Can Dogs Eat Cinnamon? Gingerbread, Rolls and Spice Safety

Cinnamon is rarely the problem. How to check a gingerbread, cinnamon roll or spiced treat recipe, and when to call a poison line or go in.

Quick answer: Small amounts of ground cinnamon aren't toxic to dogs and usually cause only mild stomach upset, but inhaled powder can cause coughing or choking. Check the recipe: raw yeast dough or possible xylitol means an emergency vet now; raisins, a poison line or emergency vet now and an in-person visit, even if it seems fine; chocolate, cinnamon oil or lots of nutmeg, a poison line now; and macadamia nuts, a poison line or vet now.

This article is general information, not a diagnosis. If you think your pet is in danger, go to the nearest emergency animal hospital.

Check the recipe first: what turns a cinnamon treat into an emergency

Raw yeast dough, xylitol, raisins, chocolate, macadamia nuts, alcohol, cinnamon oil and a lot of nutmeg are what turn a cinnamon treat into an emergency for a dog, so check the recipe before you wait. If you can't check the recipe or label, treat it as sugar-free: emergency vet now.

Ingredient	Risk	Do this
Raw yeast dough	Bloat, alcohol	ER now
Sugar-free or no label	Low blood sugar	ER now
Raisins, currants	Kidney injury	Call, get seen
Chocolate	Heart, tremors	Call now
Macadamia nuts	Weak legs	Call now
Lots of nutmeg	Fast heart, agitation	Call now
Cinnamon oil	Mouth, liver	Call now
Spiked cider, eggnog	Alcohol	Call now
Old or moldy	Tremors	Clinic now
Butter, icing	Pancreas	Watch 4 days
Nutmeg baked in	Upset tummy	Watch
Plain cinnamon	Upset tummy	Watch

"Call now" means a poison line or vet now. If more than one row fits, follow the most urgent. A snickerdoodle or other cookie made with cream of tartar is not 'plain cinnamon': call a poison line (see the FAQ below).

Raisins and currants hide in cinnamon raisin bread, fruitcake and gingerbread-house trim, and no amount of raisins is safe for a dog: call a poison line or emergency vet now and get your dog seen in person, even if it seems fine.

The FDA says xylitol, which may be listed as birch sugar or wood sugar, is used in baked goods and can drop a dog's blood sugar within 10 to 60 minutes. Check sugar-free baking, gum, mints and candy with the guide to xylitol label names.

Chocolate gingerbread or a chocolate-dipped treat means a poison line now; the ASPCA says chocolate can cause an abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures. Macadamia nuts mean a poison line or vet now; see the guide to macadamia nuts and holiday cookies.

Tremors, a seizure, wobbliness, weakness or collapse, a racing heart, labored breathing, belly pain or a prayer pose, vomiting more than once, or vomiting even once while dull or weak means an emergency vet now; call a poison line on the way. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply). Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661 (a per-incident fee applies). Both poison lines take calls every day, including holidays.

Is cinnamon safe for dogs?

Small amounts of ground cinnamon baked into food are not toxic to dogs, but dogs don't need it, and a large amount of the powder or any cinnamon oil can irritate the mouth and stomach and change the heart rate.

The ASPCA lists the cinnamon plant as non-toxic to dogs and cats, and its main plant list adds that any plant material can still cause vomiting and stomach upset. That rating covers the plant, not cinnamon oil or a mouthful of powder.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center says larger cinnamon exposures can cause significant throat and stomach irritation, hyperactivity and a fast heart rate. Pet Poison Helpline says it takes a fairly large amount of powder but only a small amount of oil to cause problems, such as low blood sugar, liver disease, vomiting, diarrhea and changes in heart rate, so any cinnamon oil a dog licked means a poison line now, and drooling, vomiting, wobbling or tremors mean an emergency vet now.

