We all know there are some things that may be human safe but are actually dangerous for our pups. But do you know which spices are dog safe?
When it comes to cooking for ourselves, we often incorporate our favorite spices in order to kick up the flavor of whatever dish we are preparing. May of us have spice racks and cabinets filled with bottles of everything from salt and pepper to cinnamon and rosemary. But do you know which spices are dog friendly?
Whether you make food for your dog at home or tend to let them eat scraps of whatever meal you prepared for the night, it is important to remember what your dog can and cannot ingest. While there are plenty of human safe spices, there are a number that are not actually dog safe. (Although we could go into the intricacies of what separates a spice from a herb, we are going to stick to just revealing which ingredients can be added to food your dog eats, over breaking down that debate.)
However, while there are some spices your dog should avoid, these are actually the ones your dog can have, so as long as you stick to these, your pup will be fine. And considering the holidays are here and our spice cabinets and racks are sure to be getting a workout, we think you may want to know what is safe for our furry friends.
Cinnamon
One spice that is known to be dog safe is cinnamon, although it is recommended that they have the Ceylon variety over the Cassia variety because it is lower in a compound known as coumarin which thins blood, according to Dogster. Much like cinnamon has amazing health benefits when ingested by people, the spice is also good for our dogs.
Among the health benefits that a dog receives from adding a bit of cinnamon to their diets is regulating blood sugar, acting as an anti-inflammatory, and even helping to protect against things like heart disease.
Turmeric
Another spice you may not have thought of when it comes to our pups is turmeric. According to The Dog People by Rover, the reason that turmeric is good for dogs is its ability to speed up weight loss and improve a slow metabolism. It helps not just the metabolism, but also the brain, the heart, and even the joints of our pups, which is especially important if your pup is older and dealing with arthritis.
Coriander
Here is another spice that might not be on your radar in terms of what a dog can eat, but it turns out that coriander is actually quite beneficial for our pup’s health. From helping to get rid of toxins in the body, to preventing parasites from sticking around, coriander is one spice we think is a real health boost for our dogs.
And while you should not give this spice to a pregnant dog as it can induce contractions, it has been said to increase milk flow if necessary. So, this could be a benefit if your female pup is in need of a boost after giving birth.
Ginger
Ginger is one of those spices that we all know has some great properties, but did you know many of the same benefits we enjoy carry over to our dogs? It turns out that ginger really is an all-purpose spice.
Not only does ginger help with an upset stomach and nausea, but it also acts as an anti-inflammatory and even helps with cognitive functions. The latter is especially beneficial for older dogs.
Peppermint
Peppermint is not just a festive holiday flavor, it is also good for one’s health. And while there are some cautions when giving a dog peppermint, there are still some benefits that make this a mostly pup friendly spice.
Although it is recommended that one not give peppermint to dogs with GERD or diabetes, in all other cases, dogs that eat peppermint can see an improvement in health in certain cases. Among the benefits of peppermint are as a treatment for diarrhea, relief of indigestion, reduction in intestinal gas, and even helping calm their stomachs.
While there are other spices that are also dog safe, we think these five deserve the spotlight thanks to the benefits associated with giving them to our pups. And while we did not touch on which spices are unsafe for our dogs, remember not to give them nutmeg, pepper, or onion.