Can Dogs Have Parsley? Benefits & Risks Explained

Whether you grow this herb yourself or like to buy it for your own cooking, you may be wondering: Can dogs have parsley?

The short answer is that curly parsley can be a great occasional addition to most dogs’ diets. However, some dogs shouldn’t eat parsley, and other varieties of parsley besides the curly variety are toxic for dogs.

Keep reading for more information on the classic question: Can dogs eat parsley?

What Is Parsley?

Parsley is an herb in the Apiaceae plant family commonly used as a garnish. Endemic to the Mediterranean, parsley has become popular in cuisines around the world. While there are several varieties of parsley, only curly parsley is safe for dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Parsley?

Most dogs can eat small amounts of curly parsley. Dogs should not eat spring, Italian, or flat-leaf parsley. Pregnant dogs or those with kidney problems should not eat any parsley.

Can Dogs Have Dried Parsley?

Dogs can have dried parsley if it’s been made of the curly variety. Dogs should not eat dried parsley made from flat-leaf, Italian, or spring parsley.

Can Dogs Have Italian Parsley?

No, dogs should not eat Italian parsley because it contains a toxic compound called furanocoumarin.

Can Dogs Have Parsley Flakes?

Dogs can have parsley flakes that have been made from curly parsley, but not flakes that have been made from other varieties of parsley.

Health Benefits of Parsley for Dogs

While large amounts of parsley can be problematic for dogs, a little bit of curly parsley now and then offers many potential benefits for dogs.

Immunity Benefits of Parsley for Dogs

With its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, parsley can help boost your dog’s immune system. Parsley is also a diuretic (meaning it makes dogs urinate more frequently), so it may help flush out bacteria that could otherwise cause urinary tract infections.

Fresher Breath With Parsley

Adding some parsley oil to your dog’s water bowl or allowing them to chew on a few sprigs can help freshen their breath.

Parsley and Cellular Health

Full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals like chlorophyll, folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, potassium, and calcium, parsley can help combat free radicals and help your dog maintain healthy muscle and brain functions.

Health Risks of Parsley for Dogs

While curly parsley is safe for many dogs, not all varieties of parsley are safe, and some dogs should not eat any parsley. Here are some health risks that can be associated with parsley for dogs.

Kidney Health Concerns

Due to its diuretic properties and high fiber content, parsley should not be given to dogs with kidney problems or certain other health conditions. If you are unsure whether parsley is safe for your pup given their medical history, you should talk to your veterinarian before feeding it to your dog.

Vision Impairment Risk

While curly parsley is safe, Italian, flat-leaf, and spring parsley can contain high levels of the toxin furanocoumarin, which can cause dermatitis or even blindness, so keep most varieties of parsley away from dogs and only share curly parsley with your pup.

Reproductive Health

Parsley may cause premature contractions leading to delivery complications, so it shouldn’t be fed to pregnant dogs.

Precautions When Adding Parsley to a Dog's Diet

You should only feed curly parsley to dogs. You should not give parsley seeds or any variety of parsley other than curly parsley to dogs. Additionally, dogs who are pregnant or have kidney problems should not eat parsley.

How to Feed Parsley to Dogs

There are many different ways you can feed parsley to dogs. Here are some of the most popular ways to give dogs the benefits of parsley.

Fresh Leaves

About twice a week, you can mix finely chopped parsley into your dog’s meal. You can feed up to 1 teaspoon of parsley for every 20 pounds of your dog’s weight. You can keep parsley fresh by snipping the ends off the stems and placing it in a cup with a small amount of water in the bottom. Replace the water regularly, and the parsley leaves can stay fresh for up to two weeks.

Parsley Soup

Best for helping treat urinary infections in dogs, you can make parsley soup by mixing one part leaves and one part water in a juicer or blender and feeding your dog one teaspoon of the mixture for every 20 pounds of your dog’s weight.

Parsley Tea

While parsley tea requires the most time and effort up front, you can keep it in the freezer and easily feed it to your dog for long periods of time. Add one bunch of parsley per quart of boiling water and let it sit covered for 4 hours. Then return the mixture to the stove to simmer at a low heat for another hour. 

Pour the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze. Then, you can easily give your dog an ice cube or add it to their food.

Beyond Parsley: Can Dogs Eat Raw Meat?

You want your dog to have the longest, healthiest life possible, which is why you’re asking: Can dogs have parsley? Since you want the best for your dog, have you considered a species-appropriate raw diet?

While dogs and wolves may look quite different on the outside, their digestive tracts are still nearly identical, indicating that dogs thrive best on a diet rich in raw muscle meat, organ meat, and bone rather than carb-rich and heavily processed kibble.

We Feed Raw makes a raw diet for dogs easy. We send you pre-portioned patties to your door and tell you how much to give your dog each day. You just thaw and feed our complete and balanced meals in however many feedings per day work best for you and your dog.

And you don’t have to worry about our food making your dog sick. We use a cold-pressure process to inactivate any potential pathogens.

Take our quiz now to start your dog on their life-changing raw dog food journey.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can dogs have parsley?

Yes, most dogs can have small amounts of curly parsley a couple of times a week. However, no dogs should eat flat-leaf, Italian, or spring parsley, and dogs who are pregnant or have kidney problems should not eat any parsley at all. You should also avoid giving parsley seeds to dogs.

What types of parsley can dogs eat?

Dogs can only safely eat curly parsley. Other varieties of parsley can cause blindness or dermatitis. Dogs who have kidney problems or are pregnant should not eat parsley. Dogs should not eat parsley seeds.