Yarrow
10 foods contain this ingredient
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About Yarrow
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a flowering herb occasionally added to pet products for its bitter, aromatic compounds rather than as a nutrient.
Yarrow is an herb sometimes included in pet foods or supplements as a botanical flavoring and for its bitter compounds that may support digestion and provide mild antioxidant/anti-inflammatory phytonutrients. It is not a primary nutrient source and should be used cautiously because it can cause gastrointestinal upset or allergic reactions in sensitive animals, may have mild uterine-stimulating and blood-thinning effects, and could interact with certain medications, so avoid in pregnant pets and consult a veterinarian for therapeutic use.
Related ingredients
- Derived from
- Achillea millefolium (yarrow plant, flowers and leaves)
- Primary role
- botanical flavoring and traditional digestive herb
Why it's used
In herbal traditions dating back to ancient Greece, yarrow was applied for wound care and taken internally as a bitter digestive aid, and those uses carried over into some modern herbal pet formulas. Its aromatic sesquiterpene and monoterpene compounds are what give the plant its characteristic bitterness and traditional association with digestive and topical support.
Common concerns
- ASPCA toxicity listing The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control plant database lists yarrow (Achillea millefolium) as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, with toxic principles identified as glycoalkaloids (achillein) and sesquiterpene lactones (achillin).
- Reported clinical signs The same ASPCA listing associates yarrow ingestion with vomiting, diarrhea, colic, drooling, anorexia, dermatitis, and depression.
- Allergic and skin reactions Because yarrow belongs to the daisy (Asteraceae) family, it is associated with allergic skin and contact reactions in individuals sensitive to related plants such as ragweed or chrysanthemums.
- Medication and pregnancy interactions Available consumer drug-interaction references note that yarrow's interactions with medications are not well characterized and that its effects during pregnancy are not established, which is why herbal-medicine sources counsel caution in these situations.
Also relevant
Yarrow is not used as a source of calories, protein, or established essential nutrients in pet diets; any inclusion is for its botanical/flavor properties, and questions about a specific pet's exposure are best directed to a veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control.
4 sources cited
- ASPCA toxicity listing, toxic principles, and clinical signs for yarrow in dogs, cats, and horses
- Traditional/historical use of yarrow for wound healing and as a digestive bitter
- Yarrow's association with allergic skin reactions in the daisy/Asteraceae family and uncertainty around drug interactions and pregnancy effects
- Phytochemistry overview of Achillea species (sesquiterpene lactones, monoterpenes) and documented medicinal uses
Common Questions
What category is Yarrow?
Yarrow is categorized as a herb ingredient in the KibbleLab database.
Is Yarrow part of an allergen group?
No allergen group is linked to Yarrow in the KibbleLab database.
Which foods contain Yarrow?
10 foods in the KibbleLab database contain Yarrow, including Earth Animal.
Foods with Yarrow
Alphabetical by brand. Scores run 0 to 10, higher is better, on published veterinary science.
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