Can I Give My Dog Agave Syrup?

Some pet owners that aren’t sure if they can give their dogs agave syrup do get confused and look for a workaround. Agave is a natural plant in the South and Latin Americas. Agave is a relative newcomer to the Western world, yet it has been used in Mexico for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

Agave has long been praised for its purported medicinal properties. A sweetener known as Miel de agave was created by boiling the sap of the agave plant. Agave nectar, a sweetening syrup made by several companies, is now available.

Humans commonly consume agave syrup and nectar.

You may have observed that your dog, like many dogs, has a sweet tooth, but you can’t blame it on nature.

No one is born with a sweet tooth, human, or animal. It’s an acquired taste, and you’re probably to blame for it in your dog’s eyes.

Many dog owners are now aware of the consequences of feeding their pets too much sugar and wonder if agave syrup is a healthier alternative.

In this post, we’ll look at agave nectar and other so-called natural sweeteners to discover if they’re safe for dogs.

 

Can you give your dog agave syrup?

Agave syrup and nectar aren’t the worst things on the globe, but they’re also not the healthiest. It’s mostly sugar, a particularly bad form of sugar. It isn’t worth the risk of feeding your dog because the healthy ingredients present in it are minimal.

Agave nectar is a syrup that can be used as a sweetener or honey alternative. The term “nectar” is merely a marketing term. It is manufactured from the fluid contained within the blue agave plant, the same plant used to make tequila.

Agave syrup, no agave nectar, should be used to label the sweetener commonly referred to as agave nectar. It bears no relation to the traditional Mexican sweetener, which has been used for centuries.

The manufacturing development process is the same. To collect the sweet sap, the plant is first chopped and crushed.

Although this sap is high in sugar, it also contains beneficial fibers like fructans, which have been linked to improved metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

The fructans are removed from the sap when processed into a syrup, and the fructose is broken down by exposing the sap to heat and enzymes, resulting in a sweeter product that isn’t good for your dog.

 

 

What agave syrup/ nectar is made from ?

Many vegans and health-conscious people are switching to agave syrup, which is marketed as a healthier alternative to sugar. This product is made from agave, a succulent plant that grows in warm areas such as the southern United States and Mexico. Because the nectar (or syrup) comes from the root of this plant, people assume it must be healthful or at least healthier than sugar, which also comes from a plant or several plants.

The biggest issue with this syrup is that what you get in the bottle at the shop is a highly refined and chemically processed version of the agave plant’s nectar.

 

What nutrients are in agave syrup?

If you look at the ingredients on the label of a generic agave syrup that you may get in the shop, you’ll see how ‘healthy’ this product is.

Sugars amount to 68 grams per 100-gram serving. Agave syrup, in other words, is 68 percent sugar. You also have 22% water, leaving you with only 10% of the nutrients you need. You get 1% dietary fiber and trace levels of different vitamins from these.

A serving of agave syrup, for example, has 13mg of choline, an essential nutrient, as well as folate, often known as the B9 vitamin, all of which are beneficial to your dog’s health.

However, is gaining these modest amounts of vitamins worth the risk of drinking so much fructose?

The sucrose level of table sugar is reviled, but the fructose in agave syrup, less dangerous for people or pets with diabetes, can cause liver damage. Both sucrose and glucose are easier for the liver to digest than fructose.

Finally, agave syrup has 310 calories per 100g, greater than sugar. For humans, let alone dogs, that’s a lot.

 

Is agave syrup toxic to dogs?

Agave syrup is not hazardous to dogs or people, even though the agave plant is slightly toxic. However, it isn’t good for your dog’s health, just like any other harmful, overly processed food ingredient.

It’s not the worst thing you could ever give your dog, but it’s also not the best for his health. In addition to having far too many calories, agave syrup contains a lot of sugar, and it’s a particularly bad form of sugar.

The extra calories gradually but steadily take their toll on the body.

Because the few beneficial ingredients in agave syrup are present in such small numbers, the risk of giving your pet such a high sugar concentration is not worth it. Raw honey or maple syrup are excellent options for sweetening your dog’s treats.