Dog ate a cinnamon stick or straight cinnamon powder

A dog that chewed a cinnamon stick or ate cinnamon powder straight may get mouth irritation or an upset stomach, and inhaled powder can cause coughing, choking and trouble breathing, so call a vet or poison line if the dog is coughing, drooling heavily or vomiting.

Labored or noisy breathing, coughing or choking that keeps going, or pale or blue gums means an emergency vet now; Pet Poison Helpline says inhaled powder can cause bronchospasm, a tightening of the airways.

The ASPCA says inhaled cinnamon can lead to pneumonia, so a new cough, fast breathing, fever or low energy in the following days means a same-day vet visit, or an emergency vet if breathing is labored.

Pet Poison Helpline names cinnamon sticks left in cider cups as one way pets get into cinnamon; spiked cider means a poison line or vet now, and an emergency vet if your dog is wobbly, collapsed or breathing slowly. Chewed cinnamon-scented pinecones, candles or potpourri may carry cinnamon oil: call a poison line now, and an emergency vet for drooling, vomiting, wobbling or tremors.

Nutmeg: the holiday spice to keep away from dogs

Nutmeg contains a toxin called myristicin, and Pet Poison Helpline says a very large amount can cause disorientation, a fast heart rate, high blood pressure and possibly seizures in dogs, so call a poison line now if a dog ate a whole nutmeg or a lot of the ground spice.

The ASPCA adds vomiting, dry mouth, agitation, dilated or constricted pupils, trouble walking or standing, and hallucinations, and Pet Poison Helpline says signs can last up to 48 hours. Neither source gives a toxic amount for dogs.

The small amount of nutmeg baked into a cookie, pie or bread is very unlikely to cause serious poisoning, Pet Poison Helpline says, though a mild stomach upset can happen. Watch a bright dog at home and call a vet today at the first vomit.

Can dogs eat gingerbread? Cookies and gingerbread houses

A plain gingerbread cookie is not toxic to dogs, but check the recipe first: gingerbread is high in sugar and fat, may contain nutmeg, and gingerbread houses can carry raisins, chocolate and candy that may contain xylitol.

A bright adult dog that ate plain gingerbread from a recipe you checked (no chocolate, raisins, currants, nuts, xylitol, alcohol or raw dough) usually has mild vomiting or loose stool at most: watch for 4 days and call a vet today at the first vomit.

A gingerbread house adds its own risks:

• Candy or sugar-free decorations that may contain xylitol: an emergency vet now, even if your dog seems fine.
• Raisins: a poison line or emergency vet now, and an in-person visit.
• An old or moldy house: a clinic now (an ER if yours is closed), even with no signs; mold toxins can cause tremors.
• A swallowed foil or tin liner: an in-person vet today.
• Ribbon or string that was swallowed, or might have been: an emergency vet now. Never pull a strand.
• Salt-dough or homemade cinnamon ornaments: a poison line now. The ASPCA says too much salt can cause tremors and seizures.

A whole tray of buttery gingerbread means a vet call today and the 4-day pancreatitis watch after a dog eats fat. Also see the dish-by-dish chart of holiday foods for dogs.

Cinnamon rolls and sweet breads: baked vs raw dough

Baked cinnamon rolls are mostly a fat and sugar problem for dogs, but any amount of raw cinnamon roll dough means an emergency vet now, because the yeast keeps rising and makes alcohol in the stomach.

Pet Poison Helpline names cinnamon rolls among the raw doughs that need a vet immediately, and says the alcohol risk stays even if the dog vomits; the ASPCA says yeast dough can also bloat and possibly twist the stomach. Tube or refrigerated dough whose label shows yeast, or that you can't check, counts as yeast dough. Don't make your dog vomit at home; the guide to a dog that ate bread dough explains why. Raw dough with no yeast still carries raw egg and add-ins, so call a poison line.

• Frosted rolls or sticky buns: a 4-day pancreatitis watch.
• Cinnamon raisin rolls or bagels: the raisin rule above.
• Moldy rolls from the trash: a clinic now, even with no signs.
• Baked goods from a guest's bag or an unknown tin may hold cannabis, which the ASPCA says can cause difficulty walking, a slow heart rate and low body temperature even in small amounts: the nearest emergency hospital, even if your dog seems fine.

