Can dogs eat Mint?
In moderation - a leaf or two of garden mint is safe, but pennyroyal mint is toxic, and mint sweets and chewing gum frequently contain xylitol, which is deadly.
Last reviewed
What happens
Common culinary mints - spearmint and peppermint - are not toxic to dogs, and a leaf or two is harmless. Mint is often added to dog treats for breath, which is where its reputation comes from. Three things put it in the caution column. First, quantity: a lot of mint irritates the digestive system and causes vomiting or diarrhoea. Second, the species: pennyroyal is a mint that is genuinely poisonous to dogs, capable of causing liver damage, and it grows in gardens. Third, and by far the most common problem in practice, is what mint comes in - mint sweets, sugar-free gum and breath products are a leading source of xylitol poisoning, which causes a dangerous crash in blood sugar and can be fatal.
How much is safe?
One or two fresh leaves for a small dog, a few for a large one, occasionally. There is no need to feed mint at all - it is a garnish, not a nutrient.
How to prepare it
Fresh common mint leaves, washed, torn small, occasionally. Never pennyroyal. Never mint sauce, which is vinegar and sugar, and never mints, gum or breath fresheners.
Symptoms to watch for
Too much fresh mint causes vomiting or diarrhoea. Pennyroyal poisoning is more serious and may show as vomiting, lethargy and signs of liver trouble. Xylitol brings weakness, wobbliness, collapse or seizures, sometimes within half an hour.
When to call the vet
Immediately for any sugar-free mint or gum - assume xylitol until proven otherwise. Also if your dog has eaten pennyroyal from the garden.
Can dogs eat these?
Common questions
Does mint freshen a dog's breath?
A little, and it is used in dog treats for that reason. Persistent bad breath is usually dental disease though, and no amount of mint fixes that - it needs a vet and a toothbrush.
Are mints and chewing gum dangerous for dogs?
Yes, and seriously so. Sugar-free mints and gum are among the commonest sources of xylitol poisoning in dogs, which causes a sudden blood-sugar crash. Treat any sugar-free product as an emergency.
Which mint is poisonous to dogs?
Pennyroyal. It looks like ordinary mint and grows in gardens, but it can cause liver damage in dogs. Common spearmint and peppermint are the safe ones.
Sources
Veterinary and animal-welfare references behind this verdict. We are not vets - these are the published sources we read.
- Food Hazards in Animals MSD Veterinary Manual
- People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Looking for a food to feed instead? browse the directory or read the guides.
This is label analysis, not veterinary advice - if your dog has a health condition, talk to your vet before switching foods.