Can Dogs Eat Dill? What You Need To Know

Whether you grow it fresh in your herb garden or use it dried, you need to know, “can dogs eat dill?” Read this guide before you share some with your pet.

Dill weed has a very strong aroma and dogs either hate it or love it. No matter what, you need to read this guide before you let your dog eat food with dill.

For ultimate pet safety, please ask your vet any questions you have regarding your dog eating dill.

What Is Dill

Dill is a feathery green aromatic herb and a member of the parsley family. It’s easy to grow in containers and people love to grow and dry dill leaves to use in their cooking and natural cleaning products.

It’s an annual herb that is known for having antioxidant flavonoids. Also called spring parsley, a small amount of dill goes a long way.

People don’t just cook or season food with it. They also use the fragrant properties in it for aromatherapy.

Can Dogs Have Dill

Yes, it is safe to give your dog dill in small quantities. You could add a tiny bit of fresh dill to your dog’s food, but it isn’t necessary.

Dill is nontoxic, and the dill plant is not poisonous or harmful to dogs.

If you give your dog food that has dill in it, they can get an upset stomach. This isn’t because dill is bad for them, it’s just that the first time they eat a new food it might not agree with them.

How To Give Dill To Dogs

So, how can dog owners give dill leaves to their dogs?

One way is to make a small bit of dill seed tea. Just mix one teaspoon of dill seed with 8 ounces of hot water and then let it cool down. This is a great way to treat bad breath! Not all dogs like it, though, because it has a bitter taste.

If your pup doesn’t like the taste of dill tea, mix in some unsalted bone broth with it.

This is also a safe herb to give your pet if they have gas or stomach upset. Just sprinkle a little bit of fresh dill on top of their food.

You can also make an all-natural flea bath for your dog. Just make a mixture of dried dill, feverfew flowers, and yarrow. Add it to a spray bottle with some water and spray it on your dog after a shampoo and rinse it off.

fresh dill stems and chopped dill in a bowl.

Human Food With Dill

It’s best not to give your dog any food made for humans, and that includes food that contains dill seasoning. You see, it’s not the dill leaves that are the problem. It’s the high levels of carbs, salt, sugar, and other unsafe herbs and spices.

Do not give your dog potato salad or human food made with this fresh herb. The garlic, onion, or salt could make your dog very sick.

Nutrition and Health Benefits of Dill

There are a lot of medicinal properties of dill, which is why so many people like to make dog-safe ways to give it to their pets.

For one thing, it has lots of anti-inflammatory properties, so it’s used to help dogs that have chronic pain or arthritis.

Dill weed is also used to dissolve uric acid buildup in dogs with kidney stones.

The volatile oils in dill create an anti-foaming agent in the stomach, which is how it helps with gas and dogs that eat too much dietary fiber.

Dill also contains the essential nutrients of vitamin A and vitamin B, which are great for preventing heart disease and organ diseases.

Finally, dill is also a fantastic source of antioxidants that prevent the buildup of disease-causing free radicals.

dill seeds in a wooden spoon and fresh dill.

Is Dill Bad For Dogs

No, small amounts of dill won’t hurt your dog. Until you know how your dog will react to it, only give them a very small amount and watch for signs of allergic reactions: itching, sneezing, or coughing.

How much dill should you give your dog depends on their size. Bigger dogs can handle more than small ones can. Even so, it’s best to only give your dog about a teaspoon of dill seeds at a time.

Do not put dill essential oils directly on your dog’s skin. It could cause skin irritations.

Can Dogs Eat Dill Pickles

Even though dogs can safely eat cucumbers, dogs should not eat dill pickles. This is because pickles are often seasoned with garlic, onion, and salt. All three of these spices are unsafe for dogs to eat.

Large amounts of garlic and onion could damage their red blood cells and lead to anemia. Do not give your dog pickles.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, a small bit of dill could be nutritious and safe for your furry friends. It’s always best to give them dog treats instead of letting them have food from your table.

More Dog Food Resources

What other human foods are safe for dogs? Here are some more resources about different herbs dogs can and can’t eat:

Find lots of information about human food dogs can eat (and ones they can’t) here on Spoiled Hounds!

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