Table of Contents
| QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | ||||||
| EAR AND EYE INFECTIONS | ||||||
| FLEA ALLERGIES | ||||||
| FLEAS | ||||||
| GENERAL FEEDBACK | ||||||
| HOT SPOTS | ||||||
| ITCHING, SCRATCHING, HOT SPOTS | ||||||
| MANGE | ||||||
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Apple Cider Vinegar for Dogs
DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
EAR AND EYE INFECTIONS
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[YEA] Anna from Ottowa, Canada writes: "Our 13-month old female Black Lab-Rotty mix dog Maya has been suffering from recurrent eye and ear infections for the last 7 months. When we first took her to the vet 7 months ago, the diagnosis was ear mites. We treated her with Revolution - twice. The infection seemed to get better at first, but then returned quickly. I then treated her ears with Yellow Dock for a few months, it seemed to keep the infection under control, but had not cleared it. Last month, Maya got a very severe ear infection and we took her to emergency - the test showed NO MITES - YEAST infection! It meant that I have been treating her all this time for the wrong cause - thanks to the vet who did not perform any tests the first time around and simply "guessed" that Maya had ear mites. To cut the long story short, the emergency vet gave us some antibiotic cream, which helped at bit at first, but then we saw no improvement, especially around the eyes, so I found this website and decided to treat Maya with an organic ACV (half and half with water). I sponged her back (she had a few lesions there as well) and her ears twice a day, I let her shake and then wiped her ears dry. I sponged her eyes gently as well. Her eyes were circled by an elephant-like skin with no hair, and it seemed that like would never go away! Within 2 days we noticed a great improvement. I continued the treatment for a few days twice a day, and her conditioned improved 99%. I've read that it takes 3-6 weeks for it to clear up completely and that it is suffice to do it three times a week.
I measured her pH balance and noticed that it was too alkaline (around 8). This helps yeast to grow, so we started adding a bit of vinegar to her food to stabilie her ph balance. We've also implemented other dietary restrictions that are typical with yest
Overall, we've definitely found success with ACV, and I hope that other dog owners would be able to learn from us to help their furry kids."
Replies04/28/2009: Winston1127 from New Paris, OHIO replies: "I have a 3 year old cocker spaniel. I just found this site a few days ago and love it. He is always having ear infections. I read the part about putting the ACV drops in his ears. my question is: do you have to dilute the ACV with equal parts of water or do you just put the drops in with out diluting them. any help would be a big help. he cuttently has an ear infection now and would like to try this to see if it will help. I have also tried putting the ACV in his food and water, but when I put it in his water he doesn't drink it and the same for his food, he doesn't eat it. I read where another person had the same problem and they just squirted it in their dogs mouth, but they did not say wheater they diluted it or did it straight. that is my question. When you put it in the mouth do you have to dilute it or not. please help."
10/27/2011: Joanna from Augusta, Me replies: "This is to all the people who go see a vet. Maybe some of these people have and the vet hasn't helped the problem cause I have seen a vet multiple times about my dog and costs me hundreds and still hasn't helped at all.My dog is a boxer and he has had a severe itching and chewing on himself raw, but the vets just say allergies give some predisone for a couple of weeks. Once med is gone he's back at it and sometimes worse tried everything under the sun with the vets nothing. Sometimes I don't think the vets know what they are doing especially if they can't seem to help fix the problem.
So I came across this apple cider vinegar idea from this site. Gave him a bath with it a few hours ago hasn't chewed or itched. Put a tsp. in his drinking water and hes been drinking it right up.
So think again before you say take advice from every tom, dick and harry cause it may just help. Doesn't hurt to try. A lot of vets don't really know what thay are talking about all they want is our money."
