Is Catnip Safe for Dogs?
Yes! Not only is catnip safe for dogs, it is also good for them! Catnip contains vitamins C and E, magnesium, flavonoids (phytonutrients), tannins, and essential oils. Like cats, some dogs don’t respond to catnip but for the ones who do, catnip has the opposite effect that it has with cats. With dogs, catnip acts as a mild sedative and can help with a variety of issues.
Nerves: If your pooch gets nervous at the vet or groomer, try giving her some catnip about 30 minutes before her appointment (see below for tips on how to do this). “It calms them down,” holistic veterinarian Dr. Randy Kidd, tells Animal Wellness magazine. “Some dogs don’t respond, but the ones that do become more relaxed, calmer.”
Bad Belly: Catnip can also come to the rescue of pooches suffering from tummy troubles. These include everything from indigestion (sort of like how mint tea is good for the human belly) to nausea and motion sickness.
Sleep: Because it acts as a sedative, catnip can help with sleep. If you have a pooch who keeps you up at night, catnip given before bedtime for a short period of time could help to regulate his sleep patterns, getting him to a place where everyone can sleep the whole night through.
I learnt from Alnwick Castle poison garden in north England that catnip makes humans grouchy, and historically was used by executioners to feel less bad about executing people. No idea how true that is but it makes an interesting thought!