Apple Cider Vinegar for Dogs: Natural Remedies for Common Issues

| Modified on Aug 22, 2024
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Apple Cider Vinegar

Is your dog struggling with fleas, allergies, or stubborn ear issues? Apple cider vinegar might be the natural remedy you've been searching for. This versatile and budget-friendly solution is more than just a pantry staple; it’s a powerful tool in caring for your furry friend. Whether dealing with infections, hot spots, or simply looking to improve your dog’s overall health, apple cider vinegar offers a gentle yet effective approach.

Renowned for its ability to combat viruses, bacteria, and fungi, apple cider vinegar also helps balance your dog’s internal and external pH levels. This balancing act is crucial in addressing many health concerns, making it a go-to remedy for pet owners.

The best part? You can use this natural treatment both internally and topically, tailoring it to your dog’s specific needs and watching as they enjoy the benefits of this simple yet powerful remedy.

Learn the Gentle and Effective Way to Apply Apple Cider Vinegar to Your Dog

Watch Earth Clinic’s video to discover two effective methods for topically applying apple cider vinegar. Your pet will appreciate the care, and you’ll learn how to make an apple cider vinegar solution.

Using Apple Cider Vinegar Internally for Dogs

Apple cider vinegar can be administered internally to treat various conditions in dogs, such as:

  • Arthritis
  • Digestive Issues
  • Diarrhea
  • Respiratory Infections
  • Allergies
  • Dull Coat
  • Dandruff

You can add apple cider vinegar to your dog’s food or water. Alternatively, administer it using a syringe, but always dilute the vinegar with water—at least a 1:1 ratio. Ensure your dog has plenty of water afterward.

How Much Apple Cider Vinegar Should I Give My Dog?

The amount of apple cider vinegar to give your dog depends on the condition, its severity, and your dog's size:

  • Very Small Dogs: 5 – 10 drops
  • Small Dogs: 1/4 – 1 teaspoon
  • Medium Dogs: 1/2 – 2 teaspoons
  • Large Dogs: 1 – 2 Tablespoons

How Often Should I Give My Dog Apple Cider Vinegar?

For acute infections or diarrhea, administer apple cider vinegar 2-4 times daily. As the condition improves, reduce the frequency. If necessary, adjust the dosage or frequency based on results.

For regular use, such as for allergies, coat issues, flea prevention, or digestive support, the lowest dose given once daily is usually sufficient. For arthritis, twice daily might be ideal. Monitor your dog’s condition to adjust the dosage as needed.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Dog Ear Issues

Diluted apple cider vinegar is an excellent remedy for various ear issues in dogs, including infections, mites, and swimmer’s ear. Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar with water or 70% rubbing alcohol to create a cleaning solution.

Rinse your dog’s ears with this solution twice daily. For more detailed information, visit this page.

If your dog’s ears have sores or broken skin, apple cider vinegar may sting. In such cases, consider using Arcane Solution.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Dog Eye Infections

The easiest way to use apple cider vinegar for eye infections is demonstrated in the video above, avoiding direct contact with the eyes while still fighting the infection effectively.

For direct eye treatment, refer to this page for proper dilution guidelines.

Apple Cider Vinegar Spray for Dogs

Apple cider vinegar can also be used as a topical spray. Mix 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1/2 cup of water and apply to hot spots twice daily using a cotton ball or spray bottle.

This spray is also effective for flea prevention, but do not spray it near the eyes.

Choosing the Right Apple Cider Vinegar for Your Dog

Raw, organic apple cider vinegar with the mother is ideal for dogs as it retains nutrients that promote healing.

Have you used apple cider vinegar for your dog? We’d love to hear about it! What condition did you treat? How did you use it?

Continue reading for many reader stories about this wonderful natural remedy for dogs.


Acid Reflux

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Susana (Creston, North Carolina) on 10/28/2011
★★★★★

This is a wonderful home remedy, which I discovered on this site. I take it everyday and haven't gotten sick, not even a cold, but I am posting to help pet owners whose dogs get acid reflux. My 11-yr-old Golden mix had a gurgling stomach frequently. I have been giving him a capful of ACV w/his meal and the gurgling has ceased. If I ever hear his stomach churning a bit, I give him a droper-full and it goes away within the hour. This stuff is great!

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Replied by Joel
(Topeka, Kansas)
04/12/2012

Thanks for these wonderful tips. You described my dog exactly. I'm going to try vinegar. Does it matter if it's white vinegar instead of Apple Cider Vinegar? Thanks, Joel, author

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Replied by Yorkie
(Douglas, Ga)
05/28/2012

Yorkie with severe skin problems. Hair is very thin, two weeks ago he was pulling his own hair out, licks his paws all the time, itchy. I'm afraid to take him back to the vet because he always ends up on steroids. He weights about 6 lbs. How much apple cider vinegar do we give him?

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Replied by Sopolite
(Thousand Oaks, Ca)
09/28/2012

My German Shepherd has the same skin issues. Itchy skin and constant licking of the top of his paws causing sores. He was so miserable. After endless research of reviews and questions, I started him on Platinum Performance Skin and Allergy on his food and it has helped a lot. He now only has a seasonal attack maybe once a year instead of monthly. No more fearing the steroid shots at the vet.

We also tried the probiotics. He did start throwing up with too much probiotics though. These worked great when he could keep them down.

I hope your guy starts feeling better and really believe the Platinum might help. It has with my furry man.

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Replied by Barb
(Petaluma, Ca.)
10/31/2012

We had 3 dogs all with skin problems, itchy, hair loss... Switched to a good dry food and within a week all of them stopped the itching. Their coats are thick and shiny, they don't poop as much and are all very happy. I'm not here to endorse or dis a product, but we had a dog once that every time we fed him anything made by Purina he had seizures.

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Replied by Barb
(Petaluma, Ca.)
01/15/2013

Ha! I was looking for itchy feet remedies and came across my own post. I forgot to mention, unless it was removed, the name of the good dog food. It's Canidae.

