If you love to cook, rosemary is likely a staple in your kitchen because of its aromatic, strong flavor. From being a fitting seasoning for fish, meats, soups, salads, and more, this herb is a delicious way to enrich the taste of your cuisine. 

If you’re thinking about sharing this herb with your pets, you may be wondering if rosemary is safe for dogs. 

Can dogs eat rosemary? The answer is a simple yes. 

Rosemary is a safe, nutritious, and delicious herb to include in your dog’s diet. 

This guide breaks down the benefits of rosemary, how to include it in your dog's diet, and everything else you need to know. 

Rosemary is not only safe for dogs to eat, but provides a rich amount of vitamins like vitamin B6, minerals like calcium, and other benefits to their diet. Let’s take a closer look below.

Rosemary offers a range of nutritional benefits. 

First, this herb is rich in antioxidants, which are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidants are also excellent for combating oxidative stress. 

Oxidative stress is caused by free radicals, unstable molecules that can cause long-term cell damage and tissue damage when left unaddressed. 

By giving your dog a rich diet in antioxidants, you can help combat this damage and keep them happy and healthy. 

Rosemary also acts as a natural flea repellant. This is due to rosemary’s signature fragrance. Insects, fleas, ticks, mosquitos, and other bugs are naturally repelled by the scent of rosemary. 

How can you take advantage of this benefit? The key is in topical application! Using rosemary essential oil or tincture, you can apply rosemary to your dog’s glossy coat. This helps keep the pests away. Just make sure to always dilute rosemary essential oil into a skin-safe carrier oil. 

Lastly, rosemary also offers antimicrobial benefits. In other words, rosemary can help keep common food bacteria, fungi, and infections away. It’s often used in dog food as a natural preservative. 

When it comes to ingredients in dog food, preparation matters. 

It’s important to avoid adding extras like butter, oil, salt, and seasonings like garlic or onion to dog food. 

When preparing rosemary, keep it simple. You can chop up fresh rosemary from the garden or use dried rosemary. 

There are many ways you can incorporate rosemary into your dog’s diet — you can prepare fresh leaves, dried rosemary, rosemary essential oil, or a steeped rosemary tincture. 

Too much of a good thing can quickly turn into a not-so-good thing. So, keep your portions small. Rosemary is an excellent addition to dog food, but your pup doesn’t need too much of this herb. 

Start out with extra small portions when first introducing rosemary to your dog — just a ¼ teaspoon for every 50 pounds or so. Once you’ve monitored for possible irritation or sensitivity, you can slightly increase the portions. 

Keep it simple and small. You can sprinkle a few bits of fresh or dried rosemary on top of your pup’s food or in their homemade food. You can also opt to use rosemary tinctures. You can administer this orally, apply it to your dog’s coat as a natural bug repellent, or add this to their food — just make sure it’s not rosemary essential oil, which is not usually ingestible. 

Rosemary is safe and beneficial for most dogs. However, there are a few instances when you should avoid this ingredient or take precautions. 

If your dog is pregnant, you shouldn’t give them rosemary. 

Similarly, if your dog has seizures or is at a higher risk for seizures, avoid rosemary and rosemary oil or check with a trusted veterinarian before giving your pup rosemary. 

It’s also important to note that some dogs may have an allergy to rosemary and rosemary extracts. While rosemary isn’t a common dog food allergy, each dog is different. Incorporate this food into your pup’s diet slowly and in very small quantities to monitor behavior before giving them regular portions. 

Rosemary isn’t the only dog-friendly herb to look for. Herbs like parsley, turmeric, and sea salt are each excellent ingredients to look for in dog food. 

Parsley is a rich source of vitamin K, vitamin C, and iron. It’s an excellent leafy green to add flavor and nutrients to your dog’s food. 

While excess sodium in canned dog food is something you want to avoid, a pinch of sea salt is okay for your pup. 

Similarly, turmeric is a natural way to support comfort, pain relief, and overall health. 

There are a range of herbs that are excellent for your pup’s health. Here at Sundays, we know how important it is to find dog food that is packed with ingredients that make a difference in your dog’s health. That’s why we make our food with nourishing ingredients that are gently air-dried and up to human-grade standards.

Our formula is clean, nutritious, and free of the fake stuff. Take a look at our ingredient list here to see what goes into our dog food! 

Your dog deserves the very best. Take a look at our customized dog food plan here to explore healthy dog food options for your furry BFF. 

Sources:

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, L.): A Review | NCBI 

Benefits of Turmeric for Dogs | Veternarians.org