Can
Dogs Eat Garlic?
This
is a common question and an article in Dog’s Naturally Magazine thoroughly
discusses this topic. The answer is yes, if done correctly.
The benefits of Garlic
It is high in vitamins and minerals. It warms
the body, so circulation is improved. Garlic helps detoxify the body and boosts
the immune system. It supports beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract
and eliminates harmful bacteria. As a liver enhancer, garlic breaks down wastes
before they enter the bloodstream. It is also a natural flea, tick, and
mosquito repellent. When using garlic as a flea and tick repellent, feed each
day for two weeks, then twice a week for maintenance. This is a safe, natural way to offer your pet
parasite protection. The fresh garlic will be absorbed into your pet's
gastrointestinal (GI) tract and secreted through the skin, making him a very
unpalatable host for external parasites.
Research Caused the Misunderstanding
Research studies base their findings on
the effects of garlic extracts, excessive dosages, and unnatural delivery
methods. A study by K W Lee, et al created garlic’s reputation as a food that
can harm your dog. This study fed 5 grams of garlic per kilo per day to their
dogs. That is essentially 4 full heads of garlic to a 75 lb. golden retriever –
every day. No wonder there were adverse effects.
Feed Garlic the Correct Way
You must use fresh garlic cloves – the kind
that stays in the husk until 10 to 15 minutes before your feed your dog. Never use garlic out of a jar.
When you crush, mince, or chop raw garlic it
creates Allicin, the active medicinal ingredient in garlic that gives it those
antibiotic, anti-cancer, antiviral and antioxidant properties.
First, peel the fresh garlic cloves then mince or chop them and
let the mixture sit for 10 minutes. Measure it out for the size of your dog and
mix into their food. The medicinal ingredient will degrade quickly so use
immediately after 10 minutes.
Dosage
How much garlic should
you give your dog?
·
5
lb. dog -1/6 tsp
·
10
lb. dog -1/3 tsp
·
15
lb. dog – ½ tsp
·
20
lb. dog – 2/3 tsp
·
30
lb. dog – 1 tsp
When
feeding garlic for health, it is recommend feeding in one meal every other week.
Which Dogs Should Not
Ingest Garlic?
Pregnant or nursing dogs, puppies eight weeks or less as they do
not produce new red blood cells, and Akitas and Shiba Inus, as they are more
sensitive to the effects of garlic.
Drug Interactions
Garlic can interact with several types of medications such
as immune suppressants, heart medications, chemotherapy drugs, blood thinners,
insulin, antacids, and high blood pressure drugs. Do not use garlic if your dog
is on any of these drugs.
As always, consult your veterinarian before giving garlic or any
other supplement to your dog. To read the full article, go to https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/garlic-for-dogs-poison-or-medicine/
Source: Rita Hogan, canine herbalist
Dogs Naturally Magazine