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 Sarah (West Chester, Pennsylvania) on 10/22/2007
★☆☆☆☆
I was giving my Belgian Sheepdog less than the the manufacturer's recommended dosage of garlic. I wanted an alternative for the control of parasitic insects. The garlic caused my dog to get an ulcer which ruptured his stomache - He died. There may not be scientific data to say garlic is not safe - but it wans't safe for my dog. I still search for the right balance between natural and pharmaseutical. Everthing and anything we give can have a concequence. I have to live with the fact that by trying to help my dog I killed him.
Is It Safe?
Posted by Joey (Las Vegas, NV) on 10/25/2007
★★★★★
Sorry to bust everyone's bubble, but I have been feeding my dog a heaping teaspoon of crushed garlic twice-a-day with his dry food for 10 years. I took him to a new vet a few months ago. He guessed his age as FIVE. My dog loves it. He is in perfect health and I believe garlic is one of the things that has kept him young. He's now 10 years 7 months. Then again I also feed him 2000 mg of MSM a day, a multi vitamin, glucosmine/condorotin (spell check please) and water soluble silver and minerals. I don't buy into what the so-called experts say. I go by what my experience teaches me. And I think garlic has been GREAT for him. In fact, he very rarely gets sick and I don't use any poison flea control crap that the vets push on you or vaccinations that can ruin his immune system. He's a Sheltie Mix and his coat is gorgeous. And I predict he'll live to at least 20. All animals can live longer lives through correct supplementation.
Is It Safe?
Posted by Marilyn (Bloomfield, New Jersey) on 10/31/2007
★★★★★
My dog (shepard/pit mix) was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma when she was 51/2 yrs old. This is a cancer that forms in the lining of the blood vessels and is known to affect the spleen and heart. At this time, there is no known cure. The condition started inside her nose and was making its way toward the brain. The veterinarian gave her 5 wks to live but instead she lived for 22 months. No medication was prescribed and I believe that she lived that long due to a diet consisting of vitamins, steamed vegetables with chicken and fish and 1 clove of garlic with every meal. (She was 60 lbs at the time) Her coat became very shiny and soft,(not to mention she stopped shedding), she was exhibiting energy and was even found with normal blood values even though her condition condemned her to anemia. Unfortunately she lost her battle to the cancer as it eventually made it's way to the brain. While some state that garlic is dangerous, used correctly and in moderation, it will demonstrate homeopathic properties. Given what I know and what I've experienced, I intend to continue using it with my future canine companions and support its use in moderation.
Is It Safe?
Posted by Margaret (Bradford, UK) on 11/11/2007
★★★★★
We have two belgian shepherd dogs, both rescues. Katie is 7 years old and we have had her for 5 years. Claude is 5 years and we had hm from being a puppy. We have mostly fed them on home cooked food (always with Garlic and veg (not tomatoes). We have NEVER had fleas or worms (much to the distress of our vet on annual vet visits). We also give them a couple of Marrow bones (marrow bones only). Their helath and teeth are like puppies. The vet is always amazed. We also have two rescue cats one in now 12 years old and both have a similar diet to the dogs. Both are ful of fun and healthy and vermin free! All our other animals ov er the last 47 years lived long and healthy lives dying only of old age and having had the same diets
Is It Safe?
Posted by Helen (Aldergrove, Canada) on 11/13/2007
★☆☆☆☆
Just a little warning about using garlic as a flea remedy: in large amounts garlic and onion can cause anemia in dogs by interfering with normal hemoglobin production. I've heard that garlic can work on fleas, but found that it only upset my puppy's stomach and gave her garlic scented farts (nasty!). Later on I read (National Geographic, among other sources) that it can interfere with hemoglobin production and should be avoided - though onions are worse for this.
Dosage
Posted by barb haven (WINDSOR, canada) on 12/01/2007
★★★★★
I routinely use 1(med) clove of garlic in a 2 litre stewpot that yeilds 72 oz of dog food. consisting of 2 cups brown rice, 2-3 small potatoes, 3 carrots, 1 tbsp rosemary, 1 stalk celery, 1tbsp basil, 1/4 can chick peas, 1 med zucchini, or broccoli and two apples, I sometimes include 1/8 cup cottage cheese, to this I add' a ratio of 1/3 pureed mixture of either beef or chicken liver, chicken gizards and hearts. In additional after cooked I sprinkle in 2 tbsp of a 2:1 ratio of calcium/phosphorus supplement, which also includes proteins, fats,vitamins, minerals and advanced micro -nutrients. Am I overdoing it by adding the calcium vitamin supplement?
Worms
Posted by Koni (London, UK) on 01/19/2008
★★★★★
I have been sprinkling garlic powder on my dogs (home cooked) food since I got him aged 6 months. He's never had a flea. Recentley I ran out (of GP) and it was a week before I replaced it (me casually thinking all would be ok) During that week he got worms, when I put him back on the Garlic Powder the worms were eradicated. It works for me.
Worms
Posted by carla (houston, texas) on 01/28/2008
★★★★★
i had a doberman that lived to be about 16 years. one day we took him to the vet and we found out that he had heart worms and they told us the price for what we can do and were blown away. so we started to give him garlic in his food everyday. we took him to the vet about a month later and the heart worms were gone!! we told them what we did and they didnt believe us. about 11 years later he passed away from old age. we now have a min. pincher and we too give him garlic everyday! nasty farts, but no infections! Garlic is proven to fight infections but vets dont want you to know because its so much cheaper to buy garlic.
Is It Safe?
Posted by Darren (Vancouver, Canada) on 02/05/2008
★☆☆☆☆
Hello, i almost lost my 10 year old Lab last week, all because he had been consuming garlic in his food. I was buying a very expensive dog food that I thought was providing the optimal nutrition and goodness for him. I didn't know that Garlic could cause hemolytic anemia and other deadly problems. I quickly learned, not from my vet, but because i am an RN with a developed intuition and my gutt had and was telling me that his condition had something to do with his food. I removed all forms of garlic form his diet and boom he has made a 180 recovery, thank god. I would encourage everyone to read what is in the bag of food that you are feeding your family/best friend.If you don't know if it is good for your dog do some reaserch on the ingredent.
Is It Safe?
Posted by cheryl (santa cruz, ca) on 02/07/2008
★☆☆☆☆
I read the suggestions about garlic for worms, and i used it on my dog and found no cure and no side effects. But, I was reading an old National Geographic magazine (Oct. 2007) and I came across a list of harmful food for dogs and one of them is garlic. It reads "Garlic breaks down a dog's red blood cells, leading to anemia and possible kidney failure from leaking hemoglobin". And for those of you who are curious.. the list reads on:
1.alcohal-depresses brain function and cause coma.
2.coffee- caffeine in a cup of coffee is a methylxanthine compound that can increase a dog's heart rate and trigger seizures.
3. macadamia nuts- just a couple can cause tremors, and even temporary paralysis in dog's hind legs
4.onions- damages is hemoglubin culmulative, so small tastes over time can be worse than wolfing down the whole bulb.
5. grapes (and that includes raisins)- can cause renal failure.
.. this probably isnt everthing so I hope you read up first before giving your pet something new.
Is It Safe?
Posted by Victoria (Vln, Lithuania) on 03/29/2008
★★★★★
YEA. My 3 years old yorkie gets some garlic for almost 2 years once or twice a weak, he gets no fleas or worms. He is on raw food. And with this food and some garlic he is doing well.
