You probably don’t like eating the same tasting food three times per day, every single day, right? Your dog doesn’t either. Increasingly, dog foods are being made with interesting flavors with the addition of spices, herbs and seasonings to bump up the taste and give your dog something to look forward to when it’s food time.
Certain spices and seeds used with modern dog food include ginger, oregano, parsley, golden flax, turmeric, cinnamon and basil as well as other ingredients like lentils, kelp, oats and brown rice flour. Seasonings that are added to some modern dog foods may include bone broth as well as chicken, beef and liver flavorings and even Bacillus coagulans which are probiotics. Increasingly, organic dog foods are available, too.
Many spices and herbs should not be given to dogs so it’s best to check with your vet first if you’re planning on adding them yourself or giving your dog manufactured dog food with certain ingredients they might not be used to and possibly can’t tolerate.
Remember that spices doesn’t necessarily mean spicy, too.
Are Spices Safe For Dogs?
Some chopped spices and herbs that are reduced to powder form are generally digestible for dogs. As mentioned above, some dog foods particularly organic products and batch made dog foods from smaller companies are including spices and herbs that may also include antioxidants as well as reasonable amounts of protein, fat, potassium and fiber among others.
What Are The Healthiest Spices For Dogs?
While you can increasingly select manufactured dog foods that were already prepared with spices, herbs and other ingredients that add both taste and nutrition, here are some that are included in newer, modern, healthy dog foods:
Basil: Chopped basil adds antioxidants and has antiviral and antimicrobial properties.
Cinnamon: Can help to regulate blood pressure especially for older dogs.
Coriander: AKA Cilantro, can help your dog if they experience gas, nausea or indigestion.
Golden flax: Flax contains both Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids that helps to keep your dog’s coat shiny and skin healthy.
Ginger: Has anti-inflammatory properties and can also help with gas and prevention of bloating.
Mint: Mint of course is a great breath freshener for humans and offers the same benefit for dogs.
Oregano: Has anti-fungal properties and is also high in fiber.
Parsley: Is high in antioxidants and folic acid. It’s also a natural breath freshener.
Peppermint: Small doses can assist with nausea and upset stomach symptoms.
Rosemary: Another ingredient that is high in antioxidants. Being an aromatic and pungent herb, it adds taste to foods, too.
Sage: Has a number of trace minerals but also has Vitamins A, E, and K and adds a herbal flavor to foods.
Thyme: Helps to promote good digestive tract health, assists with parasite expulsion, is rich in vitamins and adds an earthy, floral taste to foods without being overpowering.
Turmeric: Good in small doses, sometimes found in commercially manufactured dog foods. Will add taste and offers antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal benefits.
Other ingredients to consider: While not spices or herbs, lentils, kelp, oats, hempseed, pasta, brown rice flour and other ingredients are added to fresh dog foods to balance out taste and nutrition. Many newer freshly made dog food products come prepared with these and other tasty, healthy ingredients.
Summary
Check with your vet first to be safe if you’re unsure of which spices and herbs you can add to your dog’s food. This is especially true if your dog is on any medication that might possibly interact with a spice or herb.
There are certain ingredients like onions, nutmeg, pepper and salt that are not suitable for dogs and should be avoided so before you experiment, it’s best to check with your vet. Garlic is a controversial one too so I’d check with your vet first before adding it to your dog’s diet.
Some dog breeds and your dog specifically might tolerate spices differently and have a taste that is different from other dogs just like we humans do. The size, breed and age of your dog may also determine which spices and the dosage that they should be given.