Herbs undeniably play a huge part in keeping us healthy. Intensive research has been done to measure and utilize the healing power of nature. Think of the wonder that chamomile tea does when we find difficulty in falling asleep.

Just like human health, herbs also help in taking care of your furry friend. Herbs improve the health of dogs by strengthening their joints, increasing their eyesight, improving the coat, and aiding general health as they get older.

There are many ways to incorporate herbs into your canine’s diet; simply make teas and tisanes, add in the dog treat, prepare a rinse for the coat, or just pick some fresh herbs from the garden and add them to your dog’s meal.

The Best Herbs For Dogs

Once my Black Labradoodle puppy suffered an acute skin problem and even medication couldn’t work. I tried the tincture of dandelion and cleavers, guess what? I got my healthy fur baby back.

You will find a plethora of safe herbs that will help improve your dog’s health. Here we have mentioned the 7 most beneficial and safe herbs and their accurate usage or recipes. So get started with a healthy lifestyle with this helpful guide:

1. Basil

Basil offers numerous benefits for your dog’s health. Basil is a strong anti-oxidant that destroys cancer cells. Besides cancer-preventing properties, basil helps prevent arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

 If your dog is suffering from mild arthritis, don’t put them on painkillers. Instead, use this herb as a safe alternative. Moreover, if you are to travel with the dogs, use a bit of basil instead of sedatives because this calming agent help prevents nervousness and anxiety.

How to Use: Basil is a powerful superfood and is completely safe to eat for dogs, both in raw and dried form. The best way to add basil to your dog’s diet is to chop the fresh herb and add it to the dog’s protein.

2. Dandelion

Dandelion, an edible part of the sunflower family helps promote digestion in both dogs and humans. It contains probiotics that improve the gut health of your canine. Moreover, your dog’s immune system will boost by just sipping dandelion tea. This helps your pock ward off diseases and infections.

Three parts of the dandelion are known to be more nutritious than others; these are blooms, leaves, and roots. So use this amazing herb to reap the health benefits.

How to Use: You can chop the herb and add it to your dog’s food or go for dry or powdered root. To get the roots, dig out the whole plant carefully to uncover the taproot.

Wash and dry the roots before placing them in the oven at low temperature to roast them. Blend the dry roots afterward and sprinkle in the dog’s food.

3. Sage

Sage is another gift of nature for getting a healthy life for your furry friend. Use this superfood ingredient in your homemade dog food recipes to procure invaluable health benefits.

Sage is a nutrient-dense herb and can be used moderately but it is unwise to use food that is made solely of sage. Sage contains a considerable portion of vitamin K, A, C calcium, and iron. Although it lacks a sufficient amount of proteins and useful fats, using it in a dog’s everyday food is beneficial.

How to Use: To get fruitful results, you must know the accurate usage of this little pack brimming with nutrients. Some pups will not miss the chance to chow down on fresh ones, but if your fur baby is a little picky, sprinkle some chopped sage on homemade food, such as chicken, carrot, and peas.

Alternatively, boil some sage leaves in ½ or ¼ of Epsom salts for topical usage. This mixture has anti- inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cooling properties, so use it if your dog got an allergic reaction to something.

4. Turmeric

This common herb can be easily found in any household but little do we know its amazing health benefits. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and wound healing properties. 

It helps the canine fight diseases like diabetes, cancer, liver problems, arthritis, and gastrointestinal issues. Make this beneficial herb a part of your dog’s diet to avert such diseases.

How to Use: Make ¼ of a teaspoon for small dogs and 1 teaspoon for large dogs. This paste should be mixed with the dog food twice or thrice a week to get the best outcomes.

5. Rosemary

This famous culinary herb is also safe to use for dogs in small quantities. Add rosemary to the dog’s food or water to help improve its digestive system.

The antioxidant property of this herb supports the immune system of canines. You will find this herb in the ingredient list of many dog food products as a preservative because of its antimicrobial properties.

How to Use: Make simple dog biscuits using rosemary to delight the taste buds of your four-legged friend. You can simply sprinkle it on your dog treat to catch its benefits.

6. Goldenseal

Famous in North America, Goldenseal is termed as a “cure for all” herb. It helps improve the functioning of the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, eyes, and mouth. 

How to Use: It can be used as a tea, wash, and tincture for dogs. Do not use it if your dog is lactating or pregnant because it can lead to uterine contractions.

7. Chamomile

This herbal supplement works best as a sedative and muscle relaxant in dogs. It is used for treating gastrointestinal inflammation. For inflamed skin, Chamomile is used as a topical treatment.

How to Use: It is available in capsule, powder, or liquid for internal treatment while in the form of an ointment, cream, or salves as a topical treatment. Simply chamomile tea can also work best for keeping your dog sound and healthy.

Bottom Line: 

Herbs play a major role in making life healthier for you canines. That said, excess use can pose harm to your dog’s health. So it is best in your interest to use moderate quantity. Always speak to your vet before administering such herbs to sick, pregnant, or debilitated pets.

Author: Arslan Hassan is an electrical engineer with a passion for writing, designing, and anything tech-related. His educational background in the technical field has given him the edge to write on many topics.