Oregano
62 foods contain this ingredient
This is an alphabetical list, not a ranking. Add KL+ to rank foods for your pet in the Food Finder.
About Oregano
Oregano is a culinary herb sometimes added to pet food in small amounts mainly as a flavoring and aromatic compound source.
Oregano is used in pet foods mainly as a flavoring and a natural source of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds (such as carvacrol and thymol), offering minor supportive effects for oral and digestive health rather than serving as a significant source of protein, fiber, or vitamins. In culinary amounts it is generally safe for dogs and cats, but concentrated oregano or oregano essential oil can cause gastrointestinal upset, skin irritation, or toxicity at high doses and should be avoided or used only under veterinary guidance, particularly for young, pregnant, or medicated pets.
- Derived from
- dried leaves of the oregano plant (Origanum vulgare)
- Primary role
- flavoring and aromatic plant compound source
Why it's used
Formulators include oregano in small culinary quantities for its flavor and for compounds like carvacrol and thymol, which are studied for antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, rather than for any meaningful protein, fat, or vitamin contribution. Its role in a finished food is more about scent and taste appeal than nutrition.
Common concerns
- ASPCA toxic plant listing The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center lists oregano as a plant with toxic potential for cats and dogs, naming gastrointestinal irritants as the concern and vomiting or diarrhea as the associated signs.
- Concentrated oil versus culinary herb The concerns around oregano scale sharply with concentration: dried culinary oregano used in small amounts is a very different exposure than oregano essential oil, which carries a much higher concentration of carvacrol and is discussed in veterinary sources as a source of gastrointestinal, skin, or liver-related reactions at higher doses.
- Cats metabolize phenolic compounds differently Cats have reduced capacity to glucuronidate certain phenolic compounds compared to dogs, which is why concentrated oregano oil exposures are discussed as being of particular concern in cats.
3 sources cited
- ASPCA lists oregano as toxic to dogs and cats with GI irritants as toxic principle, vomiting/diarrhea as signs
- Oregano oil carvacrol concentration (70-85%) and associated vomiting, liver, neurological effects discussed in veterinary toxicology context
- Cats have reduced ability to glucuronidate phenols such as carvacrol/thymol compared to dogs
Common Questions
What category is Oregano?
Oregano is categorized as a herb ingredient in the KibbleLab database.
Is Oregano part of an allergen group?
No allergen group is linked to Oregano in the KibbleLab database.
Which foods contain Oregano?
62 foods in the KibbleLab database contain Oregano, including Wishbone, Zesty Paws.
Foods with Oregano
Alphabetical by brand. Scores run 0 to 10, higher is better, on published veterinary science.
Find the right food for your pet
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