If you’re wondering or worried whether it’s safe for your dog to eat thyme, the short answer to this issue is yes, it’s safe. Your furry friend can eat small portions of thyme.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), thyme is non-toxic to dogs and other pets. Additionally, the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) categorizes this herb as “generally recognized as safe.
Everything in moderation, of course. This post will guide you through the health benefits of thyme and how to incorporate small amounts into your dog’s diet.
What is Thyme?
Thyme is a common spice that many people grow indoors or in their gardens during early summer. It’s also a perennial evergreen herb and a member of the carrot family.
It has different species, including Thymus Vulgaris and Thymus Serpyllum.
This beneficial herb is mostly grown in the Mediterranean region. However, today you can also find this plant in Europe and America. People commonly use thyme to make dishes and boost their health. Many dog owners wonder if it is safe for their pets to have this fresh herb.
These drought-tolerant evergreens have multiple health benefits for these animals.
Keep reading the article to better understand the health benefits and potential dangers that might arise when a dog eats large portions of thyme.
Before filling the dog’s bowl with thyme, it is essential to understand its effects. You should also be informed about the best way to feed your pooch thyme.
Video: Herbs for Pets – Harmful?
The following video was posted by Dr. Jones, DVM. He has an excellent Youtube site highly recommended for all pet owners.
Check it out and hear what he has to say about using various herbs for our dogs:
Potential Dangers
Including too much thyme in dog’s food can affect small dogs and large dogs negatively. The side effects that these small animals might experience include;
Gastrointestinal Distress
Allowing your canine friend to consume thyme in large quantities can lead to indigestion and many cases of dyspepsia and upset stomach due to high fiber. Vets do not recommend concentrated thyme essential oil for dogs because it causes vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures.
To avoid these health issues, ensure that you dilute the herb oil with volatile oils or olive oil before feeding it to the dog.
Additionally, administer it in small doses and follow the guidelines provided by the manufacturer.
Slows Blood Clotting
Another side effect of allowing your dog to feed on large amounts of thyme is that it slows blood clotting. For this reason, the dog might bleed excessively in case of an injury or during surgery. Therefore, you should avoid feeding your pet thyme before it undergoes a surgical procedure.
Spanish Thyme
So far, it is evident that regular thyme is safe for your puppy. However, dog owners should be aware of the Spanish form of this herb because it contains diterpene. This chemical lowers the pooch’s blood pressure.
The plant’s sap also contains other properties like Thymol, methyl eugenol, and carvacrol that irritate the dog’s skin and intestinal tract when consumed.
Allowing the puppy to consume it in large amounts can lead to death.
To know whether your dog has Spanish thyme poisoning, look out for symptoms like difficulty in breathing, vomiting, occasionally bloody diarrhea, and anorexia. Ensure that you rush it to the vet immediately if you see any of these signs.
You should also carry a sample of the plant that you suspect your pup has eaten.
The vet will use it to perform emesis and tests on the content of the dog’s stomach. You can also seek guidance and professional assistance from your local animal poison control center.
The good news is that this thyme is not as common as the standard thyme. This means that the chances of your dog consuming it are low.
How to Safely Feed Thyme to Dogs
Dogs are likely to select meat and avoid plants because they are carnivores. However, you can get your pet to eat this beneficial herb by chopping it finely and putting it in the dog food every few days. You can also use the dried leaves of this herb.
These safe herbs are healthier, tastier, and more nutritious when grown in a person’s garden rather than bought from the store.
Serve it as a small sprinkle to avoid the danger of poisonoing. Ensure that it is pesticide-free before feeding it to your dog.
Serving Suggestions
You can feed thyme to your furry friend in different ways. If sprinkling the chopped thyme in the canine’s food does not motivate it to eat, you can be creative and use the following ideas.
• Make Dog Treats
You can mix and bake fresh or dried thyme leaves, chia seeds, oats, cayenne pepper, and peanut butter to make dog treats. Allow the baked balls to cool down before feeding them to the pooch.
• Use it to Brush the Dog’s Teeth
As mentioned before, thyme helps in managing gingivitis. This property makes it suitable for brushing the canine’s teeth. Use the leaves to wipe the teeth up and down, like you would have done with a toothbrush.
