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Apple Cider Vinegar for Dogs

Updated: 11/18/2009

Every home with dogs should have apple cider vinegar. It's a remedy with multiple uses for dogs: alleviating allergies, arthritis, establishing correct pH balance. You can also give apple cider vinegar to cats and horses.

As written in an excellent, 1997 article by Wendy Volhard:

"...If your dog has itchy skin, the beginnings of a hot spot, incessantly washes its feet, has smelly ears, or is picky about his food, the application of ACV may change things around. For poor appetite, use it in the food - 1 tablespoon, two times a day for a 50 lb. dog. For itchy skin or beginning hot spots, put ACV into a spray bottle, part the hair and spray on. Any skin eruption will dry up in 24 hours and will save you having to shave the dog. If the skin is already broken, dilute ACV with an equal amount of water and spray on.

Taken internally, ACV is credited with maintaining the acid/alkaline balance of the digestive tract. To check your dog's pH balance, pick up some pH strips at the drug store, and first thing in the morning test the dog's urine. If it reads anywhere from 6.2 - 6.5, your dog's system is exactly where it should be. If it is 7.5 or higher, the diet you are feeding is too alkaline, and ACV will re-establish the correct balance.

If you have a dog that has clear, watery discharge from the eyes, a runny nose, or coughs with a liquid sound, use ACV in his or her food. One teaspoon twice a day for a 50 lb. dog will do the job.

After your weekly grooming sessions, use a few drops in his or her ears after cleaning them to avoid ear infections. Other uses for ACV are the prevention of muscle weakness, cramps, feeling the cold, calluses on elbows and hock joints, constipation, bruising too easily, pimples on skin surfaces, twitching of facial muscles, sore joints, arthritis and pus in the urine. There are also reports that it is useful in the prevention of bladder and kidney stones.

Fleas, flies, ticks and bacteria, external parasites, ring worm, fungus, staphylococcus, streptococcus, pneumococcus, mange, etc., are unlikely to inhabit a dog whose system is acidic inside and out. Should you ever experience any of these with your dog, bathe with a nice gentle herbal shampoo -- one that you would use on your own hair -- rinse thoroughly, and then sponge on ACV diluted with equal amounts of warm water. Allow your dog to drip dry. It is not necessary to use harsh chemicals for minor flea infestations. All fleas drown in soapy water and the ACV rinse makes the skin too acidic for a re-infestation. If you are worried about picking up fleas when you take your dog away from home, keep some ACV in a spray bottle, and spray your dog before you leave home, and when you get back. Take some with you and keep it in the car, just in case you need it any time. Obviously for major infestations, more drastic measures are necessary. ACV normalizes the pH levels of the skin, makes your dog unpalatable to even the nastiest of bacteria and you have a dog that smells like a salad, a small price to pay! "

DISCLAIMER
* Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional veterinary prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your veterinarian before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your Veterinarian can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your pet's unique needs or diagnose your pet's particular medical history.

ALLERGIES

2 YEA
1 NAY

[NAY]  07/13/2009: Wendy from Naugatuck, CT writes: "My dog had some signs of allergies (runny eyes, flaky skin) that were not helped by the vet's suggestions, so I did a web search and found the "ACV for dogs" site. It sounded like a harmless and potentially helpful remedy, so I tried it. It didn't do a thing for the allergic symptoms, and 3 months later, my (spayed) dog developed a bloody discharge from her urinary tract. Lab tests diagnosed struvite crystals in her bladder, which, the vet said, form when the urine is too alkaline. Some research informed me that apple cider vinegar has an alkalinizing effect in the body! After immediate cessation of the apple cider vinegar and a month of a prescription urinary acidifier, my dog's urine is now testing normal. Naturally, after this experience, I do not recommend apple cider vinegar for dogs."

08/12/2009: Cmassi from New York, New York replies: "When you add an alkali to something that is acidic, the acidity decreases and the alkalinity increases. I would never, ever give my dog anything on a daily basis (for three months) that changed her body chemistry.

Since most vets are urged to recommend certain brands of food, they are not always the most reliable advisors on the subject. If you haven't already tried eliminating foods with soy, corn and wheat (one at a time) you might find the solution. Soy can cause allergies in animals and people - processed the way it is in the US, it is not a form we should be ingesting.

Have just used a 50/50 mixture of ACV and water applied very small amounts onto two hot spots and it gave my dog immediate relief. Tested a small area on one first to be sure it didn't burn or cause more discomfort than she already had. It has worked wonderfully to give immediate relief. I will see if she shows signs of discomfort before using any more. Thank you!!!"

09/21/2009: Wes from Kansas City, Mo replies: "Regarding Wendy from Naugatuck's comment - vinegar, or acetic acid, is in fact an (weak) acid. If your dog had a struvite crystal blockage, it was due to one of two things - improper diet or not enough water, more likely the former than the latter. Most big-brand foods are absolute garbage and contribute greatly to health problems due to them being nutritionally deficient. The ACV would have had nothing at all to do with the urine being too alkaline and thus developing crystals in the urethra, and in fact would have HELPED the situation by lowering the overall pH of the urine, making it more acidic."

