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.
Posted by Tiffyb1414 (Durant, Ok) on 05/03/2014 ★★★★☆
I have 5 dogs and all are in pretty good health, except for my oldest. Ricky is a 10 year old mini schnauzer that is the first dog I had as an adult. I've never had children, so needless to say, he's like my first child. Schnauzers are known for skin problems (dry skin, cysts, fatty pockets, ect.) He's had a fatty pocket on his left side kind of by his hip area for over 2 years now. My vet told me not to be concerned with it because it's not cancer and at his age, anesthesia to remove his cysts would be more dangerous than the cysts themselves.
So, fatty pockets and cysts on him seem normal to me. Until one started growing on his lower belly, right beside his "male parts" (he's fixed, so he only has one male part lol). This growth was aggressive and seemed to be getting bigger a lot faster than the others and also had a hard ball-like texture to it, whereas the fatty pocket feels just like chicken fat, squishy and moveable. I am supposed to take him in to get the growth looked at, probably a biopsy or something, but I don't want to put him through that anxiety yet, if I can help him myself.
That's when I found this site. I started giving all 5 of my dogs turmeric mixed with coconut oil in the dog food, once a day for the past week. The fatty pocket on Ricky's side is almost gone!! He's running around and playing like he's 4 years old again!!! I'm hoping the turmeric helps my biggest dog (she's 160 pounds and 9 years old) and her torn ACL issues she gets each spring when she likes to think she's a pup and runs around wanting to play! I just wanted to share my experience with the positive results I've gotten so far, and I expect many more. I'm Native American and believe with all my heart that these spices and earth-grown remedies were put here for a reason, and I will use them in every way I can!
I'm so thankful for this website and all the members that have posted their experiences. Without your posts, I wouldn't have been able to help my animals naturally.
I'm going to try the Essiac Tea for Ricky next...where can I get that? At an organic health food store, maybe?
Posted by Sueyd (Harrison, Me) on 01/15/2014 ★★★★★
Our dear family dog developed a cyst near his tail recently. We noticed it under the fur for several weeks before he finally started biting at it and removed the fur. It was quite a mess! My husband was afraid that it was time to put him down (he's a 10 yr old, big, furry husky/shepherd, etc mix). I searched online for a home remedy and came across your site - and was SO pleased to find that many others had experienced similar things with their dogs and offered solutions that seemed to WORK!!!! So - I bought some turmeric from the grocery store. We started sprinkling it on his dry dog food morning and afternoon - probably 1/2 teaspoon per day. By the end of the first week, the skin was growing back, by the end of the second week, the fur was growing in. It's been two months now - we give him a sprinkle a couple times a week - I think he misses it! - but the cyst is completely gone! AND - he is more lively and 'happy' ever since!
OK - that's only HALF of the story! My husband broke a tooth the other day and is experiencing flu-like symptoms since then, so I told him I'd go on-line and do some home-remedy research for him. Well...I've been reading on your site for HOURS today (we'll be starting the oil-pull soon! ), and was reading about the benefits of turmeric (for humans! ), and thought, "Oh! I should post on here that it works for pets, too! " and...come to find out - it's the SAME wonderful site that I had found that saved our dear dog!!! You guys are amazing! I'm so thankful and excited - and taking notes - that I found your site - what a great resource!!! And so thankful for all the comments from people that have tried the different remedies.
Posted by Shih Tzu Momma (Gibsonburg, Ohio) on 02/13/2014 ★★★★★
My Boots got a cyst a couple months ago. Took him to the vet and $65 later I had a vial of antibiotics and the cyst took several weeks to ago away, long after meds were gone.
Monday I noticed another one growing in the exact same spot, gave him benadryl so he wouldn't mess with it but by tuesday it was broke open. So I got on the internet and found this site. I followed the advise of a few different people, mixed tumeric with coconut oil and applied directly to cyst. Also sprinkled a little in a slice of cheese and rolled it up.
Wednesday it was the size of a ping pong ball. I repeated the same steps. This morning (Thursday) this thing is practically gone!
I suppose I was lucky that it worked so fast for us. I want to thank you all for your posts and Boots does too:)
Posted by Kristin D. (Danbury, Ct) on 02/19/2018 ★★★★★
Thank you SO much for the info on your site! It has been a life-extender for our cat. I wanted to share this in case it helped someone else.Wanted to share our experience in case it helps someone else.
