Don’t you love enhancing your soup, eggs, or curry flavors by sprinkling sage leaves? It gives food dishes an earthly, minty, and lime flavor and can make a bland dish standout. Plus, sage is loaded with vitamins A, C, and K and acts as antioxidants. But when you have a furry companion at home, you might want to know if sage is safe for dogs.
Many commonly used herbs in human food are toxic to dogs; however, some are not only safe but also provide health benefits to dogs. So, can dogs eat sage?
Let’s find out!
Can dogs eat sage?
Yes, dogs can safely eat sage. Sage is a healthy herb as it contains numerous vitamins and minerals that should be an essential aspect of a dog’s diet. Also, sage is antimicrobial and helps in treating stomach-related issues. So, add a small amount of sage to your furry friend’s food and let it reap the benefits of a healthy herb.
While sage is not a harmful herb, feeding your four-legged friend food consisting solely of sage is not a wise idea. Aside from minerals and vitamins present in sage leaves, dogs also need protein, carbohydrates, and fats, which sage leaves do not contain. Thus, sage on its own cannot be a complete meal.
Now you know sage is safe for dogs and is beneficial to them. Let’s dive into the health benefits of sage for dogs!
What are the benefits of feeding sage to dogs?
Sage contains several vitamins, including A, C, and K, and is loaded with several minerals. It strengthens dogs’ immunity and provides balanced nutrition to them. Besides, it acts as an astringent, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory.
Below are the health benefits of sage:
It improves digestion
Sage is fibrous. If fed in an appropriate quantity, it helps in improving the gastrointestinal tract and relieves dogs from constipation or diarrhea. Also, it has antimicrobial characteristics which treat minor stomach infections.
Sage enhances dogs’ memory
Sage leaves help to alleviate dogs’ moods and boost their memory. If you feel your dog is acting a little abnormally, try adding sage into its diet, it may help calm your furry friend’s nerves.
It relieves pain and inflammation
Arthritis is a common health issue in dogs. Sage contains anti-inflammatory properties. So, it reduces inflammation, eases dogs’ pain, and helps them with arthritis.
Sage fights free radicals
Sage act as an antioxidant. Thus, it prevents cell oxidation and puts up an intense fight against free radicals.
Sage enhances cognitive ability
Sage plant oil contains ketones. The fatty acid clarifies dogs’ minds and prevents a decline in their cognitive abilities. Besides, it minimizes neurodegeneration.
It heals allergies and infections
Since sage contains astringent characteristics, it also helps with skin redness and heals infections. Plus, it also kills toxic pathogens that could lead to allergies.
It supports bone, skin, and eye health
Sage is a rich source of vitamins like A, C, and K, essential to maintaining dogs’ optimum health. The vitamins boost eye, bone, and skin health and build robust immunity.
How do I give sage to my dog?
Use it fresh, dried, or add sage leaves while baking dogs’ treats. Make a paste of sage leaves with Epsom saltwater and use it to heal dogs’ infections. However, you must understand that even though it is a safe herb for dogs, overeating can result in some health issues in dogs.
Remember that introducing a new food item to your pup is tricky. Your dog’s body is not accustomed to the new food item; thus, it may show a bad reaction.
How much sage can I give my dog?
It is recommended that initially, you give less than the suggested quantity and see how your canine friend responds. Similarly, do not add more than one or two leaves while introducing sage. Gradually you can increase its amount to the recommended, which is only a few leaves. Limit sage intake in your pup to only a few leaves a day and let it reap the herb’s health benefits.
What happens if my dog overeats sage?
Overeating sage can lead to many stomach-related issues in dogs. Your pup might throw up, suffer from nausea or diarrhea, and feel lethargic.
Sage provides numerous health advantages to dogs. Still, if you let your dear animal go overboard with it or add too much of it to dogs’ food, it may fall sick.
Add sage to your pup’s food in moderate quantities. Moreover, if your beloved animal is not well, avoid incorporating sage into its diet. Let its condition get stabled, and then you can feed your fur baby the beneficial herb.
Can dogs eat Russian sage?
Yes, dogs can eat Russian sage. Although it is not considered poisonous, you must not feed Russian sage abundantly to your pup.
Russian sage appears attractive, and if you have planted it, your dog may like to attack it and taste its leaves. While it may not cause any severe issues, you still need to watch your pup as an excess of it can lead to an upset stomach.
Related FAQs to whether dogs can eat sage
Can dogs eat oregano?
Yes, dogs can eat oregano. It is anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial. You can add fresh, grounded, or dried oregano to your dog’s food. Beware! Let your dog consume oregano in moderation.
Can dogs eat basil?
Yes, basil is safe for dogs. In fact, this herb is highly beneficial for them, provided they do not consume them abundantly. Basil has antioxidants that fight free radicals and prevent many illnesses. Also, it calms anxious dogs, relieves their arthritis pain, and prevents cellular damage.
Can dogs eat thyme?
Yes, a teaspoon of thyme per pound of a dog is healthy. The herb is packed with vitamins A, C, and K and contains magnesium and iron. Plus, thyme is fibrous and improves dogs’ digestive systems.
Can dogs eat rosemary?
Yes, dogs can be fed rosemary. It contains fibers and antioxidants. Rosemary prevents cancer and cellular damage in dogs. Also, it is a rich source of minerals and vitamins and has antimicrobial characteristics.
What other herbs are safe for dogs to eat?
- Anise seeds
- Parsley
- Mint
- Cilantro
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Dil
- Basil
What herbs can dogs not eat?
- Chamomile
- Rhubarb
- Aloe Vera
- Spanish thyme
Concluding our views on whether sage is a safe choice for dogs!
Sage is a common herb, and some people cannot eat their soup, curry, or rice unless they garnish their food with sage. But when they have dogs at home, they wonder if incorporating sage into the dog’s diet is a good idea. The good news is sage is not toxic to dogs. So, garnish your canine friend’s food with sage or add them to your dog’s chicken. Your pup can safely eat this herb.
