Can Dogs eat garlic?
It was previously believed that garlic was toxic for dogs, but this notion was reversed by the same scientists who conducted the initial study. However, many online sources still reference the first study and claim that garlic is harmful to dogs, despite newer studies concluding otherwise.
Nowadays, many dog food and supplement companies include garlic in their products. As a dog parent, I have personally observed the healing properties of garlic when it comes to dogs and their food. Additionally, I have found it to be a safer alternative to tick and flea medication for repelling ticks and fleas.
Some vets may not endorse the use of garlic, while others may. Ultimately, it is up to us as pet owners to make an informed decision based on the available information and our own comfort level.
Most raw feeders already feed garlic regularly. Having turned away from kibble to feed a more natural diet, most raw feeders reject tick and flea medication because they think the harm in it isn’t worth it.
There are more studies of dogs suffering from prescription tick and flea preventatives than garlic and so as a dog owner who focuses on natural methods, I’d rather feed Garlic than give my dog tick and flea medication.
Garlic is also known to provide the following benefits:
- Anti-bacterial
- Anti-carcinogen
- Regulates blood pressure
- Heart health
- Great against allergies
- Great against liver and kidney disease
- Wormer
- Flea, tick, mosquito repellent
Safe raw garlic dosages
Too much of anything, no matter how healthy, can become a problem. Moderation is key. Studies have found it takes approximately 15 to 30 grams of garlic per kilogram of body weight to produce harmful changes in a dog’s blood. For reference, a clove of garlic generally weighs between 3 to 7 grams.
This means that dogs weighing between 10 to 15 pounds should have no more than half of a clove per day. Dogs between 20-40 pounds can have a full garlic clove. Those between 45-70 pounds can consume two cloves, and dogs weighing 75 to 90 pounds can have two and a half cloves. Dogs who weigh 100 pounds or more can have three full cloves, but it’s best to stop there.
If you’re unsure about the correct garlic dosage for your dog, we recommend leaning on the smaller side for safety’s sake.
As with any herb, it is always a good practice to take a week off from consuming garlic every couple of months.
During the flea season, I feed my dog 1/2 teaspoon of garlic 2 to 3 times a week. However, in the winter months, I only feed him once or twice a month.
Garlic may help you in the war on fleas and ticks if you feed it to your dogs during flea and tick season. It takes a couple of weeks for garlic to build up in your dog’s natural coat oil, so start feeding it before the bug season starts.
I don’t bathe my dog too much during flea and tick season. One good soapy wash and you’ll have to start the build-up process again. To avoid this, use a Castile soap for bathing.
To prepare, I peel and crush the garlic and let it sit out for 10 minutes. This is because it takes 10 minutes for alliinase to activate and convert the alliin to allicin. Allicin is particularly beneficial for gut health since it kills harmful bacteria while allowing good bacteria to thrive.
I then place the garlic in my dog's bowl without mixing it with the food and let him decide if he wants to eat it or not.
Breed Specific Issues
Veterinary herbalist Susan Wynn warns against giving garlic to Akitas and Shiba Inus. These breeds are more sensitive to the hemolytic effects of oxidants such as N-propyl disulfide found in garlic. Consult your holistic vet if you have concerns about your dog’s breed-related risks.
In 2017 Dr. Lisa Newman wrote about garlic safety as follows:
For the last few decades, primarily as a result of the onion’s reputation for triggering Heinz body hemolytic anemia because of its higher concentration of thiosulphate, Garlic (the onion’s “kissing cousin”) was also said to be toxic. Garlic simply does not contain the same thiosulphate concentration as the onion does. In fact, it is barely traceable and readily excreted. “In the testing of onions and garlic on (the dog’s) blood cell oxidation, onions have about 15 times the ability of garlic to damage red blood cells,” states nutritionist Dr. Dave Summers on IndigoPetz.com.1
https://ivcjournal.com/garlic/
Additionally, if you search Amazon you’ll find a host of supplements that use Garlic as the main ingredient mostly to prevent fleas.
Here is a link to one I recommend, it won't you cost you anymore, but I will earn a little from qualifying purchases.
Amazon link to Flea and Tick supplement