Last week, our 16 year old cat was diagnosed with small intestine cancer, kidney stones, and most importantly, large liver cysts that were pushing on her stomach, preventing her from eating. She stopped eating and drinking altogether (thus, the vet visit), and we weren't sure she was going to last through the weekend.
We opted against the surgical option for the cysts and the cancer for a variety of reasons, and thought we would just be making her comfortable for the next couple of days until the inevitable.
I am shocked but happy to report that for the time being she has done almost a complete 180. She is eating and drinking again as well as spending time with us again and it is almost as if we have our original cat back.
Specifically, I have been using Thorne's Meriva Soy Free (because I had it from my Lyme disease treatment) and opening the capsules, giving her approx 1/16 tsp mixed w/ warm water 2x/day via syringe. (Straight Tumeric is not advised due to bioavailability issues.) Literally, after 2 doses, she was MUCH better. Yesterday we started with pet-grade Milk Thistle drops found on Chewy.com. She is back to being super squirmy and nervous (i.e. normal for her) which gives us hope. Even if she passes sooner rather than later, the Meriva supplement made a HUGE difference for her quality of life. Maybe this anecdotal evidence will help others who are struggling with the same choices for their cats.
My black lab has a large growth on the top of his paw. I started adding a 1/4 tsp of Tumeric to his food a few weeks ago. the growth changes color and is oozing daily. Is this a sign of improvement or is it getting worse. I'm also wondering if I should bandage it so my pet will stop licking it? Should I be applying an topical antibiotic as well? I also have castor oil, but not sure what to do with it. Please advise.
Barbara -- to stop the bleeding and encourage healing, use generous amounts of turmeric powder on the cyst. When the bleeding does not occur anymore, you can mix turmeric with cold pressed castor oil, even adding some coconut oil in the mix. Licking it is only beneficial.
See if that works. I have good experiences with this.
Posted by Tiffyb1414 (Durant, Ok) on 05/03/2014 ★★★★★
My 10 year old mini schnauzer has a fatty pocket, or tumor on his left side. I started giving him turmeric in coconut oil and mixing it in with his food. I've been giving this to him for a week now, and the tumor is almost completely gone! Also, he's been running and playing like he's 4 years old again! Turmeric will be a daily part of his diet regimen from now on!
I'm going to start giving him BSM for a growth the vet thinks is cancer. I've read a lot of others posting about how it has cured their pets cancer!
Posted by Mimi (Corpus Christi) on 03/14/2015 ★★★★★
When I read about this remedy for dog cysts, I was happy to try it. My vet wanted me to bring my dog and have her operated on to remove it. At fifteen in dog years, I was worried that she might have difficulty during surgery and the recovery. I took it upon myself to try the powdered turmeric (spice isle) and extra virgin olive oil. I mixed the ingredients adding more turmeric to the oil to make a salve and piled it on her cyst. I let it dry and applied more as necessary if she rubbed it off. Its been two months and the cyst has dried up considerably. You must be patient and keep up with the applications. I did this outside because it does get messy. I let her in the house only when the application was dry. The turmeric does stain clothing, sheets, towels, etc. Using stain remover helped me with the cleaning. You can wrap a bandage around the body part where the cyst is and hope the dog doesn't pull it off. My dog pulled bandages and the ace bandage off constantly. The remedy is giving me good results. Good Luck!
Posted by Hummingbirdlady (Irvine, Ca) on 10/12/2017 ★★★★★
Turmeric stopped Dog's cyst from bleeding.
Wow! My friend's dog was bleeding from a cyst for days. We researched and researched and tried many things, but this is what worked:
First we bathed him in a mild warm water solution of soapy water to get blood off of his legs from cyst on abdomen.
Next we used a mild solution of Epsom Salt and warm water, and repeated again for about 15 minutes.
Next we applied turmeric. It bled again but it slowed down, so I applied the turmeric again and it finally stopped.
This is how we stopped it from bleeding. He is sleeping on a dry white towel and not even a drop of blood an hour or so after treatment. AMAZING stuff turmeric.
I would continue to add the turmeric and coconut oil to your dog's food. Maybe a teaspoon of each mixed in at each feeding. One of my past Golden Retrievers has a pea-sized cyst on her hip. Then her immune system got compromised with IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia) and all the meds she was on. The cyst grew to the size of a quarter and was red and seeping (kinda gross! ). I started adding the turmeric & coconut oil (she LOVED coconut oil! ) to her food, and no joke, the entire cyst was GONE in 2 weeks! I was astounded!