 

Reasons why dogs cannot have agave syrup.

Although some preach about agave syrup’s health benefits, you should consider some consequences. Let’s look at 5 reasons why dogs shouldn’t consume agave syrup.

 

1. Excess fructose

The fructose content of agave nectar ranges from 75 to 90%. It compares to only 50% for table sugar and 55% for the often hated high fructose corn syrup.

Although glucose and fructose appear to be extremely similar, their physiological effects are significantly different. Unfortunately, fructose is thought to be linked to some health problems.

 

2. Extensively processed

Companies treat agave syrup using a variety of chemicals after extracting the nectar from the agave plant. It eliminates even the nectar’s tiny good qualities.

As a result, towards the conclusion of the procedure, it’s just another highly processed sweetener with no significant benefits.

 

3. Antioxidant deficiency

Agave syrup has fewer antioxidants than honey, according to studies. Antioxidants aid digestion and internal bodily functions.

However, because agave syrup contains very small amounts of artificially induced agave, offering it to your dog is pointless.

 

4. Abdominal fat

Fructose, unlike other sugars, is processed by the liver. Excessive fructose consumption in a short time can overwhelm the liver, causing it to produce unhealthy triglycerides.

Extra fat results from high fructose diets, which are bad for general heart health.

 

5. There are no health benefits

When agave syrup is compared to honey or any other sweetener, no significant health benefits imply it is good for your dog. While honey is well-known for its numerous health benefits, agave syrup falls short.

 

What to do in case your dog has poisoning from agave?

 

1. Examine the situation

First, try to figure out what poison your dog has ingested and how he got it. Was the agave eaten, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin? Determine how much poison your dog ate, inhaled, or came into contact with.

 

2. Get help from a professional

Even if your dog appears to be acting normally, you should contact a veterinarian for medical treatment. It would be best not to wait until your dog shows signs of illness to intervene; it may be too late.

Never treat your dog with a home cure or any other treatment without consulting a veterinarian.

 

3. Induce vomiting

A doctor may advise using hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting at home. As a result, you should always keep an undamaged, non-expired hydrogen peroxide container in your home.

 

Do not perform this treatment unless a veterinarian has instructed you to. It is not always safe to induce vomiting!

Washing

It may be necessary to bathe your dog if the poison has come into contact with his skin or coat. Regular dog shampoo or a stronger formulation may be recommended by a professional. You can use any dog-friendly shampoo for this.

 

What is the best sweetener for dogs?

Let’s look at some of the agave nectar alternatives for your dog that are also beneficial to your dog’s health.

Honey

Honey’s color and flavor vary greatly depending on the nectar source bees use. The more vibrant the color, the more vibrant the flavor.

Antioxidants are found in higher proportions in darker jars of honey, such as buckwheat (not to be confused with wheat), tupelo, and sage.

Maple Syrup

You might be surprised to learn that maple syrup is one of the world’s healthiest foods. This delectable syrup is made with sugar sap from red or black maple trees.

Brown rice syrup

Because of the complex sugar polysaccharide structure, it includes, it is gluten-free and has a low GI. Compared to agave syrup, brown rice syrup is readily broken down by the stomach, allowing for improved digestion and a healthier diet.

Vitamin B, manganese, and potassium are among the nutrients found.

Coconut sap/syrup

Many people call this tree the “tree of life” since it bears fruit all year. Coconut sap/syrup is high in nutrients, including 17 amino acids, B vitamins like inositol, potassium, vitamin C, and even FOS, a prebiotic that helps digestion.

In some regions, it is also known as the tropical maple.

Stevia

Stevia was discovered by Europeans in the early twentieth century, contrary to popular assumptions. Stevia, often known as sugar leaf or sweet leaf, is a member of the sunflower family.

Despite being 300 times sweeter than regular sugar, it does not affect insulin levels due to its molecular makeup.

 

Wrap up

To summarize, agave syrup and nectar are not the worst things in the world for your dog, but they are not the best. It’s mostly sugar, a particularly terrible form of sugar. Giving agave syrup to your dog is not worth the risk because the positive components identified in it are minimal.