We have all heard about the amazing benefits of garlic for dogs. On the contrary we have also heard the garlic may be poisonous to dogs. So, what should you believe in?
I understand that there is a lot of information available on
the internet about using garlic in dogs. However, there are some details which
you must know as a dog guardian so that garlic can be used as a tool in dog
care and not something that will actually harm your dog in the process. I hope
this article helps you understand the use of garlic for your dog.
For easy reading of the article, I have divided the blog
post into the following topics:
What is the benefit of garlic consumption
for dogs?
Which form of garlic is best for your
dog’s consumption?
Is garlic really safe for dogs?
Is consumption of garlic safe for all
dogs?
Consumption of how much garlic and
what interval is safe for your dog?
Can garlic be poisonous to dogs?
Symptoms of garlic poisoning dogs
Should garlic be or not to be a part
of dog care?
Are garlic supplements safe for dogs?
Treatment of garlic toxicity in dogs
How can you prevent garlic poisoning in
your dog?
What are the alternatives to using
garlic for dogs?
Other articles you may find interesting:
Arthritis in dogs: The DO's and DON'Ts for a dog guardian
Allergies in dogs: signs, symptoms and treatment
Excessive shedding in dogs: causes, treatment, home remedies
What is the benefit of garlic consumption for dogs?
Garlic is a readily and easily available remedy. It has been
used for thousands of years by the Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine
practitioners. Garlic contains over 30 compounds which have been observed to
provide benefits in case of a variety of conditions from skin related issues to
cancer.
Garlic is also recommended by holistic veterinarians for its
numerous health benefits for dogs. Following are some of the primary health benefits
of using garlic for dogs
Boosts the immune system
Garlic increases the activity of the immune cells which are
responsible for killing pathogens and other harmful microorganisms. The increase
in the killer cells of the population means that the invading microbes as well
as cancer cells will be eliminated quickly and efficiently. Therefore, moderate
levels of garlic supplementation in your dog’s diet, even if your dog is
healthy, will boost his or her immune system as well as keep him or her away
from cancer.
Fighting viral\fungal/bacterial infections:
Garlic has some powerful antibiotic as with antimicrobial
effects. It can help your dog to fight against a variety of internal as well as
external viral, fungal or bacterial infections. It has even been found to be
effective against parasitic infections like tapeworms and protozoan infections
like Giardia.
Prevents infection in and out:
An addition of garlic to your dog’s diet, can help your dog prevent
any kind of infection in the intestines, stomach, respiratory tract, throat,
mouth. You can also use garlic diluted in a small amount of olive oil as a
topical remedy for any kind of minor injury, ear infection as well as ear mites. This topical ointment has several
antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.
Consumption of garlic enhances the liver function
Garlic has been observed to have detoxifying effects. Garlic
contains at least six compounds which can help in enhancing liver function by
limiting toxins and preventing the accumulation of toxins which may cause in
your dog.
Lowering triglyceride and blood cholesterol levels:
Consumption of uncooked garlic with food allows reduction of
the triglyceride as well as blood cholesterol level in dogs. Garlic can be really
useful for breeds which are predisposed to hyperlipidemia (disease in which the
amount of lipids in the blood stream increases) like beagles, miniature
schnauzers etc.
Garlic can act as a cardiovascular tonic:
Garlic has compounds which are very efficient at preventing
formation of blood clots in the vasculature of your dog. As I mentioned before,
garlic reduces the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries, thus preventing
atherosclerosis. Thus, garlic can act as an excellent cardiovascular tonic for
senior dogs.
Flea and tick repellent:
As mentioned in my previous blog posts, garlic can act as a very effective tick and flea prevention method. However, the mechanism of action of garlic in this case is not clear. It might be because of the products released from the garlic on your dog’s skin when the compounds present in garlic are oxidized.
Which form of garlic is best for your dog’s consumption?
Garlic acts best when consumed raw. If the garlic is cooked
on high heat like sautéed, roasted or boiled, it will lose its goodness and the
medicinal properties.
The component of garlic which gives of a strong odor is
Allicin. This compound is very unstable and quickly dissipates when exposed to
any kind of moisture, heat or air. Allicin is also the compound which provides
garlic its antibiotic properties. Thus, if you are planning to use garlic as an
antibiotic, the best way to do this would be to use either raw garlic or garlic
juice. Remember to use the concoction within three hours of chopping or grinding.
If you are thinking of using garlic as supplement for cancer
prevention, nutritional supplement, cardiovascular tonic or immunity booster,
you can go for garlic pills. However, remember to have a consultation with your
vet before you embark on using garlic as a regular nutritional supplement for
your dog.
