Alice White
There is no way around the dandelion in summer, because the plant, vilified as a weed, grows in many meadows, in gardens, and along the road. But is dandelion poisonous for dogs or is there no danger to your fur nose due to the leaves and flowers? Here you find the answers.
Dandelions for the Dog: Toxic or Healthy?
Dogs can eat both dandelion leaves and yellow dandelion flowers. The plant is easily digestible and even healthy for dogs in small quantities because it is said to have a healing effect. If your dog occasionally nibbles on the dandelion or sniffs a dandelion while walking or in the garden, there is no danger. On the contrary: the plant is also used as a medicinal herb in small quantities and can be added to the feed in a targeted manner.
Is Dandelion Poisonous to Dogs?
The leaves and flowers of the dandelion contain a white milky sap in the stems. Because milk sap is often poisonous in plants, many dog owners wonder whether eating dandelions is dangerous for the dog. In fact, the plant contains the toxic substances oxalic acid and taraxacum. These substances are slightly toxic and, if consumed in excess, can lead to symptoms such as nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and general malaise. Therefore, dogs should not eat large amounts of dandelion. If your pet is known to have severe liver, kidney, or digestive disorders, you should check with your veterinarian before feeding dandelions whether or not to feed the plant.
How Does Dandelion Work in Dogs?
Dandelions do not have the best reputation because the plant is often viewed as a weed and is destroyed in gardens. Dandelion has a long tradition as an effective medicinal plant for humans and animals. The herb is used in alternative medicine to detoxify dogs. Gastrointestinal complaints, blood diseases, loss of appetite, liver and kidney problems can also be alleviated by dandelions. These components of the dandelion are responsible for the health-promoting effects:
- Bitter substances such as taraxin, flavonoids, and triterpenes promote digestion and have a detoxifying effect on the stomach, gall bladder, kidneys, and liver.
- Tannins have anti-inflammatory effects, relieve gastrointestinal complaints, and protect the dog’s oral mucosa from bacteria.
- The fiber inulin has a prebiotic effect and supports the pancreas
- Potassium has a diuretic and slightly laxative effect and helps detoxify and cleanse the urinary tract.
- Dandelion flowers contain healthy vitamins and amino acids.
How Do You Use Dandelions on Dogs?
In summer you can find dandelions almost everywhere in nature. You can therefore pick the plant for your dog while taking a walk.
So that no weed killers or other toxins are contained, do not pick the leaves directly on the roadside or on the edge of the field, but rather in remote places or in your own garden.
Making dandelions for the dog is easy. Mix the raw dandelion leaves with the food, roughly chopped, or scald the leaves with hot water beforehand. Heat reduces the bitter substances in the plant and the taste becomes milder. A tea that is made from dried or fresh leaves and added to the feed after cooling is even milder. Dried dandelions can be powdered and mixed with the feed. A dose of around one gram per ten kilograms of body weight is recommended. Alternatively, you can feed your dog good quality dog food that contains dandelions as an ingredient.
