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Digital Editor: Melody McKinnon 16

Gardening season has arrived!  It’s time to plan and plant our herbal gardens and we can include some premium supplements for pets.  Dogs, cats, horses, farm animals, ferrets, rabbits, small rodents, reptiles and fish can all benefit from suitable fresh herbs for nutrition, immunity, and healing.  Nothing could be more natural – animals have instinctively sought out herbs since the beginning of time.

Today’s efficient drying methods preserve a lot of the nutrients and active components in herbs but just as it is with vegetables, fresh is always best.  Fresh herbs can be sprinkled into homemade pet food and treat recipes, fed whole, or be steeped in water for herbal tea.

Fresh herbs offer the same benefits as fresh vegetables:

  • They’re packed with optimum nutrition
  • They’re bursting with flavor
  • We can grow them organically
  • It’s less expensive to grow and dry your own herbs
  • Herb growing is an enjoyable hobby that benefits your whole family, including your pets.

5 Easy Herbs to Grow for your Pet

Keep in mind that not all herbs are suitable for all pets, so some research may be in order depending on how sensitive the species is.  Consultation with a veterinarian before making dietary changes is always advisable, especially if your pet is taking medications or is pregnant/nursing.

We’ll get you started with five common herbs for pets that are easy to grow:

  • Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – Antibacterial, astringent, analgesic, and antispasmodic.  Lavender supports the nervous system, joints, respiratory tract, and skin.
  • Peppermint (Mentha piperita) – Expels internal parasites, flatulence, intestinal colic, nausea, astringent, antiseptic, moderates nerve transmission.
  • Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) – Expels gas, stimulant, antispasmodic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, insect repellent.  Rosemary supports the circulatory system, digestive system, nervous system, respiratory tract and skin. It’s often used as a natural preservative.
  • Sage (Salvia officinalis) – Antiseptic, astringent, antispasmodic and expels gas. Supports the mouth & gums, skin, and digestive tract.
  • Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) – Antimicrobial, expels gas, antispasmodic, expectorant, astringent, expels internal parasites.

??? Do you share fresh herbs with your pets?  We’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

Sources:
Tilford, Gregory. Wulff, Mary. Herbs for Pets: The Natural Way to Enhance Your Pet’s Life. 2009.

✔ You may also be interested in reading:
7 Stunning Super-Herbs to Grow for Pets (with Infographic)
Wild Vegetable and Herb Foraging for Pets
Growing Herbs and Nutraceuticals Indoors for Pets

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16 thoughts on “5 Easy Herbs to Grow for your Pet”

  2. I kinda went overboard and now I’m giving away a lot of herbs BOL. I’m enjoying myself though, even the drying process is relaxing.

  3. I can’t believe how fast these herbs grow, we’ve harvested many times already this summer.

  4. My little herb garden is doing great and I can’t wait to use some of them in pet treat recipes!

  5. Thank you for posting such useful & original information. I’m an avid gardener & you jut gave me another excuse to spend another hour outside. 🙂

  6. It’s encouraging to see how many people have taken an interest in herbs and other natural supplements for pets. Thanks for sharing your experiences!

  8. I’m also just learning so this is a great find. I am over cautious but it only takes one bad reaction to find regret.

  9. I plant herbs in our field for the horses & cows and let them naturalize. They’re really good for them but if I don’t keep pulling out the sage I start to taste it in the milk.

  10. I’ve been keeping a list of herbs that are safe for pets & it’s getting quite long! I have seen such a difference in our health since we started using fresh herbs, they can add much goodness to practically any dish.

  11. I’ve picked up some of these herbs and will plant them all when I find them. I’m lookin forward to reading more about herbs for pets, thank you.

  13. I LOVE lavender! I have it growing everywhere and I’m happy to find another use for it.

  14. I have thyme growing wild on our property that I sometimes harvest for dishes. Now I’ll try some in my dog’s food. Thanks for the suggestions.

  16. I love herbs and often wonder what is safe for pets, how much etc. I think I’ll check out that book you referenced. In the meantime, thanks for the suggestions, I already grow lavender & thyme so I’m ahead of the game.

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