Is Cinnamon Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)

No treatment is needed if a pet licks or eats a small amount of ground cinnamon or cinnamon bark. If a pet has inhaled a cloud of the powder and is coughing persistently, keep them somewhere with fresh air and contact your vet if it doesn't settle quickly.

Cinnamon is not known to contain toxic compounds harmful to dogs, cats, or horses.

Cinnamon is confirmed non-toxic to dogs and cats by the ASPCA in typical spice amounts. The more realistic concern isn't toxicity but inhalation — ground cinnamon powder can irritate the airways and cause coughing or sneezing if a curious dog or cat sniffs directly into an open container, the same way it would irritate a person. Concentrated cinnamon essential oil is a separate, more potent product than the ground spice and shouldn't be treated the same way.

Scientific name

Cinnamomum zeylanicum

Family

Lauraceae

Also known as

Cinnamon

Typically found

both