When you look for ways to provide enrichment for dogs, you’ll find all kinds of puzzles, toys, treats, and games. As a certified Canine Enrichment Specialist with over a decade of experience in dog nutrition and enrichment, I love to see pet parents getting curious about enrichment!
Before you buy all the fun enrichment toys, you need to start by making sure your dog is healthy and has nutritious food.
Here’s an analogy I like to share with my canine enrichment followers:
You can decorate your house all you want… add fun wallpaper to look at, add nice-smelling candles, and stock your kitchen with tasty treats. But if the foundation is unsteady and you have holes in your walls, it will never be a thriving house.
The same goes for enrichment for dogs! It has to start with a healthy foundation.
That’s why I’m excited to share with you 5 healthy herbs for dogs that you can add to their bowls. These herbs all have beneficial qualities that will enhance – AKA enrich! – your dog’s life.
While there are a lot of herbs that are dog safe, I want to focus on the 5 in the post because they were featured in one of the presentations during REAL Talks by BlogPaws – a TED Talk-style event that I attended in person alongside lots of pet industry experts!
A Certified Canine Enrichment Specialist’s Guide to Healthy Herbs: How I Researched This
When I write a blog post, I love to find data and research to support what I share. I know from my friend Hannah of Daily Dog Food Recipes who I saw speak at REAL Talks, that these herbs have a Traditional Chinese Medicine history.
While Traditional Chinese Medicine provides valuable insights about herbs, I always believe in verifying information through multiple sources. That’s why I looked up both scientific research and trusted experts in veterinary nutrition to bring you the most reliable information possible for this post.
And I’m glad I did because I found the coolest term in my research! This study explains how cinnamon can be used as a “sensory additive” for animals. Sensory additive is a scientific way of saying flavoring.
So this study showed that cinnamon is a safe herb to add to animal feed to enhance the flavor and give the animals a unique sensory experience.
This got me excited because it shows how the herbs Hannah talked about aren’t just healthy, but they’re great food and scent enrichment for your dogs.
When your dog can smell and taste these unique additions to their meals, it makes their day more special. And that’s what dog enrichment is all about! Adding something to your dog’s day to make it better.
Herbs Recommended by a Canine Nutritionist
Hannah Zulueta has been a dog friend of mine for over 10 years. We both started blogs and Instagram accounts around the same time.
Over the past decade, it’s been so cool to see Hannah become a certified Canine Nutritionist and become so knowledgeable about Traditional Chinese Medicine and herbs.
I’m been adding herbs like parley and mint to homemade dog treats for over a decade. I know that parsley and mint can be great to freshen your dog’s breath. But during her REAL Talk, Hannah explained that there are even more benefits to these herbs… and a few more!
As soon as I got home from the REAL Talks event, I pulled some parsley and basil out of my garden and added a little bit to my dogs’ dinner bowls. In the winter when my garden isn’t growing, I’ve been reaching for cinnamon from my spice rack as a healthy herb to sprinkle on my dog’s food.
I love how this easy and affordable addition can make my dog’s mealtime more enriching and healthier!
5 Enriching Herbs That Are Safe for Dogs
Here’s the description of the talk from Hannah Zulueta of Daily Dog Food Recipes:
“Join expert herbalist and canine nutritionist as she reveals the untapped healing potential hiding in your kitchen. Discover how common herbs like basil, mint, and cinnamon —treasured by ancient cultures— can transform your dog’s wellbeing.”
While there are a lot of herbs that can be beneficial to our dogs, Hannah narrowed it down to these five for her talk. So I think that’s a good place for all of us to start!
I love how she described sharing these beneficial herbs from her own kitchen with her dogs as an act of love. Preparing food is an act of love. And since canine enrichment is all about deepening the bond your share with your dog, adding herbs to their meals is a great way to do that!
As a certified canine enrichment specialist, I love when I get to be creative and recommend these types of things to pet parents!
Enrichment can be fun, easy and affordable! Get started with food and scent enrichment with these 5 herbs you probably already have in your kitchen!
1. Basil: Natual Anti-Inflammation and Immunity
Hannah started her REAL Talk with a story about making pasta for dinner. As she reached for the basil, she realized basil isn’t just an aromatic—it fights inflammation and boosts immunity.
