1. Garlic - Why It Is Good For Dogs...
1.1 Time to Put Myths and Misnomers to Rest
- The debate
- A common substance shared
- What those that do not know miss out on
2. History of Garlic
3. Health Benefits of Fresh Garlic
4. Active Medicinal Ingredients in Garlic
5. Activating The Medicinal Properties of Garlic
6. Forms of Garlic You Should Not Use
7. How to Include Garlic In Your Dogs Daily Diet
- Safe Daily Dosage
8. Cautions
9. Drug Interactions
10. Other Uses for Garlic
- Insect and Parasite Replant, Treatment and Preventative
- Topical Treatment for Ear Infections
1.0 Garlic - Why It Is Good For Dogs...
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| My Happy, Healthy Boxer x Pit Bull Robbie |
You may have heard that garlic is bad for dogs. Well, garlic has been used for many years by loving dog owners and by holistic veterinarians to support the good health of dogs.
1.1 Time to Put Myths and Misnomers To Rest
The Debate
The debate about whether garlic is good or bad seems to have arisen from confusion with its close cousin, the onion. And that question has been furthered by people - professionals and public alike - who do not inform themselves about the actual properties of these foods prior to pronouncing their opinion...
Which means that their pronouncement is an OPINION and an uninformed judgement based on lack of information rather than an evidence-based fact.
A Common Substance Shared
Both garlic and onion contain thiosulphate, the substance responsible for causing ‘Heinx Factor’ anemia in dogs and cats.
The amount of thiosulphate found in garlic is much lower than in onions, in fact the amount in garlic is barely traceable and when garlic is provided in proper daily dosage the thiosulphate is not sufficient to cause harm to dogs - and the health benefits garlic offers to dogs is enormous. As cats are much more sensitive to thiosulphate than dogs. cats are, in general more sensitive to biologically foreign substances - another example of this sensitivity can be seen in the use of essential oils. The range of essential oils that are suitable for cats is considerably less than the quantity of safe essential oils for dogs. While garlic is found in some holistic medicine-blends for cats, the amount used is strictly controlled. And while a wise cat may choose to rub up against a patch of wild garlic for its insect repelling properties - I recommend that you do not administer garlic to your cat, unless it is present in minute amounts in a made-for-cat proved-to-be-safe product. Fresh garlic, some people give it to their cats a few times a week - however I do not recommend this for the average cat guardian.
The fear of garlic - as pertains to its use as a healthful herb for dogs, is a new fear propagated by rumor on the internet and not proven by any facts or study. To see an extensive list of foods that dogs should truly not be consuming and/or should be consuming with caution you can read here.
What Those That Dont Know Miss Out On
Garlic is a powerful, natural broad-spectrum antibiotic. Garlic is also an antioxidant, anti-allergen, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-protozoan, anti-viral and anti-carcinogen. Garlic contains germanium, an anti-cancer agent and an anti-protozoan. Garlic can also be used topically to treat specific ailments - for example ear mite infestation and ear infections.
Garlic is a powerful, natural broad-spectrum antibiotic. Garlic is also an antioxidant, anti-allergen, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-protozoan, anti-viral and anti-carcinogen. Garlic contains germanium, an anti-cancer agent and an anti-protozoan. Garlic can also be used topically to treat specific ailments - for example ear mite infestation and ear infections.
Garlic also contains sulfur - a natural insect repellent!
When garlic is ingested in reasonable amounts there are no harmful results - only benefits, and no, it won’t make your dog smell like garlic!
When garlic is ingested in reasonable amounts there are no harmful results - only benefits, and no, it won’t make your dog smell like garlic!
2.0 History of Garlic
Garlic is a herbal plant and an ancient food crop - harvested and cultivated by mankind for thousands of years. The word garlic comes from the Old English word garleac - ‘spear leek’. Chives, leeks, shallots and onions are toxic for your dog…but the benefits of garlic are many…
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| Abby and Jordie - my German Shepherd x Malamute and my German Shepherd x Belgian Shepherd eat garlic on a daily basis |
3.0 Health Benefits of Fresh Garlic
- Anti-bacterial;
- Anti-biotic (broad spectrum);
- Anti-carcinogen, garlic contains germanium - an anti-cancer agent;
- Garlic helps to prevent a variety of cancers such as: bladder cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer; rectal cancer, stomach cancer.
