Can dogs eat mint and mint leaves? This question has sparked discussion among dog enthusiasts, but most dog owners are wary of their dog’s food intake. Some dogs may tolerate a particular herb while others may succumb to symptoms resulting from ingestion. This is where we have the house being divided, some would say YES, and others would outrightly answer a big fat NO. But can dogs eat mint?
Let us have a safe answer: mint species are safe to consume by dogs. It is even beneficial to a dog’s health. Sadly, there are also mint varieties that are proven poisonous to dogs. Let us have the kinds of mint that are safe for dogs. For starters, mint came from the family of flowering plants called Lamiaceae. It contains several hundreds of genera and thousands of species related to it.
With that being said, Mentha, a family of mints, has around 20 species, which you have been growing in your garden and use in various applications and dishes, is safe for dog consumption. Species of mint-like wild mint, spearmint, and peppermint are non-toxic to dogs, according to the Continental Kennel Club.
English pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) or Europan pennyroyal is the only species in Mentha that proves toxic to dogs. According to California Invasive Plant Council, this mint species is moderately invasive and contains pulegone, a toxic chemical to both man and canines. This chemical causes liver damage and organ failure when ingested in large amounts.
Safe species of mint for dogs
Having a solid foundation on what is safe and what is not for dogs can be a handy skill. Naturally, in the wild, dogs won’t eat something that can make them ill, but when humans that a dog trust tries to give them something that may be poisonous to them, a dog, out of that trust, will forget its instincts and would blindly eat it and it would be a disaster.
Sometimes, a dog ingests something that is not good for results from the carelessness of its human handler. We hope this article can help open many eyes and make them realize that with human intervention, sometimes dogs would forego their instincts and would do everything that pleases their human friend.
Peppermint – This can help soothe your dog’s gut and stomach. This mint species is safe for your dog, but you must remember that mints and other plant-based diets are not really for dogs because nature designs dogs to consume meat. We should give mints only as a treat but not as a supplement for dog food.
The following species of mint are safe for dog consumption are
- Spearmint – Helps tone down that dog’s breath. A small amount of spearmint can help you minimize that patented doggy breath that can sometimes turn off even the most loving dog owner. Spearmint can also help repel off fleas and other pesky flying nuisance that makes your dog scratch itself until it gets irritated and causes wounds.
- Wild mint – Are excellent for dogs because it is full of antioxidants and nutrients are beneficial for your dogs. Wild mint keeps your dogs protected and healthy.
- Cat mint – It isn’t technically part of the Mentha family, but it is still part of the Lamiaceae family gives a relaxing effect to dogs. It is also safe for cats.
Those are some of the mint species you could safely give to your dog. You need to remember and memorize it by heart because your dog’s survival depends on how careful and how watchful you are with their food intake. Being generous and getting your dogs spoiled with treats from time to time needs vigilance, you cannot just give in to your dog’s persistence. You could be kind and yet firm.
Common species of unsafe mint for dogs
Getting first-hand knowledge of knowing what is safe and unsafe could spell both safety and disaster. You need to be accurate and precise with your every move because your dog’s health can’t afford trial and error. We would like to share with you some information on some unsafe mint that is toxic and can harm your dog in the most excruciating ways possible.
We hope you will take these matters seriously because your dog’s health depends on your knowledge of these serious matters. Our understanding if you take matters seriously that is why you came to us for information because just like you, we love our dogs, in fact, we love our dogs so much that we are always on the lookout for getting information on how to keep them safe every single day.
- Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) – This mint is dangerous for your dog when ingested. Please avoid this mind specie at all cost. Identify this mint specie because you, well, you know this mint would exponentially increase your chance of protecting your dogs from any untoward incident. This kind of mint is common in most gardens because it contains natural pest-repelling properties. You need to watch out for this and be wary of it all the time. Pulegone, a chemical naturally produced by this mint, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, liver damage and organ failure in dogs. When you suspect your dog ingested this kind of mint, please seek immediate medical attention and call your vet.
How much mint can my dog ingest?
Getting your dog to consume a few leaves of mint is okay, overindulging it is completely another story. We would not recommend you to substitute mint as their food. You should give mint to dogs as treats and nothing more. Having candy or chocolate with mint flavor or mint smell is not advisable for them. If you are giving these items as treats, we are asking you to stop it.
If you think mint candies can help your dog have their breath freshen up, please stop doing it because candies contain sugar, dogs, and sugar do not mix well. Sugar is harmful to dogs no matter how small the amount it may seem. Some candy-flavored mint may contain concentrated mint oils that can make your dog feeling ill. Just stick to those mint plants and your dog will be okay.
