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Tarragon is a popular herb used in a wide range of dishes and condiments. But what happens if a dog eats tarragon? Can tarragon make a dog sick?
Has your dog eaten tarragon? Are you worried the tarragon 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 he shouldn’t.
We’ve put together information about tarragon and whether it can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
What is Tarragon?
Tarragon is a perennial member of the sunflower family! Who knew? The scientific name for this plant is Artemisia dracunculus. The plants grow over parts of Eurasia and North America and other places. Tarragon is used quite a bit in French cooking.
The herb has a slight licorice taste, with citrus undertones. It’s quite good! The herb is used in chicken, fish, shellfish, butter, and cream. It’s also quite good with lemon. It pretty much goes along with just about everything.
Tarragon can also be beneficial to health. It can reduce blood sugar levels, inflammation, pain, improve sleep. The herb may also increase appetite by reducing leptin levels. This can be helpful for anyone who has trouble eating, such as those who have depression or are going through chemo.
While we can safely eat tarragon, what about dogs? Can tarragon make a dog sick?
Tarragon & Dogs
Unfortunately, tarragon is toxic to dogs. It contains an oil that carries estragole that makes dogs sick. This substance can cause liver damage in dogs and interfere with blood clotting.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Tarragon Ingestion in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten tarragon:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Excessive drooling
- Incoordination
- Sleepiness/excitation
- Dilated pupils
- Low body temperature
- Low blood pressure
- Coma
- Seizure
If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, call the vet immediately. This an emergency.
When you talk with the vet, let them know how much tarragon your fur baby’s eaten. And remember to tell the vet what time this happened.
In most cases, the vet will probably want to see your dog and check the severity of his symptoms. In some cases, if the dog ate a lot of tarragon, he may need to be hospitalized for a day or two.
The good news it that most dogs will make a complete recovery. The key is to get them medical treatment after they’ve eaten tarragon. Their life could depend on 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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