Stop the vaccines; they cause warts, cysts, growths along with brain inflammation, immune system confusion/suppression, DNA alteration/harm and other damage. I've read that tea tree or castor oil will naturally heal them. Surgery only results in them returning as the body develops these in an effort to remove system toxins.
Posted by Elaine (Gum Spring, Va) on 03/24/2011 ★★★★★
I read about the turmeric remedy for cysts in dogs & cats. Our cat has had one for years that was never any problem and the size of a pea. Last year the vet drained it and it was gone for awhile. I noticed it was back the size of a pea then a little over a week ago the size of a grape. It was located on his neck so I was concerned. I tried the turmeric (just a dash mixed in the food) and as of yesterday the cyst was completely gone. We are so happy to have saved a trip to vet by using this.
Posted by Anniebey (Levin, Nz) on 07/22/2013 ★★★☆☆
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I have been reading with interest the use of turmeric in treating cysts in dogs. MY 13 year old Huntaway has a cyst (or lypoma (sp?)) on her back. Since initiating the turmeric it has certainly softened but is now weeping quite a bit. Is this normal? Is this part of the healing process?
Posted by Barbara (Illinois, United States) on 11/26/2014
I tried treating my 9 yrold Airedale's sebaceous cyst with oral and using salve of turmeric and virgin coconut oil. The vet already tried antibiotics and steroids with antiinflammatory but it didn't help much. It has been bleeding off and on, but no sebaceous material. The second day of salve my dog started licking it and it oozed more blood. I've kept him on oral and added bacitracin per vet. I'm trying to decide about also using castor oil, any suggestions/ideas?
Thank you!
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
You may find it beneficial to soak your dog's paw in Ted's Mange Remedy or Ted's Anti-fungal/anti-staph solution. The hydrogen peroxide in these formulas help the working ingredients penetrate the skin, which is a challenge when treating this condition.
You might also consider seeking a second opinion for treatment; consider a holistic vet in you area:
Lastly, you might consider alkalizing with baking soda in your dog's drinking water; start out with a 'crisis dose' of 1 teaspoon of baking soda into 1 liter of water and have this as the only drinking water. After 5-7 days you can drop it down to 1/2 teaspoon per liter for another week or so, and then to 1/4 teaspoon as a maintenance dose.
Posted by Karen (Pueblo Of Acoma, Nm) on 05/09/2014
Hi Tiffyb,
I order the Essiac herbs online, but you could possibly find it in health food stores. Look for the original Essiac formula, because there are many versions out there. I understand it also comes in capsules, but I have never tried them. Anyway, I use the whole dried herbs and brew my own tea using non chlorinated filtered water. I strain off the liquid into in a jar and I also put the thick herbal "sludge" into a separate jar as well. I store them in the frig. I always have brewed Essiac on hand. I give my girl one tablespoon of the tea mixed in with her food and use the sludge to treat the spots on her skin. I, too, am Native American, and know that Mother Earth has given us everything we need, if we will just listen. I hope that is helpful, and good luck with your beloved furballs!
Posted by Wendy (Columbus, Oh) on 07/05/2013 ★★★★★
For cysts in dogs - Get some turmeric (real cheap, in bulk, at the Indian store... That's India). Add 1/2 tablespoon to his food, and mix it all up, each time you feed him. I did this with my golden retriever who had a cyst which was the size of a pea when it first started, but grew to the size of a quarter and got all red and oozing when her immune system was compromised. Within 2 weeks the cyst disappeared!
Posted by Bea (Sacramento, Ca) on 02/25/2013 ★★★★★
I just had to share what success we've had with using turmeric as a treatment.
My 4-year-old German Shepherd had a strange growth on the back of her neck, almost an inch long but not very wide. Upon taking her to the vet to get it checked out, it tore off as my dog strained against her collar. This gave us a chance to see what was inside, and the vet believed it was a sebaceous cyst given what was coming out of it. Unfortunately, this was not my dog's usual vet and she didn't clean it up or treat it with anything. She merely suggested surgically removing it.
I immediately decided to search for homeopathic treatments, as I was worried about having my dog undergo surgery, having to pay for the surgery, and who knows what else. When I found the success stories on here using turmeric, I figured that would be the best path. I decided to treat her with turmeric both topically and orally.
I chose to mix the turmeric with coconut oil due to the oil's antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Since the cyst had torn open, I wanted to avoid any infections. I cleaned her up with warm water and applied the mixture. I've been cleaning the area and applying the mixture daily. I've also been giving her half a teaspoon of turmeric mixed with coconut oil twice daily. Sometimes it goes into her food, other times she'll lick it right off the spoon.