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Replied by Robert
(Reading, Pa)
04/02/2015

If you will feed your sweet pets a diversified raw meat diet, most if not all of their problems will resolve themselves over time. It might take up to a year, there are no instant miracle cures. You are describing compromised immune system ailments caused by commercial foods and all the probiotics and other " CURES " you are giving them which are lowering their immune systems. The worst are the flea and tick and heart worm poisons which will KILL your sweet pet over a period of time. The ingredients are neurotoxins which make your pets blood so toxic it KILLS ticks and fleas and eventually your pet will develop fatal diseases and early death. A dogs average life span is into twenty plus years so you can see what 100 years of commercial food and Veterinary care have done to them. When I rescued my sweet Amber she was 10 lbs under weight, had lyme disease , had a demodex mite infestation , and needed a good teeth cleaning . The Vet prescribed Hills Prescription Dog Food " garbage " Ivermectin and Antibiotics for the lyme disease, and later more Ivermectin and Probiotics for the mites, all which lower the immune system and will have you coming back over and over after the temporary cure. You should see her now. She doesn't have lyme disease, she doesn't have demodex mites and all I did was feed her a diversified RAW MEAT diet I bought from Reel Raw dog food co. I did try Ted's cure for mites which helped until her immune system kicked in and the enzymes in the meat cleaned her teeth. The meat is a little expensive but the savings in Vets bills far out weighed the extra cost and Amber of course is my sweetie and worth more to me than any thing else, priorities, priorities.

I have a question for the woman who puts Frontline on her dog. Do you put it on your kids when they go out to play? If not, why not. See what I mean? Do not believe your Vet .

To the woman who recommended Primal and Orijen dog food, the oprative words are diversified RAW MEAT not RAW FOOD. both are full of cheap veggy fillers which your dog cannot digest and of course are not good for him. The only dog food Co. that delivers pre-packaged raw meat to your door that I have found is REEL RAW. If your dog doesn't have any serious underlying medical conditions feed him raw meat, no stress, lots of love and no shots, no flea and tick and no heart worm cures. Almost all dogs are immune to Lyme disease which most people, including Vets, don't know but if your dog does develop symptoms like limping, go online and buy " Ledum 1", 3 tabs 3x a day for 3 days about $8 for 80 pills. Asymptomatic dogs don't need to be treated.

Please stop poisoning your sweet pets. There is a non toxic treatment your Vet, of course, won't tell you about, keep looking until you find it. Many times the best treatment is no treatment at all, let your dog get better on his own and make his immune system stronger.

Joel, B---- ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR but the most important things are a raw meat diet and NO stress.

Good luck, Robert and Amber robert at consultant dot com

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Replied by Mandy
(Delaware)
06/21/2015

In reference to the comments about Frontline and the other flea and tick topical medications: Please be advised that it contains the exact thing that we use to kill termites. It will burn your skin as well as your dogs (and that's minor). More than likely you have noticed that your dog hides or gets nervous when it is time for his flea treatment, and that is why. I too was ignorant and used these products on my pets, until one time, a day or two after administering it my dog became lethargic, wouldn't eat, on the verge of dehydration and just plain lame. She was like this for 2 weeks. Any Vet you mention this too will not justify it. They all say no it's not possible. However, I dare each of you to google side effects of frontline and read some of the posters comments. I Ask the question: How can soooo many people be wrong??????

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Replied by Sara
(Lansing, Mi)
08/17/2015

Robert in Pennsylvania, your dog had Lyme but dogs are "almost all" immune to Lyme? You must be a very unlucky person.

A lot of the advice in this comment is extremely dangerous and irresponsible. If you choose to feed your pet a raw meat diet, please take some time to read up on food borne illnesses. Flesh is fine, but it isn't a magic cure. Just as dogs suffer from Lyme and other tick borne disease, they are susceptible to food borne illness. Buying low grade meat and handling or storing it improperly is very likely to make you and your pet extremely ill. Keep in mind also, dogs require a significant amount of bulk if fed raw food. My 50 pound dog, for example, needs 2 pounds of meat daily to maintain his weight. I only buy meat (his and my own) from local organic ranchers who I know and trust. This means my dog's meals cost on average $20 a day. Doing this properly is extremely expensive. Doing it improperly will make you and your pet very sick, and could easily kill your pet.

Further, enzymes in meat and abrasion from chewing raw bones may help with plaque control but they absolutely do not "clean" tartar from teeth. Failing to provide your pet with proper dental care is extremely irresponsible, and a sure way to shorten the animal's life. Why spend over $7,000 a year feeding a pet who is slowly heading toward (preventable) sepsis? A little of the information here is fairly reasonable, but the majority of Robert's advice is sure to hurt your pet, and quite likely yourself as well.

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Replied by Tammy
(Boise, Idaho)
07/22/2016

It does matter. Use only Apple Cider Vinegar that is organic and unprocessed. Braggs is your perfect choice, although I have seen other brands recently. Look for those that are organic and have the "mother".

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Replied by Rachel
(Nottinghamshire)
02/01/2017

You sound like an advert!

If you wish to go down the BARF route, then simply make friends with your local butcher. Ours gives us all the trimmings from his cuts of meat (big cubes), and meaty bones. After all, he'd only be throwing them out! We buy frozen green tripe from the pet shop and ground bones too. Far less expensive. Some fellow BARF feeders go to their nearest abattoir for green tripe, and it's free. No need to buy raw food from one company.

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Replied by Diana
(Uk)
03/01/2017

hi, yes you must only use apple cyder vinegar with mother, the mother is where the healing nutrients are.

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Replied by Patty
(Nc)
07/03/2017

My vet said that chicken in the dogs meal will cause them to itch.

Try any other meal; Bison, lamb, veal, salmon are best just check the label to make sure there is not chicken in it as well.

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Replied by Linda
(Ontario, Canada)
12/14/2017

One note about Tripe, it contains GMO corn, and irritated intestines that are inflamed from the corn. Tripe should be from grass fed animals. I think it does more harm than good??