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FLEA ALLERGIES
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[YEA] 07/10/2008: Linda from Miramichi, Canada writes: "My little Venus has been going nuts with itching and biting..had 2 spots size of toonies on her rump..one with a scab, one with hair off and bald. She is on a regime from vet for fleas etc. In desperation, one hot day I sprayed apple cider vinegar and water {half and half}all over her skin and especially on those 2 spots. She stopped scratching for about an hour and a half. So we now put 5 ml/ 1 tsp. mixed with a tsp/ water in a 5 ml. syringe and shoot it into her mouth once a day. She wouldn't eat if we put it in food or drinking water. VOILA!!! NO MORE ITCHING AND BITING"
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FLEAS
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[YEA] 03/23/2009: Betty from San Antonio, Texas writes: "ACV- is what I use...I wouldn't be writting if I didn't see results for myself...I have been putting a TBSP. daily in dogs food and also spraying him with water/ACV mix every other day....I must say that it is working great...My dog Zeek (Sharpei mix) was tearing his legs and back side by his tail up!!!! His Vet had me try the prescription diet to rule out food allergies...it wasn't working...so before I spent more $$$$ on allergy tests I researched and came across the uses of ACV for possible flea allergy etc...I prayed that this would help...guess my prayers are being answered...he no longer has sores on his legs and back side by his tail....I'm so happy and feel so great that he is no longer mutalating himself...he has an occasional itch or scratch here and there...but nothing compared to before I started using ACV...I also give him a TBSP. or two of plain yogurt or cottage cheese ever so often in his food...Tuna in oil and sardines...I do bathe him with Medicated shampoo but it was the ACV that I truly feel has healed his sores and has prevented him from biting and scratching himself as before...I hope it continues to work and for others as well!!!"
Replies07/01/2010: Christina from Effingham, Sc replies: "My dog has the same problem with tearing up the backs of his legs, behind and his tail. He has spots that are really red and look raw. Also his tail is the worst he just naws at it all the time and it has sum broke skin and is raw and he doesn't want me touching it. Anyway reading about the acv has got me VERY excited and happy that it my help my baby because I feel so sorry for him. One flea bite for him is like 100 at once. I want to try the acv but my concern is will it burn or sting, I don't want to hurt him. The itching and allergies are bad enough. So does anyone know if it will burn?"
EC: Yes, apple cider vinegar will absolutely burn and sting on raw skin if not diluted with water 50/50!
07/06/2010: Laura from Mansfield, Oh replies: "So I have a question?? if ACV works so well on pets themselves would it work on carpet and furniture??? I have a dog and 2 cats.. And I found one flea and now all 3 have them.. Not completely infested but I don't wanna be either. Please HELP!!!"
EC: Hi Laura,
Many more suggestions on our flea remedies page here: http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/fleas.html
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11/15/2008: Maribel from Detroit, Michigan writes: "hi everyone but i have a question... i see that some people reccommend the acv and some don't but is it safe to use it on pregnant dogs or lacting dogs, and or on the pupies??? I have a 1yr. 11 month old chihuahua that has been now itching badly and we hav seen fleas on her. we have not been putting any flea products on her since sh'e 6 weeks pregnant. we usually put something on her every month or was her once a week. but like i said she's pregnant and their isn't much we can do. even though now that shes been pregnant for these 6 weeks my children, husband and i ahve been getting bite by these fleas. so i was wondering if someone can tell me if it is asafe to use the acv and the borax for here and my children in the house??? please help i'm going crazy with this..,.. and my children are getting bit all over..."
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[YEA] 08/07/2008: Virginia from Cushing, OK writes: "FLEAS/TICKS and ACV: Full Strength ACV on dog that was scratching constantly. His hair under his tail and on his abdomen had a red tint to it (he is white) and I am not sure it wasn't some kind of mange problem too since it had a terrible odor which wasn't helped by bathing. After spraying him down with full strength ACV the odor dissipated and his scratching has stopped. I sprayed him for 3 consecutive days at first but skip a day or two now. Thank you for saving me a vet bill..."
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[YEA] 03/01/2008: kim from sebring, florida writes: "I got my german shepard from wretched people, they had taken him off his mother at 3 weeks old, the feeding and watering was horrific. I immediately began him on mothers milk for 4 weeks.
