Stevia is becoming a popular artificial sweetener of many human foods due to its health benefits. Stevia has no calories, so many soft drinks and yogurts are starting to use stevia as their sweetener. But is stevia safe for dogs to consume? Technically, yes. Stevia is not toxic to dogs, but it can have negative side effects. Here is some safety concerns, risks and benefits of feeding your dog stevia.
What is stevia?
Stevia is a naturally produced sweetener that comes from the stevia plant. The stevia plant has been used in South America and Asia for many years, and it is related to many popular garden flowers like asters and chrysanthemums.
Many use it as a sugar substitute since it is 250-300 times sweeter than sugar. Unlike sugar, stevia contains no carbohydrates or calories.
But to some people, stevia can have a bitter or “menthol-like” taste.
You can find it in powder or liquid forms in nearly all grocery stores, health food stores or diners. It is usually represented by a green label or packet.
Can dogs have stevia?
Stevia is not toxic for dogs to consume.
However, stevia can result in an upset stomach and diarrhea in large quantities.
That being said, there is no great reason to purposely include stevia in your dog’s diet.
Dogs have far fewer taste buds than humans, and they don’t crave that sweet taste as much as we do.
Stevia does have anti inflammatory properties and lower your dog’s blood sugar compared to other sweeteners, but these benefits can be achieved by feeding your dog a healthier diet overall.
Brands like Pet Plate and Badlands Ranch offer dog food that contains salmon and omega-3’s to reduce inflammation in dogs naturally.
What foods contain stevia?
Many food and beverage companies are starting to use stevia as a sweetener for its health effects and taste.
Stevia is becoming a popular sugar substitute among soft drinks and yogurts currently.
Benefits of stevia compared to sugar and other artificial sweeteners
Since stevia is much sweeter than sugar, a little goes a long way.
And stevia has no carbs or calories making it a perfect sweetener for health conscious dog owners.
Compared to sugar, eating stevia also decreases the risk of getting diabetes. Stevia doesn’t activate the insulin response that sugar does, so your dog’s pancreas can remain in good health.
Studies indicate that stevia may also include some anti inflammatory properties. If you feed your dog fish oil supplements, sprinkling stevia on them may make the pills more palatable and effective.
Risks of giving your dog stevia
The biggest risk of adding stevia to your dog’s diet is an upset stomach or diarrhea.
But this only happens in large quantities.
Thankfully, stevia is not toxic to dogs and you will not risk their long-term health by feeding them stevia.
Other sugar substitutes and dogs
Not all sugar substitutes are safe for dogs to eat. Some of the other artificial sweeteners you will see out there include:
Xylitol (TOXIC) – this sugar alcohol can cause xylitol poisoning and is often found in chocolates and other candies. It is extremely toxic to dogs and could even be fatal. If you suspect your dog of eating xylitol, pet owners should call the pet poison helpline (888-426-4435) right or their veterinarian right away.
Aspartame (safe) – aspartame is commonly found in soft drinks like Diet Pepsi, and it is not toxic for dogs. Again, overconsumption can cause diarrhea.
Saccharin (safe) – this is the pink packet of sugar substitute. Saccharin is safe for dogs but can cause gastrointestinal symptoms if they eat too much.
Sucralose (safe) – found in the yellow packet and sold under the brand name Splenda. It is not toxic to dogs, but can cause upset tummies.
Monk fruit sweetener (safe) – like stevia, monk fruit is a natural sweetener and is a good alternative to stevia.
Conclusion: Stevia is safe for dogs, but should be avoided
Stevia is not toxic for dogs to eat. However, it can cause upset stomachs and diarrhea if your dog eats too much stevia. Stevia is found in many human foods like soft drinks and yogurts due to having zero calories and possibly providing some anti-inflammatory health effects. But even when considering these benefits, you should avoid feeding your dog stevia. Dogs don’t crave sweet treats like humans do, and the stevia health benefits can be achieved through a healthier diet.
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