Thyme

What is thyme?

Thyme belongs to the labiate family and grows mainly in the Mediterranean region. It has small green leaves and pink or white flowers that attract many bees. Thyme contains essential oils such as thymol and carvacrol as well as flavonoids and tannins.

What are the benefits of thyme for dogs?

Thyme can help or prevent various ailments in your dog. Here are a few examples:

• Respiratory diseases: Thyme has anti-inflammatory, expectorant and antibacterial properties. It can therefore help your dog with coughs, asthma or bronchitis. For example, you can give him a tea made from thyme leaves in his water or sprinkle some dried thyme over his food.
• Digestive problems: Thyme promotes digestion and has an antispasmodic, flatulent and appetizing effect. It can therefore help your dog with diarrhea, flatulence or stomach pain. You can also offer him a tea made from thyme leaves or mix some crushed or powdered thyme into his food.
• Worm infestation: Thyme is effective against worms. It can therefore help your dog to be less susceptible to worms or to excrete them more easily. You can give him some fresh or dried thyme regularly.
• Joint problems: Thyme has a circulation-promoting effect. It can therefore improve the mobility of your dog's joints and relieve pain. For example, you can massage it with an oil made from olive oil and a few drops of thyme essential oil.

What are the side effects of thyme for dogs?

Thyme is generally well tolerated by dogs, but there are some points to be aware of:

• Allergies: some dogs can have an allergic reaction to thyme. Therefore, watch out for possible symptoms such as skin rash, itching or breathing difficulties after eating thyme. If you are not sure whether your dog is allergic, do a test with a small amount beforehand.
• Overdose: Too much thyme can cause stomach irritation or liver damage. Therefore,do notgive your dogmore than one teaspoon per day per 10 kg of body weight.

Pregnancy: Pregnant dogs should not be given thyme as it can stimulate labor.

How do I use thyme for my dog?

There are several ways to use thyme for your dog. Here are some tips:

• Fresh or dried thyme: You can buy fresh or dried thyme or grow it yourself. You can then chop or grind it and mix it into your dog's food. The recommended amount is one teaspoon per day per 10 kg of body weight.
• Thyme tea: You can also make a tea from thyme leaves and offer it to your dog as drinking water. To do this, pour 250 ml of boiling water over a teaspoon of thyme leaves and leave to infuse for 10 minutes. Then strain and leave to cool.
• Thyme oil: You can also make an oil from olive oil and a few drops of thyme essential oil. You can use this oil for massages for joint pain or to rub on small wounds, for example. However, make sure that the oil does not get into your dog's eyes or nose.

Where can you buy thyme for your dog?

Thyme is a common plant that you can find in many supermarkets, health food stores or garden centers. You can also look online for special products for dogs, such as rubbed or powdered thyme or thyme essential oil.