Later when he was 4 months old, i bathed him and treated him with flea treatment. IMMEDIATELY he broke out in a terrible rash with lesions and such. The odor made me physically sick. My dog is allergic to flea treatments, AND fleas. It was so bad, that i considered putting him down, it broke my heart to see him suffer so much. what kind of life is that? always constantly itching and bleeding. I found this site, i bathed him in acv and sprayed him down three times a day. all gone. now he is 9 months old. my son flea treated him for me while i was out of town. BAM, horrible, and i do mean horrible rash blood red, lesions, sores, constant itching and crying. I immediately sprayed him down with the acv solution and he fell asleep in about ten minutes, relief from the itching. I began just two days ago adding it to his water, and I can not believe the difference. A dog that is allergic to the chemicals in monthly flea treatments AND allergic to FLEA's has a miserable life. Thankfully due to the acv my dog has a chance at a good itch free life. I cannot thank you enough. It made me cry to see him in such torment. thank you to everyone who shares their stories, it saves lives and the quality of those lives."
Replies08/20/2008: C.K. from St. Louis, Missouri replies: "Do not use garlic in ANY sort of dog food. It is toxic and can kill your dog, just like onions and grapes. It's simply foolish that someone would encourage you to feed that to your dog. I'd take fleas over a dead pet any day."
EC: Please read the (mostly positive) feedback on our Garlic for Dogs page.
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[NAY] Simon from Victoria, Australia writes: "he tried bathing his 10 dogs religiously in Apple Cider Vinegar (as prescribed above) for days to get rid of fleas. No luck."
Replies06/13/2008: Kathy from Cypress, TX replies: "NO MORE FLEAS. To keep fleas off my 70 lb. dog, I juice fresh raw garlic and add 1/8 teaspoon of it to a raw egg yolk. He eats it joyfully. NO MORE FLEAS. Fleas hate the smell of garlic. I may carefully increase the amount of garlic juice some in the future because he is 70 lbs. He eats his food joyfully. He also loves greens such as Alfalfa powder, Wheatgrass powder, Barley powder, etc. Dogs need greens too!"
01/04/2010: Chris from Manila, Philippines replies: "Pls help, I tried putting acv to my dog (5mo old shar pei) on his back which is almost bald, with red bumps, but he cringe and kept on shaking his whole body. I think the acv stings him. Per his vet he's got the localized mange. Did I do something wrong? how come he isnt relieved from the itch when I applied the full acv? I also tried the 50/50 solution and wont work with him also, he cant sleep with it. Pls help"
EC: You can find more mange remedies here http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/dog_mange_cure.html
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[YEA] Deirdre from Los Angeles, CA writes: "she doesn't need to use flea dips in the winter when she adds a tsp of organic apple cider vinegar to her dogs' meals (2x a day) every day. This doesn't work so well in summer months, she reports."
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[YEA] Vickie from Tampa Florida writes: "I have found great success with ACV ...My Boxer has no fleas or ticks & a shiny coat."
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[YEA] Katie from Emporia, KS writes: "If ACV doesn't seem to work on fleas, try Brewer's Yeast vitamin tablets and cedar chips for bedding. Most dog beds have cedar chips inside them, but you can also buy them straight for dog houses and such."
Replies[WARNING!] 01/16/2011: Cherie from Poconos, Pa replies: "Cedar chips are not a good idea to use for pet bedding as the cedar secretes an oil that can cause blindness in animals."
