You may have heard of the question “Is garlic for dogs good or bad”, but you are not sure if it’s safe to feed your dog garlic.
I know there’s a lot of misinformation out there about the use of garlic in food and supplements for dogs.
This article provides you with a comprehensive guide on garlic for dogs, which hopefully will help answer some of your questions about garlic.
Over the years, I’ve had a lot of queries about garlic and dogs from my readers. Questions like:
- Is garlic for dogs good or bad?
- What does garlic do to dogs?
- How much garlic can I give my dog?
- Is garlic toxic to dogs?
- Is garlic safe for dogs?
What happens if a dog eats a small piece of garlic bread?
The main issue with garlic on dogs and cats is the presence of a compound in the garlic (and more so in onion) known as n-propyl sulfide.
When ingested in large amounts, n-propyl sulfide can cause oxidative damage in red blood cells.
This can lead to the formation of “heinz bodies” and the body’s rejection of these cells from its bloodstream. Eating large amounts of this compound regularly can lead to anemia and death.
Does this mean that garlic is dangerous or toxic for dogs? Not really. In fact, it is difficult to find any clinical proof that garlic is harmful to dogs.
In a study conducted in 2000, four dogs were given one garlic extract per kilogram of body weight per day for seven consecutive days.
The dogs weighed 50 pounds each, and each dog was given about 25 raw garlic cloves. (Nobody would give that much garlic to a dog in real life, right?).
In this study, four dogs were given a ridiculously large amount of garlic and none of them developed any toxicity. The garlic did affect their red blood cells but they did not develop anemia.
In another study conducted by the same team of researchers in 2018, it was found that allicin is beneficial for health.
The researchers found that despite the large amounts of garlic used in the study, the dogs did not develop any form of hematologic anemia.
This 2004 study has caused the researchers to backtrack on their earlier claim that garlic is harmful to dogs.
The researchers concluded that the herb has the “potential to promote immune function and prevent cardiovascular disease.
The bottom line? Use common sense!
Basically, the key to using garlic on dogs safely is dosage and frequency. For example, according to a 2000 study, a healthy 50-pound dog would need to eat a 5 oz onion or more than 20 cloves of garlic to even start the oxidative process.
Because red blood cells regenerate from the bone marrow all the time, a dog would need to ingest that much onion or garlic repeatedly to cause permanent damage to its red blood cells.
How Often and How Much Can A Dog Eat Garlic?
If you take a holistic approach, you may think that raw garlic is safe for your dog to consume on a daily basis.
Raw garlic has many preventive health benefits, including strengthening your dog’s immune system, improving heart health, preventing fleas and ticks from entering your home, and decreasing inflammation.
According to Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, below is a list of safe daily amounts of fresh garlic for dogs and cats.
- 10 – 15 pounds: .5 clove
- 20 – 40 pounds: 1 clove
- 45 – 70 pounds: 2 cloves
- 75 – 90 pounds: 2.5 cloves
- 100 pounds +: 3 cloves
According to traditional veterinary medicine, 15-30 g of garlic per kilogram of your dog’s body weight can cause a chain reaction in your dog’s body.
A single garlic clove is about 3-7 g, so that’s a lot of garlic. If your dog just chews a piece of garlic bread, it won’t cause any discomfort other than a bit of gas.
But if your dog chews garlic on a regular basis, or if he picks up a few cloves of garlic on the counter, you could be in trouble.
Is garlic good for dogs? Well, yes, garlic for dogs does have some health benefits. Here are some of them:
1. Boosting the immune system
Garlic increases the activity of killer cells in the bloodstream, which are cells that look for and kill microbes and cancer cells.
Therefore, I believe that garlic is good for dogs with a weakened immune system and dogs with cancer.
Even moderate garlic supplementation in the diet of healthy dogs can increase their immunity and help prevent cancer.
2. Fighting viral/bacterial/fungal Infection
Garlic is one of the most effective antimicrobials and antibiotics in the world. It can fight various types of infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and protozoa.
For example, fresh garlic fed to dogs can help fight infections in their mouths, throats, lungs, stomachs, and intestines.
You can also use crushed garlic diluted with olive oil as a local antiseptic. It can be used to treat minor injuries, as well as ear infections and ear mites.
3. Enhancing liver function
Garlic has anti-oxidant properties. There are at least six compounds in garlic that can improve liver function.
These compounds help the liver to remove toxins from your body, preventing toxic build-ups that can lead to cancer.
4. Reduce blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels
Garlic mixed with food lowers cholesterol and triglycerides in your dog’s blood, making it suitable for dogs with pre-existing hyperlipidemia (e.g., miniature schnauzer, and beagle).
5. Cardiovascular tonic
Garlic contains a compound that prevents the formation of blood clots in the blood vessels.
Garlic can also help lower cholesterol levels and fat deposits in the arteries, which can lead to atherosclerosis. This makes garlic a great cardiovascular tonic for senior dogs.
6. Tick and flea repellent
There is no definitive answer as to why garlic works as a tick and flea repellent, but there are many anecdotal reports of its effectiveness (especially when used in conjunction with brewer’s yeast).
This may be because the odor of garlic is released through the dog’s skin as it is metabolized.
7. Fresh raw garlic or garlic powder?
Not all types of garlic are created equal. Garlic that has been boiled, roasted, or sauteed will lose most of its medicinal benefits and nutrients.
The active ingredient in garlic, allicin, is a compound that gives it its strong odor.
Allicin is unstable and quickly disappears when exposed to moisture, air, or heat, but it is also what gives garlic its strong antibiotic properties.
Raw garlic is the best form of garlic to use as an antibiotic. The best form of raw garlic is raw garlic juice. You should use raw garlic juice within 3 hours after chopping or pressing it.
Garlic powder and garlic pills will also help you get the results you want. Garlic powder is used as a cancer prevention agent.
Garlic pills are also used as a cardiovascular tonic and nutritional supplement.
FAQs Related To Is Garlic For Dogs Good Or Bad
Is garlic an antibiotic for dogs?
Yes. It’s a natural antibiotic for your dogs
Can dogs drink garlic water?
Yes, garlic is toxic to dogs. That’s because garlic and garlic-like plants like onions are poisonous to dogs.
Eating large amounts of garlic can lead to anemia and other signs of toxicity. All types of garlic are toxic to dogs
Does garlic prevent fleas in dogs?
The garlic theory states that if you feed your pet garlic, it will change its smell or blood chemistry to repel fleas.
Although garlic does smell good, it is unlikely to repel a flea from an already attractive host.
Can a dog survive garlic poisoning?
If a dog consumes too much garlic, it can lead to its death if not treated.
Is onion poison to dogs?
Yes. Very toxic when eaten in excess
Is there a natural antibiotic for dogs?
So far, there are two antibiotics that stand out from the rest: the manuka honey and the turmeric.
Manuka honey is known to be one of the most potent natural dog antibiotics. It is used as an antibiotic for wounds and lesions. It also helps in reducing inflammation.
Can dogs eat rice?
Yes. Your dogs can eat white rice
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