Is Spearmint Safe For Dogs? [2021 Update]

How you doin’ fellas! 

I’m doing great and a new update is brewing in my mind! Today, our encounter is concerned with Mint and Dogs. Someone asking “Is Spearmint safe for dogs?” or “Can Dogs eat peppermint?”, sounds weird, ain’t it? This is how I felt at first, I mean, who on the earth wants to feed mint to their precious puppies until I found that of mine chugging on a fresh mint sprig this morning. So, here I’m to enlighten you with some fresh and minty updates on mints and dogs and answer questions like ‘can dogs eat mint?’ and ‘is spearmint safe for dogs?’! Let us get started!

Also Read: Apple Mint Facts And Information - Health Benefits And Side Effects

About Mint    

The word Mint originates from the Latin word Mentha. In Hindi, it is called Pudina.

Mint is a perennial plant and a member of the Lamiaceae family. It has approximately 24 species that include both hybrids and is originally found. This herb grows mainly in Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, and North America. 

This herb is often considered invasive because of its spreading characteristic. It is an herb that can grow all year round as it can withstand all kinds of weather conditions. The preferable surroundings for mint are part shade and moist environment & soil, ideally next to a pool or river.  

Trivia: If you find the phrase “Mint Leaves” without any qualifier then it is referring to “Spearmint Leaves”.

Uses Of Mint

• Mint can be used as an insecticide due to its properties of killing pests and ants.
• Extensively used in aromatherapy, this herb relieves and relaxes our body and mind.
• There is evidence of mint being used in traditional medicines.
• Mint, either dried or whole is used as a spice in many Indian and Italian recipes.
• Spearmint tea is a good home remedy for PCOS. 
• Due to its menthol-fresh aroma, mint is also used as a room freshener.
• Mint is used in recipes like chutneys and dips to enhance the flavor of our meals.

Benefits Of Mint

• Our minty herb is a nutrient-rich packet. It is packed with a fair amount of antioxidants as well. 
• The aroma of mint is said to have soothing effects on the brain and can also cure a headache.
• Peppermint oil helps in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
• It can help in relieving flu symptoms.
• Mint has anti-inflammatory properties
• A mint bubble gum acts as a breath freshener.

Is Mint Toxic To Dogs?

Okay, so coming back to where we started, that is, our question of “Is Spearmint safe for dogs?”. If you ask me that will I ever feed my dog a meal infused with mint or can dogs have mint, then I’ll say “Surely, they can! But they can not have all the mints.” 

Okay, lemme elaborate. The straight answer to “Is peppermint bad for dogs?” is “No, it isn’t”.

But, peppermint is a species of mint out of its 24 other variants. 

What I want to say is, some species are safe to consume for your dogs, but not all! 

Below I’m going to specify some of the species that are safe for your dog to consume and some that aren’t.

Toxic Mint Species

If you’re going to ask me “is spearmint safe for dogs?”, then you need to be specific about which species of mint is in your mind. If the mint you’re talking about has spiky soft violet flowers, then my friend DO NOT FEED THAT TO YOUR DOG. The mint that you have is Pennyroyal which goes by the scientific name Mentha pulegium. This is that one species of mint that can prove to be hazardous to your dog’s health.

Health Hazards

Some of the common dog health hazards due to ingesting Pennyroyal are

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Liver Damage
• Weakness
• Cardiac Arrest
• Multiple Organ Failure

 Safe Mint Species

Naming some of the safe mint species and coming to the question of “Is peppermint oil harmful to dogs?”, first of all, I’ll clarify one thing. Mint and spearmint are used interchangeably. Now let us hop to the list.

• Peppermint

Peppermint and Peppermint Oil, both are safe for your dog to ingest. In fact, many dog meals have mint as a key ingredient.

• Spearmint

And finally the question “Is spearmint safe for dogs?”. Yes, it absolutely is. Spearmint is one of the safest mint species you can add to your dog’s diet chart. 

• Wild mint and Catmint

Both of these mint species are packed with antioxidants and are absolutely safe for your dog to consume.

Health Benefits

• Good for Digestion
• Reduces Bad Breath
• Improves Health

Recommended Mint Dosage For Dogs

You might think that you’ve got the complete answer to “Is spearmint safe for dogs?”, but, not yet. As you guys know, overuse or misuse of anything is bad, so is in this case.

You should limit your dog to have a maximum of a few leaves per day of mint to avoid plant material overdose that can induce vomiting or diarrhoea.

Bad-Breath Fighter DIY

Now you’re well aware that is spearmint safe for dogs or not, let us look at a cool DIY that can help fight your dog’s bad breath!

Let us gather the ingredients first. Come on, hop onto the list with me!

• Mint Leaves
• Virgin Coconut Oil
• Baking Soda

Here’s your step-by-step procedure!

• Blend your mint leaves into a coarse paste.
• Transfer it into an airtight jar.
• Now add baking soda to it.
• Finally, add virgin coconut oil and shake well.

Your DIY Toothpaste is ready to use!

Spearmint And Human Wellness

Mint is a complete box of nutrients as well as rich in antioxidants. It not only helps in IBS but also fights and reduces ingestion and flu symptoms. It is also believed to improve memory. And not to mention the wonders it does to our oral health. The cherry on top is it is super easy to include mint in our diets in form of salads or dips!

I hope you’re clear about is spearmint safe for dogs. So, my role is done here. Until next time fam, xoxo.