Herbs for dogs – what dog parents should know!

Written by: Joseph Dizon Lazatin, vet student at Pampanga State Agricultural University

Could your herbal condiments possibly be added to our dog’s diet?

The answer to that question is – Yes, but not all herbs. Only some herbs are good for our dogs. Tincture of herbal oil extracts can be found in the natural and artificial diet. Thus, you can give dried or fresh herbs to your dog depending on need. A perfect blend of little herbs in raw or dog food is soothing for our pets. Just like in humans, herbs are used not only to improve the flavor of meals but also to provide its beneficial effects in our furry babies’ body.

And always remember moderation is the key to avoiding potential problems!

Here’s a list of common kitchen herbs that are proven with medical effects to your dog’s health:

Thyme

This common kitchen herb has vitamin K as its primary active ingredient that makes it a potent antibacterial and antifungal. It also contains flavonoids which increase its antioxidant properties.

You give 0.5 – 1.0 gram of thyme per 20kilos of dog per day. It is best administered with raw ground beef.

Turmeric

Curcumin, a medicinal orange pigment, makes this ginger orange in color. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant property. Many claims it has anti-carcinogenic (anti-cancer) potentials, which is why there are multiple ongoing medical studies are currently being done. In the veterinary world, some vets used this herb as a natural prophylaxis in treating Parvo patients, though it’s still not official. Still, it is one amazing herb.

You can give 1/4tsp – 1tsp of powdered turmeric to the 20-50lbs dog per day. Feeding this to a dog can be challenging, but adding this to chicken soup can be very effective.

Catnip

This herb has lots of vitamins and minerals. Used as tea in humans for it has support and soothing effect in the gastrointestinal system. Also, it is a good mosquito repellent. Just like with humans, you can administer catnip tea to your dogs for ingestion and as a spray.

Generally speaking, there’s no limit intake for dogs, but as always be careful.

Ginger

This herb is well known for its anti-nausea effect and is acknowledged by vets for being one of the well-tolerated herbs for dogs, can help ease stomach aches and intestinal gas. It helps in expelling worms or due to its anthelmintic effect. You can add minced yellow portion of the ginger root to dog foods.

You can give roughly 1/2 teaspoon for dogs under 35 lbs. per day.

Please don’t mix this up with ginger snaps, which can actually be very harmful to dogs.

Rosemary

This popular Mediterranean shrub is high in antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. It is also high in Iron and Vitamin B6. Many vets also use this primarily as antioxidants for dogs with heart disease, as a flea repellant, and as a glossy coat leave-on conditioner.

Fresh rosemary is best administered orally (1/2 teaspoon finely chopped to your dog’s food). But, never use rosemary oil without consulting your vet first. Also, you can boil rosemary leaves (1 tbsp fresh and dry) with water, and once cool, spray it on your pet’s coat.

Basil

This for sure is one of our top (if not the top) favorite kitchen herb. You can add it to any food and drinks. The good news is, this herb is also dog-approved! The leaves have it all, it has antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, and antioxidant properties; it also has insect-repelling characteristics that every dog owner will love. Aside from all these benefits, veterinarians use this for canine arthritis to relieve swelling and pain. Always seeks your vet for medicinal dosage.

For the daily intake, mince one medium size leaf on your dog’s food once per day should do the trick!

Oregano

Herbaceous Oregano contains volatile oils thymol and carvacrol, which are bacteriostatic, it helps in preventing bacterial growth. It also contains more antioxidant power than apples and blueberries!

Start with a drop of diluted oregano oil per day and gradually increase it up to 1 drop 4 times per day. Make sure to consult your vet to get the recommended amount to be administered for either antibacterial or daily maintenance purposes.

Parsley

It contains an amino acid, Histidine, which was proven to inhibit tumor growth. Parsley is a chemoprotective (prevents cancer) herb because it may help neutralize a variety of carcinogens. It also has a soothing effect on the kidneys and is used on cystitis. It also helps prevent renal (kidney) gravel or stones from forming in dogs.

For the dosage, you can add 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons or finely chopped parsley on your dog’s food, depending on the size of the dog. There is limit intake identified for dogs.