Oregano in Dog Food: Yay or Nay?

Oregano is an herb that we often use in our cooking. Its spicy smell whets our appetite and its essences add flavor to the food that’s been garnished with it. Oregano is also a welcome ingredient in pet food. Oregano’s taste and smell indicate that it belongs to the mint family of herbs. The spicy odor it exudes come from chemicals thymol, pinene, limonene, carvacrol, ocimene, and caryophyllene.

Some dog foods contain oregano which answers the question of whether it’s good for your dogs or not. Apparently, it is. It has a lot of benefits that contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of your canine friend.

Packed with nutrients

More than just adding flavor to dog food, oregano contributes to the daily nutritional needs of your dog. Oregano is a rich source of vitamins A, C, and K; minerals like calcium, iron, manganese; omega-3, and fiber. It is also rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals and prevent cell damage. Now all these benefits can be enjoyed by your pet.

Health benefits

Because oregano is high in antioxidants, it provides great support to the dog’s immune system. In one study, oregano was found to have over 40x antioxidant power than apples. Now isn’t that an immune booster indeed for your canine friend?

Oregano has antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties that help prevent the spread of bacteria and other viruses. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that may help your dogs decrease their risk of developing inflammatory diseases like osteoarthritis. The microbial properties of oregano also help dogs with digestive problems, diarrhea, heartburn, and gas.

Oregano in your dog food diet

Some pet owners who want to make their own pet food for their dogs have included oregano in their dog’s diet. They either use the herb itself or buy oregano oil. A word of caution though, do not use too much of it when preparing your own dog food. You may also consult your veterinarian on how to properly prepare dog food diets that have oregano just to be on the safe side.

So, yay! You can give your dog oregano if you prepare the dog food yourself. Or, you can buy dog food that contains oregano. Oregano can be found in many dog food products from Addiction Foods. Not only that, Addiction Foods’ grain-free pet foods products also have taurine, a vital amino acid that helps prevent dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)—in dogs. Always check the label when buying pet food.

Addiction Foods pet foods are available from your local store.

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