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Replied by Cynthia
(Nv)
12/30/2017

My dog(2 yr old, female, American Pitbull Terrier) was having terrible problems w/itching, chewing herself raw & constantly licking her paws & rubbing & scratching herself on anything available I switched her to Canidae when the store was out of the food I had been feeding her & although she still has skin issues I could see a HUGE improvement in her phydical conditon as well as her emotional well being. Now Canidae is all she eats


Administering

Posted by Linda (Vancouver, Wa, Usa) on 12/12/2011

I have a dog with kidney problems and a kitty with immune issues. After reading through your site, I decided to give the Apple Cider Vinegar a try. I've put it in the animal's water but they don't seem to be drinking it. Is there a trick to getting them to take the ACV?

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Replied by Michelle
(Akron, Ohio)
12/17/2011

I add it to my dogs' food. My mutts are hogs and they woof it down. Added to water, the smell is strong because there is nothing masking it, but with food the smell of the yumminess is enough to negate the stinky ACV.

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Replied by Dogma
(Honolulu, Hawaii)
12/19/2011

Have you been to a holistic vet? The regular ones aren't going to help, just medicate and toxify and bring death sooner.

I mix the ACV in a little broth from anything with a taste they like. If you are making a meat or chicken base for dinner, put it in some water for a minute and let the water pick up some of the juice from the meat. Then use that to add with ACV - they likely lap it up. Don't use anything with preservatives, etc because they you are almost canceling out the good effects. Just adding some warm water to a (high quality, please) kibble will create a broth. You are giving small doses and it should hide it well enough.

TRY this neutriceutical site for a good solution. I start with the Internal Gold Detox kit for both dog and cat but look at the other products and trust your inner voice. These products have save me huge vet bills (the natural antibiotic is fantastic), don't cause any side effects, are organic and even saved one of my rabbit's lives. Highly recommend them all. I also use the natural heartworm product, HWF to prevent heartworm (one week a month). AMBER TECHNOLOGIES: Pet Medications | Amber Tech | Holistic Pet Meds

Kidney and immune issues usually stem from bad food (there is lots of it out there). Switch to a grain free, human grade food if you haven't already. Two to look at to give you an idea of the quality you are looking for: Orijen (Canadian, free range) and Primal (real food in frozen form). Do not trust any of the food at your vet's office. It's full of junk and not designed to meet dog's nutritional needs on any level. VETS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT NUTRITION. You have to learn on your own. Really recommend "Food Pets Die For", a book that will let you know what's really in pet food. I feed my dogs real, organic food now to ensure a long healthy life.

Best of luck!

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Replied by Ruby
(Birdsboro, Pa Usa)
11/15/2012

You can add apple cider vinegar in capsules also. That way you eliminate the smell...


Alkalinity

Posted by Claire (Portland, Oregon) on 05/12/2013

My collie shephard had a ph reading of over 7.5 due to his system being too alkaline. That probably developed because my dogs and I are vegans. We eat primarily organic fruits and vegetables plus soy products. My dogs are unusually healthy due to this but my 16-year-old collie shephard recently developed blood in his urine due to crystals. The vet put him on Clavamox but said the crystals were due to his system being too alkaline. She recommended foods to create more acidity but she apparently didn't know about apple cider vinegar. Thank you so much for the Apple Cider Vinegar recommendation. I am also returning to feeding my dogs more beans & a little bread rather than soy exclusively. The dogs had no problems in the past with beans, soy, & some bread. I used to add high quality bread to their meals before I discovered recently that I cannot tolerate gluten. I can go back to adding bread to my dogs' meals, but not my own. Again, thanks so very much for the apple cider vinegar recommendation. I usually buy organic apple cider for cleaning my fruits and vegetables. Now, we will be sure to ingest it!

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Replied by Sarah
(Los Angeles, Ca)
05/30/2013

Check your dog for a liver shunt or liver issue... High Alkalinity can be a symptom of hyperammonemia, caused by the dog's liver not working (or a liver shunt which means the blood bypasses the liver entirely and isn't filtered). This is seemingly misdiagnosed a lot. Do some online research see if your dog has any other liver symptoms... and then ask your vet for a liver bile acids test...

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Replied by Mini
(Lorain, Ohio)
10/06/2013

Hi,

Please do not feed your dog(s) vegan or vegetarian diet. They do not thrive on that diet and is not healthy for them. They need meat, fat, skin, edible bone and organs (especially liver). Small amounts of fruit and vegetables might be fine but they need pur?ed to break down the cells in order to be digested or it just comes right back out therefore they are not getting the nutrients from them.

Think of wolves in the wild. Primal diet is what they thrive on whether or not humans agree with it or not.

Dogs' needs and digestive tracts are different from humans.

They also need to be on the acidic side so they can digest their food and bone.

Dogs must have meat daily.

I've tried to explain to my family and friends about feeding dogs this way, the way they need. Most can't get past their own way of thinking then their dogs suffer.

Please research raw feeding and primal feeding. That's one way to show your love to your dog.

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Replied by Ellen
(Westerlo, Ny)
10/25/2013

And, this is why human philosophies shouldn't be visited upon dogs, because they are carnivores who are anatomically designed to eat meat, not vegetables and soy! Unusually healthy? Big difference between surviving and thriving.

In response to some of the other reactions (vomiting can be an allergic reaction to vinegar) and doubts, here is something I came across while doing a bit of research on ACV for dogs prior to giving it to them.

Some disagreement
However, not everyone agrees that apple cider vinegar should be given to dogs. Pat McKay, canine nutritionist and author of the natural diet book Reigning Cats and Dogs, doesn't like cider vinegar, and she doesn't mince words; she calls it poison.

“I believe Peter J. D'Amado is on the right track in his book, Eat Right for Your Type,” she says. “Each of the human blood types has an ideal diet, and the diet recommended for type O most closely resembles the meat-based diet on which dogs evolved. D'Amado warns that cider vinegar is very damaging to this type, and I agree with him. I happen to be a type O, and apple cider vinegar has always made me feel miserable. I never knew why until I read his book. I believe dogs have a similar reaction because even small quantities of vinegar can throw their bodies' pH out of balance.”