[YEA]  08/28/2007: Grace Wahlman from Chester, Illinois, USA writes: "After reading about Apple Cider Vinegar as a remedy on your site, I started given it to my Boxer, Peaches, who has had recurring allergies and skin rashes...I noticed a marked improvement in less than a week... I also give it to the Lab, Sadie, just because, and her coat has improved tremendously and she doesn't shed nearly as bad.. I have recommended ACV to many people and 99% have been helped... Thanks so much for posting this info."

06/30/2008: Lori from Atco, NJ replies: "what did you put the apple cider vinegar in, their food or water??"

05/25/2009: Loana from New York, New York replies: "in regard to treating a dog's itchy skin with vinegar you DO NOT EVER want to use human shampoo on a dog, it is far to harsh and will mess up their skins PH. if you are trying to treat this problem with the vinegar, you do not want to do the opposite with the wrong shampoo, use an all natural sensitive skin hypo allergenic shampoo, for puppies (even on adult dogs) and they should not be bathed more than once a month because their skin is too thin and sensitive completely unlike a persons. the vinegar can be added to a cool bath if they have to be washed more often and just use less shampoo and no more than twice a month. i am a certified Groomer with a cat and dog of my own."

07/29/2009: Tilly from Ottumwa, Iowa replies: "I bathe my dogs every week!! One is 3 (Zuchon) and one is 6 (Schnoodle)...They have beautiful coats and NO skin problems....They love to be clean...I understand that you are a groomer and go by the book, but it is not always correct.....I use tepid water, good conditioner and let them air dry in warm weather... FYI....."

[YEA]  07/28/2007: Ann from Victoria, Australia writes: "I used acv after reading about it on the website and my doggie who was suffering from terrible skin problems, started looking so good, her hair was growing , there was no more scratching. She is looking great. All the medications never brought her to full recovery but acv is just great and has done so much good for my doggie.Thank you so much."

07/01/2008: Wendi from Port Arthur, TX replies: "ACV for pets... I have read that it's used for an after bath treatment and in their drinking water. What type/brand of ACV do you use to treat pets for fleas? Wasn't sure if I needed to purchase from health food store or regular grocer. What is the ratio to add to pet's drinking water? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you"

07/01/2008: Joyce from Joelton, Tn replies: "Hi there, I don't know if you have Save-a-Lot groceries in Texas or not, but here I can get a gallon of ACV for about $2. At Kroger's it's about the same for a quart of ACV."

08/21/2008: Roop from Singapore replies: "HELP PLEASE!!!

My dog has got chronic yeast infection under his neck, underarms, inside the thighs.... have taken him to vet so many times...each time the medication is stopped it hits back again....

i m giving him ACV but its not helping.. also in his drinking water i m adding sea salt n baking soda.. after his bath i gave him a rinse with baking soda....i add flaxseed oil to his food as recommended by vet...but that also has limited use

pls pls pls help me ... i donot want to loose my dog... i m in singapore... have spend so much money ...any remedy or dog food... all the dog food have yeast in it.... which one should i give or any home food which can cure my baby.... pls TED if u reading this help me out... thanks in advance

roop"

08/22/2008: W replies: "To Roop from Singapore, Have you tried giving him Probiotics? The antibiotics he was given destroyed the good bacteria and you will need to replace it by giving probiotics for quite a long time (I don't know the dosage). You can also feed him yogurt, maybe even apply yogurt or a probiotic cream topically. Good Luck."

08/23/2008: Joyce from Joelton, Tn replies: "To Roop from Singapore: Hi Roop, MMS is safe for pets also at dosage of 2 drops per 25 lbs, but you might first try a saturated solution of baking soda applied 3 or times per day. I would probably start out with 4 ounces of water for this solution until you decide whether it is working against infection. To make saturated solution of anything just dissolve baking soda or whatever you think will be useful in water until no more will dissolve."

08/24/2008: Melissa from Albuquerque, NM replies: "Try virgin or extra virgin coconut oil topically and give internally also. Do NOT give the processed coconut oil-only virgin or extra virgin. My dog had serious scabs and skin infections all over his belly 2 years ago. I tried everything but nothing worked consistently until evco. I rubbed it on the spots and started giving him 1 teaspoon a day internally working up to 1 tablespoon a day. His skin got better within a couple of days and continued to improve until the infections went away-about 5 days. I believe evco also has other positive properties."

