What Is Sucralose?
Sucralose is an artificial sweetener that is extracted from refined sugar and is sold under the name Splenda. Sucralose is massively more sweet than traditional sugar, which means a far smaller portion can be used for the same effect.
While Sucralose, or Splenda, is calorie-free, it does actually contain some carbohydrates in the form of dextrose and maltodextrin. However, this carbohydrate content is still fairly negligible.
Many dog owners eat products that contain Sucralose or even create their own using it as an alternative to sugar. When they do this, many wonder whether they can safely feed these foods to their dogs with any ill effects.
This question is even more important given that some other sweeteners commonly eaten by humans are not safe for consumption by dogs.
Is Sucralose Bad for Dogs?
Sucralose is generally safe for dogs in small doses or inside of a one-off treat, but, in some dogs, it can cause some minor adverse effects such as Diarrhea.
However, long-term or large consumption of Sucralose is not recommended for dogs. Long-term and sustained consumption of Sucralose can have side effects such as raised blood sugar and insulin levels as well as interfering with the gut’s natural bacteria.
Another sweetener named Xylitol, however, is not safe for dogs and is actually extremely toxic. If eaten, even in smaller doses, it can cause hypoglycemia which is life-threatening if left untreated.
This is the main reason that many get concerned about whether Sucralose is safe as they confuse these two sweeteners or think they are related.
If you are unsure if your sweetener is Sucralose or Xylitol, do not feed it to your dog under any circumstances.
Do Any Dogs Foods Contain Sucralose?
Based on our research, we could not find any dog products, such as dry dog food, wet dog food, or dog treats that contain sucralose.
The main reason behind this lack of sucralose products is that sucralose is not approved for use in dog food products.
The other reason is that dog products tend not to need to be artificially sweetened. Instead, most dog food brands focus on making their foods more palatable with animal-based flavors or fats.
We’ve discussed these in more detail in our articles Natural Flavors In Pet Food & Animal Digest In Dog Food.