Marina Zacharias, pet nutritionist and publisher of Natural Rearing newsletter, shares McKay's concern about pH levels. She recommends that owners have their dogs' blood and urine tested before adding cider vinegar to their daily diet.

“If a dog's system is too alkaline, ” she says, “cider vinegar will help, but by itself it may not correct the problem and the dog will need additional support. If the dog's system is too acidic, which is a condition called acidosis, the result can be stress on the pancreas and adrenal organs, which are important regulators of blood pH levels. The symptoms of acidosis range from diarrhea or constipation to low blood pressure, hard stools, and sensitivity of the teeth and mouth. Often we see acidosis in combination with other conditions, such as kidney, liver, and adrenal problems. In certain cases, adding vinegar to a dog's food could aggravate an already-existing problem in the body....”

Source: applecidervinegarhub.org/2013/05/17/apple-cider-vinegar-a-holistic-remedy-for-dogs/

My summary - Do a bit of research about something before ever giving it to your dogs (or kids! ). Have your dog's blood and urine tested to see what his/her pH level is and continue to test it with pH strips - or just do a simple test with them yourself!

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Replied by Theresa
(Mpls., Mn)
10/27/2013

Hey Ellen!

I totally agree: Do research before you play doctor with your dogs [or kids]. The suggestion of PH strips is awesome!!

This was encouraging to read - from the same article you quoted/sourced:

"Are adverse side effects likely? If a dog is allergic to vinegar, he might vomit, scratch furiously, or have a similarly obvious reaction. Although there is much debate on this issue, some believe that vinegar may worsen chronic ear infections.

“You have to apply common sense, ” says Sue Ann Lesser, D.V.M. “Most dogs are notoriously over-alkaline, and cider vinegar will help them. If a dog's system is overly acidic, you'll see clinical signs, such as obvious symptoms of illness. I know quite a few dogs that take cider vinegar according to the directions in Wendy Volhard's book [one teaspoon to one tablespoon twice daily for a 50-pound dog] , and I don't know of any that have had bad results.”

Original Source: http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/2_6/features/5220-1.html

The article goes on with this info on testing and dosing:

Per the book "The Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog", author Wendy Volhard recommends using pH paper strips to check the dog's first morning urine. Readings from 6.2 to 6.5 are normal/healthy and do not warrant supplementation; readings of 7.5 or higher indicate the system is too alkaline: ADV and dietary changes will reestablish the correct balance. Volhard recommends one teaspoon to one tablespoon twice daily for a 50-pound dog.

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Replied by Lilian
(Atco, Nj)
05/12/2014

I had to say something about feeding dogs vegan. Fruit and bread is way too much sugar for a dog, or a human. A diet that is best for a dog is meat. Adding vegan to the meat is fine, but in no way vegan should be a primary food for a dog. There are dogs that do great and live long lives on any food, but those that have problems must be on their natural diets to stay healthy. The answer to a healthy dog is not a veterinarian, but it's natural to a dog or cat diet and chemical free life

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Replied by Om
(Hope, Bc. Canada)
05/12/2014

Lilian from Atco Nj ----

Actually, no, when I was living in South India, I observed how those strong yellow short haired dogs were fed by their owners. Mung beans, cooked and possibly other vegetarian things, again vegan, as dairy would probably not be given to them. But when owned by a responsible owner, they are content, strong and super healthy. They are fed betel leaf for deworming, especially for puppies. Considering the size of fleas in that hot climate, it is amazing how well these dogs looked. Sadly, the strays are another story. As of the present time, animal rescue is also doing some good now but it will take time yet to make a noticeable difference.

I think it is important if a dog is used to meat from puppyhood onwards, it would be best to feed meat. But small amounts with loads of blended veggies and supplements. Dairy and meat is full of poisons these days; one can educate oneself well online about the present state of food the world over. The "vitamins" in pet foods are synthetic and useless for the upkeep of health. Except the animal will eat loads because the body is needing the vital, natural elements which is provided by nature, not by the pet food companies, who know what they are doing.

Namaste, Om

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Replied by Mark
(Uk)
02/26/2015

Claire, you're abusing any carnivore upon whom you force a vegan diet. I don't even think you're well intentioned; I think you're just ignorant. Dogs need a raw diet comprised of muscle flesh, bones, organs, offal, sinew, fur, oils and from a variety of species to be healthy. Wise up.

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Replied by Michelle J
(Monterey)
04/22/2015

Although I concur that giving a dog a Vegan/Veggie diet is wrong, I must say it is a bit hypocritical to bash the woman! Most commercial dog foods have very little protein and are chuck full of fillers... That said, return to nature and eat whole foods

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Replied by Karen
(Virginia)
11/08/2015

Good quality grass fed/organic meats are awesome. I read Dr Pitcairin and Dr Becker's book on holistic feeding. Dogs can not survive well on a vegan or commercial grain dog food. That kind of diet will catch up to them causing health problems down the road. We test our dog's blood every 6 months to make sure we are staying on track. We supplement as well which helps. Thanks for the ph testing suggestions.

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Replied by Deb
(Ontario)
03/19/2016

Your dogs need meat and meaty bones. Some veg and fruit are good but stop the grains. You can be vegan but they are not designed to eat bread. It why they have sharp pointy teeth. The Apple Cider Vinegar is an excellent addition but you are slowly killing your dogs by feeding an inappropriate diet.


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Replied by Deborah
(Norcross Ga)
08/10/2013

Fresh pet made my shih tzu really really sick. I wouldn't recommended it.

