Garlic is not toxic to dogs

That probably grabbed your attention! I know what you've heard, read, been told by vets, breeders, family, friends, rescues, etc., but garlic is not toxic to dogs.

But, like the poor poinsettia plant mistakenly labeled toxic to children and animals, garlic has gotten a bad-rap. (Research in the 1990s dispelled that myth, so here I am working to dispel the myth about garlic).

The confusion results primarily because garlic is part of the Allium family, along with onions, shallots, leeks and chives, and one study done in 2000.

The Allium family contains sulfur-based compounds, n-propyldisulfide, as well as small amounts of thiosulfate, which, when ingested in large quantities over an extended period of time, could lead to anemia or death. Farmers found this out in the 1930s when feeding onions to livestock like cows and seeing signs of toxicity.

But, is it really bad to feed your dog garlic? No. So, how'd we get here?

The panic began with a study published in 2000. In the published results researchers noted that while the dogs in the study never showed outward signs of toxicity, there was an effect on red blood cells, and “We believe that foods containing garlic should be avoided for use in dogs.”

To understand the dynamics here, however, we have to look more closely at the Hokkaido University study. First, it was conducted with a total of eight mixed-breed dogs. Four receiving a garlic extract and four receiving water. Blood work and other tests were conducted over the course of 30 days, including before, during and after administration of the extracts.

The four dogs receiving the garlic were given 1.25ml of garlic extract per kg of body weight every day for seven days straight; the equivalent of 5g of whole garlic/kg, or 1.2 teaspoons, once a day for seven days. The other four dogs received water. 

Since I'm not great with math, I kept reading and found an article noting that 1.25ml of extract per kg of body weight for seven days would be the equivalent of a 40 pound pup ingesting 20 cloves of garlic. 

My thoughts on this study are too many to mention. To start, WOW, that's a LOT of garlic. Then, my background had me questioning the use of extracts as they are  typically considered more potent than whole, raw herbs/plants a like a clove of garlic simply because the whole plant contains other compounds plus fiber.

Next, the abstract I found wasn't clear if the garlic was extracted using water or alcohol, which could alter the impact/results. (We typically avoid using alcohol extracts with animals and children...because it contains alcohol). 

All this to say that, in the end, the study did more harm than good because it scared many of us away from incorporating garlic into our canines' healthy lifestyle where it can:

• Enhance circulation; including lymphatic 
• Assist with the body's natural detoxification processes
• Help prevent blood clots
• Reduce cholesterol build-up
• Help prevent formation of tumors
• Boots immunity 

Garlic is also antibiotic, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic; lowers blood sugar and cholesterol and can be used as a natural flea/tick repellent!

The sulfur in garlic is excreted through your dog's skin, helping drive those buggers away. Plus, the healthier your companion (see bullets above), the less likely they are to get infestations of anytype.

At this point, you should be realizing that you've been mislead and it's probably time to add a little spice to your dog's diet!

So, how do you get started? Low quantities introduced slowly!

In her book The Complete Herbal Book for the Dog, Juliette de Bairacli Levy suggests the following dosages:

• 10 to 15 pounds – ½ clove
• 20 to 40 pounds – 1 clove
• 45 to 70 pounds – 2 cloves
• 75 to 90 pounds – 2½ cloves
• 100 pounds and over – 3 cloves

Since cloves can vary in size and weight, it's probably easier to use these standardized measurements set forth by the National Research Council (for chopped, raw garlic): 

• 5 lbs: ⅙ tsp
• 10 lbs: ⅓ tsp
• 15 lbs: ½ tsp
• 20 lbs: ⅔ tsp
• 30 lbs: 1 tsp

Like the poor poinsettia plant mistakenly labeled toxic to children and animals, garlic has gotten a bad-rap. (Research in the 1990s dispelled that myth, so here I am working to dispel the myth about garlic).

You can help dispel the myths by sharing this piece with your loved ones and safely incorporating garlic into your canine's diet! 

​PS - If you don't believe any of this, you can trust that I fed my beloved Sir. Duncan McDougle garlic for most of his 18+ years on the planet. No, his breath wasn't always fresh, but he remained feisty and active til the end. 

Questions about incorporating holistic health practices into your canine's care? Email me at: [email protected]. 

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