The effects of sugar in dogs is similar to its effect on humans. Like humans, dogs can have sugar highs and lows from eating sugar just like we can. And just like, us the long-term effects of sugar in dogs is no joke. There is no reason for anyone to feed their dog sugar of any sort.
Related: Feed Your Dog THIS, not THAT!
Effects of Sugar in Dogs – A Long Term Disaster
Although the short term effects of sugar in dogs is not great. The long term effects are even worse. To begin, let’s take a look at the short term effects of sugar in dogs.
Short Term Effects of Sugar in Dogs
The short term effects of sugar can range from mild blood sugar spikes to diarrhea.
- High blood sugar from initial ingestion
- Erratic or hyper behavior from a sugar high
- Low blood sugar from the subsequent crash
- Diarrhea
Long Term Effects of Sugar in Dogs
This is where things get serious. The long term effects of eating sugar can be as disastrous for dogs is they can for humans. The only difference is that we humans know what we’re doing to ourselves, and our dogs don’t.
- Obesity
- Joint and tendon problems secondary to obesity
- Increased risk of diabetes secondary to obesity
- Increase risk of cancer secondary to obesity
- Insulin resistance due to high sugar intake
Related: Dog Food Safety: 5 Things You Should NEVER Give Your Dog
More Effects of Sugar in Dogs
While these problems are not directly related to the consumption of sugar in dogs, they can be traced back to the consumption of sugar. Instead of a Point A to Point B situation, these effects are more like Point A to Point B to Point C. However, all of these can be caused by long term sugar consumption are just more reasons not to ever feed your dog anything containing sugar.
- Blindness secondary to diabetes
- Aggravation of certain issues such as mitral valve disease secondary to obesity
- Painful walking or loss of mobility secondary to joint and tendon problems due to obesity
- Arthritis secondary to tendon problems and obesity
Never Feed Sugar to Dogs
Never feed your dog sugar. There is never a reason to put it into their body. The short term effects of sugar in dogs can be uncomfortable for them, but the long term effects can be disastrous. However much they love sugary foods, and however much you love watching them wag their tails for it, never forget the consequences. The long term effects of sugar in dogs are uncomfortable at best and deadly at worst.