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Replied by Bertha
(Woodside)
09/06/2013

Can u please tell me the dosage that u gave Zoe ?? Thanks

Allergies

9 User Reviews
5 star (7) 
  78%
1 star (2) 
  22%

Posted by Wendy (Naugatuck, CT) on 07/13/2009
★☆☆☆☆

My dog had some signs of allergies (runny eyes, flaky skin) that were not helped by the vet's suggestions, so I did a web search and found the "ACV for dogs" site. It sounded like a harmless and potentially helpful remedy, so I tried it. It didn't do a thing for the allergic symptoms, and 3 months later, my (spayed) dog developed a bloody discharge from her urinary tract. Lab tests diagnosed struvite crystals in her bladder, which, the vet said, form when the urine is too alkaline. Some research informed me that apple cider vinegar has an alkalinizing effect in the body! After immediate cessation of the apple cider vinegar and a month of a prescription urinary acidifier, my dog's urine is now testing normal. Naturally, after this experience, I do not recommend apple cider vinegar for dogs.

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Replied by Cmassi
(New York, New York)
08/12/2009

When you add an alkali to something that is acidic, the acidity decreases and the alkalinity increases. I would never, ever give my dog anything on a daily basis (for three months) that changed her body chemistry.

Since most vets are urged to recommend certain brands of food, they are not always the most reliable advisors on the subject. If you haven't already tried eliminating foods with soy, corn and wheat (one at a time) you might find the solution. Soy can cause allergies in animals and people - processed the way it is in the US, it is not a form we should be ingesting.

Have just used a 50/50 mixture of ACV and water applied very small amounts onto two hot spots and it gave my dog immediate relief. Tested a small area on one first to be sure it didn't burn or cause more discomfort than she already had. It has worked wonderfully to give immediate relief. I will see if she shows signs of discomfort before using any more. Thank you!!!

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Replied by Wes
(Kansas City, Mo)
09/21/2009

Regarding Wendy from Naugatuck's comment - vinegar, or acetic acid, is in fact an (weak) acid. If your dog had a struvite crystal blockage, it was due to one of two things - improper diet or not enough water, more likely the former than the latter. Most big-brand foods are absolute garbage and contribute greatly to health problems due to them being nutritionally deficient. The ACV would have had nothing at all to do with the urine being too alkaline and thus developing crystals in the urethra, and in fact would have HELPED the situation by lowering the overall pH of the urine, making it more acidic.

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Replied by Pets Inn
(Pawleys Island, Sc)
06/05/2011
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Wendy,

The ACV works and one should remember everything in moderation. You may have given too much as it is oly 1 tsp for 50 lb dog and one should use it on and off not steady for 3 straight months. Foods have also caused UTI's.

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Replied by Toqueenelisabeth
(Columbia, Sc)
06/13/2011
★★★★★

Crazy fact!

I had heard of and began to utilize the benefits of old school uses with hydrogen peroxide. However, we always use Frontline for our critters. Never had I considered something as simple as ACV for treatment.

Flees and insects thrive in our hot/humid climate as well as allergies. In SC you can treat your pets but they always pick up insects from the outdoors and Frontline is/has been the only effective solution. Unfortunately and to my understanding the insect must get on your pet in order to kill it, thus ending life cycles. Plus if the neighbor does not effectively treat, the problem still surrounds your pet.

After making a comment to a friend about how bad flees seemed this year she said "ACV. " ……Seriously?!

Within a week of occasional use by 50/50 spray on the pets I have seen no indication of flees or itchiness. Makes perfect sense to deter flees from the animal altogether. Right?Our critters may not like the smell or taste but it is a small price "literally" to pay. Once again, thank you Old School!

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Replied by Sal
(Roodepoort, Gauteng, South Africa)
06/22/2011

Hi there

Please can someone assist in explaining how I should use ACV for calluses on elbows and hock joints??? please! Is it good to pour a little ACV into the dogs drinking water? I have two large boerbulls that drink water by the gallon!! Thanks

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Replied by Jyps
(Landing, Nj)
08/18/2011
★★★★★

Depending on the breed my friends dog had crystalized urine also because of all the medication. She did change her dogs diet to raw even though it was hard for her. Her dog ended up doing well with alternative methods. I mention this because apple cider vinegar also works for people.

2 teaspoons in a glass of water. It also kills any kind of worms that a person or pet can have. It should actually be 2 tsps either in their water or food. Once a day. Or every other day. You would need to change your dogs diet.

I think maybe you should read up on what your dog is really eating. There was a veterinary school who actually followed Purina and several other big dog companies and found that they were taking dead dogs and cats out of dumpsters (some that died of cancer or other illnesses) and they grind this into your dogs food.

Your dog is eating sickness and not good food. It even made news here in NJ. Be careful what you feed your dog. Apple cider will help with change of diet. If you can't do raw do an organic or kibble like evo or Abdy which are the better foods out there.

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Replied by Anne
(Marldon, Devon, England)
08/19/2011

Apple Cider Vinegar is the best preventative there is.

I simply cannot believe that there is an ad for Frontline on this page! The main ingredient has been listed as one of the most highly carcinogenic substances ever tested - for humans as well as dogs and cats.

And the newer ones like Advocate and Advantage are full of the chemical that has been most seriously implicated in the disappearance of the bees.

As the old saying goes, "Don't use a cannon to kill a mosquito."

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Replied by Aimee
(Manila, Philippines)
08/23/2011

I plan to try the ACV treatment discussed in this website as a spray option for my 1-year old Golden Retriever's hot spots. Unfortunately, ACV is expensive here in the Philippines.

Has anybody tried using regular white vinegar (in our case, it will be cane vinegar) as a post-bath rinse or preventative spray against ticks or application on hot spots?

Thanks! Any feedback or information would help.

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Replied by Eve
(Toronto, Ontario)
09/03/2011
★★★★★

I use white vinegar on both my dogs and in my home, it is a natural Febreeze, my dogs do not smell like dogs. No odour at all. I bathe my little one in Water and vinegar for any bugs or cuts that might be on her and within 24 hours all problems are solved. ACV works well too but the odour is a little overwhelming.

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Replied by Rey
(Manila, Philippines)
12/23/2011

Aimee, ACV is not that expensive, try choosing other cheaper brands.

