When we cook for ourselves or our human families, spices and herbs can make or break the dish! This might make you wonder: Should you add spices and herbs to your dog’s food or treats? Below, we’ll discuss why it’s best not to season your dog’s food, which spices and herbs are healthy for dogs to eat, and which should be avoided.
Can Dogs Eat Spices and Herbs?
If you’re cooking for your dog, it’s recommended to avoid adding spices and herbs to the dish. While these ingredients can make dishes healthier and more appetizing for people, they can cause stomach upset and even poisoning in dogs.
That said, not all spices and herbs are dangerous, and some can even be beneficial. Below, we’ll discuss some common spices and herbs and whether or not your dog can eat them.
Dog-Safe Herbs and Spices
While the spices below are safe for dogs, remember to feed them in moderation to avoid any health problems.
1. Basil
Fresh and dried basil are both safe for dogs to eat. That said, some dogs get an upset tummy after eating it, so it’s best to start with a small amount and see how they react. Basil can make a great treat for dogs who like it!
2. Thyme
Dogs can eat thyme in small portions. Like most foods, too much can upset their stomachs. Try mixing fresh thyme into your dog’s food or baking it into homemade dog treats.
3. Rosemary
Rosemary is safe for dogs in small amounts, but its heavy fiber content can cause digestive issues if your dog eats too much of it!
If your dog has seizures, you may want to avoid feeding them rosemary as it can trigger seizures in humans. We don’t currently have studies to confirm whether dogs can react the same, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
4. Ginger
Dogs can eat ginger, and it can even help to reduce inflammation in their bodies. However, it should be fed only in moderation, such as a small amount baked into dog treats.
5. Cilantro
Cilantro is good for dogs and can even help to resolve mild tummy troubles. Like all foods, it should be fed in moderation only.
6. Dill
When fed in moderation, dill can help promote a healthy heart and digestive system. Dogs can even eat dill pickles so long as they don’t contain other toxic ingredients, though pickles are quite salty and therefore not the healthiest snack.
7. Parsley
Curly parsley is safe for dogs and is healthy when fed in small amounts. However, all other varieties of parsley are toxic, so make sure you’re feeding curly parsley only!
8. Turmeric
In small amounts, turmeric can aid your dog’s digestive health and reduce inflammation in the body. Of course, moderation is key! Some people sprinkle turmeric into their dog’s food or bake it into homemade treats.
9. Mint
Most mint is safe for dogs, but English pennyroyal is toxic. Since this plant is also highly toxic to humans, you won’t find it in the food aisle! This makes it very unlikely to become confused, though you may want to avoid feeding (or eating!) wild mint, just in case.
Unsafe Herbs and Spices
1. Allspice
Allspice contains eugenol, which is toxic to dogs in large amounts. However, a dog would have to eat a lot of it to be poisoned. One or two bites of a baked good are unlikely to cause harm, but the toxin can build up in your dog’s system over time if they continually eat foods containing allspice.
Therefore, we recommend avoiding it altogether–and definitely not adding it to your pup’s foods on purpose.
2. Pumpkin Pie Spice
While dogs can eat pure pumpkin safely, they should avoid pumpkin pie spice and foods containing it, including canned pumpkin. Some of the ingredients in pumpkin pie spice are toxic.
Typically, it takes large quantities to cause poisoning. However, some foods that contain this spice may also contain other toxins, such as caffeine in pumpkin spice lattes or raisins baked into desserts.
3. Garlic and Onion Powders
Garlic and onion powders are some of the more dangerous spices for dogs. These seasonings are more concentrated than fresh garlic or onion, and the toxins can build up in your dog’s system for days. Garlic is the most toxic of the two, but both can cause severe health problems and even death.
4. Bay Leaf
Like allspice, bay leaves contain eugenol. They also contain other toxic essential oils, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
5. Clove
Clove also contains eugenol. As with allspice, your dog would have to eat a lot of it to be poisoned, but it’s still best avoided.
6. Mustard Powder
Mustard powder can lead to digestive upset in dogs and even gastroenteritis, an emergent and life-threatening condition caused by inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
7. Cayenne and Other Hot Spices
Cayenne and other hot spices are not toxic but can cause digestive upset in dogs. Many dogs won’t enjoy spicy foods, either.
8. Hops
Eating hops, whether fresh or in beverages such as beer, can cause malignant hyperthermia in dogs. This means that their body temperature becomes dangerously high. Other symptoms include a rapid and irregular heartbeat, rigid muscles, blue gums, and labored breathing.
Dogs experiencing malignant hyperthermia should be brought to an emergency vet immediately for treatment.
9. Marjoram
While the toxic component in marjoram is unknown, we do know that it irritates a dog’s digestive tract and can cause symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.
10. Nutmeg
Around one teaspoon of nutmeg is all it takes to poison a dog! It’s important to keep this spice away from your pup.
However, most baked goods are safe since they contain very small amounts of nutmeg.
Treating Poisoning in Dogs
If you think your dog has eaten something toxic, seek professional help immediately–either by calling a pet poison hotline or a veterinarian. Do not wait for symptoms to present, as many toxins cause organ damage. The earlier your dog receives treatment, the better their chances of a full recovery. Waiting too long can cause irreversible harm or even death.
While many spices need to be consumed in large amounts to cause poisoning, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Another note is to never try to induce vomiting at home, as it can do more harm than good. Let the vet handle your dog’s treatment!