Pumpkin spice and other spice blends

Pumpkin pie spice is usually a mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and allspice, and Pet Poison Helpline says the small amounts used to flavor food usually aren't toxic, while the straight spice blend and spice oils carry the most risk.

For a dog, nutmeg and inhaled powder matter most, so a dog that ate the straight blend needs a poison line now. Pet Poison Helpline says rich baked goods are usually the bigger concern, with stomach upset and possible pancreatitis. Plain canned pumpkin is not spiced pie filling; see whether pumpkin helps a dog's diarrhea or constipation.

Signs to watch after a spiced treat

Most dogs that ate a plain cinnamon treat have, at most, mild vomiting or soft stool, but one vomit means calling a vet today and vomiting more than once means an emergency vet now.

Sign	Do this
Bright adult, soft stool	Watch at home
Loose past 2 days	Call a vet
Soft stool, rich treat	Call today
One vomit, still bright	Call today
Cough that settled	Call today
Puppy, vomit or diarrhea	In-person today
Vomit plus diarrhea	In-person today
Won't eat	In-person today
Vomits again	ER now
Vomits once, dull	ER now
Belly pain, prayer pose	ER now
Racing heart, agitation	ER now
Wobbly, tremors, seizure	ER now
Labored breathing, blue gums	ER now
Weak or collapsed	ER now

After a buttery, iced or rich treat, watch for 4 days: Pet Poison Helpline says pancreatitis signs can appear up to 4 days later. Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center advises calling a vet if soft stool lasts past 2 days.

Some dogs need a same-day vet call after a rich treat even if they seem fine: dogs with past pancreatitis, a low-fat prescription diet, Cushing's disease, high blood fats, diabetes or extra weight, Miniature Schnauzers and other prone breeds, toy breeds, seniors, and any dog that ate a lot of fat for its size.

A diabetic dog that vomits, has diarrhea or won't eat after sweet baked goods needs a same-day call to the vet who manages its insulin before any change to meals or insulin (AAHA diabetes guidelines); never fast it, and weakness, trembling or wobbling means an emergency vet now. For soft stool after holiday food, see the guide to diarrhea after table food.

When a video visit helps and when it does not

RexVet, a nonprofit online vet service that serves pets located in Florida, New York and Virginia by video visit, can help after a plain cinnamon treat or once a poison line has said a dog can be watched at home, but it is not the first call for a possible poisoning.

Raw yeast dough, possible xylitol or an unlabeled treat means an emergency vet now, and raisins need a poison line or emergency vet now and an in-person visit, even if your dog seems fine; chocolate, a lot of nutmeg or cinnamon oil means a poison line now; and macadamia nuts or a spiked drink mean a poison line or vet now. Breathing trouble, tremors, wobbliness, collapse, a racing heart or repeated vomiting means an emergency vet now; call a poison line on the way.

A video visit also fits a holiday-treat plan for a dog with a sensitive stomach, extra weight or diabetes, and your dog must be in Florida, New York or Virginia during the visit. In a $64.99 live video visit, a licensed RexVet vet, a veterinarian licensed in your pet's state, reviews the recipe, what was eaten and when, and your dog's size and history, watches your dog stand and walk, checks gums and belly on camera, helps set up the 4-day watch, and says when your dog needs to be seen in person. Live slots run about 8 AM to 11 PM ET; outside those hours, use an emergency vet or a poison line. Holiday availability isn't confirmed, so check open slots when you book. If your dog fits, book a live video visit.