12/02/2008: Lisa from Montreal, Quebec, Canada replies: "To Roop: My dog has the same problem with a yeast dermatitis. We don't want to give her chemicals that will further tax her system but so far nothing has worked - - acupuncture, raw diet, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar (stung!), homeopathy and even Chinese herbal medicine. We were told that our family stress might make her worse so we've been trying as much as possible to be more relaxed human beings! We are now trying a system (it's a kit) from the NZYMES company. Many pets have recovered on this program that consists of sodium chlorite added to food and water (and applied topically to skin), plus a tincture of black walnut and olive leaf (yeast killers) added to food, and some antioxidant treats the dog loves. In a few weeks (all is done gradually so the dog's system is not overloaded) we will start with their probiotics and digestive enzymes. A high quality food must be given dogs with a yeast problem, along with regular baths in a medicated (but gentle) shampoo. Lots of play and love are also recommended, in order to keep up the dog's spirits. Patience is needed because a yeast problem can take up to a year to clear, but we have high hopes and will have to keep her on this program (but at a lower dosage) for the rest of her life. But it's natural, safe, and good for her - it's even good for humans. I suggest you go to their website (NZYMES.COM) and order their kit - you have nothing to lose. That's what we thought! On that website they also have a fabric (soft) collar so the dog can't bite her lesions and you don't have to be constantly saying "no, don't do that!". Tell your dog everyday that you love her and that you know she's getting better! They are so connected to us and to our feelings with their 6th sense that it's important for us to let them know we're doing our best to make them better and that we won't abandon them! And don't EVER get angry! It's not the dog's fault. So please take care and I hope this has helped....LISA"

12/19/2008: Janice from Coloma, Mi replies: "I have used the NZYMES on my black lab and they do work. My Lab was on too many anti-biotics and it distroyed her immune system. Now she has chronic yeast problems. The NZYMES did help clear her up. I still give her the treats but not as regularly as I should. Also, it helped to put her on a raw food diet. That was hard to keep up so I feed her Eagle Pack Holistic Formula and throw in some raw meat sometimes. "

12/29/2008: LeeAnn from Honolulu, Hawaii replies: "Hi Roop from Singapore, I did an allergy test on my dog. I found out she is allergic to beef, duck, lamb, soy & yeast. Environmental allergies black ant, fleas, roaches, dust mite, mosquitoes and house fly. Monitor your dog food; we now go to a special store to purchase dog food without these product inside. It cost a lot more but her fur is growing back. The food allergy test helped a lot."

12/29/2008: L. from Baltimore, MD, USA replies: "Corn is often an allergen. Our dog was smelling badly when he ate pet store-bought foods. We switched to a food called Flint River Ranch (which has no additives or corn) and now he is smelling less and has a shinier coat."

05/11/2009: Michele from North Vancouver, British Columbia replies: "I feel for you. You must be so scared and sad for your pet. A raw dog food diet will save your dog. It saved my Lab who had such bad allergies she lost her hair. Many people have similar stories of curing most ailments with raw food diet. It ended up being the pond in our yard. Standing water is a horrible culprit.

She is very healthy now. A dog smells and has allergies because of its diet. It's the fillers in the food. I also am convince the meds the vet gives your pet weaken it further. See holistic vets only. I'm convinced many vets get kickbacks for the food and meds they sell. It has been my experience anyway.

Raw food is only a bit more expensive but it costs way less when you include the vet bills

You can always make it yourself too. She still gets itchy paws when she plays in standing water in the warm weather but I spray with acv and it's gone. Her immune system is very healthy now and doesn't suffer. AVC is amazing as indicated above and pests won't be a problem because they can't thrive in an acidic environment."

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR SIDE EFFECTS

1 YEA

[YEA]  04/13/2007: Kelly from Seattle, WA writes: "Re: ACV for allergies: I gave organic ACV to my dog, and she threw up about 5 minutes later. I only gave her a capful, but she still threw up. It was very white bubbly throw up."

EC: Firstly, ACV should always be very well diluted in water and not given on an empty stomach. Secondly, vomiting is not necessarily a bad thing. In some cases of detoxification or food poisoning, vomiting is exactly what you would want to see.

05/07/2008: Art from Newhall, CA replies: "my two year old wire fox terrier mix has a hot spot and i have been using acv diluted and witch hazel and wonder if he licks it will he get sick? the hot spot is on his right front paw. thank you all , just found this site and love, been telling everyone about it (and iam a la county paramedic)"

05/08/2008: Joyce from Joelton,, Tn replies: "The ACV won't hurt your little doggie, but it might heal faster if you make a saturated solution of Epsom salts in apple cider vinegar. To make saturated solution start wotj 4 ounces and add Epsom salts by the 1/2 teaspoonful until no more will dissolve in the ACV. This will not hurt your doggie and the only unwanted side effect you are likely to get is a little diarrhea if he licks too much of the Epsom salts. I used the same stuff on my daughter(about age 6) when she developed deep lesions that certainly resembled what I had seen on a dog (owner told me it was hot spots). The poor thing had them all over her body and I certainly didn't want my daughter to get that bad. She only had 4 or 5 at the back of her head about an inch above the hair line. I swabbed them out 4 times a day with this and it started improving the second day of use and was healed over in a few days."

ARTHRITIS

3 YEA

06/25/2008: Suzy from Owensville, MO, USA writes: "My german shepard is very slow lately and acts like arthritis is just killing her. I have read quite a bit of remedies on your site and i love it and i cannot wait to see if it will work for us. The only problem is, I cannot get Princess, my german shepard, to drink the apple cider vinegar in her drinking water or any other way. I was wondering if you all would have any suggestions on how to get her drink the vinegar and also, how much do i need to give her. Would it be better to put the ACV in a syringe and just put it in the back of her mouth? And if so, how much do i put in the syringe?"