We've been at this for a little over a week now, and there is a noticeable difference in her cyst! The top of it has dried up and become almost scab-like. The bottom of the cyst has become much smaller and almost seems to be receding. We're going to continue treating her with this mixture in hopes that it'll completely go away and surgery can be avoided altogether.
Posted by Carol (Dillsburg, Pa) on 10/11/2011 ★☆☆☆☆
I have been giving my Sheppard mix the Turmeric for about 6 weeks and I have not seen a reduction in the cyst yet but still hopeful. I did find a good way to to get the yellow stain out of my white fleece jacket. Used the new oxy clean power gel, let it sit for a few minutes, then put in the washer and it came right out.
Posted by Kaz (Townsville, Qld, Australia) on 07/23/2013
It does weep but you need to clean it and treat it daily about 3-4 times if possible. I used a combination of turmeric, castor oil and aloe vera(natural antibiotic) 1 teaspoon of each and mix together, apply to cyst and cover. My dog does not like the bandage so I sit with him for about an hour to prevent him from taking it off, then I remove it. Hope this helps.
Just wanted to update everyone. The sebaceous cyst on Sadie's (Golden Retriever) foot is COMPLETELY gone! Turmeric saved the day!! Also, the cyst on her side has gone down considerably, but is not completely gone yet. 1 teaspoon per day in her food. I add a little olive oil and she loves it! xoxo Chloe
Last year my golden retriever , (she is 10)had a cyst on her neck the vet drained and she said the one on her side she was worried about because it needed a biopsy and then removed. My Husband was terminal ill. We didn't have the money to take her to a affordable vet much less the operation. He passed and I researched alternative med. I changed her diet and added yogurt, ground my fenugreek, turmeric with banana mashed With blueberries.The cyst on her side continued to grow and it was the size of a golf ball.... Then all of a sudden, all my family and friends said they thought it was getting smaller. I guess I couldn't see the change right away and then I noticed it was gone, but the drainable one is coming back. It's like a science project. I keep plugging away but can't afford to have it drained. I think her food I made for her helped too. Now I'm watching the one on the neck. Keep you posted. Oh forgot she smells like pancakes, because of the fenugreek!
Posted by Myra (California Missouri) on 03/20/2024 ★★★★★
My 14 yr old Sheperd mix
had a cyst on right shoulder for yrs the size of a softball and this past Friday he as coming in from outside and something happened he yelped real loud and then he could barely walk. Next day he was still rating and drinking and going to potty as best as he could so I got on here and started looking and reading.I had used termuris for boils before and it worked so I thought why not, starting putting in his food(1 tsp) 2xday then 3rd day started 1/2 tsp, on 3rs day saw improvment well the 4th day that thing exploded blood and goob everywhere.He can walk alot better so now its healing time Thanks Earthclinic
Oh my, my 14-year-old Shepdrd mix has had a softball-size cyst on his right shoulder for years. Something happened last Friday night. He hurt and could barely walk, so I came to see what I could do. I started putting turmeric in his food twice daily (1 tsp) each, then backed off to 1/2 tsp. It's been four days, and today, it exploded. Wow, but I think we are onto healing. He can already walk better.
Thorne meriva is likely to be toxic to cats-even in really tiny doses if given repeatedly-curcumin is such a potent blood thinner it can make red blood cells fall apart-so be aware, this may be very dangerous. This lady, after all, is talking about less than a week, there is no follow up.
I am having the same problem with my dog. I put turmeric on the cyst after it burst and all that did was to stop it from oozing. It closed up the cyst but then it filled up again right away. Cayenne powder did the same thing. They work great at stopping the bleeding and oozing but they don't heal the cyst on the inside. I'm still trying to find a cure to heal the cyst completely.
Hi! I have a yellow lab that I took to the vet for her rabies shot and she has had ozzing raw tumor looking things that come and go on the back if her front paws for some time. The vet knew exactly what it was but I can't remember the name. He said that it's some kind of growth they get and licking it makes them (the dog themself, not the tumor) feel good. Might be the same thing. He didnt recommend any treatment.
