Garlic for Dogs
Flea Repellent & Health Supplement

Garlic for dogs? Yes! This natural antibiotic, antiviral and anti-fungal herb boosts the immune system too. Learn the correct type, dosage and which veterinarians promote it.

I wonder if it's just one of those phenomena that spread like wildfire like, say, all pit bulls are vicious.

Neither make me laugh but both are wrong.

Okay, let's talk about what it really does.

A Natural Flea Repellent

Whether the smell comes through the skin just enough to chase fleas away or because it is alkalizing, the taste is just not what they are looking for. A half clove a day of fresh garlic for a ten pound dog is just right. (See other option below.)

Keep in mind though that if your dog eats poor quality dog food, it won't help as much because fleas are more attracted to unhealthy hosts. To understand why, please read A Natural Remedy for Fleas.

What's So Good About Garlic for Dogs?

Garlic for dogs is rich in Vitamins A, B Complex, C, proteins and trace minerals. A dog antibiotic and antioxidant, it boosts the immune system and may boost liver function, prevent heart disease, cancer and other degenerative diseases.

It also helps keep your canine worm free! See "The Perfect Tapeworm Home" on my Tapeworms in dogs page.

What's Bad About Garlic

Unless you are me, you think it stinks. Let's say its highly aromatic. Personally, I like the smell and add fresh garlic to everything I cook. It enhances the flavor of foods without using products with MSG which is bad for you and highly addictive.

The only time I don't appreciate it, is when the smell lingers on my fingers. Yuck. Here's a trick to instantly get rid of it if you don't have a natural buttermilk based soap.

• Rinse hands under water while rubbing them with a stainless steel spoon! Don't know why it works, but bless the woman who told me long ago.

As an aside, I don't smell it on my dogs breath like I do my husband's after he eats garlic bread. Go figure.

How Much Garlic To Give Your Dog

In The Nature of Animal Healing by Martin Goldstein, DVM, he recommends:

• 1/2 clove per 10 pounds of body weight each day, chopped or grated. Two cloves maximum per day for a large dog is good.

He also recommends either FRESH or Kyolic Aged Liquid Garlic in liquid form.

Do NOT use garlic powder or garlic salt from your spice cupboard.

Think about it. Garlic powder has been processed so much there just isn't any value left in it. And garlic salt is SALT with just a little garlic flavor added to it.

Note: Garlic is also recommended in Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats and Diane Stein's Natural Remedy Book for Dogs & Cats.

I think some veterinarians are not comfortable recommending it because it's important to not give more than the recommended dose.

How to Give Garlic

I had a little trouble at first adding it to my dogs food. They sniffed suspiciously and one (out of five) wouldn't eat. For a short time I added a 'gravy' I made by boiling fresh chicken livers and smashing them into the water. That did it.

Now I just chop and throw it in the food bowls. Two of my dogs will beg for it and chew their raw cloves, while the others need a treat chaser if I don't add it to their food.

A Personal Testimonial for Garlic as a Natural Antibiotic

On a few occasions I suffered from an abscessed tooth. With a golf ball size cheek and no money for a dentist, I ate 1 clove of raw garlic 5 times a day for 4 days and it was gone. Now that's the power of garlic!

It's also included in my recipe for dog ear mites and ear fungal wash on my dog ear cleaning page. By the way this is the same recipe I used for my children in the summer months when they lived in the swimming pool. It's great for "Swimmer's Ear" too!

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