Blog Posts

The canine consumption of garlic is a highly debated topic (https://www.mybonesandbiscuits.com/can-dogs-eat-garlic). Veterinarian toxicologists cite the toxicity of the plant, while holistic healers claim that garlic is fine in moderation and cite the plant’s natural healing properties. Many dog foods even include garlic powder as an ingredient, so I decided to conduct some research of my own and decide if garlic really is safe for my dog to eat.

Verdict: While garlic may, in extreme moderation, not be harmful and even provide some health benefits to your dog, its toxic properties pose too large of a risk to recommend including it in your dog’s diet.

 

Argued benefits

Many holistic and natural pet healers argue that garlic is not only perfectly fine for your dog in small doses, but that it is also a medicinal food that can provide your dog with an array of benefits.

Health benefits

Fresh, raw garlic has been used for centuries in humans as a medicinal food and natural healer. Garlic contains properties that can prevent the formation of blood clots, decrease cholesterol build up, widen blood vessels, prevent the formation of tumors, stimulate the lymphatic system, and also operate as an antibiotic, antifungal, and anti-parasitic agent.

Proponents of garlic argue that the food can attribute these benefits, and more, to your dog as well. The problem is that we cannot assume that garlic, or any food, will affect dogs the same way it does humans, and there is simply not enough research to back these claims up.

Flea and tick repellent

Due to garlic’s formidable pungency, the food is often utilized as a natural deterrent against fleas and ticks. The garlic scent builds up in your dog’s natural coat oil after a few weeks of ingestion, and is claimed to ward off both fleas and ticks.

Unfortunately, small amounts of garlic must be fed to your dog for about two weeks before the oils build up, and then regularly after in order to maintain the scent. Even with small doses, this opens your dog up to the risk of garlic toxicosis, and there are simply safer, natural ways to keep the fleas away.

Health Risks

Toxic to cats and dogs

Garlic, along with the entire Allium family of onions, chives, shallots, leeks, and more are considered toxic to both cats and dogs by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Pet Poison Hotline, as well as the Veterinary Pet Insurance Company.

Their toxicity is caused by aliphatic sulfides, and when ingested can cause the destruction of red blood cells. Garlic is estimated to be up to five times as potent as onions in this regard.

The breed or species of your dog can also play a part in its sensitivity to garlic; Japanese breeds like Akita or Shiba Inus have shown to have a lower tolerance than other breeds.

Hemolytic anemia and gastroenteritis

The oxygen transport molecule, denatured hemoglobin or Heinz bodies, are present in aliphatic sulfides and when active in a dog’s blood stream can burst, decreasing the number of red blood cells available to the dog.

If enough damage to red blood cells occurs, your dog can acquire a dangerous and sometimes lethal condition known as hemolytic anemia. Clinical signs of hemolytic anemia range from lethargy, pale gums, and an elevated heart rate, to increased respiratory rate, weakness, exercise intolerance, or even collapse.

Ingestion of more than a minute amount of garlic can also cause inflammation of the stomach and intestines, known as gastroenteritis. While not lethal, gastroenteritis can still cause serious stomach pain for your pup.

Invisible damage

Many proponents of garlic argue that a dog must ingest a large quantity in order to cause the clinical signs of hemolytic anemia. This is only true because it takes an accumulation of subclinical damage to the red blood cells, invisible to the naked eye, before clinical signs occur.

Recent studies have found that poisoning can happen not only after a single large ingestion, but also after repeated smaller ones. Daily doses of even a minute amount of garlic can prove to cause damage to your dog’s red blood cells.

Treatment & Prevention

Always check your dog food’s ingredients. Ingredients will be listed in order of concentration, so if garlic powder appears in the top ten ingredients, you may want to steer clear as continued consumption could potentially harm your dog.

If you know for a fact your dog has ingested garlic, or notice clinical signs of hemolytic anemia or gastroenteritis, immediately contact your veterinarian. If not treated promptly hemolytic anemia can very well result in the death of your dog.