EC: Try mixing it in with her food. As a warning -- we used to put a teaspoon of ACV in our dogs' food each night, but stopped when each dog started to get an irritated rump (i.e., anal discharge and lots of licking). Make sure to start with a very low dosage and watch to see if Princess starts licking herself more than usual!

09/24/2008: Deb from Pleasant Grove, UT replies: "My dog gets ACV every day but sometimes she won't drink it in her water. She is picky. Soo... I just take a little piece of candy cane that she loves, let her sniff it and then let her watch me drop in the bowl of ACV and water. She trys to get around it but eventually to get the candy she laps up all the water. Just like a kid sometimes bribery works."

[YEA]  03/16/2009: Rachael from Collingswood, NJ replies: "This ACV remedy for arthritis is amazing. Yesterday my dog could barely get up and down. I was really starting to worry. (he's currently in natural healing and the arthritis began during this period). I didn't want him in so much pain but didn't want to thwart his healing process with drugs. I tried two of the suggestions on this page...Apple Cider Vinegar (2 tablespoons of ACV with food); and pure celtic sea salt in his water.

After his first dosage last night, he woke up a new dog today. Seriously, I'm amazed. Thank you sooo much.

Rachael Meehan"

04/28/2009: Diana from Hazel Crest, Illinois replies: "Relative to Rachael's (from Collingswood, NJ 3/16/09) email about her remedy, is the celtic sea salt in water a part of the remedy for arthritis, in addition to the 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar? If so, what are the proportions of sea salt to water and I wonder if dogs have a problem drinking it?

Thanks!"

[YEA]  Wendy from Canada writes: "My Chocolate Lab Sam has arthritis and was recently attacked by a dog. I had started him on ACV before but forgot sometimes. He has been on it faithfully for the past 3 weeks now and is getting better and better. He is on a raw diet and I just mix it in. For those dog owners who have dogs with failing health I recommend you look at the BARF diet. I wouldn't have believed that a dog who I was told would be dead in 3 months from liver problems would completely turn around due to diet and supplements(including ACV). We are what we eat and so are our pets. It has been 11 months and Sammy is doing great!!"

06/04/2008: Margie from Warren, Michigan replies: "I have an 11 year old Lab/retriever mix. She is suffering from constantly itching, hot spots and has raw spots on her skin from knawing all the time. You mentioned about a "raw" diet - I want to know what that is. She is also suffering big time with arthritis. With the ACV - how much do you give - do you feed it to them - mix it in the food. She is also getting very finicky about eating. Any help I would appreciate it as I am on a very strict budget and can't afford vet bills. ACV seems to be a "cure" all. Thanks."

06/05/2008: Joyce from Joelton, Tn replies: "Hi, Hope your doggie is better. I would put the apple cider vinegar in her drinking water. Start with a teaspoon of ACV to the pint of drinking water, and as she gets used to drinking that increase a little every day or two until you get to about a tablespoon per quart of water. According to Dr. Jarvis and his home remedies that work, it also helps arthritis."

11/18/2009: Rita from Toronto, Ontario, Canada replies: "Re: dog's itching from environmental/food allergies: my dog absolutely will not drink water or eat food with ACV...I understand there are organic based ACV caplets. Could I use those instead? Would they be as effective as liquid ACV? Thankyou for your posts, everyone! Most helpful!"

[YEA]  Sandi from Rehoboth MA writes: "I personally use it several times day, it works for different problems. All the dogs (7) are on it, from a disabled dachsie to three young healthy dachsies. It helps with arthritis, ear problems, wounds, itching. Adjust ph levels, prevents uti's. Gives them a healthy skin and also cleans out the bodies, like it does for humans"

11/03/2008: Alice from Corpus Christi, TX replies: "13 year old standard poodle is falling over from arthritis. Also has bad ears. Has gone from 70 to 50 lbs. I don't want to lose him. Please help."

BLACK SKIN

1 YEA

[YEA]  01/23/2009: Sally from Wall, NJ writes: "I have to share this with all of your readers. I have a yellow lab who developed "black skin" on her belly with itching and consequently sores that became inflamed and infected, and she started to lose her hair! I first started giving her vitamin E pills and rubbed her belly with Apple Cider Vinegar daily. The AVC soothed the itching. I continued doing both and then added 50 mg of zinc to her diet everyday. Within one month there was noticeable improvement, and her hair was growing back! No doctors, no medications, just simple effective home remedies that work. Today, 4 mos later, everything is gone, and she has a beautiful coat of hair! I credit using AVC 1-2X daily, and the zinc tablet!

Good luck to all... it's devastating when this happens to your beloved pet. I am a firm believer in ALL NATURAL products, with vets as a LAST resort."

01/23/2009: Jessica from Vincennes, Indiana replies: "I don't understand why a lot of people are against taking their animals to the vet. People, Vets have the education and experience to treat our beloved pets. Why would you want to take advice of every Tom, Dick and Harry out there. Are you just too cheap to get a true and accurate diagnosis. There is no way I would ever take advise from somebody other than our Vet. Our vet is very honest and actually doesn't charge that much. I had a cat who ended up getting really sick and he had to stay at our vet for over a week and our vet did not charge us one penny. He just wanted to make sure if our beloved friend needed any extra treatment that he would be there to get that help A.S.A.P."