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Replied by Leonard
(Global City, Philippines)
01/19/2012

I just bought a bottle today after reading ACV and Yogurt as an alternative treatment for red scaly itchy paw and vulva. It cost 150 pesos/bottle. Equivalent to $3.48 and it is a big bottle. You go to Market Market in Global City.

I will keep you posted on the development. I just did my first spray this evening.

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Replied by Lucy
(Makati, Philippines)
01/20/2012

Aimee, buy vinegar from coconut stands on roadsides they sell by the gallon for PHP 60 same acidity level as ACV. I used it on my dogs for 1 week- now all the hair he lost is back and he doesn't scratch his body anymore.

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Replied by Waves4me
(Los Angeles, Ca)
01/29/2012

Very important fact people!!! Yes ACV is alkalizing to humans and benefits our health. Remember that our body maintains a blood Ph of 7.4

The human digestion system is very different than that of a dog. Their system is much shorter and more acidic. Seriously this is animal nutrition 101. Remember they are mainly carnivores. Check their teeth and then look at yours. DONT give them ACV for extended periods of time.

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Replied by Waves4me
(Los Angeles, Ca)
01/29/2012

Externally fine. Not in their drinking water. Very important fact people!!! Yes ACV, an acid, is very alkalizing to humans after digestion (Think potassium) and benefits our health. Remember that our body maintains a blood Ph of 7.4

The human digestion system is very different than that of a dog. Their system is much shorter. Seriously this is animal nutrition 101. Remember they are mainly carnivores. Check their teeth and then look at yours. DONT give them ACV in drinking water for extended periods of time.

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Replied by Tammy
(Mckinney, Tx)
05/30/2012

In regards to choosing a better quality dog food, what about fresh pet select that is sold in the refrigerated section???

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Replied by Atvchick95
(Muncie, In)
07/23/2012

AVC KILLS THE BAD AND GOOD BACTERIA IN THE GUT rather its human, dog, cat, bird etc. YOU have to use something to replace the GOOD bacteria like a probiotic. Otherwise you'rE tearing the animals gut all to shreds. You do not give this to a animal every day for a long period of time and I think the amounts on this blog is way too much to give to any animal I use it on my parrots about 3xs a year(it cured a tumor on a parakeet I owned in the past) and I only use 1-3 drops max in the water never any more than that.

What I'd recomend using instead is PURE ALOE VERA JUICE can be bought in the pharmacy aisle of most walmarts. It is 100% Natural, safe if ingested - do call a vet to ask how much to give, Like with AVC I only use a few drops in my birds drinking water and their bath water. I've also given it to my dog - it has No odor so they don't know its there

you can also use it on your dog after a bath or even when he/she is dry Just spray some one (you can get small spray bottles at a dollar tree for a buck or even the larger ones) and comb it through .

But I would not use very much AVC at all and not very often either!

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Replied by Jcrply
(Fl)
08/20/2013

Atvchick95 from Muncie recommended giving Aloe Vera to dogs. The ASPCA toxic plants list says that Aloe Vera is toxic to dogs and cats.

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Replied by Ks
(San Jose, California)
10/03/2013

Atvchick95, the intestinal flora (supported by probiotics) is located in the gut. ACV is a prebiotic which supports the intestinal flora to prevent the overgrowth of harmful bacteria. Remember, you have to get the ACV that is unpasteurized containing the "mother" culture.

While ACV is acidic, it has an alkalizing effect when taken internally. Moderation is key and a balance should be obtained.

If you still believe that ACV kills beneficial bacteria, think about it this way, how did the fermentation process work if ACV killed the live cultures?

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Replied by Diamond
(Ma., US)
11/05/2014

RIGHT ON.... I AGREE.


Allergies
Posted by Grace Wahlman (Chester, Illinois, USA) on 08/28/2007
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

After reading about Apple Cider Vinegar as a remedy on your site, I started given it to my Boxer, Peaches, who has had recurring allergies and skin rashes...I noticed a marked improvement in less than a week... I also give it to the Lab, Sadie, just because, and her coat has improved tremendously and she doesn't shed nearly as bad.. I have recommended ACV to many people and 99% have been helped... Thanks so much for posting this info.

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Replied by Lori
(Atco, NJ)
06/30/2008

what did you put the apple cider vinegar in, their food or water??

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Replied by Loana
(New York, New York)
05/25/2009

in regard to treating a dog's itchy skin with vinegar you DO NOT EVER want to use human shampoo on a dog, it is far to harsh and will mess up their skins PH. if you are trying to treat this problem with the vinegar, you do not want to do the opposite with the wrong shampoo, use an all natural sensitive skin hypo allergenic shampoo, for puppies (even on adult dogs) and they should not be bathed more than once a month because their skin is too thin and sensitive completely unlike a persons. the vinegar can be added to a cool bath if they have to be washed more often and just use less shampoo and no more than twice a month. i am a certified Groomer with a cat and dog of my own.

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Replied by Tilly
(Ottumwa, Iowa)
07/29/2009

I bathe my dogs every week!! One is 3 (Zuchon) and one is 6 (Schnoodle)...They have beautiful coats and NO skin problems....They love to be clean...I understand that you are a groomer and go by the book, but it is not always correct.....I use tepid water, good conditioner and let them air dry in warm weather... FYI.....

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Replied by Courtney
(Buffalo, Ny)
02/20/2010
★★★★★

I have to tell you that I am in SHOCK!!!! ACV works!!!! It really works!!!! My poor Zoey is 3 and has been scratching and licking and biting her feet for almost 3 yrs...she has been on EVERY pill there is...every topical there is....has had every test...i have spent THOUSANDS at the vet...tried raw food...NOTHING and i mean NOTHING has worked untill now....i did it last night and omg!!! she is FINE!!!! I cannot beleive what i am seeing!!!! THANK YOU ACV!!!!
Now if i can just get her to stop shaking off she will be perfect!

EC: Hi Courtney, can you please send us more info re: your dosage and recipe? Thanks!