Basil Benefits:
- Fights inflammation naturally
- Boosts immune system function
- Provides gentle scent enrichment
- Safe for daily use
How you can add basil to your dog’s meals:
If you grow fresh basil, that’s the easiest and cheapest way to add it to your dog’s meals! Every spring I buy a basil plant at the grocery story and plant it outdoors in a pot. It grows all summer and I have fresh herbs that I can use every day.
Since learning about the benefits of basil from Hannah, I started sharing a leaf with my dogs Burt and Lucy. They’re both senior labradors, so anything that fights inflammation and supports their immunity is something I want to offer them!
You can rip up 1 basil leaf and add it to your dog’s bowl. If basil, or any fresh ingredients, are new to them, you can mix it into their food or add some bone broth to make it more enticing.
Don’t be surprised if your dog pauses to sniff their bowl the first few times you add this. Encouraging then to sniff and use their nose is great enrichment!
Pro Tip: When introducing basil, try rubbing a leaf between your fingers first to release the aroma. This creates an exciting sensory experience for your dog before they even taste it!
2. Mint: For Eye, Skin and Respiratory Health
I’ve been using mint for over 12 years as an ingredient in healthy homemade dog treats. I know that it’s great for fresh breath.
But thanks to Hannah, I also learned that I can share fresh mint with my dogs when:
- They have a belly ache
- When the air quality is bad, to help their eyes
- When they have a raspy throat
Mint Benefits:
- Soothes upset tummies
- Helps with respiratory comfort
- Natural breath freshener
- Supports eye health
- Great for scent enrichment activities
How to feed mint to your dog:
Mint grows like a weed and it will take over your garden! So if you grow mint to share with your dog, always grow it in a pot or container. YOu can find a lot of varieties at a garden center. I usually grow regular spearmint and share a small fresh picked leaf with my dogs.
You can add fresh mint to your dog’s food bowl and you can also use it as an ingredient in homemade treats.
Mint has a wonderfully aromatic smell, so this is great scent enrichment for your dog! Even letting them sniff the plant growing outside with all have enrichment benefits for your dog.
Safety note: I do not recommend sharing mint essential oils with your dog because they can be very potent. And I do not recommend adding mint or any other herbs to your dog’s water. Another canine nutritionist friend of mine, Johanna Devereaux, told me 5 years ago to never mess with your dog’s water!
3. Cinnamon: A Warming Spice for Senior Dogs
“Did you know that once upon a time, cinnamon was more valuable that gold?” Cinnamon has been traded since 2000 B.C.
These days, it’s not as difficult to get your paws on! And it’s a wonderful ingredient from your spice rack that you can share with your dogs.
Since Hannah and I have known each other for over 10 years and got dogs around the same time, we both have senior dogs now. Since cinnamon is a warming herb, it’s a great ingredient for senior dogs who might be feeling a little “old and cold”. If your dog is starting to get arthritis, the warming properties of cinnamon can help them.
Studies like this one done in Europe have shown that cinnamon is a safe ingredient to add to pet food. The study supports cinnamon as a sensory additive to make meals more interesting and enriching through scent and taste.
Cinnamon Benefits:
- Beneficial for senior dogs
- Provides warming comfort
- Makes meals more engaging
- Safe sensory enrichment
- Supports joint health
How to share cinnamon with your dog:
I sprinkle a little bit on my dog’s dinner. All you need is a little pinch! I buy ground cinnamon at Trader Joes. You can also buy he cinnmon sticks a fresh grate a little bit on your dog’s food.
Cinnamon is also a common ingredient in homemade dog treats.
4. Parsley: Supports Gut Health and More
I’ve been using parsley in homemade dog treats fo over a decade. Like mint, it s a good one to freshen breath. But did you know that parsley is a superfood? And that it’s beneficial to the gut microbiome?
This green leafy herb is a nutrient dense powerhouse. And you only need a little bit of it to get the benefits.
Parsley is easy to grow in your garden and available at any supermarket. It doesn’t matter which kind you get – flat leaf or curley – you and your dog can still benefit from this powerhouse herb! It’s been proven to be safe to add to food for horses and domestic animals, up to 50mg per kilogram of food! That’s A LOT! You only need to add a pinch to get the benefits.
