Can dogs eat basil? Maybe you’ve found yourself wondering if you could share some basil with your dog while adding it to a classic margarita pizza or chopping some to add to a summer salad. If humans can eat basil, can dogs safely eat it too?
The short answer is yes, dogs can eat basil. On the plus side, basil is not toxic to dogs, and some research suggests that basil can help with certain canine medical conditions.
Just remember that you should really only considered basil as a supplement or small treat for your dog rather than as a main part of any daily meals.
As always, you must ask your regular vet before sharing any human food with your dog. Here’s what you need to know about basil and dogs.
How Is Basil Good For Dogs?
When it comes to health benefits, basil contains decent amounts of the vitamins A and K and is high in antioxidants.
In some cases, basil may prove helpful for dogs suffering from arthritis, memory loss, or anxiety. Basil also possesses anti-inflammatory properties which might be beneficial to your dog.
How Can I Safely Give Basil To My Dog?
Both fresh and dried basil are okay to feed to your dog and are not considered to be toxic to canines. Feel free to sprinkle dried basil on top of your dog’s existing meals just like you’d do with any other dietary supplement.
If your dog shows an appetite for fresh basil, you can feed it to them directly or add it to meals.
Remember that while basil itself is not considered to be poisonous to dogs, other basil-based foods, such as pesto and other sauces, may contain additional ingredients, like garlic or onions, that might harm or upset your dog. So stick to only feeding your dog basil on its own.
When it comes to a safe amount of basil for your dog, remember that basil doesn’t really confer too many nutritional benefits to your dog and is very low in calories, so speak to your vet about precisely how much basil will be an appropriate supplement to start adding to your dog’s meals.
Does your dog love the taste of basil? How do you like to serve it to your dog? Tell us all about it in the comments section below!
