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.
Is It Safe?
Posted by New Mexico Glo (Roswell) on 03/25/2017
★★★★★
Just to clear up the many misconceptions out there about garlic, it is safe for dogs in moderation. I have fed it to all 5 of mine since they were pups, all eat a home cooked diet with about the equivalent of 1/2 clove each per day, and typically do not get fleas or worms, unless it's a very bad year for fleas. 4 of them weigh between 50 and 60 pounds, the other is around 35 pounds, just for reference. Even in bad years, such as last year, they don't get many, and the fleas don't stick around very long, as they can't stand the smell of the garlic.
Onions, on the other hand, can do serious harm to your dogs! The allium content in them is much higher than in garlic, although they are from the same plant family.
The key to feeding garlic is caution and being observant. Like with any food, some dogs, or humans, might have an allergy to ANY food, so start small, observe carefully for a few days, then if they do well, continue and enjoy not using toxic flea preparations on your fur babies. :-) Also do some research on herbal preparations that you can make at home, rather than using toxic chemicals that are sold at the store, labeled "safe." I assure you they are not all that safe. The are pesticides, plain and simple.
Here's to good health!
Is It Safe?
Posted by Diamond (Ma., US) on 04/17/2015
★★★★★
Is It Safe?
Posted by Orion (Alden, New York) on 07/14/2012
★★★★★
I hate to burst the bubbles of people who are posting that garlic in a dog's diet will cause their blood cells to burst. That is silliness that borders on hysteria. I can say that I personally have had several dogs who have far out lived what the "experts" claim is old for a healthy dog of their breed. These dogs were fed in part the evil "people food" which contained garlic, onions, salt and anything else that we are told is bad for dogs. Dogs have been around much longer than commercial dog food and they will be long after we're gone. They are resilient and benefit from a variety of foods. As long as your not dumb and overdose them on one thing, or get them so fat they can't walk, then giving them a varied diet like they would have in the wild is a good thing. If you want to believe your vet then expect your dog to live the 8 or 9 years they predict. My dogs lived 13 healthy and happy.
Is It Safe?
Posted by Teri In T Town (Tacoma, Wa, Usa) on 02/08/2012
★★★★★
Have you ever read the ingredients in dog food? I used to feed my dog one of the very high end foods my vet sold, and listed right there in the ingredients is garlic. This food explained what each ingredient was for, and under garlic... Immune booster. So, I suspect it is like most things in that something beneficial can become toxic at higher levels. Vitamin D is toxic at very high doses, but very essential. Warnings exist because a few dogs have died after eating massive amounts of garlic. (Vitamin D used to have all sorts of warnings for decades)
A few days of a little garlic in my dog's food and all signs of the tapeworm are gone. Thanks Earth Clinic! Love this site.
Is It Safe?
Posted by William (Glendale, California) on 10/19/2011
★★★★★
We are garlic product mfgrs and work with a major university - here are facts that we should all know:
There exists NO university, Official Laboratory or scientific study showing that normal amounts of garlic to be harmful to dogs. None. Even the vets have never submitted scientific proof of their statements that you should not feed garlic to dogs.
Holistic vets recommend garlic - Dogs For The Deaf organication feeds garlic extract to their dogs daily.
We use science, not rumors in saying that garlic in moderate amounts is good for dogs in many ways. If you believe that garlic is harmful to dogs - submit your science along with your statement please.
Garlic Valley Farms, Inc.
Is It Safe?
Posted by Vikas (Bangalore, India) on 08/09/2011
★★★★★
After reading all the comments I got confused weather to feed my fod garlic or not. So I decide to call my VET and he told me that I can feed him 2-3 cloves in his food daily. Its not at all harmful to dogs.
Is It Safe?
Posted by Ken (Malinalco, Mexico ) on 06/29/2011
★★★★★
This garlic issue is indeed questionable - at least for dogs which, (according to the authorities) can be killed by it. Many years ago, my sister's dog was diagnosed with kidney and liver failure and consequently to be euthanized. My sister protested and went on to cure her beloved pet with raw meat mixed with garlic and olive oil at every meal. The dog went on to live another 6 years and after a few months was jumping like a puppy. In this case, garlic was definitely not toxic but part of a miraculous cure invented by a young girl of 12.
Is It Safe?
Posted by Danielle (Memphis, Tn) on 05/08/2011
★★★★★
I sprinkle garlic powder on my dog's food every morning and have never had any problems. It gives it an extra taste that they like and I have never had any problems with fleas on them. I even have a friend who works at a shelter and does animal rescue work and she not only takes garlic supplements herself to protect her when she's working with the animals come in but she also adds it to the food of the shelter animals. I think there are so many people out there that are against holistic medicine that they bash things without knowing if they truly work or not.
A few months back I was fostering a German Shepherd who was a heavy HW positive and it was going to be several months before he could begin treatment. I got online and found a wonderful holistic treatment and within the first week, his appetite had increased dramatically along with his energy level and his coat. He went for his 1st treatment about a month later and when he was tested, the vet said that they had never seen anything quite like it, but the baby heartworms were dead and there were only a few adults left.