- Garlic is also used to treat some forms of cancer such as bladder and prostate cancer.
- Garlic helps to regulate blood pressure;
- Heart health support to prevent:
- Heart disease;
- Heart attack;
- Hardening of the arteries;
- Helps strengthen the bodys defenses against allergies;
- Helps regulate blood sugar levels;
- High cholesterol reduction;
- Garlic is high in vitamins, minerals and nutrients:
- Calcium, Potassium, Zinc;
- Protein;
- Vitamin A, B, B2, C;
- Garlic is an aid to fighting and treating:
- Asthma;
- Environmental allergies
- Diabetes;
- Diarrhea;
- Fatigue;
- Liver, heart and kidney disease;
- Maintenance of healthy liver function;
- Ear infections and ear miteinfestations;
- Stress.
- Garlic is a natural:
- De-wormer;
- Flea, tick, mosquito repellent.
4.0 Active Medicinal Ingredients in Garlic
Garlic contains multiple sulphur-inclusive compounds. Allinn and another enzyme ‘alliinase’, both present in garlic, but contained in separate cells gain the opportunity to combine and create a new enzyme called ‘allicin’ when garlic is chopped, crushed, minced or chewed. Allicin (an anti-biotic, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, heart healthy enzyme) is the most beneficial of the healthful enzymes in garlic.
5.0 Activating the Medicinal Properties
5.0 Activating the Medicinal Properties
Use Fresh Garlic and Prepare it As Follows...
Dry, Dehydrated, Powdered, Mixed Garlic, Supplement
- Chop, crush, mince or press/bruise the fresh garlic, and then;
- Allow to sit at room temperature for at minimum five (5) minutes and better ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes;
- This gives the allinn and alliinase sufficient time to undergo the enzymic reaction that creates allicin - the medicinal ingredient in garlic;
- Mix the garlic into your dogs food in his/her bowl and its now time for your dog to eat;
- The medicinal properties remain active for up to one (1) hour after you have activiated them;
- After one hour has passed the medicinal properties begin to degrade which is why it is improtant to use fresh prepared garlic.
Dry, Dehydrated, Powdered, Mixed Garlic, Supplement
- Do not add garlic in a mixed form to your dogs diet - i.e. garlic steak spice
- May contain fillers, sugar, salt and herbs or spices, food colouring and other additives that are not safe for dogs to consume;
- Dehydrated, powdered garlic, or preserved minced garlic intended for culinary use has been degraded from processing and its medicinal qualities are lost - its only remaining purpose is to please the human palate - dont give these forms of garlic to your dog as they offer no benefit.
- Fresh always refrigerated preserved garlic - much like fresh sauerkraut that has been pickled/preserved/fermented in pure water (not in wine and with other additives) and has been kept refrigerated after the initial curing period will have beneficial probiotic properties but may not have the other medicinal qualities offered by fresh garlic.
- Cooked garlic does not retain the medicinal properties found in fresh garlic.
7.0 How to Include Garlic in Your Dog’s
Daily Diet
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| More of my garlic eating dogs... |
Safe Daily Dosage for Dogs
- 1 clove fresh raw garlic per every:
- 30 pounds of body weight
- 13.6 kg of body weight
- For dogs less than 30 pounds:
- 20 pound dog - 2/3 of a clove
- 15 pound dog - 1/2 of a clove
- 10 pound dog - 1/3 of a clove
- 5 pound dog - 1/6 of a clove
- 1 teaspoon (tsp) fresh, raw minced/finely chopped garlic per every:
- 30 lbs of body weight
- 13.6 kg of body weight
- For dogs less than 30 pounds:
- 20 pound dog - 2/3 of a tsp
- 15 pound dog - 1/2 of a tsp
- 10 pound dog - 1/3 of a tsp
- 5 pound dog - 1/6 of a tsp
If you can afford to do so, buy organic garlic.
8.0 Cautions
- Pregnant and Lactating Dogs
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