GARLIC FOR DOGS

[YEA]  10/25/2007: Joey from Las Vegas, NV writes: "Sorry to bust everyone's bubble, but I have been feeding my dog a heaping teaspoon of crushed garlic twice-a-day with his dry food for 10 years. I took him to a new vet a few months ago. He guessed his age as FIVE. My dog loves it. He is in perfect health and I believe garlic is one of the things that has kept him young. He's now 10 years 7 months. Then again I also feed him 2000 mg of MSM a day, a multi vitamin, glucosmine/condorotin (spell check please) and water soluble silver and minerals. I don't buy into what the so-called experts say. I go by what my experience teaches me. And I think garlic has been GREAT for him. In fact, he very rarely gets sick and I don't use any poison flea control crap that the vets push on you or vaccinations that can ruin his immune system. He's a Sheltie Mix and his coat is gorgeous. And I predict he'll live to at least 20. All animals can live longer lives through correct supplementation."

[NAY]  10/22/2007: Sarah from West Chester, Pennsylvania writes: "I was giving my Belgian Sheepdog less than the the manufacturer's recommended dosage of garlic. I wanted an alternative for the control of parasitic insects. The garlic caused my dog to get an ulcer which ruptured his stomache - He died. There may not be scientific data to say garlic is not safe - but it wans't safe for my dog. I still search for the right balance between natural and pharmaseutical. Everthing and anything we give can have a concequence. I have to live with the fact that by trying to help my dog I killed him."

[YEA]  10/13/2007: Denise from Corrolitos, Ca writes: "I have appreciated the comments on earthclinic in regards to dogs and garlic. I was raised with dogs eating garlic to prevent or rid them of worms and fleas.I ended up terribly concerned at the sudden rash of information this is harmful to my dogs as no one would want to intentionally cause illness or death of a beloved pet. my dogs are sisters now three years old they had been eating garlic powder since 6 months I am certain it rid them of worms They eat canned food mixed with dry and water or broth with what would be a reasonable amount of garlic POWDER ie: suitable for a pet parents taste. I had stopped feeding them the powder for awhile gravely concerned for their health. Suddenly I noticed duller coats, itching ,fleas and a brief return of' hinny draging (worms) after this I returned them to the seasoning amount of garlic powder behold shinner coats less flea annoyance and no worms. I spoke to pet food providers asking about tomatoes since their brand of dog food contained tomatoes I was told the tomatoes in the food are not harmful to dogs since they are powdered. Last I can say Im not feeding my dogs tomatoes (too much acid) but Im keeping my eyes open and tolerating my garlic powder kisses."

[NAY]  10/12/2007: Cheryl from WAPAKONETA, Ohio writes: "In this month's(October 2007) issue of National Geographic on Pet threats, Garlic is listed as a no-no. According to NG, "garlic breaks down a dogs red blood cells, leading to anemia and possible kidney failure from leaking hemoglobin""

[YEA]  09/30/2007: Dean from Los Angeles, California writes: "I have cooked chicken breasts or whole chickens for my Samoyeds for many years. They do not eat canned dog food or dry dog food. I have always sprinkled garlic while cooking their meals. They get steamed long grain brown rice as well in the mix. I just saw on a morning show that you shouldn't give your dog garlic (I think it was the Today Show). Now I'm worried, I've fed them garlic for years, do I stop now? They are 11 and 12 and in excellent health and very playful. People always think they are pups. I have the vet check their blood yearly and nothing has ever come back bad but I've never asked her about garlic, I will when I return home but in the meantime. Now that this show mentioned chocolate and garlic in the same breath as bad, I'm concerned. I also sprinkle 1500mg of glucosimine daily in their food. Is there a study of if the dogs are always fed garlic and then what happens if it is just pulled from their diet all together? thanks."

[YEA]  09/21/2007: trixie from portland, OR writes: "I feed my dog Nutro Natural with glucosamine and chondroitin. She is 12 and has always been super healthy. In the past year, she has started to become quite a picky eater and her sister-dog usually gets to her food before she does. I recently started to add just a small pinch of garlic powder to her food and she eats it right up. It hasn't caused any side- effects and it ensures she gets the correct daily dosage of food (and our other dog does, too!)"

