Parsley (
Petroselinum hortense) is part of the Apiaceae family which has about 3,700 species of flowering plants, and the parsley family includes other herbs such as celery, anise, caraway, coriander, cilantro, cumin, fennel, carrots, and parsnips, to name but a few, but the family also includes deadly plants such as water hemlock.
The ancient Greeks held parsley in high esteem, it was often planted as a border in their gardens as it was believed to have come about from the blood of one of their heroes Archemorus, and was considered a sacred herb to the dead. Today, in TCM the roots are considered to be a Yang tonic whilst more western cultures only see parsley as a culinary herb and don’t look at its healing abilities.
The parsley family is known for its richness in volatile oils and parsley specifically has flavonoids, phthalides, coumarins, vitamins A, C, E, and high levels of iron. Parsley is a calmative, tonic, and warming herb. It’s mainly used for its diuretic properties but it also warms the body, increasing circulation and can cause sweating. Warming herbs are good to help with those pets that are generally cold and their warming effect helps with problems such as muscle soreness, balancing out digestion, helping relieve pain from inflamed joints, etc. Parsley is highly nutritious, is a natural source of certain vitamins and minerals, and is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and diuretic herb.
Benefits of Parlsey
- It’s diaphoretic so can help the body detox out infections or fever etc.
- Natural antiseptic
- Antispasmodic
- Helps with weight loss
- Supports the urinary tract
- Natural decongestive
- Helps with bloatedness and to expel gas
- Relieves the inflammation of arthritis and rheumatism
- Helps detox waste from inflamed joints
- Naturally high in B vitamins
- Helps with muscle stiffness
- High in iron, beta-carotene, and chlorophyll
- Effective diuretic for the bladder
- Can be used to help with kidney problems, especially stones
- Helps destroy and expel parasites
- Supports the liver and spleen
- Can help protect from cadmium
- Can help shrink cancerous tumors
Is Parsley Leaf Safe for Pets?
Yes, parsley is safe for both cats and dogs at normal dosages. If overconsumed or overdosed it can be toxic and be careful with the seeds as they too can be toxic to pets. However, parsley is a great culinary herb to grow in your home that allows your pet to self-select if needed. It is also a really excellent herb to use fresh and incorporate into your pet’s diet.
As with most herbs don’t overdo it or consistently feed it to your pet without ever changing or rotating herbs. Rotating herbs throughout the year is a fantastic form of prevention by allowing the body to stay in optimal health. However, all of this has to be underpinned by proper nutrition.
Side Effects
- If your pet’s condition worsens or does not improve speak with your integrative vet
- Do not feed to pregnant pets as it is a herb that can induce menstruation and is abortive
- Do not feed to lactating pets as it slows and dries up the mother’s milk
- Do not feed to those pets with kidney disease or urinary issues unless under the guidance of a holistic vet
- Do not feed to young puppies or kittens less than 1 year of age, as it can bring on menstruation
- Can act as a laxative for some pets, especially if given too much too quickly
- It may cause over-heating in those pets that are normally always hot
- May cause bloating and flatulence at the beginning whilst the body adjusts
- Overdosing can cause digestive issues
- When overfed, in some animals it can make them highly excited
- May cause seizures in some pets if overfed
How to Give Parsley to Cats & Dogs
Forms of use:
- Leaves, root, stem from the plant fresh or dried. (Avoid using the seeds unless under the guidance of a herbalistic vet)
- Poultice
Administration can be via
- Given orally
- Applied topically
Parsley Dosage for Pets
Cats & Dogs
General-purpose guidelines:
Fresh herb: You can use fresh parsley and feed this directly to your pets. Finely chop the herb and mix it in with food, or make a puree and add it to your pet’s food. Use a pinch of the herb for smaller animals up to 2 teaspoons for really large breeds and blend into their raw food. If harvesting parsley wild you’ll need to be careful not to confuse it with the poisonous hemlock variety. The fresh herb is a great way to keep pets healthy and acts as a preventative, even if you only feed it to your pet once or twice a week and rotate it with other herbs or things like diatomaceous earth if you’re using it as a natural anti-parasitic or against worms.