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Replied by Courtney
(Buffalo, Ny)
02/23/2010
★★★★★

I give her 1/4 cup of ORGANIC plain yogurt and when i bathe her I use doggie shampoo and then rinse her with 1/4 ACV-3/4 warm water, I sponge it on to her face and let her air dry.....Every day since then the 1st thing she does when she wakes up is scratch so I spray her with a mix of 1/2 ACV 1/2 water and she is fine, then before bed I spray her again and she is fine...I am also just feeding her kibbles and bits original food. She smells like vinegar REALLY bad but its a small price to pay for her happiness!!

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Replied by Courtney
(Buffalo, Ny)
03/02/2010

I found that bathing Zoey in Aveeno baby cream oatmeal body wash then rinsing her with ACV works wonders I also give her a bowl of organic plain yogurt with a little ACV....she is now 100% better

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Replied by Jeanne
(Hammonton, Nj)
03/09/2011

Please consider changing the food! Kibbles&Bits comes from what is known as the 4D category: Ingredients made with disabled, diseased, dying, or dead animals. Do some research to find a food with acceptable ingredients. They are out there now and are very reasonably priced.

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Replied by Alaturka
(Chiefland, Fl/usa)
05/16/2011

As an Anatolian owner for more than 20 years, I have dealt with all kinds of allergies. Food has definitely seemed to be the most defining cause for most of them. In the last few years, I have found that foods that have no wheat, no corn, no soy and NO by-products are usually the best for your dog. Some of the foods I have found that work best are found at feed and seed stores around the country. Tractor Supply has their own brand "4Health" that I really like, along with "Diamond All Naturals" and "Taste Of The Wild".

Since I started using these foods, my dogs no longer get hot spots, have less shedding, and they eat it on a regular basis (something that doesn't regularly happen with Anatolians). My Anatolians are working livestock guardians that live out in the pasture pretty much 24/7, so it is very important they get really good nutrition. We have one guy that not only works, but also exhibits at Dog Shows... Last year he won our National Specialty and became AKC's First Grand Champion Anatolian. We use ACV diluted 1/4 to rinse his coat when we bathe him to give it extra shine and keep his skin supple. I, myself, take raw ACV every day in my morning vitamin smoothy.

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Replied by Mel
(Cambridge, Minnesota)
09/13/2011

I was reading everyones blogs, and noticed one that said if your dog has yeast problems use white vinegar instead of acv... Does anyone else agree? My dog has chronic ear infections itches all the time and has a bad odor. I want to make sure I use the right vinegar. Any help would be great.

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Replied by Suzanne
(Jackson, Mi)
10/26/2011

I can't speak for the cider remedies but my little german short haired pointer had the same problem took him to the vet and they instantly said looks like a food allergy. Try a food that is corn, soy, and wheat free. It worked- his ears cleared up and he has not had any other problems. I used blue buffalo food and recently switched to diamond.

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Replied by Disel
(Toronto, On, Canada)
11/26/2011

Suzan from Jackson, Mi... Blue buffalo does not contain corn, wheat or soy... diamond does.

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Replied by Lynn
(Childersburg, Alabama)
12/10/2011

Diamond All Naturals does have a variety that doesn't contain corn, wheat or soy. It is the lamb and rice.

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Replied by Sherri
(Houston, Tx)
01/03/2012

Diamond dog food is good, however, they can change from bag to bag. When I adopted my dog, they said that the first 2 ingredients should be protein. I bought Diamond (green bag) with the first 2 ingredients being protein, however, the next time the 2nd ingredient wasn't protein. You have to watch it everytime you buy a new bag.

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Replied by Jen
(Naples, Fl)
01/05/2015

Do u put it in their water?

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Replied by Patricia
(Nevada)
06/23/2015

Be careful with pets and Baking Soda. I read that it is toxic for them to ingest it.

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Replied by Theresa
(Mpls., Mn)
06/24/2015

Hey Patricia!

I give baking soda in water to my dogs [1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon in 1 liter of water] with no harmful effects; the key is to make sure it is fully dissolved and not fizzing before pouring it into their water bowls. The benefit is the alkalizing affect of the baking soda to help balance their PH.

Like anything else - water for example - Baking soda in large quantities can be toxic.

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Replied by Marylou
(Smithville)
06/27/2015

My chihuahua is 4 and has lost most of her hair and scratches until she bleeds. She is miserable and I feel hopeless. She was tested for mange, which was negative. Then tested for an autoimmune disease, also negative. She felt better after having 2 steroid shots, but she gained so much weight and I know the dangers. I am at my wits end . Can you offer any help? Thank you and God bless you, Marylou.

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Replied by Judy
(Baytown,Tx)
07/16/2015

Do you use half water and half apple cider and let them drink it or put it on their hot spots

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Replied by Jhenrald
(Los Baños Laguna, Philippines)
07/08/2016

Hi.. can I you please help me? to solve the skin baby SCARLET (toy, imperial, or princess type) that they all call to my toy breed small shih tzu.. she's 11month old now and she's 1month1/2 pregnant, now my problem is the dry skin or allergie skin of my BABY SCARLET first that I saw it, it's only a little rash and we took to our vet and said that is only a insect bite and after 3days of monitoring of her pregnancy and scratching hear whole body (head, foots, back, chest, tail, and chin)... pity she that I think, then I decided to find here in the google a best solution to help my baby, and I find a AVC so I decide I buy 1bottle to the online seller and I have it now.. and now the problem is how to use it to my baby, where do I start? what is the best procedure to use it to my baby, that's why I made this mail to please you to help me and teach me the best proper way or a beat procedure steps to use the AVC to my pregnant little baby SCARLET (shih tzu).. please help me to help my poor baby..

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Replied by Suseeq
(Sydney, Australia)
07/09/2016

Put half in spray bottle and fill the other half with water. Don't get in eyes and make sure you are giving your baby the best diet, all raw please. Report back as we can look at other remedies.