[YEA]  09/13/2007: Lou from NY, NY writes: "Been feeding my chihuahua raw garlic (1 clove)and some powered garlic (aged) 3x a week for YEARS! He's 9 years old. And he gets a one mile walk every day for exercise. I thank God for his health, that he has never been to the vet for any problems!"

[YEA]  09/02/2007: Jermin Bautista from Caloocan, Philippines writes: "I fed my dog his regular dinner (Dog food) tonight. I'm using royal canin for adult. my chihuahua is a 1 yr and a half and a bit picky on dog foods so I decided to sprinkle a small amount of a regular McKormic Garlic. He ate it in a minute and even went repeatedly back to his food dish for more. I think garlic is good for your dogs but just don't feed it' in large amounts. thus, if parasites hate it then its a natural way to prevent it.anything that is too much is BAD. i believe you shoud be avoiding chocolates and sweets for your dogs including nuts rather than Garlic. Its a ntural Herb and those sites that indicate garlic is bad is all wrong.some dogs were fed heavy on garlic, some maybe had food allergies, some had just blamed garlic on their already diseased dogs. If it's poisonous then every dog will die in just a pinch of garlic. It's just common sense. And to end this up, Garlic is safe in good amounts (According to your dog's weight, allergy tests."

[YEA]  08/16/2007: Lena from Vienna, Austria writes: "I have been giving garlic to my 8 yrs old golden for the last 7 yrs. Never raw - as it is rather sharp, however I always added it to his chicken of beef stew and once soft meshed it in his food. Every time I go to the vet or we are in the dog park I get compliments for how-well cared the dog is. Mac looks and feels great (thanks for the part that he gets good home cooked food - and no processed commercial dry food). I think garlic helps me keep Mac healthy and happy. I find it so sweet that sometimes he has this typical-human garlic breath in the morning! This is indeed - the only side effect!"

An excerpt from another link: http://www.petsbynature.com/Garlic.htm "In the last five years, more and more toxicity studies are being conducted on garlic and all seem to indicate that it, too, can pose serious health risks when fed to cats and dogs."

It's been a difficult couple of weeks, but (especially after our most recent "trials"), I cannot thank my Grandmother (or GARLIC) enough -- specifically because, on account of ROXANNE feeling better, I, too, have been sleeping better and am feeling a whole lot better about a whole number of things now."

[YEA]  07/02/2007: bruce from Hunstville, Al, USA writes: "I feed my dog Garlic for tick defence. I have been feeding my dog ( 3 yrs old) Garlic shavings for about a year to defend against ticks. He is a neutered collie type. I have not encountered any adverse effects and he is sharp and lively. The ticks he picks up seem to fall off more easily after this diet - I presume they don't like the taste it leaves in the blood. Not sure why it works but I think it makes him more healthy as well."

[YEA]  06/26/2007: Zoe writes: "Hi, in answer to many garlic-for-dogs questions, here's what a holistic veteranarian told me, about a week ago: a small amount of garlic has many benefits for dogs. A dog of ten pounds can eat up to a HALF a clove a day, and a large dog can eat a whole clove a day, with no adverse effects. But NO more than that! For the person with the 7.5 pound chihuahau, i'd go with a quarter clove, just to be on the safe side. I personally also use a bit of garlic powder in my dog's homemade dog food, just for flavor. Check the ingredients before you buy any particular brand. Btw, i also use baby food veggies, and Earth's Best brand is free of any onions in many flavors. The green beans, peas, and carrots have no onion. They're just the veggie and water. Everything's organic. Just check the label to be sure, or check out their website. Other than that, i use brown rice, a meat source, eggs, vegetable oil, kidney beans, TUMS (no vitamin D added, and unflavored) for calcium, and top everything off with a doggie multi-vitamin. I sometimes add cheese, as well. Not processed cheese food, but real cheese. I have one very healthy, happy dog!"

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

[YEA]  06/20/2007: Sue from Cobb, California writes: "Just heard the report recently regarding Do Not Give your dogs Garlic... Well! I've been giving Max my 8 year old cocker spaniel garlic every day of his life. I prepare his food each week and add approximately 2-3 cloves of crushed garlic for taste. He is a very healthy, robust 8 year old. So I have to refute this finding."

