Can dogs eat dill?

Chop a few feathery fronds and sprinkle them over your dog's food. For a medium dog, half a teaspoon of fresh dill is plenty. Dried dill is stronger, so a small pinch is enough. Dill seeds are also not toxic in small amounts.

Some dogs like the fresh smell; others ignore it. Either reaction is fine.

Dill pickles are salty and often contain garlic. Tzatziki pairs dill with yogurt and garlic. Dill sauces for salmon use cream, butter and sometimes mustard. Potato salad may include onion and mayonnaise. Gravlax is cured with salt and sugar. None of these make good dog treats, even though the dill itself is harmless.

Thin slices of fresh cucumber sprinkled with a pinch of chopped dill make a cool, low-calorie summer snack, a dog-safe nod to the classic pairing without the salt or yogurt. Ten slices come to around 10 calories. Serve them chilled from the fridge on a warm afternoon.

Dill grows tall and airy in summer vegetable gardens. It is not dangerous to dogs, but make sure your dog is not grazing on neighboring plants such as chives or onions. Wild plants in the carrot family can look similar to dill and some are highly toxic, so only use dill you are sure of.

Dill is sometimes included in breath-freshening dog treats. The effect is mild and temporary. Bad breath that sticks around usually needs a dental check.