Discover delicious food your dog deserves
Yes, dogs can eat fresh mint leaves. Mint is actually a family of plants, not just one specific one. We humans mostly use the peppermint and spearmint varieties and both of these are safe for dogs to eat.
However, never feed your dog pennyroyal mint as this is toxic to dogs. If you’re not sure what kind of mint plant you have grown, or can’t identify a mint plant, the safest thing to do is to prevent your pup from eating it to avoid any potential illness.
Your dog shouldn’t eat mint sauce. They probably won’t find it appetising, either. This is because mint sauce contains a lot of vinegar, which dogs don’t like the taste of, and it acts as an irritant. There’s also a surprisingly high amount of sugar and salt in mint sauce, and your dog’s at their healthiest when they eat less of these ingredients.
Finally, some brands of mint sauce use an ingredient called grape must. This is a sort of juice made from crushedgrapes, with the fruit flesh, skin, and seeds all squashed in. As you’re probably well aware, grapes are toxic to dogs. Even with the small amounts of grape found in mint sauce, it’s best to make sure your canine companion doesn’t chomp any.
No, your dog shouldn’t eat peppermints or mint sweets. Although they often do not contain anything toxic, they are certainly not healthy given the shedloads of sugar packed inside those small sweets.
Like humans, too much sugar is bad for dogs, and they can suffer from similar problems as people do when they eat too many sugary treats.
Dogs that eat too much sugar can develop conditions like tooth decay,weight gain, anddiabetes. Given dogs are much smaller than humans, they can tolerate far smaller amounts of sugar before it becomes a problem.
Additionally, peppermints use peppermint oil for flavour, and this highly concentrated flavouring is more likely to upset a dog’s stomach compared to fresh mint. Not to mention, these small, hard sweets can be a choking hazard for little dogs like Yorkies.
Sugar-free mints are no better, as these contain artificial sweeteners which aren’t good for your dog and could even put their life in danger. One sweetener called xylitol, which is often used in chewing gum, is highly toxic to dogs and eating a small amount can cause liver failure and may prove lethal.
Your dog shouldn’t eat polos because the high amount of sugar isn’t good for them, and the mint oils used to flavour the sweet could make your pup unwell. However, polos don’t usually contain anything toxic to dogs, so if they manage to swallow one they will hopefully be fine.
While not a member of the Mentha genus, catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) is a member of the mint family. This plant is safe for dogs as well as cats, according to the Seattle Times. Catmint grows in USDA zones 3 through 8. Another member of the mint family that is not a member of the Mentha genus is the perilla mint (Perilla frutescens). Perilla mint is used in Asian cooking and grows in USDA zones 5 through 10. This plant, while used for its minty flavor, is considered toxic to dogs and livestock, so avoid it in your garden, warns the Colorado Water Garden Society.
Leaves of mint plants (Mentha spp.) are known for their distinctive, pleasant aroma and flavor. Members of the mint family are tenacious perennial herbs that grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10, depending on the species. While many types of mint are safe for dogs to eat and even included in some types of dog treats, others are toxic and should be avoided in a dog-friendly garden.
Wild mint (Mentha arvensis) is a common perennial herb that grows in USDA zones 4 through 9. This herb, along with other types of mint, such as peppermint (Mentha x piperita) and spearmint (Mentha spicata) are some of the most common species grown to flavor foods. Both peppermint and spearmint grow in USDA zones 3 through 9. When growing any member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), take precautions to prevent these invasive plants from spreading throughout your garden, such as planting them in pots. You can bury the pots in soil if you wish, to keep the roots of the plants in check.
Mint species, including wild mint, spearmint and peppermint, are nontoxic to dogs, according to the Continental Kennel Club. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals warns that the only species of mint, in the genus Mentha, that is toxic to dogs is English pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium). This plant, also referred to as European pennyroyal, grows in USDA zones 5 through 9 and is considered moderately invasive, according to the California Invasive Plant Council. English pennyroyal contains the chemical pulegone, which is not only toxic to dogs but also to people. Pulegone can cause liver damage and organ failure if ingested in large amounts, warns the University of California, Davis.
Based in Las Vegas, Susan Paretts has been writing since 1998. She writes about many subjects including pets, finances, crafts, food, home improvement, shopping and going green. Her articles, short stories and reviews have appeared on City National Banks website and on The Noseprint. Paretts holds a Master of Professional Writing from the University of Southern California.
What types of mints can dogs eat?
Peppermint can help sooth your dog’s stomach, much like it does with humans.
Spearmint can help tone down that trademark doggy breath, and can even help repel fleas.
Wild Mint is full of antioxidants and nutrients that can help protect your dog and keep them healthy.
You may also come across catmint — which isn’t part of the Mentha genus, still in the Lamiaceae family — and may have a relaxing effect on some dogs. As a bonus (if the name isn’t a dead giveaway), it’s also safe for cats.