Sometimes our dogs can end up consuming foods which we did not intend them to, and most pet owners immediately react by panicking and wondering what inverse effects consuming certain items could have on their dogs.
This article specifically is concerned about Stevia and if it is safe for your dog to consume, and if it is safe, how much is safe?
So, if your dog has for whatever reason consumed Stevia and you are now worried about how this will affect your dog, keep reading!
Stevia For Dogs
More and more pet owners are becoming health conscious, and part of this is looking for sugar substitutes and sweeteners which can cut down on the amount of sugar which they are consuming regularly.
This is why alternatives to sugar are becoming more and more popular, and because of this they are even making their way into some products intended for dogs.
For example, you can now find Stevia in toothpaste which is meant to be used on dogs.
As many dog owners know, dogs should not be consuming xylitol, and xylitol can often be found in products like these, so of course you may be worried about whether Stevia is safe as well, so if this is a worry of yours, read on!
What Is Stevia?
Before knowing if Stevia is toxic for dogs, we should know exactly what Stevia is. Stevia is actually made from a plant, unlike many people who think it is made in a lab like some types of sugar or sugar alternatives.
Stevia is made from the plant Stevia Rebaudiana which it gets its name from, and the leaves from the plant are then crushed into a powder and this is what you will find being sold as a sweetener or a sugar alternative.
Stevia is not the only name this dried powder is sold under, you can sometimes find this powder being sold as sweet lead, or as sugar lead. It is also identifiable by how it has a much more sweet taste than other typical table sugars.
Stevia has gained popularity due to how it will have less side effects on humans who consume it like sugar can, and on top of this, it does not need nearly as much farmland to be grown like sugar does.
Stevia is not a perfect substitute however, for example, it does have a sweet taste like sugar, however, it does have a distinct aftertaste that is characterized by being slightly bitter to some people which means that a lot of people do not like the way it tastes.
So, now you have a brief understanding of what Stevia is, will it be okay if your dog eats it?
Is Stevia Safe For Dogs?
Luckily, if your dog has consumed some Stevia, it will not be toxic to them, so do not worry if your dog has managed to ingest some.
In spite of this, you should not make it, so your dog has ingested too much Stevia, if this happens your dog will end up having some pretty bad diarrhea.
The exact amount which causes this side effect is not known, but it will depend on both the weight and the size of your dog.
We do not recommend feeding your dog Stevia and instead limiting their consumption to the small amounts which are in products like toothpaste for dogs.
While some dogs may appreciate the taste of the Stevia, it is not something which will lead to your dog having a good diet, this is why you do not find any good quality treats for dogs containing Stevia, or any artificial or natural sweeteners for that matter.
In spite of this, as you know dogs still enjoy the treats without any sweetener.
It is worth reinforcing here, that while Stevia does not usually contain any xylitol, it is of utmost importance to ensure that your dog will avoid xylitol as it is very toxic to dogs and they should not be consuming it under any circumstances.
However, since society wants more and more sugar free foods, we are getting more and more xylitol in human food, and if a dog ends up consuming these accidentally, the results could be dire.
So, if you have a dog in the house, make sure you are aware of what food you are bringing in.
This is even worse when you consider that even foods which are usually loved by dogs like peanut butter now sometimes include xylitol, so you need to be as diligent as ever when it comes to what your dog is eating!
Summary
So, while it is not toxic for your dog to be eating Stevia, and if they have accidentally eaten any it will not cause any large problems, we still recommend that your dog avoids this sugar substitute.