01/24/2009: Rosy from Orlando, Fl replies: "Not all vets are so nice, or that ethical. I took my cat to the vet multiple times for tapeworms. They were just so hard to get rid of. She had four paste wormers, and one shot. After about 6 months of this she peed this horrid red stuff. I took her to the closed vet, not my normal one, and it turned out she had a tumor in her bladder, kidney failure, and liver failure. The red stuff was Liver juice. I ended up having to put her down because too many organs had gone too far. All because one vet was an idiot and never checked her organs for damage, and just had be keep coming in and getting her wormed. I know she had worms the first time, because I saw them in her litter box. The other times I went were for dehydration. I wish my vet had been like yours, then I would still have my best friend with me."

10/29/2009: Itsybitsybug from Bowling Green, Ky replies: "This is in response to Jessica from Vincennes. Using a vet as a last resort is not necessarily a bad thing. The average pet owner, even one more inclined toward natural remedies will take their pet to the vet if it is necessary. But if it is a minor problem that can be solved without the use of a vet and all the meds and chemicals they tend to prescribe then why not try it. I treat my pets health the same way I treat mine. I would try a natural cure on myself before going to the doctor and getting drugs that would kill my immune system and I do the same with my pets and I personally feel that they and I are better for it. Natural remedies have been around a lot longer than modern medicine and many of them have proven themselves to be effective time and time again. They may not always work but it is definitely worth a try in situations where it is not a time sensitive life or death sort of situation. A dogs skin problems are typically not life or death situation."

BLADDER INFECTION

2 YEA

[YEA]  10/05/2008: Rebecca from Winter Park, Florida writes: "I found this website last night while searching for home remedies for my dog's UTI. I thought why not lets give it a shot. With the horrible economy I can't afford a $200 dollar vet bill. I started using the ACV last night. I gave my 65 pound 5 year old boxer 1.5 tablespoons mixed in with some plain yogurt. When she went out for her morning potty break she urinated only one time. It was normal in color with no blood. Just the night before she was going every 5 minutes or so and nothing was coming out and when urine did come out it was bloody. I have continued to give her the ACV today and plan to keep her on it for about a week. Boy was this one of the most effective home remedies I have ever found."

EC: Many more bladder infection remedies for dogs here: http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/bladder_infection.html

10/26/2008: Wendy from Bloomington, Minnesota replies: "My dog has a bladder infection took him to the vet gave him medication. He ran out and seems to still have it. Would like to try the ACV. He is also one Phtassium Bromide 575 mg. for his seizures. Would this have a side affect on him?? Please help"

EC: More bladder infection remedies for dogs here: http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/bladder_infection.html

[YEA]  09/21/2008: Pete from VeryRural, MN writes: "Day 1 of ACV & I like what I see. Please read the below.

My 8 yr old Springer Spaniel had a bladder infection about 6 months ago, it was soon after she'd come out of heat, it gave her the typical discomfort, whimpering, peeing indoors, multiple dry pees outdoors etc... I took her to the vet who did the standard test & diagnosis exam, antibiotics and out the door for $275, a few days later Kayla was on the mend.

Well here we are today, yesterday actually & Kaylas been out of heat for a week now when she suddenly developes the same symptoms, as it was Saturday all I could do was sympathise w/her & made sure to walk her often. Poor girl she was panting, whimpering, pacing & me knowing the vet was at least two days away. Late last night I came to this site & saw this Apple Cider Vinegar remedy forum and figured what the heck it couldn't hurt....... I got some fresh ACV at the general store this morning and gave her 1.5 Tbsp. mixed w/her kibble. One hour later she's sleeping comfortably for a change, no whining, no visible discomfort, in fact she's obviously feeling just fine 'n dandy all afternoon. I give her another 1.5 Tbsp with tonights supper feeding, still she's feeling well & really appearing to be back to her old self. I'm retired & I'm with my dogs 24/7 mostly so I'll be careful to watch Kayla & to try to be impartial in my continued assessment of ACV treatments for UTI or bladder infections. I'll update this every day or so with a few quick comments, sorry this was so long winded but it seemed only proper to give Kaylas known history."

CONJUNCTIVITIS

1 NAY

[NAY]  Anonymous from Los Angeles writes: "Apple cider vinegar didn't help my dog. However, I found that keeping his eyes clear of discharge by using a clean index or thumb finger pad as often as possible cured the issue. You must be very gentle! At first your dog may not particularly like this being done. However, if you are very gentle with the process, your dog will soon allow you to clear his/her eyes and will be forever grateful for this ritual."

DULL COAT ISSUES

2 YEA

[YEA]  02/17/2007: FE from Laguna, Phillipines writes: "I've been giving my pets a dose of apple cider 3 x a week, and it reflects well on their coat!"

