Mint is among one of our favorite flavors for sweet things: teas, ice creams, candies, cakes, you name it. But can our dogs eat mint too? Is having some good or bad for them? We will discuss that in this article, surveying what types of mint are safe for dogs, whether they can eat mint leaves, mint ice cream, peppermint, etc.
Can Dogs Eat Mint?
From raw, fresh leaves to hard candies, the question of can dogs eat mint is often asked.
Is similar to asking, “can humans eat mint?” because the answer it: t varies according to the mint and how it is consumed.
While some mint species are harmless or even helpful to a dog’s health, others are toxic.
Additionally, mint items like candies and gums may have accompanying elements such as sugar and synthetics that are not good for your dog’s stomach.
Peppermint may help calm your dog’s stomach in the same way that it works for us. Spearmint may help mask that distinctive doggie breath and even repel pests.
And wild Mint is packed with antioxidants and minerals that may help preserve and maintain the health of your dog.
Additionally, you may stumble across catmint (which is not a member of the Mentha genus but is a member of the Lamiaceae family) which may have a calming effect on certain dogs.
Can Dogs Have Mint Leaves?
Yes, dogs are permitted to consume fresh mint leaves. Mint is a genus of plants, not a single species.
We humans mostly use peppermint and spearmint kinds, which are both safe for dogs to consume. Wild mint and catmint are also safe for your dog to eat.
However, never give pennyroyal mint to your dog, since it is harmful to canines.
If you are unsure of the kind of mint plant you have grown or if you are unable to identify a mint plant, the safest course of action is to keep your dog away from it to avoid any possible stomach problems.
Can Dogs Have Mint Ice Cream?
No, dogs should not be allowed to consume mint ice cream.
This is mostly due to the fact that mint ice cream includes chocolate chunks, which are harmful to dogs.
Mint ice cream is also flavored with peppermint oil, and as you are probably aware, mint oil is very concentrated and so more likely to make your dog ill.
Not to add that ice cream is created with a high concentration of sugar and dairy.
Excess sugar consumption is unhealthy for dogs, thus sweet delicacies like ice cream should be avoided.
Additionally, since dogs are often lactose intolerant, eating dairy-containing ice cream is a definite way to give them stomach pain and diarrhea. Mint ice cream, in general, is not something you should share with your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Spearmint?
Yes, spearmint leaves are perfectly safe for your dog to eat. It is among the types of mint leaves that dogs can eat once in a while.
If you are considering serving your dog some spearmint leaves to treat his bad breath, then go on, it will truly make his breath smell better!
Now, remember that dogs can’t eat too much mint, so give him only one or two leaves once in a while. More than that will make his stomach hurt.
Can Dogs Eat Mint: Is It Good Or Bad For Them FAQ
Is Mint Leaves Good For Dogs?
While mint in and of itself is not harmful to dogs, mint sweets and other human delights might be since they include sugar, sweeteners, scented oils, and other artificial substances that may irritate a dog’s delicate stomach or be poisonous.
Fresh mint, on the other hand, is not inherently “bad” if provided in moderation and your pup consumes a balanced diet.
Mint is not very healthy, but it is low in the nutrients that you want to avoid in your dog’s diet, such as calories and fat.
Mint contains trace amounts of vitamin A, manganese, and iron.
Vitamin A is excellent for maintaining the health of your dog’s eyes, iron prevents anemia, and manganese aids in the production of enzymes and energy in your pup.
There isn’t much in there, and given that dogs should only consume one or two mint leaves each day, they are unlikely to get any benefits from chomping on this pleasant herb.
The majority of mint species are totally healthy for dogs to consume in tiny doses, including the popular peppermint (the leaf, not the candy!) and spearmint.
However, there is a mint family member called Pennyroyal that is harmful to dogs.
Pennyroyal is sometimes known as Churchwort and is scientifically known as “Mentha pulegium.” Vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness are all symptoms of pennyroyal poisoning.
Is Mint Toxic For Dogs?
Regardless of how harmless the mint is, overuse might result in gastrointestinal problems.
Mint leaves contain plant material, and we would not advocate feeding your faithful friend more than a few leaves each day of any raw plant.
If your dog is swallowing mint through sweets or chocolates, we recommend that you stop immediately.
Chocolate, of course, but even little breath mints and gums may contain artificial sweeteners such as xylitol, which has been shown to be hazardous to dogs.
Additionally, some of these products may include powerful mint oils, which may make your pet unwell.
It is advisable to stick to natural mint products or those designed specifically for dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Peppermints?
No, your dog should not consume peppermints or mint-flavored candy.
While they often contain no toxins, they are most definitely not healthy, considering the massive amounts of sugar packed into those little candies.
As with humans, too much sugar is unhealthy for dogs, and they may develop identical health issues as humans do when they consume an excessive amount of sugary foods.
Dogs who consume an excessive amount of sugar may suffer teeth damage, weight gain, and diabetes.
Given that dogs are significantly smaller than people, they can tolerate much lower levels of sugar before becoming an issue.
Additionally, peppermints are flavored with peppermint oil, which is a very intense flavoring that is more likely to upset a dog’s stomach than fresh mint.
Not to mention that these little, hard candies pose a choking threat to small canines such as Yorkies.
Final Words About Can Dogs Eat Mint
Can dogs eat mint? Yes, they can, although in very small amounts, as larger amounts will end up disturbing your dog’s stomach. Is having some good or bad for them?
It is almost neither, as your dog won’t be able to eat much mint in order to benefit from it.
Now, when it comes to candies with mint taste, avoid giving these to your dog, including peppermints, ice cream, chocolates, etc.
Table of Contents