You may also like:

Cinnamon spice provides a scent that can instantly transport one to home, to a kitchen filled with freshly baked goods and loved ones. We fill our homes with cinnamon candles, sticks, and oils to keep the scent around. Your dog may have even become accustom to the smell, realizing it means treats of cookies or other baked goods are on the way. But is cinnamon actually safe for a dog’s consumption? I decided to conduct some research of my own and discover if dogs can eat cinnamon.

Verdict: Yes! In moderation cinnamon is a welcome, but unnecessary, addition to any dog’s diet.

While cinnamon is listed as non-toxic by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and can even provide some health benefits to your dog, there are still many things to consider before allowing your dog to ingest cinnamon.

Things to consider

Cinnamon can still pose a threat to your dog

I’m sure many of you have seen videos of the ‘cinnamon challenge’, where a person attempts to swallow a tablespoon of cinnamon in less than a minute. These videos showcase negative effects large doses of cinnamon can have on humans when the participant inevitably fails, often while simultaneously experiencing difficulty breathing, bloody nose, bronchospasm, and light headedness.

Cinnamon can have negative effects on your dog in as doses as little as one teaspoon, and even less than that in essential oil. Never give your dog cinnamon essential oil or large doses of the powder, as overdoses can lead to low blood sugar, liver disease, vomiting, diarrhea, and heart irregularity.

Cinnamon powder can also be harmful when directly inhaled by your dog, causing coughing, choking, difficulty breathing, and bronchospasm. If you believe your dog has ingested a large amount of cinnamon, call your local veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline in order to determine necessary care for your pup.

Dogs don’t require cinnamon in their diet

Unlike other meats, fruits, or veggies that are safe for canine consumption, cinnamon doesn’t offer any real nutritional value to a dog, and is not an essential part of their natural diet. Dogs would most likely never come across cinnamon in the wild, and certainly not think to ingest a tree if they did.

While it is true that there are benefits that cinnamon has to offer your dog, they are superfluous and can often be found in foods that are more nutritious for your dog.

Household objects

If you do decide to implement a small amount of cinnamon into your dog’s diet, keep in mind any household objects you have that are cinnamon scented, as you do not want your dog confusing these with treats! The ingestion of cinnamon sticks, candles, oils, fragrances, etc. can all be highly toxic to your dog.

Ceylon vs. Cassia

There are two types of cinnamon readily available for purchase: Ceylon cinnamon, which derives from the Ceylon Cinnamon Tree, and Cassia cinnamon, which derives from the Chinese Cinnamon Tree.

Cassia cinnamon contains the organic compound courmarin, which can pose several health risks to your dog, including liver failure. Courmarin is still present in Ceylon cinnamon, but in much smaller amounts making it the safer choice.

Ceylon cinnamon is usually slightly more expensive and darker in color than its Cassia counterpart.

Delivery

While a small amount of cinnamon may be perfectly fine for your dog, pastries and desserts made for human consumption are still not. Many ingredients that often accompany cinnamon, such as nutmeg and chocolate, can prove lethal to your dog.

Only provide your pooch with small amounts of Ceylon cinnamon powder in a form that they are not able to accidently inhale.

Benefits

Spice up your pup’s food

If your dog, like mine, is a picky eater, then you are probably always looking for new ways to get your dog enticed with its food. A small amount of cinnamon sprinkled onto your dog’s food bowl could be the missing ingredient you were looking for.

Cinnamon’s strong scent and flavor can help increase your dog’s interest in its food. When adding cinnamon to your dog’s food, only a small amount is required, less than one teaspoon.

Natural healing

Cinnamon has been hailed as a natural healer for humans for decades, and has been hailed for its anti-inflammatory properties as well as its ability to fend off diabetes. Combined with honey, cinnamon has shown to be a natural healer for dogs as well.

