Garlic gets an undeserved bad reputation when it comes to dogs.
A 2000 study played a big role in that. Researchers fed 5 grams of garlic per kilogram of body weight to dogs each day. That’s a huge amount! It works out to about 5 whole heads of garlic for a Golden Retriever size dog.
Garlic contains sulfoxides and disulfides. These can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. But only when you feed your dog garlic in such large amounts. In moderation, garlic is very beneficial and safe. It can prevent blood clots, deter pests, prevent tumors and remove waste.
Another great benefit of garlic is that you can use it as an alternative to antibiotics.
You may even remember that it was one of top essential oils for Lyme disease. And that it performed better than the top 3 antibiotics. That’s because it has antiseptic, antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
In fact, people have used it for centuries to save wounds from infection and treat diseases.
When you crush garlic, alliinase enzymes combine with alliin. The result of this process is allicin. And allicin is attributed to many of the healthy benefits of garlic. Allicin is effective against a wide range of bacteria. This includes multidrug-resistant strains of E coli. It can also help manage yeast infections and parasites.
If you want to give your dog garlic, use garlic that is fresh, raw and organic.
To prepare the garlic, peel the cloves and mince, chop or crush them. Let it sit for a couple of minutes before use. But don’t wait too long or the beneficial allicin will degrade. 10 minutes should do.
The amount of garlic you give your dog will depend on his weight.
5 lbs … ⅙ tsp
10 lbs … ⅓ tsp
15 lbs … ½ tsp
20 lbs … ⅔ tsp
20 lbs … 1 tsp
Caution: Don’t use garlic for pregnant dogs or puppies under 6 months old. You also want to consult your vet about interactions with medication if your dog is on any.