Apple Cider Vinegar: Proven Benefits for Your Dog’s Health

sChances are, you have already heard a bit about the benefits of apple cider vinegar (acv) for dogs.  No stranger to acv (I use it in my hair), I personally learned about it’s potential benefits for dogs while searching for natural ways to help soothe Kitsune’s itchy skin.  Kitsune has both food and environmental allergies, the latter of which used to really irritate his skin.  Thankfully, over the years I’ve gotten good at managing Kit’s allergies, so he rarely has a bad flair up these days.  Besides allergy relief, apple cider vinegar is said to provide a plethora of health benefits for our furry friends.

So exactly what can apple cider vinegar do for your dog?

• Used topically, acv can condition the fur (and human hair too!), help fight bacterial/fungal skin infections, and soothe the skin.
• It is also said that acv can help to naturally repel biting insects such as fleas and ticks.  You can add a few teaspoons of acv into a spray bottle filled with water.  Use the spray on your pet before going into areas where contracting fleas/ticks is a concern.  Just make sure, when using vinegar topically, to keep it away from your dog’s eyes (it stings)!
• Given as a dietary supplement, acv is said to have many benefits such as helping to relieve arthritis, improving digestion, aiding in bladder and kidney health, re-leaving allergy symptoms, and fighting against fungal/bacterial infections.
• Acv is said to be able to help prevent tooth decay and may improve bad breathe.
• Acv can be used to clean ears, paws, etc., and can help prevent yeast infections.
• Many owners have reported that acv, used as a dietary supplement, has been able to greatly reduce or even eliminate their pet’s tear stains.  It’s much healthier than many of the products sold for this purpose.
• I use acv as a nontoxic cleaner to clean up after my pets.  It does a great job at eliminating urine odors if your pet has an accident.  Acv can be used to clean pet dishes and counter tops rather than using harsh chemicals.

Are all brands of apple cider vinegar created equal?

Not necessarily.  How picky I am about what type of vinegar I buy depends on what I’m planning on using it for.  If I’m buying acv to rinse my hair, or clean my counter tops, I usually just go for the cheapest bottle of store brand acv.  However, if I’m buying it to mix in with Kitsune’s food, I end up buying more expensive brands.  Always the best for my furry friend.  But there is a reason why I pay more for the higher end acv if I’m planning on using it as a supplement.

If you’re going to add apple cider vinegar to your dog’s food or water, you want to look for acv brands that say they contain ‘mother’.  The mother of the acv will usually appear as a cloudy sediment on the bottom of the jar.  You may have noticed that this is absent in some brands of acv.  It’s a weird sounding term, but the mother is basically a collection of things like good bacteria, enzymes, and proteins.  It is widely believed that the mother of the acv is the part that contributes most to its health benefits.

How much apple cider vinegar should I give my dog?

I mix acv in with Kitsune’s food usually twice per week, sometimes more often if his allergies are bothering him more than usual.  I only give him a teaspoon at a time.  Kitsune is 20 lbs.  Be careful about adding too much acv to your dog’s water or food.  It has a strong smell and flavor and may cause your pet to refuse his/her food if too much vinegar is added.

Topically, I use a mixture that’s 50% acv and 50% water.  As I said before, just be very careful to keep vinegar, even when diluted, away from your pets’ eyes.  If your dog has any open wounds, or his skin is raw/inflamed, using acv can sting.  Do not insert acv, or anything else for that matter, into your dog’s ears if s/he has an active infection without first consulting your vet.

Apple cider vinegar is a natural supplement that you can feel good about giving your furry friend.  However, like with any new food/supplement, always take your individual pet into account.  If you have any questions about introducing a new supplement into your pets’ diet, always make sure to do your own research, and talk with your pet’s veterinarian.

Have you ever used apple cider vinegar for your dogs?  Have you noticed any improvements to his/her health?