A blend of locally produced raw, organic honey, cinnamon, and hot water can assist in the cure of your dog’s heart disease, arthritis, toothache, indigestion, respiratory illness, obesity, and even allergies.

You may also like:

Cashews are generally considered a nutritious snack for people. They are a good source of plant protein, naturally cholesterol free, and most of the fats found in cashews are unsaturated. Cashews are good for people because they are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

But what about cashews for dogs? Cashews can be safe for healthy dogs when fed occasionally in small amounts, but there are numerous restrictions for cashew consumption by dogs. In addition, cashews must always be cooked or roasted prior to eating because raw cashews contain a toxin that is dangerous for people and dogs.

The Nutritional Qualities of Cashews for Dogs

Healthy omega-6 fatty acids are abundant in cashews, and when properly balanced with omega-3 fatty acids in a dog’s body, they can help heal inflammation. Omega-6 fatty acids also contribute to healthy skin and a soft, shiny coat.

Cashews can help your dog’s healthy bone development as they contain calcium, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorous. Another health benefit of cashews is antioxidants, which may help reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease in some dogs. In addition, cashews are a source of dietary fiber, which aids in your dog’s digestion. Other nutrients in cashews include copper, folic acid, iron, vitamin K, and flavanols, which have detoxification and immune health benefits.

The Importance of Limiting a Dog’s Cashew Intake

Even though cashews contain healthy fats, they are too high in fat to be a regular part of your dog’s diet. A diet high in fat will cause your dog to gain excess weight and experience digestive discomfort. Cashews are also high in sugars and calories. Fats and sugars taste great to your dogs, but in high amounts they are detrimental to your dog’s health and moods.

Cashews are high in plant proteins, but your dog needs meat-based proteins. If your dog eats a lot of cashews, the protein will make him feel full and decrease the amount of dog food he wants to eat. Replacing the dog food in your dog’s diet with snacks such as cashews can damage your dog’s health and lead to malnutrition. An occasional cashew snack is tolerable, but you should feed it to your dog four hours before or after his regular meal time so that you do not inadvertently reduce his appetite for dog food.

Choosing Cashews Wisely

Many varieties of cashews are unhealthy or even dangerous for your dog. For example, the chocolate in chocolate-covered cashews is poisonous to your dog. Most cashews are salted, and too much sodium is dangerous to your dog as well. Too much salt can cause sodium poisoning, a condition which can be deadly. Unsalted cashews are the only safe variety of cashews for dogs.

Cashews are always sold shelled because the oil in cashew shells contains the same powerful toxin found in poison ivy. Any residual shell oil is eliminated during the cooking or roasting process, and raw cashews are never considered safe. Another dangerous toxin can be found in mold on cashews, so always inspect cashews for mold prior to feeding them to your dog. Ingesting moldy cashews can lead to liver failure in people and dogs.

The Dangers of Cashews to Dogs with Health Problems

Dogs with a history of pancreatitis should never eat cashews because cashews are high in fat. If a dog ever suffers from pancreatitis, he should remain on a low-fat diet for the rest of his life as even a relatively small amount of fat can trigger another attack of pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas.

Cashews are strictly prohibited for dogs with a history of urinary problems because the high phosphorous content of cashews can cause bladder stones. Cashews are also risky for dogs that are prone to allergies. Allergic reactions to cashews are less common than reactions to peanuts and tree nuts, but are serious nevertheless. The symptoms of an allergic reaction to cashews are vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, and in some cases, hives.

The Verdict on Cashews

Cashews are popular snacks with people because of their antioxidants, protein, healthy fats, and delicious flavor. While an occasional cashew snack is okay for a healthy dog, it can be dangerous for a dog that has health challenges. Frequent cashew consumption is not appropriate for any dog, and in some cases can cause serious illnesses.

If your dog eats a cashew, it is not cause for panic. But considering the abundance of healthy dog treats that are available today, the safest choice is to avoid cashews altogether.

 

You may also like: