Why Dogs Don't Like Peppermint (2024)

The five senses of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell are natural protections for not only us humans, but canines as well. If we feel the heat from a fire, our body tells us to step away. When we hear explosions, we instinctively react either by ducking and covering or being on high alert to identify where the danger is. When we smell something foul like rotting meat or milk, it usually means it’s bad for us. These senses instinctively protect us from danger and your dog’s senses protect him as well. Smells are also associated with memories. If you have ever gone back and visited your childhood school, you might be taken back to first grade because you smell something familiar. Smell is a powerful sense and should not be underestimated.

Your dog’s snout can sniff out problems with ease; he just has to follow his nose. A dog’s nose also contains about 300 million olfactory receptors, which means they smell things much more intensely than humans can. We mere humans only have 5 million olfactory receptors in our noses. So when a scent might seem mild to us, to your dog it might feel as overwhelming as walking through the risky area of a department store where you dodge perfume samples and hold your breath.As much as you trust your nose not to tell you that milk is spoiled, your dog trusts his nose. Peppermint is toxic to dogs and understandably so, dogs don’t like it. You might use peppermint essential oils to relieve inflammation or just reduce your stress, however, these highly concentrated formulas are toxic to dogs and toxicity symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. If a dog ingests mint, such as a candy cane, or licks an oil off mint leaves or your body if you rubbed peppermint oil on yourself, he will become sick.

Dogs should not eat or have peppermint oil rubbed on them because it will make them sick. The natural remedies that make humans feel better do not make them feel better. Humans can use essential oils to alleviate symptoms, but it is not the same for dogs. Using or feeding essential oils intended for humans to dogs is dangerous. The only time you’ll find a safe product for a dog is if it’s intended for a dog. Some products might contain peppermint, but they’ve been manufactured to be safe for dogs.If you want to share a holiday treat with your dog, make it a natural treat without peppermint. Candy canes can be problematic for dogs, not only because of mint, but the candy cane may contain Xylitol, which can be deadly to your dog. There are also other unknown or harmful flavors to your dog. The wrappers and sharp edges can cause digestive problems. Nothing says holiday spirit like spending a night at the vet.

There is no scientific evidence that dogs benefit from peppermint the way humans do and if you apply the incorrect amount, you dog can suffer. Giving your dog products intended for human use is very dangerous and if you want your dog to reap the benefits of a natural, holistic approach, you should talk to your vet about appropriate products for dogs. Natural products might be preferred in your home, but make sure they’re safe for everyone, including Fido.