[YEA]  04/17/2006: Heather from Kathmandu, Nepal writes: "Our Tibetan Mastiff/German Shepard mix puppy had really itchy dandruff and a really dull coat. I started feeding her about 5ml of apple cider vinegar once or twice a day. She really doesn't like it, and when I add it to her food, then she doesn't want to eat her food. Instead I put it in a syringe and feed it to her that way. Her coat improved in about two days, and now it is thick and shiny and not much dandruff. She also had weepy eyes and now she doesn't. Other dogs from the same litter have thin hair and patches coming out. Our landlord was so impressed that they started using it themselves! They said that our dog looked like a different dog altogether."

EAR AND EYE INFECTIONS

6 YEA

[YEA]  06/24/2009: Sean from Hawkeye, Iowa writes: "Simply Amazing. Our Dauchshound had bad eye gunk to the point he could not open his eyes. We were constantly using a warm wet wash cloth to clean them 5 plus times a day. Yesterday he just looked so depressed and was so tired. Found some spots he must have been biting at so we were concerned. We were going to call the vet again to make an emergency appointment in the morning. 2 Different vets have just given him eye medication previously but it never seemed to work. I found this site yesterday looking for what has worked for others. I ran straight out to the convienence store, bought some ACV and came back to the house. I put a half mixture of ACV and water in a spray bottle. I bathed him, then after his bath I spayed the mixture on him. I dipped his Pupperoni Stick that he loves so much in a 1/3 miture ACV to water and tried to feed it to him as his treat after his bath. He refused to eat it. I then dipped my fingers in the sollution and opened his mouth and driped a few drops into his mouth. Also BTW I did not dry him off after the bath i let him air dry in the ACV mixture.

The Very next morning he has NO EYE GUNK! His coat looks great, he is not itching, or biting anywhere! He is running around as happy as can be! And NO vet! As someone said before, sometimes a vet can't get your issue taken care of as we had found. It is not that we dont care enough to take them to the vet, BECAUSE WE HAVE, its because the Vets solution does not always work. If it did I would have never found this website. After 2 summers of seeing my dog suffer from allergies, I can finally say we found a solution and he is right as rain!"

09/02/2009: Kelsirish1974 from Seattle, Wa, USA replies: "Something a bit off topic, but that is so often overlooked, is diet. While I am a huge believer in ACV and its myriad of benefits, nutrition is extremely important for your dog's health, as well. Almost all Veterinarians know absolutely nothing about nutrition for your dog. Treats like pupperoni are like giving your kids McDonald's everyday. (I know it is so hard to not sneak them a snack they love now and then:) There are a lot of great foods emerging now, though. They are not very much more expensive and your dog will truly get proper nutrition. Dogs that are malnourished are always hungry, just like people! Dog foods are not regulated at all and many bad things go into the foods they market to our best friends. If dogs are nourished well they may not need a "cure" like ACV or a visit to the Vet! I found this all out the hard way....I had a dog with severe allergies. I changed his food to a great quality food. It is a great gift to give our dogs...GOOD HEALTH! Thank you for letting me ramble about this topic for a moment. It is very close to my heart!"

[YEA]  06/21/2009: Georgina from Hobart, TAS Australia writes: "Apple Cider Vinegar for dog's eye infection

I noticed my 2 yo Labrador had some gunk in the corner of one eye 2 days ago. It looked like the normal eye-boogies he gets so I ignored it until later that day when it was clear he had an eye infection, as I could see drak green/grey gunk inside the eye itself. It was a Saturday morning so I called the vet to make an appt for later that day. I really didn't want to fork out $130-odd bucks (by the time you factor in the weekend consult plus anti-biotic prescription and then the follow-up visit), so I started searching for home remedies. I've used this site before for some opinions on extra virgin coconut oil (which I now use solely as my beauty routine and for any cuts/abrasions/infections) as well as Apple Cider Vinegar (which I use for digestive balancing).

I saw all the posts about dabbing ACV on the back of a pet's neck and thought, well if this many people swear by it I'll give it a try. I tried this as well as a weak solution (just enough to colour the water) to flush my dog's eye. After I washed the eye out I applied EVCO on a cotton ball to soothe the skin and hopefully help with the infection. I did this several times over the course of the day and it seemed to improve so I cancelled my vet appt, thinking at worst I could take him on the Monday. I thought the EVCO was doing the job so I continued with this as I figured it was also more comfortable for my dog. His eye got worse again in the afternoon and was quite yucky by evening. By this time it was too late for a vet visit and I felt like a terrible "mum"!

I tried the ACV on the back of the neck again, and this time I used at least a quarter of a cup undiluted, as he has SUPER thick hair and I really had to work it in to reach the skin. Most of it rubbed off or stayed in the outer coat I think. Anyway, enough must have got in this time because he started really quickly improving, so I did one more dose before bed. This morning I very tentatively checked on him thinking it would either be much better or totally disgusting. Luckily, it was much better and today after a couple of the same treatments it's looking really good. Still some eye-boogie but the reddening inside lower eyelid has really improved. I still used some EVCO for soothing the eye area, he seemed to like that.