According to this article from Medical News Today, parsley can fight cancer, protect against diabetes and improve bone health. So it’s much more than just a garnish!
What does my canine nutritionist and herbalist friend Hannah have to say about parsley? She loves it for the microbiome benefits. Parsley promotes the growth of beneficial intestinal flora.
Parsley Benefits:
- Supports healthy digestion
- Freshens breath naturally
- Packed with nutrients
- Helps beneficial gut bacteria
- Easy to grow at home
How to use parsley as enrichment for your dog:
You can rip up a couple of leaves and add them to your dog’s bowl. That’s what I usually do! And just like with mint, letting your dog sniff the parsley plant in your garden is great scent enrichment, too!
I also add herbs like parsley to my dog’s food stuffed enrichment toys like the West Paw Toppl.
Here’s a dog treat recipe I made that includes parsley if you want to make some tasty treats!
5. Cilantro: Gentle Detox Helper
Last but not least is an herb that you either love or hate! Some people think cilantro tastes like soap, while others love it! Does cilantro have the same effect on dogs? We don’t know the answer to that! But you can offer it to your dog an see what they think.
In her REAL Talk, Hannah explained how cilantro can help to detox the body. She likes to give it to her dogs after they’ve had vaccinations or medications that can be hard on the liver or kidneys.
Cilantro Benefits:
- Supports natural detox
- Gentle on the body
- Perfect post-medication support
- Rich in nutrients
How to share cilantro with your dog:
Since cilantro is a detox helper, this is one that you might not need to share with your dog on a daily basis. You can rip up a few fresh leaves and add it to their meals when they need some detox support. That might be after getting vaccinations or taking medications.
Of course, consult with your veterinarian to make sure it safe to give your unique dog cilantro or any of these fresh herbs. Everyone is different, and that include our dogs!
Safety + Getting Started with Herbs for Your Dog
When you share these herbs with your dog, I always recommend that you use fresh ingredients. Dried herbs are often stronger and more concentrated than the fresh versions. And essential oil versions of these herbs will be ver concentrated and strong.
You can grow a simple herb garden full of plants that your entire family – including the dog – can share! Parsley, basil and cilantro will all grow well side by side. For the mint, I always recommend you grow it in it’s own container because it will spread and take over everything!
For cinnamon, I buy ground cinnamon at Trader Joe’s. You can also find cinnamon sticks. Ceylon Cinnamon is often considered to be the best type of this spice. You can find this online or through specialty food stores.
While these herbs are generally safe for dogs and studies like this one show “no safety concern” for adding parsley, every pet is unique. Always start with small amounts and monitor your dog’s response. If your dog has any existing health conditions or is on medication, consult your veterinarian before introducing new herbs.
And one last thing about enrichment… remember that you never want to force your dog to smell or eat something they don’t like. Does cilantro taste like soap to them? I have no idea! But if your dog backs away from any of these herbs, you do not want to force it on them. Start small by letting them sniff the plant and adding a tiny amount to their bowl.
Ultimately, have fun with it and make this a positive and enriching experience for your dog!
In conclusion…
I hope you’re excited to share fresh herbs with your dog! Not only does this offer great enrichment for your dog, it helps deepen the bond you share because preparing food with care is an act of love.
I also love this final quote from Hannah: “Know that when you share herbs with your dog, you’re not only seasoning their meals, but you’re deepening your bond with nature and honoring and using what Mother Earth left us.”
If that doesn’t inspire you to start using herbs for your dog, I don’t know what will! I’ve found great joy by spending a little extra time to make my dog’s meals interesting and nutritious.
I encourage you to start small. Pick up a fresh herb like basil, mint, cinnamon, parsley or cilantro at the grocery store today and add a pinch to your dog’s dinner.
Below are all the speakers who presented at REAL Talks by BlogPaws. All of the inspiring talks will be online for you to view through DogTV very soon!
Did you like this post? Here’s more about unique ways to add enrichment to your dog’s life:
Green Superfood Dog Food Topper Recipe
RECIPE: Healthy Frozen Goat Milk Treats For Dogs That Help With Digestion
Simple Gluten Free Dog Treat Recipe with Parsley
Best Essential Oils for Dogs: Safely Treat Skin Conditions, Anxiety and More
Podcast Episode 230: How Angela Ardolino Became The CBD for Pets Expert
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