If you’ve ever had a dog, you must be well aware of the fact that dogs love food. Not just food, but these little fur buddies try and eat grapes, nugget and almost everything they can fit in their tiny mouths.
As a dog owner, you may find yourself asking questions like: can dogs eat peppermint? Or: is peppermint bad for dogs? Well lucky for you, because you’re going to find out!
Below you’ll be reading some mind-blowing facts about how peppermints affect your dog in certainly more than one way, along with an elaborate explanation regarding the question: can dogs have peppermint candy?
Table of Contents
Is Peppermint Safe For Your Pet Dog?
When you have a pet dog, your life is so full of new experiences. From playing with your dog to asking questions like: can dogs eat peppermint? Dog owners like to explore their options to ensure that their little furry friend is having lots of fun.
Before we get into it, it is important to remember along the way that just because you can eat something safely, doesn’t mean it’s good for your pet dog. And it is an absolute must to always check in with your vet before feeding yourself something new for the first time.
This means that peppermint comes in all sorts of preparations, like oil, candy, or even the leaf itself. And it is important to understand that not all of these are safe for your pet canine. In fact, peppermints are given to dogs as a treatment for different medical purposes, such as flea protection, upset stomach, skin issues, etc.
So the next time someone asks you: can dogs have peppermint? Do tell them that the answer is yes but only if the dog’s owner is being smart and careful about it.
Is Peppermint Beneficial For Your Pet Dog?
If you take a look at the biography of a peppermint leaf, you’ll find out that the peppermint leaf itself contains essential nutrients like iron, and flavonoids, along with some vitamins as well. These essential nutrients are said to have several antioxidants, anti-bacterial, and anti-allergic properties.
However, when it comes to the question: can dogs eat peppermint candy? There’s more to the discussion.
Because the amount of nutrients present in the peppermint leaf is in very small proportions. And it hasn’t been confirmed whether dogs can absorb those nutrients from the leaf or not.
Is Peppermint Harmful For Your Pet Dog?
The whole discussion flips when it comes to the question: is peppermint bad for dogs? Because the answer is YES.
How? You may think. You may also be a little confused since it’s already been mentioned above that peppermint is safe for our canine friends. Well, the answer is a little more complicated than that.
Even though there are several benefits of peppermints, there are way more risks involved.
As you may already know, peppermints contain different chemical mixtures that result in a strong smell and a cool sensation. Even though humans aren’t affected by this chemical exposure, canines are.
Your pet dog may be more sensitive towards such chemical exposure if it is a puppy, an old dog, or if it is suffering through a concerning medical condition. So, the next time, if someone asks you: can dogs have peppermint, make sure to serve them a big fat NO.
Also read:
- What Can Dogs Drink Besides Water? 6 Water Substitutes
- Are Chicken Nugget Dog Treats Safe for Your Dog?
Why Is Peppermint Toxic For Your Pet Dog?
As mentioned above, peppermints are presented in different preparations. And some of these preparations might be harmful to your sweet little fur buddy.
Following is a list of some examples of different preparations of peppermint that can damage your dog’s long-term health.
Can Dogs Have Peppermint Candy?
When it comes to peppermint candies, who doesn’t love them, right? But unfortunately, your little furry friend can’t have any peppermint candies.
Why? Because peppermint candies contain a huge amount of peppermint oil. The huge amount of peppermint oil is very concentrated and can result in extreme diarrhea or vomiting.
Although there are some peppermint candies that only contain the extract, which is not as concentrated as peppermint oil, which is a little less but equally harmful.
And needless to say, candies have huge amounts of sugar as well, which can lead your dog to medical complications like obesity, or even diabetes. Make sure to tell this to the next person who asks: can dogs eat peppermint?
Peppermint Oil
As mentioned above, highly concentrated food is not good for your pet dog. Even the regular oil is not good for your little buddy, let alone peppermint oil.
If your pet dog consumes even a small amount of peppermint oil, it can lead to severe mouth and stomach irritation, which can later result in damaging their liver, or in some cases, even death.
Your canine friend can smell 10,000 times better than you, due to which your pup may experience breathing issues, or irritation in their eyes after smelling peppermint oil.
These facts should thoroughly clear all your doubts about the question: is peppermint bad for dogs?
Medicines/Cosmetics
Peppermint can be used as a scent, flavor, or even additive in some medicines and cosmetics.
Many cosmetics contain peppermint oil, or scent, that in no way is healthy for your dog.
Medicines and ointments that contain any form of peppermint can result in serious skin conditions in your pet dog. Other herbal remedies that contain peppermint should also be avoided for prominent reasons.
In conclusion, the answer to the main question: can dogs eat peppermint? Is a big NO. Consumption of peppermint in canines should be strictly avoided under any circumstances.
Ending Note
One thing all dog lovers can agree on is that a dog’s health shouldn’t be taken for granted. Dogs are innocent souls who deserve all the happiness in the world.
If you own a dog, it’s your responsibility to take good care of that little fella and make sure that it doesn’t get hurt due to its own, or someone else’s negligence.
Always consult your vet before making any major changes in your pet dog’s lifestyle, and diet. And keep your little buddy away from toxic food like chocolate or peppermint.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can Peppermint Oil Kill Ticks And Fleas In My Pet Dog?
A: It is not confirmed how effectively peppermint oil works on ticks and fleas but it is advised that it’s best to avoid using peppermint oil, or any other peppermint product on your pet dog’s skin since it can result in several skin reactions or breathing problems.
Q: Can Peppermint Help My Pet Dog’s Upset Stomach?
A: There are no cases that back up the statement: peppermint helps a dog’s upset stomach. Although, if your pet dog has an upset stomach, you might consider taking a trip to the vet instead of experimenting with some home remedies and making the situation much worse.
Q: Can My Pet Dog Eat Peppermint Leaves?
A: A small number of peppermint leaves a day, once in a few days won’t harm your pet dog. But eating peppermint leaves more often can cause your dog to vomit, or have diarrhea.