Now that we have
discussed all the potential benefits of garlic, the doses as well as the form
in which garlic should be used, let’s look to the negative side of the story.
Is garlic really safe for dogs?
Of late there have been many questions about the safety of
use of garlic for dogs. The primary controversy amongst all these in regarding
the safety of consumption of garlic for dogs as well as cats. Garlic contains a
compound called as an n-propyl disulfide. This compound is found garlic as well
as in onions [in greater amounts than garlic]. If this compound is consumed in
large doses, it can lead to the oxidative damage to the red blood cells. This
leads to formation of Heinz bodies in the RBCs. Heinz bodies are rejected by
the dog’s body and remove from the bloodstream. Therefore, if a dog ingests
large doses of this compound or large quantities of garlic and onion on a
regular interval, it can lead to formation of a large amount of Heinz bodies
which can cause rejection of the RBCs leading to anemia. In severe cases this
may even lead to death of the dog.
So this means that garlic is poisonous for dogs, right?
The internet has points against as well as in favor of
garlic for dogs. I will be presenting both of them to you in the following section:
Studies have observed that if a dog is administered garlic
as per his or her body weight, there is no way that the dog would ever show any
negative signs or symptoms. A study done in 2000 in Hokkaido University observed
the effect of garlic and onion in dogs. In the study, 1.25 ml of garlic extract
was given to the dog per kg of his or her body weight. Therefore, if the dog weighed
50 pounds, he would be administered around 25 cloves of garlic. No one would
give so much of garlic to their dogs in normal conditions.
Despite of this ridiculously high amount of garlic
administration, none of the dogs showed any signs of damage or garlic toxicity.
Even though garlic did have a negative effect on the dog’s red blood cells, it
did not lead to anemia.
Other studies have observed that the compound Allicin which
is present in garlic is actually good for the dog’s health. A study done in
2004 showed that despite of using high garlic concentrations, the dogs did not
develop or showed signs of hemolytic anemia. This led to retraction of the previous
paper as well as proved those researchers wrong who said that garlic is toxic
or bad for dogs. As per the new findings, it was concluded that garlic has the
potential to prevent cardiovascular disease and promote the immune functions in
dogs.
Therefore, garlic is non-toxic your dog and can be used in moderate amounts. A dog will have to eat a lot of garlic to begin the oxidative process which would lead to anemia. Furthermore, since red blood cells are regenerated regularly in the bone marrow, the number of garlic cloves consumed will have to be very high, to induce the oxidative process which would lead to formation of the Heinz bodies. Therefore, if you are administering moderate amount of garlic to your dog at regular intervals, it is safe and potentially even healthy for your dog.
Is consumption of garlic safe for all dogs?
Even though a small quantity of garlic administered on a
regular basis is completely safe for all dogs, if your dog suffers from any of
the following conditions, he or she should not be administered garlic in any
form or dose:
- If your dog is suffering from anemia or is scheduled to undergo surgery soon, he or she should not be given garlic in any form.
- If your dog is still young [between the age of 6 to 8 weeks], he or she should not be administered garlic in any form since at this stage puppies do not have new red blood cell formation.
Consumption of how much garlic and what interval is safe for your dog?
According to author Gregory Tilford (all you ever wanted to
know about herbs for Pets author), consumption of 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
for every 1 pound of dog food is enough when administered 3 to 4 times every
week.
According to the author Dr. Martin Goldstein (Nature of
Animal Healing), you can add garlic to your dog homemade food on a regular
basis.
As per expert Dr. Pitcairn, the following doses of fresh
garlic is recommended to be given 4 times a week to dogs as per their size:
10 to 15 pounds of body weight-half clove of garlic
20 to 40 pounds of body weight- 1 clove
45 to 70 pounds of body weight- 2 cloves of garlic
70-90 pounds of body weight- 2(1/2) cloves of garlic
100 pounds of body weight and above- 3 cloves of garlic
Can garlic be poisonous to dogs?
As I mentioned before, garlic can cause anemia in dogs. It
has been observed that the powdered form of garlic which is used in seasoning
is a very potent poison. Japanese dog breeds like Shiba Inu, Akita Inu have
been observed to be adversely affected by garlic compared to other breeds.
However, the reason behind this is not clear. Experts postulate that this could
be due to the presence of higher red blood cell count as well as low potassium
and glutathione levels in the Japanese breeds.
