Can Dogs Have Peppermint?

Peppermint is known for its cool, refreshing taste and is used in a variety of products, including teas, candies, toothpaste, and essential oils. Its widespread use means a curious pooch could get their paws on it. But can dogs have peppermint?

The answer depends on the form of peppermint and the amount consumed. For instance, very small amounts of peppermint leaves are generally safe for dogs to consume, while peppermint candies should be kept off the doggy menu entirely.

We spoke with a veterinarian to get the 411 on the safety and risks of giving dogs peppermint.

Let’s break down the different types of peppermint and their safety for your four-legged buddy.

Some pet parents vouch for giving peppermint leaves to dogs to freshen their breath and provide digestive support. However, it’s best to avoid giving them peppermint leaves for these purposes. Why? Because it’s easy to inadvertently give them too much, which can cause irritation of the mouth and gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Spearmint (aka garden mint) is the type of mint that’s most commonly found in grocery stores or in your home garden.

Consuming too much could cause gastrointestinal upset, resulting in vomiting or diarrhea.

Wintergreen—which is often marketed as a form of mint, though it actually isn’t mint—is toxic to dogs and should be avoided in all its forms (leaves, oil, gum, candy, etc.).

It contains an aspirin-like chemical called methyl salicylate that can cause a host of problems in dogs, ranging from vomiting and confusion to kidney issues and liver failure.

This mint’s oil contains a volatile chemical called pulegone, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and serious liver damage in dogs.

Pennyroyal should be avoided in all its forms, as it is highly toxic to your pup.

Can dogs have peppermint candy canes? How about other peppermint-flavored candies? No! Keep peppermint candy out of your pup’s reach. Here’s why.

Hard candies may contain xylitol, a sugar substitute that’s extremely toxic to dogs, making them a serious holiday safety threat.

Even small quantities of xylitol can cause a rapid release of insulin, resulting in hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Untreated hypoglycemia can lead to seizures and coma.

In certain cases, ingestion of xylitol by dogs can also result in acute liver damage.

Candies and gums can be a choking hazard and usually come in some combination of plastic, foil, or paper wrappers, which, if ingested, can cause a life-threatening intestinal blockage.

Peppermint chocolate is off-limits too.

Chocolate is toxic to canines due to two of its components—caffeine and theobromine—which affect a dog’s cardiovascular and neurological functions. This can cause:

• Restlessness
• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Muscle tremors
• Seizures

In severe cases, it can even lead to death.

Peppermint essential oil (sometimes called peppermint oil) is the pure, concentrated oil that’s extracted directly from the peppermint plant (Mentha x piperita) through steam distillation.

Peppermint essential oil is extremely potent and contains high concentrations of active compounds, such as menthol and menthone.

In humans, peppermint essential oil can be used in various ways, but are these methods safe for dogs? Let’s review:

You should never allow your dog to consume peppermint essential oil sold for human use, as this concentrated oil can be harmful and even toxic for dogs.

Some symptoms of peppermint oil ingestion may include:

• Drooling
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

In severe cases, ingestion can cause seizures and liver failure.

While we humans might enjoy the aroma of peppermint that emanates from diffusing the oil in an aromatherapy diffuser, subjecting your dog to this mist can be harmful.

In addition to releasing aromas, these diffusers disperse fine particles of oil into the air. If your dog inhales enough of these particles, they could experience adverse reactions like wheezing, coughing, or breathing difficulties, particularly if they have asthma.

Also, these droplets can settle on your dog’s fur, potentially leading to ingestion while they groom themselves.

Given the potency of essential oils, ingesting even a small quantity could result in adverse effects or toxicity.

You may have heard that peppermint oil can help repel and kill fleas and ticks on dogs. However, comprehensive research about its efficacy for getting rid of fleas is lacking.

Regardless, you should never apply peppermint oil directly to your dog’s skin or coat, as the high menthol content can be very irritating to the skin and nose and mouth.

Additionally, applying peppermint oil to your dog’s skin allows it to enter their bloodstream and increases the risk of ingestion through grooming, which can cause toxicity.

If you’re interested in taking a natural route to pest protection, there are dog-safe products available, such as Richard’s Organics™ Flea & Tick Shampoo, that contain small amounts of peppermint oil and other essential oils.

Or if you want a flea and tick preventive, go with effective options such as Frontline® Plus or K9 Advantix™ II. Of course, always check with your vet before using new products on your dog.

Learn more about how to safely get rid of fleas on your dog and in your house.

Some dog supplements and products contain very small amounts (usually around 0.1%) of dog-friendly and food-safe peppermint oil.

These products typically incorporate peppermint oil to help freshen breath or mask the smell of a stinky ingredient such as fish oil.

The carefully controlled levels of peppermint oil in such products are generally considered safe for dogs, as long as you adhere to the product’s serving recommendations.

Here are a few products for dogs that include peppermint oil. Check with your vet before giving to your dog.

Fresh water should always be the first beverage of choice for your pup.

As with fresh leaves, some people claim that peppermint tea helps soothe their dogs’ digestive woes, but peppermint tea should not be the first line of defense for an upset stomach.

Instead, if your dog’s stomach is upset, feed them a bland diet consisting of easy-to-digest foods like chicken, rice, and pumpkin for a couple of days. If this doesn’t alleviate the problem, a visit to your veterinarian is in order.

The seriousness of peppermint consumption depends on the form your dog consumed and how much they consumed.

If your dog ingested large amounts of fresh peppermint or spearmint, seek advice from your veterinarian or an animal poison helpline, such as:

• Pet Poison Helpline® at 855-764-7661
• ASPCA® Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at 888-426-4435
• Consultation fees often apply.

You should immediately take your dog to a veterinarian or pet emergency clinic if they:

• Consumed any form of wintergreen or pennyroyal
• Consumed peppermint candy containing xylitol
• Consumed a substantial amount of chocolate (more than 1.5 ounces of dark chocolate per 10 pounds of body weight or 3.5 ounces of milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate per 10 pounds of body weight)
• Consumed peppermint essential oil (with the exception being if the oil was included in a dog-friendly supplement or product and given as directed)

Other Holiday Foods

• 17 Holiday Foods Not To Feed Your Dog
• Can Dogs Eat Gingerbread?
• Can Dogs Eat Chocolate?
• Can Dogs Eat Ham?

Expert input provided by Amber Karwacki, DVM, veterinarian at Heart + Paw Callowhill in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

This content was medically reviewed by Chewy vets.