We have all heard at some point of being dog parents that garlic is toxic for dogs and it shouldn’t be given to them under any circumstances. How true is this? In todays blog we will be debunking the myths associated with garlic and our dogs.
Firstly, where did the rumour come from about garlic being poisonous to our pets? Garlic’s bad reputation branches from a fundamental misunderstanding of the research, not from cases of toxicity in dogs. This scientific research had been conducted using garlic extracts. The most mentioned scientific studies used extracts for their research in substantial quantities. They also used excessive amounts during the studies.
Since the initial outdated research was made into the toxicity of garlic in 2000 (25 years ago!) There have since been more studies to disprove the outdated scientific study.
In 2018, researchers tested aged garlic extract on dogs to see if it was safe and if it had any health benefits. Over the course of 12 weeks, dogs were given a daily dose of garlic. The garlic caused no harmful side effects. The dogs remained healthy, and their blood test results were normal. Garlic appeared to stimulate the body's natural antioxidant defences, which can decline due to aging and other causes such as stress or toxins. In short, this study showed that in the correct form and dose garlic can be safe for dogs and may help boost their internal protection system.
Let’s start with the benefits adding the correct dose of garlic to your dog’s diet can have.
Garlic is a great way to boost the immune system. Garlic contains antioxidants that can aid in the decrease of inflammation and help to reinforce the immune system. Garlic also contains compounds that can have anti-inflammatory properties, this makes it a great natural remedy for dogs with arthritis or other inflammatory conditions. Garlic is also one of the most effective natural flea and tick repellents. It builds up protective sulphur compounds in the coat, making your dog less attractive to parasites. Garlic has also been recognised for a long time for its anti-parasitic properties. Garlic is a safer alternative to chemical flea and worming treatments which can often be extremely harmful to your dog’s health. This is something I plan on doing a separate blog post about in the near future.
Garlic is also fantastic for heart health. It can aid in reducing cholesterol levels and promoting healthy blood circulation. Garlic also has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties that can assist in fighting off infections. Garlic can also be beneficial for digestive health, helping to regulate bowel movements and improve digestive function. Garlic is also great for your dogs overall health due to the various vitamins and minerals it contains, including but not limiting to vitamins A, B & C and minerals such as Potassium and iron.
It is important to remember that garlic does contain thiosulphate. Thiosulphate is a chemical that is responsible for causing Heinz body haemolytic anaemia. This is a form of anaemia that presents itself when a dog’s red blood cells are damaged by oxidative stress. This is why it is super important that you feed the correct dose of garlic to your dogs. The correct dose of raw garlic does not contain high levels of thiosulphate. Your dog would have to have significantly more than the recommended dose of garlic over a long period of time to cause death, or an extremely large dose.
It is also super important to remember that garlic is not suitable for every dog.
Garlic isn’t suitable for to certain Japanese breeds, for example: Akitas and Shiba Inus. This is due to the difference in how their red blood cells are built. Their red blood cells contain higher levels of potassium and reduced glutathione which make them more fragile under oxidative stress. In conclusion, Japanese breeds have a genetic difference that makes their red blood cells more vulnerable. So, garlic particularly fresh poses a higher risk for them.
It is also not suitable to puppies under the age of 6 months old. This is because their blood and immune systems are still developing. Puppies are also more sensitive to anything that can stress or damage the red blood cells. Their bodies at this young age do not yet have the resilience that adult dogs do.
Garlic is not suitable for pregnant or lactating dogs.
Garlic can also interact with certain medications. If your dog is on any regular or one-off medications, please consult a holistic vet before adding garlic to your dogs’ meals. Please also speak to a holistic vet if your dog has any surgery planned as garlic can affect blood clotting.
Recommended dosages of garlic for dogs:
Dogs should be fed organic, fresh garlic. Not pre chopped and not pre peeled garlic. The more quality the better when garlic is concerned. According to Rita Horgan of dogs naturally magazine garlic should be given at the following doses.
Using a level measuring spoon, feed the following amount per day, according to your dog’s weight:
- 5lbs: 1/6 tsp
- 10lbs: 1/3tsp
- 15 lbs: 1/2 tsp
- 20lbs: 2/3 tsp
- 30 lbs: 1 tsp
This applies to freshly chopped garlic. Here’s how to prepare the garlic. Mixing alliin and alliinase forms allicin, the active medicinal ingredient in garlic.
- Peel the cloves then mince, chop or crush your fresh garlic and let it sit a couple of minutes before use Allicin degrades quickly, so use the garlic immediately after the “sitting” period for maximum benefit. I measure and chop up my garlic and set my timer for 10 minutes. Measure out the right amount of garlic for your dog’s body weight and mix it into your dogs food.
Final thoughts:
Garlic is a powerful, natural and safe addition to your dogs bowl. Provided you research your dogs dosage and ensure your dog is suitable for garlic use. If you have any questions or you need clarification if garlic could be a good fit for your dog then its best to consult a holistic vet prior to adding garlic into your dogs bowl.
References
Dogs naturally magazine Can Dogs Eat Garlic? - Dogs Naturally
The balanced canine blog Debunking the Myth: Garlic is Safe and Beneficial for Dogs — The Balanced Canine