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Anise is a favorite flavoring during the year, but especially during the holidays. It’s used in many ways to add amazing flavor to desserts, cookies, and more. But what happens if your dog swipes some anise and eats it? Can anise make a dog sick?
Has your dog eaten anise? Are you worried the anise will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog eats something like this.
We’ve gathered information about anise and whether it can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
What is Anise?
Anise is a spice that comes from a plant in the Apiaceae family, which is native to Eurasia. The flavor and smell of the seeds in anise is similar to other spices, such as star anise, fennel, licorice, and others. The spice is grown widely and used to add flavor to candy, food, beverages, and more.
Anise is described as sweet and aromatic and has a distinctive flavor. The seeds can be used whole or ground and are used in many recipes, teas, and more. Anise also has medicinal applications. It’s sometimes used in European herbal medicine. It’s said to reduce gassiness, insomnia, and more.
While anise is considered safe for humans, what about dogs? Can anise make a dog sick?
Anise & Dogs
The good news is that dogs seem to love anise! Dogs seem to go crazy for this herb, similar to how cats go bonkers over catnip! You may see anise called “dognip” for this reason. Dogs are drawn to anise seed and seem to really enjoy it.
However, it is possible for anise to make a dog sick. This may happen if a dog has too much anise to eat. In most cases, about 3-5 dry anise seeds per pound of dog food are considered safe for dogs. If eaten in larger amounts, anise can cause digestive issues and depress a dog’s central nervous system.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Anise Ingestion in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten too much anise:
- Lack of coordination
- Dizziness
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
If you notice these symptoms in your dog, call the vet immediately. This is an emergency.
Treatment of Anise Ingestion in Dogs
We were not able to find specific information on how over ingestion of anise would be treated. However, the vet may treat this the same as when a dog eats other toxins.
The vet may induce vomiting and use activated charcoal to remove the anise from your dog’s system. They may also give your fur baby an IV with fluids. The fluids keep your dog hydrated and flush the spice out of your dog’s system.
In addition, the vet will treat other symptoms as they arise.
The good news is that most dogs will make a full recovery after eating anise. In the future, be sure to only use a small amount of anise on your dog’s food or as a treat. This way, you can avoid the problem of him getting sick from too much of the spice. You’ll both be happier for it!
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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