[YEA]  06/10/2007: John from Providence, Rhode Island writes: "OK, so most everyone here, except for the Frontline Sales Woman, have said garlic is good. Dr. Marty concurs, but how much? I have a little munchkin (7.5lbs Chihuahua), who is a animal rescue miracle. She has never eaten dog food, but not because I had a clue. She just refused. She kind of fended for herself prior and most people don't throw out dog food. So I began to feed her boiled brown rice, mixed vegatables and a nice cut of beef or chicken or both. Blended of course. I squirted a bit of vitamin gravy to help her out. As the years passed, I adapted with frozen vegatables instead of canned (ummm sodium)and then organic frozen vegatables. I've sinced added diced garlic (just a little, not SURE) and Salmon oil instead of the Vitamin Gravy. And a joint support liquid in the AM. Needless to say, I don't need a snooze button when my alarm clock goes off."

[YEA]  05/28/2007: Catherine from Leeds, United Kingdom writes: "My 13 yr old Scottish Terrier developed cancer in his mouth which spread to his jaw bone. The vet treating him removed it and said that it would probably give him another month or two at best. I began feeding him porridge oats with a wheatgrass shot on a morning and adding finely chopped raw garlic to his evening meal. I believe this slowed down the cancer considerably. He seemed as happy and fit as ever for another 8 months before I had to make the decision to have him put to sleep but on his final day he still went on a 3 mile walk with me and was running around and eating snacks."

[YEA]  05/05/2007: MrmDeLuca from Phoenix, USA writes: "When my father was released from the hospital from a possible heart attack, he was put on a strict diet. In keeping with his diet, he would eat baked chicken with heaps of garlic, tomatoes, and onions. My father, hating the food, would always pass it along to his dog. Well this otherwise healthy dog had a seizure one day, for the first time in its life. All three ingredients, consumed in excess, are known to be fatal to dogs. He's never given the dog his chicken again. The dog has never had a seizure since. To my own dog I give only a quarter of a clove every other week with no problems."

[YEA]  04/27/2007: Dario from Atlanta, GA writes: "Well, I figured if garlic is good for me than it should be good for my dogs. We used garlic during war back in Bosnia during winter months as a substitute for "penacilin" not sure if I am spelling it right - but it prevents many problems. I have started my 2 german shepards on garlic and they are doing great no skin problems, fleas, ticks nor mosquitoes either. Garlic makes blood taste different so bolod suckers don't like it. Vets are making money of selling products - of course they will not say no. Anybody who is in sales will know what I am talking about. All i have mentioned is working for me but still do more research if you are not comfortable."

[YEA]  04/23/2007: Marene from Adelaide, South Australia writes: "My kelpie/border-collie suffered badly from an allergic reaction to grasses in spring, scratching her itchy skin until she had sores and needed vet treatment (cortisone, I think). Having suffered all my life with sneezing and runny nose in spring, . I had begun taking a horseradish and garlic capsule twice daily which cured me. So I began giving it to my dog, twice daily during spring and once daily for the rest of the year like me. She had no more trouble with itchy skin, or fleas and lived to be 16, suffering only from arthritis in the last couple of years. My new pup is only 5 months old and scratches regularly but not badly yet. I am wondering how old she should be before giving her the same capsules."

HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL TO SOMEONE ELSE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS."

[YEA]  04/14/2007: Tom from Providence, RI writes: "I have given each of my two dogs (retriever family, 2 and 5 yo) a clove of freshly pressed garlic every day in their dinner. They are never sick. They do Not have fleas and I DO NOT USE commercial flea/tick products which are carcinogenic and neurotoxins, and the dogs are doing great. I have not had their red blood count tested and perhaps I should. Another ? for the holistic vet I guess."

[YEA]  04/05/2007: Carlos from Concord, California writes: "My Rottweiler eats daily 4 (abundant) cups of rice, lamb and vegetables dry food, sprinkled with garlic powder and a few drops of olive oil. He will be 10 next month and still jumps 4 feet up to the top of his house! He weighs a healthy 105 pounds."

[YEA]  04/04/2007: C. writes: "I have made a dog food treat for years for my 4 dogs. I mix garlic powder, rice, chicken broth and chicken liver and a tiny bit of canola oil. They never have fleas and always have great blood tests. I have recently read that it causes anemia and am concerned, but my dogs have great blood at 12 years old, so I find that hard to believe they have about 1/2 cup of the above treat daily. I told my vet about the treat and all he said is use low sodium chicken broth. I'm going to ask him again about the garlic. My cat has a tiny bit also nightly. They all love it."