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Replied by Thuy Tran
(San Diego)
07/11/2016

Hi, You mix 50/50 of ACV and water ( I use bottle of water ) apply on effected areas two, three times a day. if it is not working, you can add few drops of grape fruit seed to mix with ACV& water. It works for my dog. Check the food you feed your dog, she might be allergied to sth Good luck! I hope this can help her.

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Replied by Theresa
(Mpls., Mn)
07/12/2016

Hello Jhenrald,

If this were my prego female I would give her a dip in Ted's Mange Remedy and then monitor results from there. Please do consider that your girl is very young and still a puppy herself; what you are seeing may be demodectic mange, so monitor closely and if you do find it is demodex continue the mange remedy dips to reduce the transmission of mites from mother to newborn pups. Ditto the advice to upgrade the groceries - you want to feed only the best, top quality diet for momma and growing babies.

Please report back!

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Replied by Neil
(Somerset)
03/26/2018

Yes, put about 10ml of apple cider vinegar into each bowlful of water. It is important to use traditionally slow fermented cider vinegar that has been made purely from cider apple juice. So much of the product on the market is made with cull dessert fruit that has been made industrially in about four hours. Traditionally vinegar takes three years to ferment.

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Replied by Jina
(Joliet Illinois)
09/24/2018

So I used it on our dogs our German Shepard is grain free no chicken. Tons allergies, eats his feet licks 24/7. I tried ACV he isn't too happy with me but lord I hope this helps!!!! Any advice would be appreciated


Allergies
Posted by Ann (Victoria, Australia) on 07/28/2007
★★★★★

I used acv after reading about it on the website and my doggie who was suffering from terrible skin problems, started looking so good, her hair was growing , there was no more scratching. She is looking great. All the medications never brought her to full recovery but acv is just great and has done so much good for my doggie.Thank you so much.

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Replied by Wendi
(Port Arthur, TX)
07/01/2008

ACV for pets... I have read that it's used for an after bath treatment and in their drinking water. What type/brand of ACV do you use to treat pets for fleas? Wasn't sure if I needed to purchase from health food store or regular grocer. What is the ratio to add to pet's drinking water? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

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Replied by Joyce
(Joelton, Tn)
07/01/2008
490 posts

Hi there, I don't know if you have Save-a-Lot groceries in Texas or not, but here I can get a gallon of ACV for about $2. At Kroger's it's about the same for a quart of ACV.

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Replied by Roop
(Singapore)
08/21/2008

HELP PLEASE!!!

My dog has got chronic yeast infection under his neck, underarms, inside the thighs.... have taken him to vet so many times...each time the medication is stopped it hits back again....

i m giving him ACV but its not helping.. also in his drinking water i m adding sea salt n baking soda.. after his bath i gave him a rinse with baking soda....i add flaxseed oil to his food as recommended by vet...but that also has limited use

pls pls pls help me ... i donot want to loose my dog... i m in singapore... have spend so much money ...any remedy or dog food... all the dog food have yeast in it.... which one should i give or any home food which can cure my baby.... pls TED if u reading this help me out... thanks in advance

roop

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Replied by W
(USA)
08/22/2008

To Roop from Singapore, Have you tried giving him Probiotics? The antibiotics he was given destroyed the good bacteria and you will need to replace it by giving probiotics for quite a long time (I don't know the dosage). You can also feed him yogurt, maybe even apply yogurt or a probiotic cream topically. Good Luck.

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Replied by Joyce
(Joelton, Tn)
08/23/2008
490 posts

To Roop from Singapore: Hi Roop, MMS is safe for pets also at dosage of 2 drops per 25 lbs, but you might first try a saturated solution of baking soda applied 3 or times per day. I would probably start out with 4 ounces of water for this solution until you decide whether it is working against infection. To make saturated solution of anything just dissolve baking soda or whatever you think will be useful in water until no more will dissolve.

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Replied by Melissa
(Albuquerque, NM)
08/24/2008

Try virgin or extra virgin coconut oil topically and give internally also. Do NOT give the processed coconut oil-only virgin or extra virgin. My dog had serious scabs and skin infections all over his belly 2 years ago. I tried everything but nothing worked consistently until evco. I rubbed it on the spots and started giving him 1 teaspoon a day internally working up to 1 tablespoon a day. His skin got better within a couple of days and continued to improve until the infections went away-about 5 days. I believe evco also has other positive properties.

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Replied by Lisa
(Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
12/02/2008

To Roop: My dog has the same problem with a yeast dermatitis. We don't want to give her chemicals that will further tax her system but so far nothing has worked - - acupuncture, raw diet, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar (stung!), homeopathy and even Chinese herbal medicine. We were told that our family stress might make her worse so we've been trying as much as possible to be more relaxed human beings! We are now trying a system (it's a kit) from the NZYMES company. Many pets have recovered on this program that consists of sodium chlorite added to food and water (and applied topically to skin), plus a tincture of black walnut and olive leaf (yeast killers) added to food, and some antioxidant treats the dog loves. In a few weeks (all is done gradually so the dog's system is not overloaded) we will start with their probiotics and digestive enzymes. A high quality food must be given dogs with a yeast problem, along with regular baths in a medicated (but gentle) shampoo. Lots of play and love are also recommended, in order to keep up the dog's spirits. Patience is needed because a yeast problem can take up to a year to clear, but we have high hopes and will have to keep her on this program (but at a lower dosage) for the rest of her life. But it's natural, safe, and good for her - it's even good for humans. I suggest you go to their website (NZYMES.COM) and order their kit - you have nothing to lose. That's what we thought! On that website they also have a fabric (soft) collar so the dog can't bite her lesions and you don't have to be constantly saying "no, don't do that!". Tell your dog everyday that you love her and that you know she's getting better! They are so connected to us and to our feelings with their 6th sense that it's important for us to let them know we're doing our best to make them better and that we won't abandon them! And don't EVER get angry! It's not the dog's fault. So please take care and I hope this has helped....LISA

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Replied by Janice
(Coloma, