Do you love the smell of fresh peppermint in your mouth? Does your dog love it too? We are here to answer a common question: can dogs have Lifesaver Mints? Read on to find out!
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You are probably reading this article because number one, you have a dog, and number two, you are considering giving in to its incessant demands to chew Lifesaver Mints.
Well, you can go ahead with caveats. Studies tell us that while Lifesaver Mints are generally safe to give to dogs, they might come with a few guidelines to be followed to ensure the safety of your furry friend – this article covers it all!
Can Dogs Have Lifesaver Mints?
The simple answer is yes; your dog can enjoy the sugary taste of Lifesaver Mints like you can.
Lifesaver is an American brand of ring-shaped candies, Lifesaver is available in several fruity flavors, including mint. No wonder people love chewing them as they run or drive to their everyday chores.
The question, however, is whether your dog can have a bite off of it? Well, the answer is yes, since it turns out that Lifesaver Mints are no worse for your dog than it is for you!
Many people will raise their eyebrows and tell us that sugar is usually not a recommended dog food – we have done our research and, based on the same, Lifesaver Mints do not contain the sugar substitutes that are found in mint-flavored candies and dental products.
Lifesaver Mints contain an artificial sweetener named sucralose, which has been tested as generally safe for dogs. However, if your dog gets an upset stomach or diarrhea, it is recommended to avoid giving it Lifesaver Mints as well.
Can Dogs Have Other Candies?
Be very careful about the ingredients.
you have to be aware of the substitutes of sugar found in mint candies and other products, for they can certainly be dangerous for your pet.
The reason behind this heads-up is that many artificial sweeteners, such as Xylitol, can be lethal for dogs and, thus, should be checked before feeding sweet food to your furry friend.
So, Can My Dog Eat Mint?
Yes, it is safe and can even help reduce your dog’s bad breath.
Mint is generally safe for dogs. Many dog treats include mint to take away the cause of bad breath, which many pups deal with every day. However, it is important to give it to your pet in moderation. Otherwise, it can lead to vomiting or an upset stomach. In extreme cases, it can lead to diarrhea as well.
However, this is a rare case, and dogs have robust digestive systems that can take in good quality mint products. Statistically speaking, there hasn’t been a single dog death reported due to poisoning by mint, neither have any traces of chemicals found in the mint products,
So, even if your dog eats a few mint leaves from your garden and has been able to digest it without any trouble, trust that it is fine and mint suits them. Again, remember to allow it to have mint in moderation since excess of even vet-certified dog treats can be quite a pain for your furry friend.
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Stay Away From English Pennyroyal Mint
However, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has labeled a specific variety of mints to be poisonous for dogs. English Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) or European Pennyroyal contains the chemical pulegone, which is highly toxic to dogs and humans. Mint, excluding English Pennyroyal, is not considered toxic for our four-legged furry friend.
Several authentic websites, including Rover and SFGate, state that apart from English Pennyroyal, most varieties of mint are safe to be ingested by your dog.
Can my dog eat mint sauce?
No, it contains white vinegar which is dangerous for them.
Apart from Lifesaver Mint and mint leaves in moderation, dogs shouldn’t taste mint water or mint sauce since it contains dried mint leaves, white wine vinegar, salt and sugar, amongst other ingredients. White wine vinegar is especially considered quite toxic for dogs, as observed by ASPCA.
You must not give mint essential oils to your dog as well – it carries a high concentration of toxins that may seriously affect your pet’s health.
How much mint can my dog eat?
Dogs shouldn’t eat more than a few leaves or gummies of mint.
Another notable thing about giving mint to your furry friend is the substance dosage. It has been tested and proven that any dose of mint above 330 mg/kg can be lethal for your dogs and other animals. It can result in serious health conditions such as lowered blood pressure, liver damage, change in heart rate, even cardiac arrest.
In any case, if your dog acts weirdly after taking mint, contact a vet immediately.
What Are the Benefits of Feeding ‘Safe’ Mint to Your Dog?
The benefits of feeding mint to your dog are several, and we have discussed a few below.
Mint has several nutritional benefits.
There are many minerals and vitamins that mint contains, and thus, it contributes to leveling up or maintaining your dog’s overall health. Some minerals found in mint include magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, phosphorus, calcium potassium, folate, etc. Mint is also rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C, which are needed for the growth of your four-legged pet.
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It keeps the bad breath away.
It is no secret that dogs have bad dental hygiene – it is almost impossible to brush their teeth regularly even though vets recommend keeping their teeth and tongue clean.
Mint boasts of improving breath since it contains peppermint, spearmint and other ingredients, which have antifungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial qualities that chase away bad breath.
It provides relief from allergies.
Many pups deal with itchy and swollen ear infections and several other allergies. Mint contains rosmarinic acid with methanol – a natural anesthetic for humans and animals, and thus, provides relief from allergies of different kinds.
A Few Final Words
Lifesaver Mint hasn’t taken a toll on the health of any dog as yet and is considered to be safe for animals. Even so, there is some variety of mint that, as per studies, are not recommended to be given to animals.
Thus, the bottom line is that before giving any variety of mint to your dog, consult a vet and then go ahead with it. We thank you for reading this article, and hope that you got all the answers that you needed if there are other questions that you would like to ask, please write to us in the comments section.