Half to one teaspoon of apple-cider vinegar in dogs water once a day will stop the overgrowth of yeast. Helps with fungal infections and helps keep your dogs teeth clean
Posted by Angela (South Carolina, US) on 02/02/2015
Took my miniature schnauzer to the vet for a pea size lump on his hip. Vet said nothing to worry about may go away by itself. He now has 2 more. How much turmeric and coconut oil should I add to his food daily? His weight is approximately 17 or 18 pounds.
Posted by Haygottago (Ocala, Florida, United States) on 06/16/2012 ★★★★☆
Wanted to update this post.. Been about a month now.. Female's cyst is about a 1/4 the size it was. My male is doing great- his was as big as my fist. Now the size of a golf ball. I am so thankful for the help this site has shared. karen
Posted by Jackie (Canton, Michigan) on 08/26/2013 ★★★☆☆
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
My husky mix weighs around 60 lbs. And about 5 or 6 days ago I started her on turmeric and worked up tp 1 pill a day and she started getting diarrhea. So I took her off pills and put her on bland diet of rice etc.
Can I start her back on it slower? Her cyst reduced size by almost half. A week or so she scratched the cyst and it burst and I had a mess to clean up. I have had it drained a few times but this last time it filled up fast. It doesn't seem to bother her except the last time when she scratched it. Please let me know what to do.
My border collie mix has these sebaceous cyst on different areas of her body, in varios sm sizes.. I have verified that they are sebacceous in nature and "not harmful"... But they are annoying and one on she bites at them.. She had one rupture on her 'kneww' shin.. I see that the turmeric seems to work. But need to know dosage for a 48-50 lb dog... All the comments are great but people need to mention the appx weight of their animal with the "dosage"... Advise please
Posted by Bill (Grand Prairie, Texas) on 10/29/2010 ★★★★★
Our 13 year old chow started developing these cysts just in the last year. She had one that had grew to about half the size of a grape right beside her eye. We found this site and have been giving her the extract of turmeric which is curcuminoids. Have been giving her a dose of 500mg per day for 45 days with no ill effects. The large cyst near the eye changed in color from a clear-whitish to pinkish color and has shrunk to the point where it is just about flat. It looks like it is healing from the inside because it hasn't opened or ruptured. This has really works wonders for our little girl.
Posted by Doug (Bellflower, Ca) on 03/16/2010 ★★★★★
I rescued a 2 year old (roughly) Boxer on September 26th, 2009 and named him Clyde. He is the absolute best dog I have ever owned! Shortly after I adopted him, though, I noticed that he had a lump on his face beside his right eye. It took me a few weeks to spot it because of his wrinkly boxer face. It didn't seem to bother him at all so I decided to keep an eye on it for a while. About a month ago I took him to the vet to have the lump looked at because it seemed to be growing (about the size of a grape at its largest).
They performed a "fine needle aspirate" to determine what it consisted of and they concluded that it was a "probable keratin filled subaceous cyst". (The test alone cost $250!) They said that it would eventually have to be surgically removed. I was pretty freaked out because I am getting married in May and cannot afford to fork out the amount of money that would be required to operate on him.
I was looking into the problem online and stumbled onto Earth Clinic where I read about using Turmeric as a cyst remedy. I ran to the market and picked up a jar of Turmeric powder and began sprinkling 1/2 tsp of it into his food morning and night (totaling 1 tsp per day). His first dose was on Wed (3/10/10).
On the following Mon night (3/15/10 (tonight)) I came home and found the cyst draining a brownish, reddish goo! Once I began treating him with the Turmeric the lump seemed to grow. I was beginning to wonder if it was going to work but I think it only appeared larger because it was bringing the material to the surface to drain.
The lump is not gone just yet but it is rapidly venting its contents and I am sure it will be gone in no time! (I'll post another comment if I'm wrong).
I am ecstatic with the knowledge that I don't have to spend a gazillion dollars and put by my buddy through surgery!
I don't usually write reviews and I am super skeptical when it comes to alternative medicine but this is no joke! EC saved me big money so I figured it was worth sitting down for a few minutes to share my experience. Turmeric rules and I plan to go tell it on the mountains!
Posted by Gilda (Fayetteville, Nc, Usa) on 05/18/2010 ★★★★★
I was searching for a natural cure for my dog Lizzy's cyst on her head. My other dog had one in the same spot and it cost a lot to have it frozen off. I tried using the turmeric on Lizzy's food( I would say I used about 1/8 teaspoon on each meal, just sprinkling enough to cover her food) and now her cyst is almost flat!!!I have been using it for about a month. I am so happy for these posts about turmeric. I will start using it on my family's meals from now on!
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