Parsley Water: Mix a small handful of fresh leaves with about a cup of warm water (distilled or filtered water). Leave this to soak for upto 2 hours, drain and use the liquid. A small amount of this can be fed directly to your pet, mixed into their food or it can be further diluted. Parsley water is a good option if you’re using powered parsley. Be careful with doing a straight juice extraction of the leaves and root as the juice is incredibly potent medicine for pets and should not be given undiluted. However, parsley water or tea is a great way to help your cat or dog eliminate internal parasites or worms. This is a much safer way to deworm your pet than using chemical based products found at pet stores.
Decoction (Tea). Use fresh or dried herbs. Teas are one of the safest ways to introduce and give herbs to your cat or dog. The tea can be made weak or strong and you can begin to micro-dose your cat or dog and monitor how they get on. Herbal teas are not as strong as tinctures but are still healing, although they take longer to see the results. Make a tea with your fresh/dried herb, using a good bunch or a large handful, pop the parsley into about a 1.5 to 2 litres of water and cook. Depending on the stregnth you’re after, the tea can be left to steep for a few minutes, or (off the heat) for a few hours.Do not overcook, the strength comes from the time the tea is left to brew. The idea is that you’re extracting the beneficial properties into the water to feed to your cat or dog.
You can start to give the parsley water as 2-3 drops once or twice daily (works well, especially for the stronger tea), directly into your pet’s mouth or mixed into your pet’s food, or alternatively, let your cat or dog drink the droplets directly. If you’re treating parasites or an ailment like arthritis, then as a rough guide, use 1 teaspoon for every 5kg of body weight and it can be split across the day. (1) Do this for up to two weeks then give your pet a break, especially cats. You may need to do an on/off cycle for a few months if you know your cat or dog has parasites.
The idea is that you work in line with the moon cycles as parasites are impacted by the circadian rhythm of the body in line with the moon. Parasites are more active leading up to the full moon and laying eggs around the new moon. In order to cleanse parasites from your pet’s system, it’s good practice to follow the moon cycles and rotate through other herbs that have vermifuge properties so you do a more complete cleanse or parasitic prevention throughout the year. Also working in line with the detox seasons of spring and autumn is a great way to use herbs as preventative medicine. If you’re detoxing your pet don’t forget to support the liver as well. The liver takes on a massive amount of work when trying to not only support normal metabolic functions but also detox the body from toxins so it’s important to always aid the liver when doing cleanses.
Poultice. A poultice of parsley can help with bites and stings. Grab a bunch of leaves, Mash or bruise them up and place them in a linen or cotton cloth to place over the area. A parsley poultice made from the roots and leaves can help with inflamed joints and is placed directly on them over the course of a number of days. It can also help with any eye inflammation.
Tincture/Extracting the Root and leaves: The roots work well to help with urinary tract infections and to dissolve and expel stones. It works best when combined with other herbs so speak to your holistic or herbalist vet for a plan specific to your pet’s needs. It is always a good idea to rotate your herbs or change out the herbs every few months so you’re effectively giving a herb for 8 weeks before changing, even if it’s an on/off cycle for 8 weeks. This works especially well if you’re using herbs as a preventative treatment for parasites.
Herbs are invaluable natural medicines but ultimately your goal should be to look at your pet’s diet as their primary source for excellent health and or any healing. Health comes from pure nutrition, which is real food, then herbs are there to support the body or to have as an extra boost when needed. But if you choose to ignore diet or refuse to transition your cat or dog over to real food, ideally raw, then accept the responsibility that you’re setting your pet up for chronic illnesses down the line and early death.
This article is not meant for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult with your holistic veterinarian for proper diagnosis and your pet’s individual treatment plan.
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Resources
Botany in a Day – Thomas Elpel
https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-plants-in-the-family-Apiaceae-2038061
Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine – Andrew Chevallier Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health – Rosemary Gladstar https://www.kitchenstewardship.com/full-moon-intestinal-worms/
https://www.sante-healthandwellness.com/blog/how-does-the-full-moon-affect-parasites