A video visit can't make a dog vomit, give activated charcoal, run blood tests or give IV fluids. No prescription is promised; any medicine is the veterinarian's decision after the visit. In Florida (s. 474.2021), a prescription based only on a video visit is limited to FDA-approved animal drugs used as labeled, for up to 14 days (1 month for products labeled only for fleas and ticks), with no renewal without an in-person exam and no human-labeled, controlled or compounded anti-infective drugs. Virginia allows the exam to be electronic, but federal rules (21 CFR 530.3) require an in-person exam in every state before off-label or human-drug use. New York's rules are still being set, so the veterinarian will tell you if an in-person exam is needed. RexVet is not a pharmacy; a pharmacy transfer fee applies if a prescription is sent to an outside pharmacy.

Need an Expert Opinion on This Topic?

Book a video visit with a licensed vet, evenings and weekends included

See open times

Licensed Veterinarian

Secure Video Calls

Frequently Asked Questions

Can dogs eat cinnamon applesauce?

A little unsweetened cinnamon applesauce isn't toxic to dogs, but check the label first. Xylitol, birch sugar or wood sugar on the label means an emergency vet now, even if your dog seems fine, and so does applesauce you can't check. Sweetened applesauce adds sugar a dog doesn't need.

Can dogs eat snickerdoodles?

Not as a treat: a snickerdoodle is a butter-and-sugar cookie, and most recipes use cream of tartar, which contains tartaric acid. The ASPCA says tartaric acid is the suspected cause of kidney injury from grapes and raisins, and its poison center has seen kidney injury in dogs that ate cream of tartar in larger amounts, such as in homemade play dough. No safe amount is known, so if your dog ate snickerdoodles, call a poison line now, even if it seems fine; the poison line can tell you whether the amount matters. If you can't check the recipe, or the cookies may be sugar-free, go to an emergency vet now. Without cream of tartar in a recipe you checked, watch for 4 days and call a vet today at the first vomit.

Is cinnamon good for a dog's blood sugar?

No. There's no good evidence that cinnamon helps a dog's blood sugar, and Pet Poison Helpline warns that large amounts can cause low blood sugar. A diabetic dog's diet and treats are the veterinarian's call, and insulin should never be changed or skipped without advice from the vet who manages it.

Can dogs eat ginger?

A little ginger in food usually isn't toxic to dogs, but Pet Poison Helpline says large amounts can cause stomach upset and lethargy.

Is cinnamon safe for cats?

Mostly, in food: the ASPCA lists the cinnamon plant as non-toxic to cats, but cinnamon oil and liquid potpourri can poison them. Pet Poison Helpline lists cinnamon oil among the essential oils known to poison cats, and says liquid potpourri can burn a cat's mouth and throat. Any lick of concentrated oil or liquid potpourri, or oil on the fur, means an emergency vet now, even if the cat seems fine. Cloves and allspice contain eugenol, which can cause liver toxicity in cats (Pet Poison Helpline), so a cat that ate a straight spice blend needs a poison line. See which essential oils and potpourri are toxic to cats.

Can an online vet help if my dog ate gingerbread in Florida, New York or Virginia?

Sometimes: video helps after plain gingerbread in a dog that seems normal, or once a poison line says a home watch is safe. Your dog must be in Florida, New York or Virginia during the visit, where a veterinarian licensed in your pet's state can review the recipe, watch your dog walk and check gums and belly on camera. Raisins, chocolate, macadamia nuts, cinnamon oil, a lot of nutmeg, raw dough, possible xylitol, a recipe you can't check, swallowed ribbon, repeated vomiting, tremors or breathing trouble need a poison line or an in-person or emergency vet. No prescription is promised: Florida limits video-only prescriptions to FDA-approved animal drugs used as labeled, for up to 14 days (1 month for products labeled only for fleas and ticks) with no renewal without an in-person exam; federal rules require an in-person exam in every state before off-label or human-drug use; and New York's rules are still being set.

Should I make my dog throw up after it ate cinnamon or gingerbread?

No, not unless a poison line or vet tells you to. Never try it while a dog is coughing or choking on powder. After raw yeast dough, skip it at home too: the alcohol the dough makes raises the risk of breathing in vomit. Call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply) or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (a per-incident fee applies). See when making a dog throw up helps or harms.