Symptoms of garlic poisoning dogs:
Garlic poisoning can cause major damage your dog’s red blood
cells. The common symptoms observed in garlic poisoning are:
- gastrointestinal upset
- vomiting
- nausea
- diarrhea
- respiratory issues
- abdominal pain
- lethargy
- jaundice
- weakness
- appetite loss
- Depression
- diarrhea
- dehydration
- Hyper salivation
Should garlic be or not to be a part of dog care?
I have presented evidence to you both in favor as well as
against the use of garlic for dogs. However, according to the AKC (American Kennel
Club) as well as PetMD, garlic in any manner or form should not be consumed by
your dog. In case your dog consumes even a tiny amount of garlic, consult your
vet immediately. Minimal quantities of garlic, even 15 to 30 g per cage of your
dog’s body weight can put your dog in danger. Some dogs may show increased sensitivity
towards garlic compared to others and develop garlic toxicity symptoms much
quicker. Hence if you suspect that your dog has consumed garlic any form or
quantity, do not delay in consulting your vet
Are garlic supplements safe for dogs?
Studies have actually not proven commercial garlic
supplements to show any positive results for dogs. Even though, as previously
mentioned small doses may be safe for most dog breeds, the known risks as well
as the lack of positive evidence must be taken into consideration when deciding
whether to use garlic as a nutritional supplement for your dog or not. If you
are thinking of adding garlic as part of your dog’s diet, consult your vet
first. Administering an incorrect dose can have a drastic negative effect on
your dog. Therefore, it is always better to consult with your vet before adding
garlic as a nutritional supplement to your dog’s diet.
Diagnosis of garlic poisoning
The diagnosis of garlic poisoning is basically conducted via
a series of physical exams, medical history as well as laboratory diagnosis.
The physical examination involves recording your dog’s body
temperature, respiration rate, weight, height, blood pressure as well as abdominal
palpitation. Your veterinarian will focus on the heart rate, mucus membrane
color, breathing pattern and general reflexes. He or she will ask you for certain
details like previous illnesses, injuries, vaccination details and any abnormal
behavior.
To confirm the presence of any gastric toxicosis, your vet
will conduct a complete blood work which will include analysis of blood glucose
levels, complete blood count (CBC), arterial blood gas levels, hemoglobin
concentration as well as urine analysis.
Depending on the results of the tests, your vet may perform some
other diagnostic tests to rule out other diseases like liver biopsy and blood
clotting test. An abdominal ultrasound, CT scan and X rays may be conducted to
check your dog’s liver and spleen.
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Treatment of garlic toxicity in dogs
In case you suspect that your dog has ingested large amount
of garlic or garlic bread or any other food items contained garlic, immediately
take him or her to the nearest emergency vet care. Onion and garlic poisoning
have not been observed to be fatal in dogs but your dog may need
hospitalization and supportive care depending on the condition. Your vet might
recommend administration of IV fluids to keep your dog properly hydrated and
may prescribe oral medications to control the vomiting. In case of severe
disease, a blood transfusion might be deemed mandatory. IV fluids will help
your dog’s kidney and your bloodstream and flush out garlic from the system.
Your vet may also conduct a gastric lavage to remove the garlic from the
stomach if it has been ingested in the last two hours. He or she may want to
administer activated charcoal which has been known to absorb toxins or a
cathartic drug which will enhance the excretion of the toxin from your dog’s
body
How can you prevent garlic poisoning in
your dog?
Prevention is always better than cure. Prevent your dog from
consuming anything which may have traces of garlic in it. Do not serve your dog
any home-cooked meal or take away if there is even a slight inclination of the
food containing garlic. Keep your trash area covered and prevent your dog from
getting into it.
What are the alternatives to using garlic for dogs?
If you are looking for healthy alternatives to garlic,
consider adding high nutrient vegetables and fruits to your dog’s diet like
watermelon, cucumbers, carrots, blueberries, apples, strawberries and sweet
potatoes.
Conclusion:
If you ask me, I’d say, use the alternatives rather than raw
garlic. Granted, garlic has its benefits. But why put your pup n harm’s way
when it can easily be avoided? As far as the research goes, they have been
conducted on small number of dogs as well as those belonging to some specific
breeds. Thus, the information gained cannot be generalized across dogs of all
breeds. Avoid using raw garlic or products which contain garlic for your pup. It
is our responsible as guardians to chose what is the best dog care option for
our pups.
Has your dog ever suffered from garlic poisoning? What did
you do in such a condition? What treatment protocol did your vet follow to help
your pup recover? Let me know in the comment section. If there is a story or
anecdote you wish to share, feel free to contact me on any of my social media
channels. I will be happy to post your story on the blog.
