Ayurvedic Garlic Benefits for Dogs

Garlic has been used in Ayurveda since centuries for both humans & dogs. Find out if garlic is safe for dogs and get some Ayurvedic remedies. 

OK, so..one of the most important questions I get asked again and again is...

'Can dogs have GARLIC?'

I have probably been asked this question 100 times! Seriously, no kidding! And that is because I live in America but if I lived in India or for that matter, any part of Asia, I would never be asked this question because Indian dog owners or Asian dog owners at large KNOW that garlic is safe for dogs and not only that, dogs have been eating garlic in these countries since time immemorial. 

In America, it is a whole different case - fear mongering among the dog owners by the vets and the pharma and woo-wooing what actually works and is from Nature has been the norm for decades...hence the question and the fear...

And so, for the question that I get asked, what is my answer always to Americans or Westerners?!

The answer is - YES!! Dogs can have garlic and not only that, garlic is highly beneficial to dogs if given in small amounts. Finally, Western holistic science is recognizing that garlic is not only safe for dogs but highly beneficial....something that we Indians have always known since centuries!!!!!

Goodness! It is such a shame that the health system is so behind (and so broken) in America. Well, we can thank the greedy Rockefellers, the American government, the BIG pharma and the greedy, highly ignorant vets that can't solve a thing...ever...for that.

But for now, let's move to the rest of the article as I have many interesting and lovely things to share about garlic for your dog. 

Here in Houston it is very hot and humid right now and add to it that now we are right next to the bayou - a beautiful large scenic grass area with a small lake in between.

But however beautiful it is, the area has a serious flea problem! This was not the case when we lived in my favorite area called Montrose or in the city! It was never like this.

Here, every time my dogs go out, I then have to do a flea comb to make sure there is NO flea on them...not even one. It's driving me insane! Like, seriously! (But not so insane that I will use flea and tick products on my dogs!!). 

Never. Like never, ever, never. 

So then I turned to my most powerful defense against fleas and mosquitos - garlic!

My previous pack used to have garlic pretty regularly but then with my current pack, for whatever reason or reasons, garlic got left out of their menu. Now, I am back to it.

So, here's what I am doing - I take garlic paste (fresh made and NOT the Indian store ones!!) and along with that paste, I will add delicious things like pumpkin puree, ground flax seeds, greens powder, etc. and then give it to each one to lick it off the spoon so it becomes fun and kind of like a treat and they all love it!

I know from years and years of experience that once garlic 'builds up' in their system, there will be no fleas or mosquitos and trust me, I have been doing this for 20 years!! 

So that's what I have been doing and yes, garlic is good for dogs. Let's quickly go over some of the benefits of garlic for dogs before we proceed further...

Benefits of Garlic for Dogs - 

Garlic has many benefits for dogs.

-Garlic is great for dog's heart health as it prevents blood clots (anti-platelet) and boosts blood circulation,

-Garlic is great for your dog's kidneys and liver as one of the most impressive properties of garlic is that it cleans waste products from your dog's body hence boosting your dog's liver and kidney health

-Garlic helps your dog's digestion and skin and coat. Garlic contains inulin which is a prebiotic for boosting your dog's good bacteria in the gut and eliminating bad bacteria or pathogens and even worms and parasites. 

-Garlic has been used for centuries in cultures like India that have proven to have zero to very low cancer rates throughout history (except the last 2 decades thanks to gmos, meat based diet, etc. and that's another topic for another day). Anyways, garlic is highly regarded as one of the top foods for preventing cancers or tumors both in humans and in dogs. 

-Garlic helps to lower bad cholesterol in your dog thus boosting overall health even more.

-Garlic is a pungent herb due to its compound called allicin and according to Ayurveda, pungent herbs help boost appetite and regulate digestion and elimination for optimum health. This is great news for dog owners whose dogs are picky eaters or very finicky around food. Try adding a little bit of garlic to your dog's food and you will see after 2-3 weeks, your dog has a better appetite. 

Garlic in Ayurveda -

Garlic is called as Lashuna in Ayurveda or India in our national language Hindi. Garlic has been part of Indian cuisine as well as Ayurvedic remedies since centuries. Garlic is so revered in Ayurveda that it is considered as a 'miracle herb'  and not only that, there is a saying that garlic is as good as ten mothers' due to its superb healing properties.

