Garlic's use in natural canine medicine presents a challenge for pet owners. Veterinarians consider garlic in large doses toxic for dogs. Alternative pet medicine practitioners say limited amounts of ingested garlic pose no serious threat, and they tout its antibacterial and antiviral properties. And some commercial dog foods include garlic in small amounts, according to the Pet Education website. Despite garlic's mixed messages, some pet owners use garlic topically, and add it to food to treat various canine conditions.
Things You'll Need
- Fresh garlic
- Olive oil
- Garlic press
- Chopping knife
- Sealing containers
- Small strainer
- Medicine dropper
Instructions
Create a garlic-olive oil treatment for recurring ear infections. Finely mash a few garlic cloves and marinate in olive oil, in a sealed container, for up to two weeks. Strain out the garlic, warm the oil slightly, and place a few drops in the ear using a medicine dropper. You can massage the ear lightly to make sure the garlic oil sinks into tissues. This compound is best used for infections of the inner ear, according to Vet Info.
Make a garlic poultice for sarcoptic mange, a parasitic mite infection also known as scabies. Once your vet has confirmed the diagnosis, crush several cloves and keep them in oil for several days. Apply the compound to mange-infected skin daily and watch for any reactions, as too much garlic can be irritating to a dog's skin. Garlic also works for underlying skin infections that often come with mange, according to Native Remedies. It's important to have a diagnosis before using this approach so you are not delaying proper treatment if the dog's skin condition is not mange.
Use garlic juice to ward off fleas and ticks. According to Natural Dog Health Remedies, garlic in a dog's system creates a skin scent that fleas and ticks avoid. You can make your own garlic juice via a long process of peeling, blending and straining many cloves, or you can buy garlic juice online. Spray the juice on dog food in moderation.
Add small amounts of chopped, uncooked garlic to dog food to fight fungal, bacterial or viral infections. Small dogs can be given a half clove a few days a week, according to Natural Dog Health Remedies, while the largest breeds--those over 100 lbs.--can eat three cloves at a time, but not every day. Dogs with anemia should never be given garlic, and dogs given too much garlic over time can develop anemia, so more is not better when it comes to feeding garlic to dogs.
Use small amounts in food to support the cardiovascular health of senior dogs. Garlic is thought to lower blood cholesterol, remove fat deposits in arteries and prevent blood clotting, according to Natural Dog Health Remedies. Some breeds, such as schnauzers and beagles, may gain more benefit from these cardiovascular-related properties than others.
Consult your vet on how much ingested garlic would be safe for your pet considering its weight and overall health. Keep in mind that your commercial dog food may already include garlic; you don't want to overdose your dog with the fresh garlic you add. And remember the contraindications for canine use; do not feed garlic to anemic animals or those scheduled for surgery, according to Natural Dog Health Remedies.
Seek emergency treatment if your dog accidentally consumes too much garlic for its weight. According to the Dog Health Guide, symptoms of garlic poisoning include vomiting, weakness and diarrhea. Your vet will determine treatment based on symptoms and how much garlic was consumed.