Apple Cider Vinegar for Dogs
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Apple Cider Vinegar for Dogs: Natural Remedies for Common Issues

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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General Feedback

3 User Reviews
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Posted by Teri A. (Palm Harbor, Fl, Usa) on 09/14/2010

Hi everyone, thanks for all of your great posts on ACV. I ran out and picked some up. Put it in the food and drinking water. I plan to put some on the nape of the neck like flea medicine to see what happens! My Boo gets infections in his mouth, will ACV help clear it up? So tired of the steroid injections and antibiotics! Please help!

General Feedback
Posted by Heidi (Teeswater, Ontario Canada) on 10/23/2009

Please can someone tell me if it is organic Apple Cider Viniger or the plain ACV for my black lab of 7 years?

EC: Many people on this site report getting the best results with organic ACV!

Replied by Megan
(Warner Robins, Ga)
10/29/2009
★★★★★

For my 2 large dogs (over 50 & 100lb) the regular over the counter ACV worked for us. I had a bad flea infestation in the house and on both dogs. I was about ready to break down and fork over the boko bucks for frontline flea treatment--or get rid of the dogs. Fogging the house and generic flea treatments/baths was not working or I wasn't doing it enough. I found ACV for myself (the generic grocery store brand works for me as well) and was excited to read it could help with my flea problem as well. I gradually worked them up to a tablespoon a day the first week. I also sprayed them with a diluted mix of something like 1/4 cup in a large spray bottle full of water. I even think that is a bit much. I did bomb the house maybe 2 weeks before I started ACV for the dogs. It took about another 2 weeks for the fleas to clear up in the house, so a total of a month since the bombing. I have not been able to find a single flea on the dogs. I am excited to be flea free and for next to nothing. The last few days I maybe give the dogs the ACV every other day and spray about every other day. They are scratching at themselves less and seem overall to be much happier though they don't care much for the spray and love to roll around after to try and get it off--oh well....no fleas.

General Feedback
Posted by Amanda (Austin, TX) on 02/25/2009
 ★★★★★

Thanks to all of you for the Apple Cider Vinegar treatment ideas. My 9 year old Lab has been in such pain and now he is so much better. Thank yall for taking the time to share.

How to Apply Topically

Posted by Earth Clinic (Ca) on 07/28/2017

Please share our new Earth Clinic video - How to Use a Topical Application of ACV for Dogs & Cats - with friends and family who might benefit from using ACV on their pets. It's safe, gentle and effective!

https://youtu.be/A9vJypG3E_M

Measurements

Posted by Sandy (Laconia, NH) on 04/15/2009

What are the exact measurements? I know this will sound ridiculous to most of you, but I keep seeing the mixture to be 1 part ACV, 2 parts Water. My question is, what are the exact measurements of each solution?

EC: Not sure what you are trying to cure, so we're posting this on the ACV for dogs page! Please clarify...

Replied by Linda
(York County, Maine)
04/27/2009

Sandy, I think the one part ACV could be one tablespoon (for example) and the two parts water would be two tablespoons; or 1/4 cup ACV and 1/2 cup of water. However much ACV you use, add twice the amount of water.....1/2 cup ACV to one cup water, etc. Or, think of it this way: if you have a total of one cup of liquid and divide it into thirds, you'd have 1/3 ACV and 2/3 water. Hope that makes sense - ACV is a wonderful thing!

Replied by Stacey
(Calabasas, CA)
07/29/2009

I want to have a supply of AVC and water solution on hand and ready when if I should need it for my two dogs. Can I buy the regular AVC, or should it be the organic AVC with the mother? Also, can I create a solution of this and store it in a cabinet, or does it need to be freshly mixed everytime I want to use it? I think my terrier mix stepped on something that stung his paw. I gave him a little Benadryl incase he had any allergies to the sting, but I also used AVC on it hoping that it would help, he didn't seem to like it as if it made it sting more? Does this sting the dog? He keeps licking his paw now and I am wondering what else I can do to help him heal. Any suggestion out there? - Thanks, Stacey

Replied by Peppasmom68
(Watauga, Tx)
09/20/2012

I have a question do I wash it off after or just leave it?

Nursing Dogs

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Posted by Irene (Live Oak, Texas) on 04/16/2009
 ★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Possible bad reaction to ACV

I gave my bichon who had pups about a week and half ago ACV in her water. I noticed she started having accidents in the house which she has never done. She also started vomiting. One of her pups the smallest his tongue swelled and before we could get him to a vet he passed away. I truly believe he and she had a bad reaction to the ACV. I only put a few drops in her water. I am so devasted by the loss of this puppy. I wish I could of done something for him. I live with regret because I wonder if he suffered or was in pain. Anyway I would not recommmend giving the mommy any ACV while she is nursing.

