Agave nectar is becoming popular as a great product among health-conscious people who want to avoid white sugar. But can dogs have agave nectar too? Let’s find out.
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People from all over the world consume agave nectar as a natural sugar substitute. Just like humans, dogs also have an addiction to sweet dishes.
But when it comes to dogs, it makes us think about whether it is ideal for dogs to consume agave nectar or not? Agave nectar is not good for dogs. It is mildly toxic for them.
However, if they consume a small amount of it, there is nothing to worry about. It probably won’t kill your dog, but it will probably cause discomfort and pain.
Why Should You Avoid Giving Agave Nectar to Your Dog?
Sap obtained from the Agave plant has a huge amount of carbohydrates in it. Alongside that, beneficial fibers such as fructose can negatively impact the metabolism of a dog.
You or your furry friend can get very few benefits from this chemically processed agave nectar. While processing this nectar for selling, the sap is heated, and during this process, the heat denatures the fructans, so all the benefits that you can get from Agave get lost.
Toxicity
Agave is mildly toxic to dogs, even though it cannot be considered poisonous. It is best to avoid any giving any agave products to dogs.
High Fructose Content
As we have already mentioned, processed agave nectar contains a lot of sugar, and this high amount of sugar is not the healthiest option when you seek some healthy foods for your dog.
Agave nectar approximately contains 75% to 90% fructose which is relatively high compared to corn syrup and apple syrup. Though glucose and fructose are similar, fructose can cause several health issues in dogs.
Increase in Belly Fat
Compared to all other carbohydrates, fructose metabolism occurs in the liver. If your dog starts consuming high amounts of fructose over a long period, it will start producing triglycerides, which can prove to be fatal for your dog’s health. Deposition of this triglyceride will increase the belly fat amount. Just like humans, obesity can affect the overall health of your pet dog.
Chemical Processing
As previously mentioned in this article, after the nectar is extracted from the agave plant, the selling companies use various chemicals to make bottled agave syrup. This chemical processing takes away the very few benefits that you can get from the natural agave nectar. You will get nothing but a highly processed sweetener when you buy an agave nectar package from the store.
Less Amount of Antioxidants
The presence of antioxidants in the body primarily helps in digestion. Most people consider agave syrup as an alternative to honey. The amount of antioxidants is less in chemically processed agave syrup than in honey.
No Health Benefits
None of the health benefits that are claimed to be present in agave syrup is scientifically proven. So, it is better to go for other sweetener alternatives with proven health benefits.
What Are the Other Alternatives That You Can Try Instead of Agave Nectar?
Now it is time to look at all other possible alternatives to the agave nectar, which you can use in your dog food.
- Honey
- Brown Rice Syrup
- Stevia
- Maple Syrup
- Coconut Sap
What to Do If Your Dog Consumes Agave Nectar?
If your dog accidentally consumes agave nectar and you notice some abnormalities such as agave poisoning in your dog, then you should do the following things.
- Proper Assessment: Try to find out how your pet friend gets affected by the poisoning.
- Seek Professional Assistance: It is not ideal for you to try treating the dog all on your own. Take your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic.
- Induce Vomiting: Make your dog vomit. You can use hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting in your dog.
Answers to Questions on the Internet About Agave Nectar
What sweeteners are safe for dogs?
Most artificial sweeteners excluding Xylitol are safe for dogs.
Several artificial sweeteners are safe for dogs, but you need to ensure which ones will not cause any damage to your dog before giving them to your pet. Some of the safest sweeteners to use in dog food are Stevia, Saccharin, Sucralose, Erythritol, Monk fruit sweetener, and Brown Rice Syrup.
Is agave nectar safe for dogs?
Only in small amounts. It is slightly toxic and contains a high amount of fructose.
Agave syrup contains a high amount of fructose, so if your pet dog is diabetic, you should never think of giving agave nectar to your dog. Natural agave nectar is mildly toxic to dogs. Chemically processed ones available on the market are also not safe for your pet dog.
Is honey and agave nectar the same?
No, they are different.
Honey and agave nectar are pretty different from each other. Agave nectar contains more calories than honey and is sweeter than honey.
Can dogs have sugar substitutes?
Almost all except for Xylitol.
Most sugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners may be safe for your dog but in small quantities. However, you should not include sugar substitutes in the regular food that your dog consumes.
How is Agave Nectar Made?
It is produced from the roots of the agave plant.
Agave plants are primarily found in Latin America and especially in Mexico. Agave nectar primarily derives from the plant’s roots, which grow mainly in hot climate areas. It is often used as an alternative to honey.
The sap of this plant is used to make Agave nectar. The sap is boiled, and some additional sweeteners are added to prepare this nectar.
The popularity of agave nectar has increased a lot in the last few years as health-conscious people worldwide have found this option healthier than other sweeteners. As mentioned earlier, this nectar or syrup is produced from a plant called Agave.
Natural agave nectar might be good for the health of a person or an animal but what we often purchase from stores in the name of agave nectar is a chemically processed and refined version of the original product.
This chemically processed agave nectar mostly has fructose and other sugars and in the worst-case Xylitol, which is toxic for your dog.
Final Words
To sum up everything, we can say that agave nectar or agave syrup may not be the worst thing to include in your dog’s diet, but as it is made up of sugar primarily, it can cause several problems in your pet’s body. You can give agave nectar to your dog at your own risk.
Thank you for reading, we hope we addressed your queries, and please write to us in the comments if there are more questions that you need answers to.
There are other things that you should be wary of feeding your dogs such as honey roasted peanuts, grape popsicles, and raisins.