In Ayurveda, garlic is used for boosting immunity, fighting infections, skin and hair conditions, aches and pains, preventing diseases like cancer and for boosting digestion. Garlic is a pungent herb so this means that in Ayurveda it will be classified as a great digestive herb since it stimulates digestion.

Garlic is warm in nature so use it little less in summer and more in winter months. Garlic is an anti-inflammatory herb, is antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral. Garlic gets rid of amas (toxins) in the body and boosts Ojas (the ultimate essence of health, energy, vitality and longevity in our body).

Ayurvedic Remedies with Garlic for Dogs - 

One of the most effective remedies that I tell many dog owners who come to me when their dog has cancer or tumorous growths is to make an oil infused with fresh grated ginger, turmeric root, black seeds or black seed oil or powder and fresh grated garlic (can do in equal quantities each). Take some oil like olive or coconut oil and add these on LOW heat, let the oil get infused and then close the stove off. 

To make it more potent, I highly recommend making this mixture and keeping it in the sunlight for a few days so everything gets more infused and becomes more effective for application.

Make sure to prevent it from any moisture or rain or humidity - bring the oil jar inside in the evenings and don't leave it outside. Only keep it outside in the morning and afternoon when the sun comes out. 

Apply and massage this oil on your dog's tumor or cancer site daily. You may also use this remedy for soothing your dog's aches and pains as well as stiffness.  This oil will work great for senior dogs for regular massages. 

You can also add a few drops to a teaspoon (depending on your dog's size) to his or her meal directly for boosting overall health, digestion, immunity and reducing inflammation in the body.

How To Give Garlic to Dogs? -

You just need to give a small amount for it to be effective - not too much and instead of giving it everyday you can do like how I am doing esp. if you have a pack to take care of...you can give just 3-4 times a week and see.

You can also sauté some garlic in coconut or olive oil for a minute or two and give that if your dog likes that better.

Note that I never ever buy premade garlic paste (that sells in Indian stores) or canned or peeled garlic - NO. Never. I always buy fresh whole garlic and peel it right then and there when I am ready to give it to my dogs. So, always buy fresh whole garlic to give to your dog. 

Dosage of Garlic for Dogs - 

So for small dogs like toy breeds (under 10 lbs.), start with 1/4th of a clove - that's a very tiny amount. If your dog is even tinier like 4-5 lbs., then a pinch's worth or like 1/5th or 1/6th of a small clove is enough. 

Medium dogs can do small clove whole divided in two doses. But make sure you understand when I say 'small clove', I really mean like 1/2 of a small teaspoon's size. So yes, a very small amount but still a good amount to start with. If your dog is over 25 lbs. you can do slightly more and so on. 

Large dogs can do one regular clove divided in two doses. 

Start with just 3-4 times per week and see....then you can adjust as you go..

If you live in a cold climate, you don't have fleas so you may not need garlic for fleas but you could still use garlic for its heart health benefits and anti-cancer benefits plus for kidneys...

So I hope this helps!

When NOT to Give Garlic to Your Dog -

-Never give garlic to your dog if your dog is pregnant. Check with your holistic vet first and see.

-I do not give garlic to any of my dogs who I rescued as puppies. Once they are over a year old, I then introduce very little garlic to them at a time but not before a year old. 

-Garlic can interfere with some medicines like heart medicines, blood thinners, blood pressure medicines, antacids, diabetes or blood sugar medicines, immune suppressants or chemotherapy drugs so it is always a good idea to consult your holistic vet before giving garlic to your dog if your dog takes any of the medicines. 

-Dogs with any health condition/s that involves heavy bleeding or bruising - consult your vet as garlic is a blood thinner so it may not be a good idea to give to your dog in conditions like these. 

-Dogs with excessive heat in the body or excessive inflammation (the pitta doshas type) may not benefit from garlic as garlic is a warming herb. If still giving, consult a holistic vet or start with a very low dose and just once or twice a week while working to change the dog's diet, incorporating cooling, anti-inflammatory foods and improving the dog's overall health. 

I hope this article has helped you. For questions and comments, plz. post below. Do NOT email me questions or comments in the email. 

-Somya