I gave the mommy ACV because I read it would help.

BIG MISTAKE.

Poisoning

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Posted by Ted (Bangkok , Thailand) 392 posts
 ★★★★★

My dog was dying, perhaps from old age, he's about 12 years old. It refused to eat for 3 days and was dying. What I did was instead of using apple cider vinegar, I used ordinary vinegar about 2 tablespoon on the water and bathed the dog with pure vinegar. Within 2 hours, the dog defecated ... and was back to normal within 2-3 hours. I recommended my friend's dog who was dying from some kind of insecticide poisoning and recommended the same, the dog licked some vinegar and vomited, and was cured. So ordinary vinegar works just as well.

Poisoning
Posted by Connie (Eugene, Oregon)
★★★★★

My friend's dog drank some bad water and she believed she needed to take both of her dogs to the vet which she could not afford, so I recomended she give them some ACV to drink and it helped them almost immediately.

Tear Stains

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Posted by Anonymous (USA)
★★★★★

I had a completely white bulldog with black spotted skin. He had dark tear stains running from his tear duct area down. I tried a few of the tear bleaching products sold for dogs but none worked (besides being expensive). I also tried some suggested home remedies (e.g. hydrogen peroxide, etc.) and those were not effective either. A vet told me the tear stains were caused by the acidity in the dogs system and if I neutralized his system, the stains would go away.

His suggestion was to put vinegar in the dogs drinking water! He suggested putting just a "tiny" bit of vinegar in the drinking water for a few days (I interpreted that as about 1/4 of a vinegar bottles cap full) and then increase the amount of vinegar added until I was adding about a teaspoon to the drinking water each day (I would estimate his drinking water bowl to contain about 5 cups of water.) Each time I changed or added water to his bowl, I also added the vinegar. Within a few weeks, the tear stains were gone for good!

Replied by Judy
(Denver. Co)
08/04/2013

Find this interesting. I'm going to try this. My vet told me tear stains are caused by clogged tear ducts and needed to be flushed to clear them. Of course, under anesthetic and a few hundred dollars.

Replied by Wendy
(Columbus, Oh)
08/05/2013

Yes, ACV is great for tear stains (add it to the dog's drinking water), and excellent for reducing allergies and for general health. Also, try putting a water filter on your kitchen sink's tap. I had a bichon for 11 years (those fluffy all-white dogs), and he never had tear stains because I have him the purified/filtered water. And this was before I found out about ACV.

Replied by Anna
(Ma)
04/23/2016

Yep, the vet examined my toy poodle with a magnifying glass and said his ducts were closed. Surgery is needed!!! Mega bucks of course.

About a year later...no surgery...no way...the tear stains cleared up for no apparent reason. Sadly they came back about a year ago, again for no apparent reason. I'm going to try the ACV, hoping that will make them go away again. It was a glorious 3 years with no stains. They make him look dirty and sick, I hate it. Also that they are being caused by fungus or whatever.

I have to wonder what the heck the vet would have done since his ducts clearly were not clogged. Guess he would have caught up on his reading while my pup took a nap, ha-ha. He was 2 years old when he was examined so I don't think the ducts would have come unclogged on their own?

Tumors

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Posted by Diane (Tx) on 12/01/2015
 ★★★★★

My loving Jack Russell Chihuahua is 16 years old. He started getting tumors on his head, legs, side and I started applying apple cider vinegar to these tumors. The largest one on top of the head is gone too. I apply with apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle and I apply it as needed for disinfectant. I love my baby boy all pets have lived way pass their last expectations.

Replied by Maggie
(California)
01/05/2016

I have a 5lb 12 years old poodle that just developed a tumor on his hip, the vet said to just watch it and that it would probably keep growing but wasn't cancerous. How much ACV should I put on it for his weight? Do I mix with water and dab it on the tumor with a cotton ball or what? Help! He also moves much slower now but I have no idea how much ACV to try giving him orally, he's picky and I know won't drink it in his water. Thank you for any help!!

EC: For topical use on pets, Apple Cider Vinegar should always be diluted with water. No more than 1/2 Apple Cider Vinegar.

