Can Dogs Eat Parsley? The Benefits of This Nutritious Herb
Parsley is a delicious seasoning to add to meals, but is this herb safe for your dog? This guide takes a look at what you need to know.
When you think of dog food, you may not think of herbs and leaves like fresh parsley, rosemary, thyme, and turmeric. However, some herbs offer health benefits for your pup and can make an excellent addition to their diet.
If parsley is a staple ingredient in your kitchen, you may be wondering if you can add parsley to your dog’s food, too.
Can dogs eat parsley? Yes! Parsley is safe and contains a range of benefits for dogs as long as you avoid giving it to your pup in excessive amounts.
This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about feeding your dog parsley, how to prepare it, and the benefits of this nutritious herb.
Benefits of Parsley
Parsley is a superfood found in the Mediterranean region and used in a variety of cuisines. From being a staple in salsa, a garnish for soups, and a decoration for uppity meals, parsley is an excellent herb to include in your and your dog’s diet.
But the benefits don’t stop there. Fresh parsley leaves offer a range of nutritional benefits that are excellent for your pup.
Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of adding spring parsley to your dog’s diet.
Breath Freshening
Parsley has antimicrobial properties and can act as a natural breath freshener, which is a benefit for both you and your dog!
Vitamins K, A, C, and More!
It contains Vitamin K, which is essential for your dog’s blood’s ability to clot.
Parsley also contains Vitamin A, which helps support vision, growth, immune system function, cellular function, and fetal development in dogs.
Vitamin C is essential for immune system health, healthy blood, and antioxidant behavior in dogs, too.
Adding parsley to your dog’s diet is a great way to help add some of the vitamins their bodies need to thrive.
Antioxidant Properties
Parsley has large amounts of antioxidants. Antioxidants are critical for combatting free radicals and oxidative stress. Free radicals are little out-of-control molecules that can damage cells, tissues, organs, and more if left free to wreak havoc.
By feeding your dog a rich diet of antioxidants, you can help restore the balance in your dog’s body, prevent oxidative stress, and keep your dog healthy.
You can also find antioxidants in many whole fruits and other leafy greens.
Digestive Support
This benefit may come as a surprise, but parsley can also help support your dog’s digestive health and liver health.
If your dog has a sensitive stomach, gastrointestinal discomfort, or digestive problems, consider adding a pinch of parsley to their diet. This can help soothe the stomach in a gentle, safe way by supporting healthy digestion.
Gentle Diuretic Effects
Parsley functions as a diuretic. This means parsley works to increase urine output, helping to prevent urinary tract infections and any build-up of minerals and toxins.
In turn, this helps flush toxins from the body and support renal function and kidney health.
How To Feed Your Dog Parsley
When adding any new food to your dog’s diet, it’s important to know how to prepare it.
As always, be careful to avoid any extra seasonings, butter, or oils. Parsley is full of flavor on its own, so you won’t need to add any other ingredients.
When incorporating parsley into your dog’s diet, you can add it in several different ways.
- - First, you can simply add a small amount to your homemade dog food, paying attention to serving sizes. Fresh or dried parsley is excellent. You can also add parsley into homemade dog treats.
- - You can also sprinkle a small amount of parsley on top of your dog’s kibble. This adds a wonderful flavor and fragrance to your dog’s food.
- - If your dog won’t eat parsley by itself on top of food, you can mix it with water in a blender or juicer and make a paste. Add the substance to your dog’s food and mix it together well.
It’s important to start adding parsley to your dog’s food gradually. This will help your dog acclimate to a new ingredient and give you an opportunity to monitor for any reactions or signs of harm or toxicity. Start with small portions and slowly increase from there.
Figuring out which ingredients are safe for your pup and which aren’t can be confusing. Our resources make it easy to get an idea of what you can give your dog and what to avoid!
Parsley in Pre-Made Dog Food
If you’re considering feeding your dog premade dog food with parsley already in it, here are a few things to look for.
First, take a look at the ingredient list. It’s important to avoid giving your dog any food with artificial, synthetic, or heavily processed ingredients. It’s also important to avoid filler ingredients like corn, soy, and wheat. These have little nutritional value and make your dog feel full with fewer nutrients.
It’s also important to look at how the food was processed. Many dog food options are processed with high temperatures that are designed to kill bacteria but end up killing nutrients in the process. Instead, look for minimally processed dog food and gentle air-drying techniques.
Lastly, look for pre-made dog food with a balance of ingredients. Many dog foods will be labeled as “meat-only” or “grain-meals,” but the problem with these meals is that your pup needs a range of nutrients.
Meat and whole grains like quinoa are beneficial for your dog, but in a balanced variety.
At Sundays, we include quinoa, USDA grade beef, whole fruits, whole vegetables, and herbs like parsley to support your dog’s health.
Our human-grade, air-dried dog food is an excellent option for any pup. With nutrition packed into every bite, you can help your dog thrive!
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