usually found in fruits, such as:
- Blueberries: Blueberries are packed with vitamin C that can improve your dogs’ immune systems. Having a strong immune system can reduce your dogs’ risks of getting and spreading infections. Giving blueberries as snacks to your dogs can also keep their hearts healthy, especially during their senior years.
- Bananas: Bananas have high fiber content essential to your dogs’ digestive systems. Fiber works by moving food along your dogs’ intestinal tracts to prevent blockages and diarrhea. Bananas also resolve constipation and upset stomachs in dogs.
- Pears: Pears come with an abundance of vitamins and minerals. This fruit contains high levels of vitamins A, C, K, and potassium. Due to its low-calorie content, pears are ideal treats for obese or diabetic dogs.
- Apples: As long as you remove the seeds and core, apples are very healthy snacks for your furry friends. Apples are a great source of antioxidants that can neutralize the effects of chronic inflammation in dogs.
Brown Sugar Is Off-Limits To Dogs
Brown sugar is harmful to your dogs, so make sure you don’t give them any. If you’re looking for safer and healthier alternatives, take note of the suggestions mentioned in this article or reach out to a vet. Never attempt to add brown sugar to your dogs’ diets, regardless of the amount, as this can only do more harm than good.