Replied by Deb
(Ontario)
03/19/2016

We recently rescued a German Shorthaired pointer, 8'yrs. he Has lots of fatty lumps in his body, and he has arthritis in all his legs. We have changed his diet, now being raw fed with some fruits and vegetables. My questions to you are: How exactly do you apply the Apple Cider Vinegar to the tomours on your dog? What is the mixture? Are they tumours or like my dogs, benign fatty lumps? Thanks so much.

Replied by Rue
(California)
03/28/2018

This is just what I need. My senior doggie has been diagnosed with small Pappillonas (warts) under her tongue. My vet said if they don't disappear on their own, to wait until they grow larger and surgically remove them. How did you mix your ACV solution to be sprayed in the mouth? I sincerely hope you are somehow alerted to this question, as you posted several years ago.

Urinary Issues

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Posted by bagofnuts (Metairie, LA) on 04/30/2009
 ★★★★★

My large 105 lb. rhodesian could not urinate or very little. Vet said it was his prostate. Suggested neutering however he is on prednisone every other day so surgery was delicate. Did tests and results were good for surgery. I researched this site and tried the ACV and honey (2tbls. each) 2X a day and wow, he was urinating within 5 hours. Continued this for months and then changed to 1 tbls 1X a day. He is still doing fine and no surgery.

Thanks...what a find. He probably had stones even though vet tested and found none.

Urinary Issues
Posted by Carole (NJ) on 05/06/2006
 ★★★★★

I have an 11 lb. Chihuahua. His urine was always at a pH of 8 with crystals forming. I put him on a urinary acidifier tablet for a couple of years and it did not do anything. I tried 1/2 teaspoon of ACV once a day and in only one week his urine pH went down to 5!!! Even the doctor was amazed when I told her what I did.

Urinary Issues
Posted by Denise (Conrad, Ohio)
★★★★★

I have a diabetic schnauzer and he gets a tsp. of ACV in each home made meal. Diabetics are prone to urinary infections and he hasn't had one since the day he was diagnosed 3 years ago. His coat is also in great shape and some diabetics get really dried out hair. I love it! I like using something for my dog that I also use for myself.

Urinary Issues
Posted by Rachel (St. Louis, MO)
★★★★★

My parent's dog had horrible kidney stones and a urinary tract infection. He could not hold his urine sometimes and other times he could not release it. He was in a lot of pain. The vet reccomended surgery. My mom was reluctant because she believes in natural cures and the fact that there is a 40% chance of it repeating in a year. She put him on a special diet and it didn't work. After two days of putting him on the Apple Cider Vinegar, he appears to be cured! They put a little in his drinking water and a few drops in his food. It worked like a wonder drug! He is happy and energetic again and is no longer having accidents or in pain. He is back to his old self. Highly Recomended!

Replied by Jackie
(West Australia)
11/01/2016

Hi, Could you tell me if a c v would work on a 11 week old poodle x puppy? She is inconternt quite badly when she sleeps The vet said she will need an 8 grand op!! Money I haven't got. Please help

Replied by Theresa
(Mpls., Mn)
11/01/2016

Hey Jackie,

ACV may help but it cannot replace a surgical procedure. For sure try it -it can only help.

Replied by Anzhela
(Burbank, Ca)
08/07/2017

I have a little Yorkie who has urinary bladder stones. Will AppleCider vinegar help to dissolve . Doctors are saying surgery is needed but he doesn't do well with anesthesia.......

EC: Please see our Bladder Stone Remedies for Dogs page here for feedback from readers who used ACV.

Where to Buy

Posted by Isabella (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) on 10/25/2008

Hi, Can anyone please tell me where in Melbourne, Australia I can buy organic apple cider vinegar in bulk sizes, ie. at least 15 litres? I'm planning to use it regularly on my six-year-old black Lab, "Star" who has severe Atopic Dermatitis. Also, not many people here seem to have mentioned whether they use organic or standard apple cider vinegar...I'd be interested to know which works best.

In Love, Peace, and Harmony,
Isabella (and Star)

EC: Here's the page, but no sources yet listed for Australia unfortunately:
https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/apple_cider_vinegar_buy.html

Replied by Sue
(Melbourne, Vic)
01/15/2009

Hi Isabella, I buy ACV direct from the Apple Orchard in Bacchus Marsh. It's very inexpensive (less than $2 per litre) and you need to take your own containers for them to fill. Cheers, Sue.

Replied by Louise
(Ocean Grove, VIC Australia)
01/16/2009

To Isabella of Melbourne, I can't give you the name of a particular supplier as I don't buy it in bulk, but I do know that horse owners buy acv in bulk. So check out horse feed stores and if you can't find any, ring your vet and ask where you would be able to get horse feed in your area.


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