So I do believe in the power of holistic treatment!
Is It Safe?
Posted by Bill (Dallas, Tx) on 01/18/2011
★★★★★
we have a pyrenees/timberwolf mix , about 135lbs and a lab/pit mix about 70 lbs. both have had a small amount of garlic in their diet since we've had them. they eat twice a day and we give them a sprinkle of garlic for breakfast only. we have never had a flea or tick problem. the only ticks we have ever seen were in georgia and they never attached themselves but fell off on the floor or bed---they fall out of the pines there--
having said that they are super healthy and energetic. their coats are smooth and glossy and we don't smell anything on their breath, their stool is consistant and firm. they get a mix of dry and canned food at every meal and ----hate to say it ----get sunday breakfast with us -bacon and eggs--weekly. moderation is the ticket. don't over do it. make it a normal routine. we do stay away from onions , don't take the chance from my perspective.
Is It Safe?
Posted by Jocelyn (London, UK) on 08/18/2009
★★★★★
Many false posts on the internet about the supposed deadly side effects of garlic for dogs. It seems quite obvious to me that the companies that sell the flea medication formulas started the rumors. As always, the internet feeds false information like an insipid virus when it is copied from one web site to another without any real research done on the subject. Hopefully websites like this one prove that garlic in moderation is safe for dogs AND a great healing tool. I have used garlic for many years on my canines and none of them have ever experienced any (and I mean ANY) side effects.
Is It Safe?
Posted by Raven (Bangkok, Thailand) on 11/18/2008
★★★★★
Recent research sets the LD50 (lethal dose at which 50% of subjects die) of garlic in dogs at approximately 5 grams per Kg.
So the dog who got sick from eating a whole bulb of garlic may have gotten a dangerous amount if the bulb was 50 grams like the ones I buy and the dog was 10 kg or so (22 lbs). Smart per owners will keep all medicines, natural or not, in a safe storage.
That being said, much valid research seems to indicate nothing but good effects from a clove of garlic a day for dogs (use Google Scholar to search for and see all the papers on the web). For tiny dogs a tiny piece is likely all that is needed.
My Thai Dog puppy loves garlic, but as he only weighs 12 Kg at 5 months old, one clove a day is all he gets. The vet says he looks great and tests show no intestinal worms.
Is It Safe?
Posted by Karen (Reading, UK) on 10/02/2008
★★★★★
I have given garlic to all my dogs and they never have fleas or worms, and live long healthy lives. One Golden Retriever in particular was a real pig and would raid the shopping bags while you were getting the rest in. At one time he consumed 2 loaves of bread in a couple of gulps, another time a pound of sugar! Not to mention a lot of unspeakable stuff he would find in the fields. He had no ill efects and he lived to 17. Dogs usually have pretty strong stomachs! I do feel vets and feed manufacturers have a vested interest in bad mouthing anything natural. Our stable cats never have jabs or wormers and live to ripe old ages. They scrap and get a scratch or an absyss, but this disappears in a day or two on it's own, without sixty quids worth of antibiotics!
Is It Safe?
Posted by Cynthia (Pineville, LA) on 09/28/2008
★★★★★
hey my dad has been sprinkling garlic powder on his dogs food for about 16 yrs now. He used just enough to cover the top of food shake it into dry food or mix into canned.
Is It Safe?
Posted by RhyDonna (Denison, Texas) on 09/02/2008
★★★★★
About the garlic being harmful, I fed my dog garlic for 20 years. She lived to be 21 yrs old. I also give it to the dogs I have now. Anything, anything is lethal in large amounts, you can even o.d. on water if you drink to much. Onions are considered lethal because of the chemical in it that makes humans sleepy, thats why onions can kill a dog, but not garlic. Like I said, my dog lived to be 21yrs old. She never had any problems.
Is It Safe?
Posted by Suzana (Wellington , Florida) on 06/10/2008
★★★★★
I was born in Europe and we always use to give garlic to dogs when they had worms. I have never ever witnessed anything but good results. It worked every time, most times within 24 hours some other times it would take a few days. The dogs lived very long lives, over 20 years of age. when I came to USA I noticed that a dog's life expectancy is more around 15 years and even less depending on the breeds. That is very sad. Now since National Geographic announced that garlic is bad it seems that everyone is ready to throw away hundreds of years of experience. Garlic cannot become bad from one day to an other. I personnaly don't know what I would do without these natural remedies that have worked for ever. I have yet never seen myself a dog who had adverse effect from garlic but I did see many dogs who went into epilepsy after receiving a conventional deworming :( I wish everyone would do more research before jumping to conclusions and believing everything. Sometimes what we hear is just half the truth... and of cousre we are missing the most important half, so we should look for it. The industry has done a spectacular job until now making us believe that what is natural is bad, synthetic is better, fresh real food is bad (they call it human food to make sure you lost your argument before even arguing it), pet food made from scraps(of "human food"), fillers and preservatives is better. Mentionning garlic among other bad foods for dogs does not make the fact that garlic is dangerous more true but it is more convincing.