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[YEA] Lyn from Jeannette, PA writes: "I just wanted to comment on the fleas section. It is true that any shampoo will kill fleas, but it needs to be left on for 30 min. Also, if you have a flea infestation in your house, just spraying your animal wont help. You must treat where the fleas live. See, they only feed on your animal. I have tremendous luck using table salt and food-grade diatomaceous earth all over the house to kill fleas and prevent. The salt (I prefer organic unprocessed sea salt) cuts into the body of the flea and then allows the DE to dehydrate the animal. Salt by itself does seem to work also, I just like a faster approach. Keep in mind though that this means of defense does take up to 2 months to work as some fleas are still hatching. In really bad infestation, it could take longer. I think flea eggs can survive up to 280 days. I would also like to recommend quadruped pet products. I work at a holistic pet care center and this is what we use to bathe the animals. They do not contain(unlike most pet shampoos) any harsh chemicals. Also, all their products are concentrates so it is much cheaper than buying the harmful stuff from pet shops or grocery stores."
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[YEA] Sheerec from San Antonio, TX writes: "ACV for Fleas, itching and scratching works.My dog was itching and scratching everywheree very badly to the point,he had a small raw spot on his neck. I can say that it works. I put some apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle, sprayed him down and let him air dry. The severe scrathing stop and the raw place under his neck has healed."
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[YEA] Lana from Caro, Michigan writes: "I just tried the ACV on my Maltese, she's been miserable every Aug-Oct for years. Now she's resting quietly, within minutes. Thank-you so much! Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you! We've tried allergy shots, bathing, haircuts (she's practically bald now) benedryl, baby oil, seems like more things too, nonstop itching 24-7. Now she's happy again. Thanks so much!"
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[YEA] Jennifer from Doonan, QLD, Australia writes: "My 3 poodles have 2 tbsp in jug of water each day to prevent fleas. I also use it in their rinse water after a bath each week."
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[YEA] Jennifer from Doonan, QLD, Australia writes: "It truly works for eliminating fleas from dogs. Just a few drops in the drinking water each day BUT it does take about six weeks.I have also sprayed the dog's beds and cleaned rugs and floors every day so it is an ongoing chore to for the six weeks but I am now on top of the situation.I run a Poodle resort so I have quite a few dogs and to have solved the flea problem is an enormous relief."
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[YEA] MJ Fox from Ireland writes: "I use ACV in my rescue dogs' food twice a week and give them diluted ACV rub downs with a wet sponge or rag about every 10 days. There are no fleas on these dogs at all, which I think is a result of the ACV. I also use it full strength for ring worm and seem to be having some good luck with mange."
Replies09/15/2009: Mary from Fredericksburg, Va, USA replies: "can you tell me how much you delete the acv for the rub down.
thank you,
mary in va."
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GENERAL FEEDBACK
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11/12/2011: Etelle from Morningside, Md writes: "How do I get my schitzu to drink his water when I put the apple cider vinegar in it. I have been doing this since the summer and he will ignore the water. Then in a couple of days he will drink it. Should I put it in his food instead? I give him dry food only. Beneful"
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02/07/2011: Diane In Louisiana from New Orleans, La writes: "I have a 13 year old Rhodesian. He had enlarged prostate and not neutered and had trouble urinating. Vet said he had to be neutered to shrink prostate. This was done however it's been a few months and every week or two he has to get a catheter to urinate. He is on permanent antibiotics Clavamox 375 mg. and bethanechol 3 x a day. I also give him ACV 2 tsp 2x a day. He still has problems due to a stretched bladder. I am wondering am I doing harm by giving ACV with the antibiotics since he is not improving how long he goes between having catheter."
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09/14/2010: Teri A. from Palm Harbor, Fl, Usa writes: "Hi everyone, thanks for all of your great posts on ACV. I ran out and picked some up. Put it in the food and drinking water. I plan to put some on the nape of the neck like flea medicine to see what happens! My Boo gets infections in his mouth, will ACV help clear it up? So tired of the steroid injections and antibiotics! Please help! "
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[QUESTION] 10/23/2009: Heidi from Teeswater, Ontario Canada writes: "Please can someone tell me if it is organic Apple Cider Viniger or the plain ACV for my black lab of 7 years?"
RepliesEC: Many people on this site report getting the best results with organic ACV!
