If you have a dog, then it stands to reason that you will want to feed them as many good and natural products as possible. For those of us who enjoy having healthy and balanced diets, we can spend a lot of time trying out different meals. We can include various foods and spices in our listing that might simply not be part of the usual go-to diet for a dog. One item that you might have on your list would be rosemary. However, it is wise to ask yourself one thing: Can dogs have rosemary?
Rosemary is something that many people will be hesitant to feed their dogs. Like other otherwise healthy and beneficial ingredients, such as garlic, there are clear red flags that should be followed.
Can dogs have rosemary?
The simplest way to put this is ‘somewhat’ – though we appreciate that is not too helpful!
Rosemary is a common herb used in cooking that we tend to use as a natural preservative as well. it is a typically common product to find in dog supplements and foods as a form of preservative. However, reports about the use of rosemary for dogs have been worrying linked to the presence of seizures in dogs. That is something that should naturally concern any dog owner.
However, rosemary CAN be fed to a dog if it is in a dried, fresh, or tea form. It can be given to dogs without too many worries. However, it is important to note that while rosemary is regarded as something that can create a calming and relaxing sensation in the body, rosemary essential oils – in excess- can create the opposite effect.
It can even exasperate issues such as epilepsy. If used in a food or supplement product, it has to be less than one percent of the entire product composition. Always be sure to check this out before you start giving your dog any rosemary.
In terms of giving a dog rosemary in its most basic form, though, you could do so with relative ease. You just need to make sure that it is done in moderate amounts, in small quantities, and that it is not something they eat regularly.
The Benefits of Rosemary – Should Dogs Have Rosemary?
Given rosemary can play a part in killing off microbial infections, can improve digestion, and can even help with heart health, there is no reason to fear this powerful plant.
It can also help your dog to fight off bugs and critters hanging around on their body and annoying them. It could even help your dog to keep a cleaner, shinier, glossy-looking coat. The benefits of rosemary are clear; the challenge is making sure your dog gets rosemary in a quantity that is not going to become too damaging.
It is recommended that you can give your dog around 1/8 of a teaspoon for every 20 pounds of weight that your dog has. You should never, though, use undiluted rosemary oil on your dog. If your dog has any kind of disorder that could lead to seizures, avoid using rosemary entirely. If they are pregnant, too, avoid it.
As ever, speak to your local veterinarian and have them evaluate your dog and provide a basis for how much – or little – rosemary your canine can enjoy.