• Make a Smoothie
You can also add the thyme to any type of smoothie. It will be easier for these small animals to consume the beneficial herb.
• Add some oil to the Pet’s Water
Small quantities of thyme oil mixed with water make an excellent Mouth cleaner and breath freshener for the dog.
Health Benefits of Thyme
Consider incorporating thyme’s fresh leaves in your dog’s diet. The easiest and healthiest way to incorporate thyme into your dog’s diet is to have fresh herbs on hand.
Depending on the season, you can buy small pots of herbs from the grocery store or at a local farmer’s market. Supermarket gardening centers are also a good place to look.
If you’re really ambitious, you can also grow it yourself at home. Plant it in big flower pots by the door and pick what you need!
Of course, you can sprinkle ground thyme into your dog’s food, just make sure it’s as fresh as possible.
The other thing you want to remember is not to overdo it. If you’re using ground thyme, you don’t need very much. Try a small amount to see how your dog reacts (do they love it?) and go from there.
The following are some of the top health benefits of thyme for dogs:
Improves the Pup’s Digestive System
Thyme is an exceptional antispasmodic agent. Its carminative properties enable it to treat various digestive conditions, such as indigestion,digestive upset, colitis, digestive system upset, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Treats Urinary Tract Infection
Thyme’s antimicrobial properties make it suitable for treating urinary tract infections in canines. It is also a mild astringent tonic and can facilitate urinary incontinence in these pets.
Protects the Dog against Cellular Damage
Free radicals can damage your pet’s cells. Thyme can prevent this issue by giving the dog different vitamins and minerals. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in these essential nutrients fight the effects of these free radicals.
Suppresses Fungal and Bacterial Growth
Is your dog suffering from a fungal infection? Consider feeding it some fresh thyme or using thyme oil on its skin and watch it regain its healthy and beautiful skin. Parasitic worms are the primary cause of these infections.
Thyme contains an active compound called Thymol whose antibacterial and antiseptic properties kill, expel, and suppress the growth of these viral, fungal, or bacterial pathogens. You should consider consulting your vet to know the best course of action when eliminating these worms. Some vets recommend giving the dogs a deworming medication together with thyme.
Fights Gingivitis
Thyme contains a powerful oral antiseptic called Thymol. It helps the dog’s body fight gingivitis and oral bad breath. Simply apply strong thyme tea or tincture on the pet’s gums or infected site. Using the natural thyme is better than pet-safe toothpaste containing Thymol.
An Excellent Source of Essential Nutrients
Just like human beings, dogs also need nutrients to lead a healthy life and boost their body’s immune system. Thyme is an excellent source of minerals and vitamins that contribute significantly to the dog’s health. You should serve it in normal food amounts.
Vitamins
Thyme provides canines with Vitamin b6, vitamin a, vitamin C, and vitamin K. These nutrients help the pup grow into a healthy adult dog. They also boost its immune system.
Minerals
Your dog requires minerals like calcium to develop healthy bones and strong body parts. It also requires iron and manganese for more blood and healthy body. These fresh herbs are excellent sources of these nutrients.
Improves the Respiratory System
If you have noticed that your pet has a cough or various asthma symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, you should feed it some thyme. Thyme is an excellent asthma reliever in dogs. It can boost the flow of air in the bronchial passages and ease respiratory problems or disorders.
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Summary
In conclusion, it is safe for pups to consume thyme.
This herb fights mouth bacteria, fights viral and bacterial infections, boosts the dog’s immune system, contributes to a healthy digestive tract, and other major health benefits.
However, it can be toxic and dangerous when consumed in large doses.
You can feed your dog some thyme by sprinkling it in its food, adding it in water, or your favourite dog treat recipe when making homemade treats and smoothies.
Ensure that your pet eats this herb in moderation to avoid negative consequences. Before feeding your pup, wash the thyme thoroughly to clear any herbicides and pesticides.
Sources
https://petcareadvisors.com/dogs/can-dogs-eat-thyme-is-it-safe/
https://safefordog.com/can-dogs-eat-thyme/
https://mrdogfood.com/can-dogs-eat-thyme-we-find-out/
https://www.efindanything.com/can-dogs-eat-thyme/
https://petpattern.com/blogs/dogs/can-dogs-eat-thyme