So he stinks like high heaven and the house smells like "rotten feet" as my boyfriend tells me, but he's just as impressed as I am and I can't believe this actually WORKED. I don't know HOW this could work but the main thing is it does so without risk of harm. As any lab owner would know, they traditionally have pretty sensitive skin, but this doesn't appear to bother him. It saved us a wad of cash and it cleared his infection quicker than anti-biotics would have. I think he knows it's working too because he willingly leans his neck toward me when I put it on now. Cute little fella! :-)"

[YEA]  01/25/2009: Patty from Oshkosh, Wi writes: "Our Itallin Mastiff has allergies & constant ear infections. After trying antibiotics and drops for a month the yeast infections come back. Our Vet said to use 2 parts apple cider vinegar to equal parts water & 1 part 99% rubbing alcohol. (NOT 70% you get in the drug store) He said the 90-99% doesn't burn. Then to flush out his ears 2-3 times a week for the 1st week then cut back to 1 time per week. I went further to add healing herb extracts & have been rinsing him with the ACV mix for his allergies for a year now. I also make him all-natural soap. His coat has come back and we are down to 2 ear infections this last year instead of every month. I am going to have all-natural herbal dog soap, ear wash & more for sale next month. somethintohowlabout.com"

[YEA]  09/21/2007: Debra from Morganton, North Carolina writes: "

Mandy and I just moved into an area where pets are allowed, which in itself is a rarity. Fleas are an issue. Mandy is my only (baby) still at home and she's a 14 yr old schnauzer. She depends on me for everything as it should be. I depend on her for "lovin' and cuddlin'" and she's very good at it. Anyway, I've only recently discovered (lemon) flea killer, however, after using this half and half mixture leaves me to wonder. Did I do this right because this smell is almost unbareable it really smells like wet dirty dog, but not on Mandy only where she's been ie under coffee table, her bed' etc... Can anyone tell me how I messed this up because I don't see how??

Also, I have used the vinegar solution (one (1) part vinegar to two (2) part water) for a yeast build-up in Mandys ears and as of this day I'll swear by how well it works three (3) or four (4) days in a row then weekly treatment, amazing, and no vet bill nor chemicals which is a bonus for us as well as the world. THUMBS UP!!!"

[YEA]  Carolyn from Gallon Jug, Belize writes: "I use a few drops of ACV solution (1 part ACV, 1 part water, 1 part rubbing alcohol) applied with an eyedropper in my dog's ears after a bath. It cleared up her dark ear discharge completely. We use it on ourselves as well since ear fungus is common in this humid part of the world."

[YEA]  Anna from Ottowa, Canada writes: "Our 13-month old female Black Lab-Rotty mix dog Maya has been suffering from recurrent eye and ear infections for the last 7 months. When we first took her to the vet 7 months ago, the diagnosis was ear mites. We treated her with Revolution - twice. The infection seemed to get better at first, but then returned quickly. I then treated her ears with Yellow Dock for a few months, it seemed to keep the infection under control, but had not cleared it. Last month, Maya got a very severe ear infection and we took her to emergency - the test showed NO MITES - YEAST infection! It meant that I have been treating her all this time for the wrong cause - thanks to the vet who did not perform any tests the first time around and simply "guessed" that Maya had ear mites. To cut the long story short, the emergency vet gave us some antibiotic cream, which helped at bit at first, but then we saw no improvement, especially around the eyes, so I found this website and decided to treat Maya with an organic ACV (half and half with water). I sponged her back (she had a few lesions there as well) and her ears twice a day, I let her shake and then wiped her ears dry. I sponged her eyes gently as well. Her eyes were circled by an elephant-like skin with no hair, and it seemed that like would never go away! Within 2 days we noticed a great improvement. I continued the treatment for a few days twice a day, and her conditioned improved 99%. I've read that it takes 3-6 weeks for it to clear up completely and that it is suffice to do it three times a week.

I measured her pH balance and noticed that it was too alkaline (around 8). This helps yeast to grow, so we started adding a bit of vinegar to her food to stabilie her ph balance. We've also implemented other dietary restrictions that are typical with yest

Overall, we've definitely found success with ACV, and I hope that other dog owners would be able to learn from us to help their furry kids."

04/28/2009: Winston1127 from New Paris, OHIO replies: "I have a 3 year old cocker spaniel. I just found this site a few days ago and love it. He is always having ear infections. I read the part about putting the ACV drops in his ears. my question is: do you have to dilute the ACV with equal parts of water or do you just put the drops in with out diluting them. any help would be a big help. he cuttently has an ear infection now and would like to try this to see if it will help. I have also tried putting the ACV in his food and water, but when I put it in his water he doesn't drink it and the same for his food, he doesn't eat it. I read where another person had the same problem and they just squirted it in their dogs mouth, but they did not say wheater they diluted it or did it straight. that is my question. When you put it in the mouth do you have to dilute it or not. please help."

