Situations arise, and we may need to let our doggies have something sweet in their food. For instance, when making their favorite yogurt, drinks, or confectioneries, we may need a little sugar to enhance the taste.
However, the problem with sugars is that it’s unhealthy for dogs and causes calorie overload, diabetes, and even dental problems. So, in this article, we will look at another alternative called stevia and see if dogs can eat it.
Yes, dogs can eat stevia, a very healthy alternative to sugar. Unlike other artificial sweeteners, stevia is a natural sweetener extracted from the plant. It is important to only feed our dogs stevia in moderation; otherwise, its overconsumption could cause diarrhea.
In this article, we will see if dogs can eat stevia plants and if it is good for them. We shall also see how much stevia doggies can have and finally look at the benefits when dogs eat stevia. But before that, let us learn more about why dogs can eat stevia.
Can Dogs Have Stevia?
Yes, dogs can have stevia. Stevia is a natural sweetener extracted from the leaves of the plant named Stevia rebaudiana.
Known for its sweetness, this plant is also called a sweet leaf, candyleaf, or sugar leaf. When extracted, it is refined and sold commercially under different trade names, such as Truvia and Stevia In The Raw.
Stevia has a good number of benefits in doggies. First, it is a natural sweetener; hence, it is not like the artificial sweeteners that could pose toxicity risks.
Secondly, it is about 200 to 350 times sweeter than cane sugars. Hence, just a little amount of it is enough to produce a great sweet feeling for doggies.
Can Dogs Eat Stevia In Yogurt?
Yes, dogs can have stevia in their yogurt drink. Adding stevia in their food, for example, yogurt or other drinks, is healthy. As it has no calories, it should not pose further health risks.
Can Dogs Eat Stevia Plants?
Like the extracts, dogs can also have the plant itself, although in moderation. Its leaves are another part of a stevia plant dogs can eat.
However, they can’t have the root and stems of stevia because they have no sweetness in them. Also, the roots and stems could have contained worms and parasites in them. Consuming them would certainly be harmful to the doggies’ gastrointestinal tract.
Is Stevia Good For Dogs?
Yes, stevia in small amounts is good for dogs. When given in little quantities, stevia will not make dogs sick and have diarrhea.
And although there are no nutritional benefits when dogs eat stevia, it still has lifestyle benefits. As we shall see in the article, we only have to give doggies the recommended amount of stevia.
Will Stevia Harm Dogs?
No, when dogs eat stevia, it doesn’t harm them. It is safe for dogs to have in moderate amounts and on less frequent occasions.
What Happens If A Dog Eats Stevia?
When a dog eats stevia in small amounts, it would be generally fine without any gastrointestinal upset.
However, if your furry friend eats stevia beyond the recommended amount, it will develop bouts of diarrhea.
How Much Stevia Should I Give My Dog?
Ideally, you should give your furry friend stevia moderately. And this portion amounts to less than 0.5 g per pound weight of your furry friend.
In other words, you should give your doggie less than a quarter of a tablespoon of stevia. And for stevia leaves, less than half of 1 twig of it is the amount that is appropriate for a doggie.
My Dog Ate Stevia Leaves
If your furry companion ate stevia when you were not paying attention to it, you wouldn’t need to worry much. Diarrhea from eating stevia isn’t too severe and will resolve in a day or two. However, if it takes longer, you should seek treatment from your veterinarian.
You should only pay close attention to it during this period and check if your doggie has stomach discomforts or diarrhea.
Benefits Of Dogs Eating Stevia
Despite having no nutritional value, dogs can reap some benefits from having stevia. Here are some of the benefits when dogs eat stevia.
Good For Maintaining Healthy Pooch’s Weight
Stevia has no nutrients, neither calories, vitamins, or minerals. Hence, it prevents calorie build-up or obesity and maintains a healthy pooch’s weight.
Prevent Dental Problems In Dogs
The carbohydrates in sugars break down to acids that eat away doggies’ teeth. However, with a natural sweetener having no nutrients or carbohydrates, like stevia, the likelihood of dental problems is minimized.
Could Be Helpful For Canines With Diabetes
In humans, studies have shown that stevia doesn’t raise the blood sugar level because they don’t have calories. Similarly, we may expect the same in doggies and will be beneficial for canines with diabetes.
A Sweeter Alternative To Sugars In Doggies’ Diet
Stevia is 200 to 350 times sweeter than cane sugars. Hence, it is a better way of letting doggies taste sweet things when appropriate without posing a risk to their health.
Nevertheless, the cost of stevia is higher than that of cane sugars. For example, the cost per ounce of Stevia In The Raw sweetener is $0.80 while that of Sugar In The Raw sweetener is $0.50.
However, this cost can be offset as you may find yourself and your dog consuming stevia at a slower rate than that of cane sugar, given that stevia is many times sweeter than cane sugar.
Alternatives To Stevia In Dogs’ Diets
Asides from stevia, doggies can have saccharin, erythritol, and aspartame. These compounds are artificial sweeteners and extracts of their respective plants.
Most importantly, when giving doggies these sweeteners, they should only be in small amounts.
