Garlic for Dogs - Health Benefits, Preparation and Use, Safe Dosage

You may have heard that garlic is bad for dogs. Well, garlic has been used for many years by holistic veterinarians. The debate about whether garlic is good or bad seems to have arisen from confusion with its close cousin, the onion. Both garlic and onion contain thiosulphate, the substance responsible for causing ‘Heinx Factor’ anemia in dogs. However the amount of thiosulphate found in garlic is much lower than in onions, in fact the amount in garlic is barely traceable!  The fear of garlic is a new one – propagated by rumor on the internet and not proven by any facts or study. To see an extensive list of foods that dogs should not eat you can click here.

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! 

Garlic is safe for pregnant dogs – the only caution around garlic for pregnant dogs is that if ingested in large quantities it can flavor the milk of lactating females (human and canine)…however dog’s should not be fed large amounts of garlic so this is not an issue. The daily dosage for garlic is provided below.

Don’t give garlic to puppies that are 6 months of age or younger.

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! 

  

History

Garlic is 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…

 Health Benefits

• Anti-bacterial;


• Anti-biotic (broad spectrum);


• Anti-carcinogen, garlic contains germanium – an anti-cancer agent;


• Garlic helps to regulate blood pressure;


• Helps strengthen the body’s defences against allergies;


• Helps regulate blood sugar levels;


• 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:




• Diabetes;


• Liver, heart and kidney disease;


• Ear infections and ear mite infestations;




• Garlic is a natural:




• De-wormer;


• 
  Flea, tick, mosquito repellent.
  

Active 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.

Preparation for Use – Triggering Optimal Benefits

Do not add garlic in a mixed form to your dogs diet (i.e. garlic steak spice – this is not pure garlic and can make your dog very ill). When I refer to ‘garlic’ I mean garlic in its pure, fresh form – garlic cloves.

Whether you are using the garlic as an ingredient in homemade dog food, or using it fresh to mix into your dog’s food you should prepare the garlic as follows to further increase its beneficial potency…

Chop, mince, crush or press the garlic and allow it to sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before cooking it or consuming the fresh cloves. This gives the allinn and alliinase sufficient time to undergo the enzymic reaction that creates allicin.

How to Include Garlic in Your Dog’s Diet

On a daily basis I give my dogs’ fresh garlic – I chop the garlic, let it sit for 15 minutes and then mix-it into their food. I also use a small amount of garlic when making their homemade-cooked dog food.

Recommended Daily Dosage for Dogs

1 clove fresh garlic (or 1 tsp minced/finely chopped) per every 30 lbs of body weight per day.

To Cut Down on Preparation Time…

• I chop (the finer the better) enough of the foodstuff in the food processor to last several days to a week;



• Then I put the chopped food in containers – plastic (BPA free) or glass;



• I leave the appropriate sized measuring spoon in the container – this little convenience makes it faster to prepare the meal at feeding time.

Interactions, Cautions

•  If your dog has IBS or Colitis




• Garlic is high in insoluble fibre and sulfur compounds – do not give fresh garlic to dogs that have IBS or colitis.

•  If your dog is on cyclosporine:




• Garlic may increase the rate at which cyclosprine is broken down by the body, and;


• Might decrease the effectiveness of cyclosporine;


• So, do not give your dog garlic if he/she is on cyclosporin.

• If your dog is on a blood thinner:




• Consult your veterinarian before giving your dog garlic;


• Garlic can slow down blood clotting -  garlic may increase the efficacy of the blood thinner;


• The dosage of the blood thinner would need to be adjusted for intake of garlic. 

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Related Articles

For related and additional articles on dog and cat, care, health, training, nutrition and animal advocacy go to thispage.

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