[YEA] 10/29/2009: Megan from Warner Robins, Ga replies: "For my 2 large dogs (over 50 & 100lb) the regular over the counter ACV worked for us. I had a bad flea infestation in the house and on both dogs. I was about ready to break down and fork over the boko bucks for frontline flea treatment--or get rid of the dogs. Fogging the house and generic flea treatments/baths was not working or I wasn't doing it enough. I found ACV for myself (the generic grocery store brand works for me as well) and was excited to read it could help with my flea problem as well. I gradually worked them up to a tablespoon a day the first week. I also sprayed them with a diluted mix of something like 1/4 cup in a large spray bottle full of water. I even think that is a bit much. I did bomb the house maybe 2 weeks before I started ACV for the dogs. It took about another 2 weeks for the fleas to clear up in the house, so a total of a month since the bombing. I have not been able to find a single flea on the dogs. I am excited to be flea free and for next to nothing. The last few days I maybe give the dogs the ACV every other day and spray about every other day. They are scratching at themselves less and seem overall to be much happier though they don't care much for the spray and love to roll around after to try and get it off--oh well....no fleas."
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[YEA] 02/25/2009: Amanda from Austin, TX writes: "Thanks to all of you for the Apple Cider Vinegar treatment ideas. My 9 year old Lab has been in such pain and now he is so much better. Thank yall for taking the time to share."
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HOT SPOTS
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[YEA] Ellen from Charles Town, WV writes: "About a 2 months ago, I began using apple cider vinegar in Lady's water; 3T. to a gallon of water and also spraying it diluted on the areas that she had licked and chewed until they bled. I added brewers yeast and olive oil to her daily meal and used a cone on her head when I wasn't with her to stop the licking. I used a plain aloe and olive oil balm on the skin after the vinegar dried. She doesn't need the cone any more as her skin is great and her hair is growing back in."
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ITCHING, SCRATCHING, HOT SPOTS
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[YEA] 07/16/2011: Josephyne from Singapore writes: "I found this website today while researching for home remedies for my puppy which had been scratching her skin and ears for a while now. I took no time to try the suggested remedy - acv. I applied Apple Cider Vinegar on her body and drip a couple of drops into each of her ears and massaged the base of her ears, straight from the bottle without diluting. I also mixed a tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar with her plain yoghurt and she lapped it all up, like she usually does when it comes to yoghurt. I'm very pleased to see that for the past two hours she has not scratched one bit and seemed calmer and even fell asleep, which is quite unusual at this time of night :) ACV works for my precious dog :)"
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[YEA] 06/23/2009: Yoyoly18 from Buringame, CA writes: "I have a mixed papillon/Pomeranian dog who has been suffering from flea bites, constant itching and bald hot spots. No matter what kind of flea shampoo treatments, or house treatments, getting rid of her beds, toys, etc was helping at all. My neighbor has a cat that roams around freely and believe is the culprit to this problem. I researched high and low on the internet for remedies for two years now and finally landed on this website. I read all the testimonials from dog lovers with similar problem and the positive results they were having. I quickly went to my local grocery store and bought a bottle of AVC; mixed it according to the instructions and I could not believe how quickly within minutes of spraying her she relaxed and stopped itching. I am amazed at this and will share this great remedy to all dog and cat lovers. Thank you all so much."
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MANGE
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[YEA] 02/12/2006: Trudy writes: "I have had absolute success using Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with water and Borax power. My dog was suffering with mange or terrible flea allergies last October. Well I used this combination regularly for several months and now he has all his fur back, and no itching. I sent in my testimonial back in mid January 2006, it is under the Cure for Demodetic Mange / Remedy #2 Reader Modification by Trudy Barton, in Cynthiana, Ky. I do believe this treatment I gave my Max would not have had nearly the great results if I had not used the organic Apple Cider Vinegar. Please post this cure under the Apple Cider Vinegar cures for dogs. P.s. If my cat were to have a similar problem, I sure would use it on the cat too! You can post my e-mail address."
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