Apple Cider Vinegar Dog Treatments for Health Problems
Your dog benefits from ingesting apple cider vinegar at a ratio of 1 teaspoon per 50 lbs of body weight. Just mix it into your dog’s food!
We recommend using apple cider vinegar rather than distilled vinegar when given as a food supplement. Apple cider vinegar contains over 30 essential nutrients, 6 vitamins, 12 minerals, enzymes, and a hefty dose of pectin.
Furthermore, vinegar is a good source of potassium and has excellent antibacterial and antifungal properties to boost the immune system.
Apple cider vinegar also helps maintain your dog’s acid/alkaline balance. You can test your dog’s urine with pH strips from the drugstore. Your dog’s balance should be between 6.2 and 6.5. If your dog’s numbers are lower the urine is too acidic. Adding apple cider vinegar to the diet will help re-establish the correct balance.
It also improves digestion and acts as a urinary system tonic. Vinegar has been shown to clear urinary tract infections and prevent the formation of bladder and kidney stones.
According to Organic Pet Digest, “Apple cider vinegar has also been found to be helpful in the treatment of the following: allergies, osteoporosis, cancer, candida, high cholesterol, constipation, muscle cramps, diarrhea, depression, ear discharge, eczema, fatigue, bladder problems, metabolism and stiff joints.”
As a general supplement and digestive aid, a good rule of thumb is to start at 1 teaspoon per 50 lbs of body weight mixed in your pet’s food twice daily.
- Pets 5- 12.5 lbs – 1/4 tsp twice daily
- Pets 12.5-25 lbs – 1/2 tsp twice daily
- Pets 25 – 37.5 lbs – 3/4 tsp twice daily
- Pets 37.50-50 lbs 1 tsp twice daily
- Pets 50-62.5 lbs 1 1/4 tsp twice daily
- Pets 62.5-75 lbs 1 1/2 tsp twice daily
- Pets 75-87.5 lbs 1 3/4 tsp twice daily
- Pets 87.5 – 100 lbs 2 tsp twice daily
- and so forth…
If your pet ingests the above dosage without problem, you can increase the dose to as high as 1 tsp per 15 lbs twice daily.
Note: When using distilled vinegar externally on light-colored dogs, it is better to use distilled white vinegar. Apple cider vinegar may stain the coats of light-colored dogs. But, when using vinegar as an oral supplement, we recommend apple cider vinegar.
Vinegar Dog Treatments for Urinary Tract Infections
Apple cider vinegar is a urinary system tonic. It helps clear urinary tract infections, prevents the formation of kidney and bladder stones, and maintains adequate pH.
Always use apple cider vinegar rather than distilled vinegar when given as a food supplement.
Just use the supplementing recommendations above.
Vinegar Dog Treatments for Coat & Skin Health
To eliminate dandruff, pour full-strength vinegar directly on your dog’s fur after bathing and rinsing.
This will also rejuvenate the coat and help balance your dog’s skin pH level.
For a shiny, healthy coat, mix 1 cup of vinegar with 2-4 cups of water and use as a final rinse.
You can also spray 1 part vinegar to one part water on your dog’s coat to normalize skin pH balance. (This is one of my personal favorites! It also helps hot spots, makes the coat shiny, deodorizes the fur, and helps repel fleas and ticks.)
Vinegar Dog Treatments for Itching
Itchy skin and hot spots will heal quickly when sprayed with apple cider vinegar and may eliminate the need to shave your dog.
If your dog has no broken skin or sores, fill a clean spray bottle with one part vinegar and one part water.
If your pet’s skin is broken, dilute one part vinegar in two parts water.
For itchy feet, first check your dog’s feet well. Look for sores and broken skin. If there’s no broken skin, soak your dog’s paws in a mix of one part vinegar to one part water. If the skin is broken, dilute to one part vinegar an two parts water.
Dogs with skin allergy problems often have itchy feet. If you notice your dog aggressively chewing his feet, this treatment should help!
Vinegar Dog Treatments for Ear Problems
First, check your dog’s ears for sores or broken skin. If there’s no broken skin, mix one part vinegar and one part water. If there’s broken skin, dilute to one part vinegar and two parts water.
This is best done outside. Just pour the mixture in, massage the base of the ear, and let your dog shake its head. Dr. Smith recommends doing this weekly for dogs prone to ear infections. It’s great for maintenance and prevention.
In the video below, Dr. Smith shows you how easy it is to do!
Vinegar Dog Treatments for Pet Accidents and Other Things
To treat pet stains on carpets, mix 1 part vinegar with 3 parts water.
It is best to use white distilled vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar for light or white carpets.
Pour the mixture directly onto stained areas and blot (do not rub) dry.
For a smelly coat, spray diluted vinegar (one part vinegar to one part water) and let it air dry.
To freshen and deodorize pet bedding, spray with vinegar. You can also add vinegar while laundering to freshen bedding. Good luck!
Does Your Pet Suffer From Allergies?
You can make many quick and easy changes at home to help your pet feel better.
- Learn more about cat allergies.
- Learn more about dog allergies.
- Switch to a Limited Ingredient Diet. PET | TAO Limited Ingredient Diet is naturally low in foods that stimulate an allergic response.
- Supplement with medicinal mushrooms. PET | TAO Complement Immune Mushroom Blend eases inflammatory response and ease allergy symptoms.
- Try digestive enzymes and probiotics. PET | TAO Harmonize Gi boosts gut health and combats food allergens.
- Feed Freeze Dried Lung Treats. According to TCVM, Lung is on the same meridian as the skin. Therefore, lung treats help both breathing and skin allergies. Lung treats support lung and skin similar to a glandular supplement in a “like treats like” fashion.
- Learn more about TCVM Herbal Remedies. Chinese medicine offers many amazing natural solutions for dog allergies Some good examples are:
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