We all know that dogs are man’s best friend, and if you’re a dog owner, there’s probably nothing you wouldn’t do to give your dog the best life possible.
When it comes to your dog’s health, there are a number of things you can do to help boost their health and fitness. Raw food diets, and indeed, plant-based food diets for dogs have become a great deal more popular over the years.
Recently however, there has been growing interest in regards to giving green tea to dogs. We know that green tea is an incredibly healthy beverage for humans, but what about dogs?
Well, if you’re thinking of giving green tea to your dog, be sure to read this article first, as we’ll be addressing the issue of whether dogs can drink green tea.
What is green tea? – Green tea comes from the Camelia Sinensis plant, just like other forms of popular teas out there.
The main reason why green tea is considered so healthy however, and why it is, well, green, is because whilst processing, it has been subjected to minimal amounts of oxidative stress, which is why the leaves retain far, far more of their antioxidants and various other nutrients.
Green tea health benefits – Green tea is regarded as one of the healthiest beverages on the planet. Green tea is loaded full of potent polyphenols and antioxidants, which help to provide a variety of benefits for the body.
In particular, green tea contains an antioxidant known as EGCG, or Epigallocatechin gallate, which has been found to help prevent and fight numerous forms of cancer in the body.
Green tea can also boost the immune system, help regulate the digestive system, freshen the breath, promote cardiovascular health, and fight the ill-effects of aging.
Now, much of the research carried out in regards to the health benefits of green tea, does apply to human beings, though green tea CAN also be beneficial to dogs.
Dogs and caffeine – Needless to say, with all of the health benefits listed above, it’s easy to see why so many people are eager to give their dogs green tea.
However, before you even consider giving your dog green tea, you must first make sure that the green tea your dog is consuming, is decaffeinated. Caffeine is naturally present in green tea, and it is actually toxic to canines.
Dogs do not need stimulants, and certainly not caffeine. If a dog consumes caffeine, it’s life is in danger, it is as simple as that.
So, can I give my dog green tea? – You can give your dog green tea, providing it is decaffeinated and in fairly small dosages. Green tea can be given to dogs, but certainly not every day, and certainly not in high dosages.
There is evidence to suggest that small amounts of green tea given to a dog, every now and then, can prove beneficial.
Honestly however, there are far safer, far more convenient alternatives out there, such as: feeding them nutrient-rich foods (all approved as being dog-friendly of course), exercising them regularly, ensuring they have access to quality drinking water, and giving them plenty of love and affection.
