Monitoring what your canine eats is very crucial in maintaining its general health. As the adage goes, you are what you eat. Same is to canines. When you don’t regulate what your pet feeds on, chances are high that it may contract digestive diseases and even get poisoned.
However, if at all you have been keen on various online forums about dogs, you must have probably bumped on garlic. There is a heated debate on whether pet owners should offer garlic as a dietary supplements to dog.
One one side some support the use of garlic as a food to dog for its sundry of benefits. On the other hand, some consider it poisonous. But, it is very true that dogs can eat garlic? Can the food supplement be used to get rid of fleas? Here is what you need to know.
Is Garlic Harmful to Dogs?
Garlic is made of chemical contents that are harmful to dogs and even cats. The food additive belongs to Alium family which also includes leeks and chives. Cats and certain Japanese breeds of dogs are highly sensitive to garlic.
Garlic is more potent than any other plant in the Allium family. That is why, even for human beings, it is recommended that you take only a certain amount of this food additive to protect your body from several diseases.
Whenever your dog ingests the two chemicals in garlic–disulfides and thiosulphates–its body will start to react. Ingestion can cause diseases such as Heinz Body Anaemia, methemoglobinemia and haemolytic anaemia. It can also result in permanent damage of the Red Blood cells by rendering them fragile and vulnerable to bursting.
Your dogs sensitivity to garlic may not manifest on the first day of feeding. Depending on the canine’s immune system, it can take several days before it starts to react with the two chemicals. Symptoms to look out for include; Hypersalivation,lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, pale gums, colored urine and weakness. Without an immediate and proper medication, you risk losing your pet to garlic poisoning.
Why do Some Dogs Feed on Garlic Without any Harmful Risks?
While it is very true that some breeds of dogs are vulnerable to garlic allergy, most dogs do not develop any potential health risk to garlic. Only excess and uncontrolled amount of the additive will affect your dog. So, to normal dogs, it is a question of under what amount does garlic becomes poisonous to dogs.
According to a recent study, it takes approximately 15 to 30 grams of garlic per Kg of body weight to induce allergic reaction in a dog’s systems. The average garlic bulb in the supermarket weighs roughly 7 grams. Meaning, your dog can eat the whole bulb without any evident alteration in its body.
It is also worth knowing that the level of sensitivity vary. Some dogs will start to react immediately to even the smell of garlic. On the other hand, some dogs can do with garlic breads, supplements and even the bulb itself.
Does Garlic Get rid of Fleas?
One of the theories going round is on the use of garlic as fleas, tick and mosquito repellent in dogs. Yes, the theory works a great deal under proper dosage, care and maintenance.
When you give garlic to your canine, it is ingested, digested and absorbed in the bloodstream. As you continue with your feeding timetable for some weeks, the chemical components in garlic will start to build up in the fur and skin of your dog.
Have you ever heard of garlic spray for dogs? It contains antiseptic and antibacterial elements that naturally exterminate fleas and repel mosquitos. The same happens when garlic builds up on the fur and skin of a dog.
However, it takes time for the garlic to build up on a canine’s body. To effectively protect your dog through this biological process, it is recommended that you incorporate garlic as an additive in your dog’s meal during fleas off-seasons. Winter seasons are the best times.
On the other hand, it only takes one bathing session to wash off the built-up garlic contents. For better and on-time results, it is recommended to leave the fur as they are without sprinkling even water over your pet. Otherwise, Castille soap for bathing and Cornstarch for dry shampooing can help you a great deal during this crucial moment.
Other Health Benefits of Garlic
Garlic for dogs has shown numerous health benefits. This food supplement contains:
- Beneficial vitamins such as Vitamin A, C and B complex;
- minerals such as Magnesium, Calcium, Manganese, Selenium and Germanium.
- Pungent energy
The fat-soluble vitamin A is key in protecting your dog against vision impairment. It also helps in improving the general immune system of your canine and enhances growth, fetal development and cellular functions.
Vitamin C is a popular oxidant for dogs. It minimizes cognitive aging and inflammation. Garlic is one of the natural supplements for Vitamin C with no chemical effects. Otherwise, in dogs, Vitamin C is naturally synthesized in the liver.
Lastly Vitamin B complex helps with a wide range of health benefits in dogs. It enhances carbohydrate metabolism in the dog’s system, regulate energy and activates ions in the neural system. Additionally, it facilitates enzyme functions in the body.
The four minerals in garlic also come with their benefits. Magnesium ions control various metabolic reactions associated with energy production and enzyme action. It aids in the maintenance of body blood pressure, temperature and glucose metabolism.
Calcium acts as structural components for both teeth and bones. Besides, it acts as a messenger for numerous body functioning including hormonal secretions, blood coagulation and many more.
Manganese and Selenium helps in protein metabolism and manufacture of fatty acids. Whereas Selenium and Germanium helps with fighting cancerous cells increasing circulation of blood respectively.
Conclusion
Garlic is an important food supplement in dog. It not only prevents fleas infestation in dogs but also helps in their extermination. However, before starting-out with garlic, kindly consult your vet to ascertain whether your canine is sensitive to the food supplement.