FLEA ALLERGIES

1 YEA

[YEA]  07/10/2008: Linda from Miramichi, Canada writes: "My little Venus has been going nuts with itching and biting..had 2 spots size of toonies on her rump..one with a scab, one with hair off and bald. She is on a regime from vet for fleas etc. In desperation, one hot day I sprayed apple cider vinegar and water {half and half}all over her skin and especially on those 2 spots. She stopped scratching for about an hour and a half. So we now put 5 ml/ 1 tsp. mixed with a tsp/ water in a 5 ml. syringe and shoot it into her mouth once a day. She wouldn't eat if we put it in food or drinking water. VOILA!!! NO MORE ITCHING AND BITING"

FLEAS

12 YEA
1 NAY

[YEA]  03/23/2009: Betty from San Antonio, Texas writes: "ACV- is what I use...I wouldn't be writting if I didn't see results for myself...I have been putting a TBSP. daily in dogs food and also spraying him with water/ACV mix every other day....I must say that it is working great...My dog Zeek (Sharpei mix) was tearing his legs and back side by his tail up!!!! His Vet had me try the prescription diet to rule out food allergies...it wasn't working...so before I spent more $$$$ on allergy tests I researched and came across the uses of ACV for possible flea allergy etc...I prayed that this would help...guess my prayers are being answered...he no longer has sores on his legs and back side by his tail....I'm so happy and feel so great that he is no longer mutalating himself...he has an occasional itch or scratch here and there...but nothing compared to before I started using ACV...I also give him a TBSP. or two of plain yogurt or cottage cheese ever so often in his food...Tuna in oil and sardines...I do bathe him with Medicated shampoo but it was the ACV that I truly feel has healed his sores and has prevented him from biting and scratching himself as before...I hope it continues to work and for others as well!!!"

11/15/2008: Maribel from Detroit, Michigan writes: "hi everyone but i have a question... i see that some people reccommend the acv and some don't but is it safe to use it on pregnant dogs or lacting dogs, and or on the pupies??? I have a 1yr. 11 month old chihuahua that has been now itching badly and we hav seen fleas on her. we have not been putting any flea products on her since sh'e 6 weeks pregnant. we usually put something on her every month or was her once a week. but like i said she's pregnant and their isn't much we can do. even though now that shes been pregnant for these 6 weeks my children, husband and i ahve been getting bite by these fleas. so i was wondering if someone can tell me if it is asafe to use the acv and the borax for here and my children in the house??? please help i'm going crazy with this..,.. and my children are getting bit all over..."

[YEA]  08/07/2008: Virginia from Cushing, OK writes: "FLEAS/TICKS and ACV: Full Strength ACV on dog that was scratching constantly. His hair under his tail and on his abdomen had a red tint to it (he is white) and I am not sure it wasn't some kind of mange problem too since it had a terrible odor which wasn't helped by bathing. After spraying him down with full strength ACV the odor dissipated and his scratching has stopped. I sprayed him for 3 consecutive days at first but skip a day or two now. Thank you for saving me a vet bill..."

[YEA]  03/01/2008: kim from sebring, florida writes: "I got my german shepard from wretched people, they had taken him off his mother at 3 weeks old, the feeding and watering was horrific. I immediately began him on mothers milk for 4 weeks.

Later when he was 4 months old, i bathed him and treated him with flea treatment. IMMEDIATELY he broke out in a terrible rash with lesions and such. The odor made me physically sick. My dog is allergic to flea treatments, AND fleas. It was so bad, that i considered putting him down, it broke my heart to see him suffer so much. what kind of life is that? always constantly itching and bleeding. I found this site, i bathed him in acv and sprayed him down three times a day. all gone. now he is 9 months old. my son flea treated him for me while i was out of town. BAM, horrible, and i do mean horrible rash blood red, lesions, sores, constant itching and crying. I immediately sprayed him down with the acv solution and he fell asleep in about ten minutes, relief from the itching. I began just two days ago adding it to his water, and I can not believe the difference. A dog that is allergic to the chemicals in monthly flea treatments AND allergic to FLEA's has a miserable life. Thankfully due to the acv my dog has a chance at a good itch free life. I cannot thank you enough. It made me cry to see him in such torment. thank you to everyone who shares their stories, it saves lives and the quality of those lives."

08/20/2008: C.K. from St. Louis, Missouri replies: "Do not use garlic in ANY sort of dog food. It is toxic and can kill your dog, just like onions and grapes. It's simply foolish that someone would encourage you to feed that to your dog. I'd take fleas over a dead pet any day."

EC: Please read the (mostly positive) feedback on our Garlic for Dogs page.

[NAY]  Simon from Victoria, Australia writes: "he tried bathing his 10 dogs religiously in Apple Cider Vinegar (as prescribed above) for days to get rid of fleas. No luck."

06/13/2008: Kathy from Cypress, TX replies: "NO MORE FLEAS. To keep fleas off my 70 lb. dog, I juice fresh raw garlic and add 1/8 teaspoon of it to a raw egg yolk. He eats it joyfully. NO MORE FLEAS. Fleas hate the smell of garlic. I may carefully increase the amount of garlic juice some in the future because he is 70 lbs. He eats his food joyfully. He also loves greens such as Alfalfa powder, Wheatgrass powder, Barley powder, etc. Dogs need greens too!"

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