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Natural is a description, not a safety rating. This section exists because owners search for these products constantly, and most pages about them are written to sell. Ours are written to grade the evidence. Every page here states its evidence level in plain words, cites the sources it rests on, and makes no cure claims.
Studied means the item has been tested in dogs in controlled trials or is covered by a clear published position from a body such as the FDA, the AVMA, the ASPCA or the AKC, so an owner can act on something firmer than opinion. Preliminary means real dog studies exist but they are small, short, mixed or narrow, so the honest summary is "promising or possible, not established". Anecdotal means the support is owner reports and tradition rather than dog studies. Anecdotal is not an insult; it is a label that tells you how much weight a claim can carry. Where the allowed sources publish nothing at all, the page says so, the way our wave one turmeric page does.
First, talk to your vet first: supplements can interact with medicines and can be wrong for dogs with existing conditions, and none of the products in this section is an approved drug with a tested label dose. Second, a concentrated extract is not the same thing as a kitchen ingredient; the dose and the chemistry change together. Third, if a problem matters enough to treat, it matters enough to diagnose: joint pain, itching, vomiting and liver worries all have causes worth finding, and several have approved treatments with far stronger evidence than anything graded here. Our sibling section, natural products and safety, covers CBD oil, coconut oil and raw feeding risks in verdict format from the same source standard.
It is a plain grading of how strong the dog specific support is. Studied means controlled dog trials or a clear published position from the FDA, AVMA, ASPCA or AKC. Preliminary means small, short or mixed dog studies. Anecdotal means owner reports and tradition rather than studies. The grade appears near the top of every page in this section so you never have to guess how much weight a claim carries.
Not by default. Natural describes where something comes from, not how it behaves in a dog. The ASPCA lists the chamomile plant as toxic to dogs, ginger can act as a mild blood thinner, and the FDA notes that unapproved CBD products cannot be checked for safety or effectiveness. Approved medicines, by contrast, are tested and labeled. Origin is not a safety rating either way.
Because for most products in this section no allowed source publishes a tested amount for dogs, and the right amount, if any, depends on the dog, the condition and the medicines already in use. Printing a schedule copied from sellers would pretend to a precision the evidence does not have. Amounts belong in the conversation with your veterinarian.
That swap is exactly what this section warns against. Several items here are graded preliminary or anecdotal, while prescribed treatments for the same problems usually rest on approval trials. If cost, side effects or worry are pushing you toward a swap, tell your veterinarian; there is often a middle option, and stopping a working treatment for an untested one is the riskiest version of the choice.
Start with the ASPCA toxic plant list and its people foods list, then look for dog specific studies rather than human wellness claims, then ask your veterinarian with the exact product name in hand. Our herbs safety overview walks through that sequence and gives verdicts for the herbs owners ask about most.
Nothing on this page is a recommendation to start, stop or change anything for your dog. Supplements and remedies can interact with medicines, can be wrong for dogs with existing conditions, and are not regulated the way approved drugs are. If anything here looks relevant to your dog, raise it with your veterinarian before you buy or give anything, and tell the clinic about anything you already give, because it belongs on your dog's medication list.
This page is general information drawn from the published guidance of the organizations listed under Sources below. It is not veterinary advice, and it does not replace your own veterinarian, who knows your dog. If your dog has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435, or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661 straight away. A consultation fee may apply on the helplines.
Last updated: November 2026. Evidence levels on this page follow the scale set out on the holistic evidence index: studied, preliminary, or anecdotal. How we work: our methodology.
Natural products and safety (verdict pages) | Can dogs eat: food safety guides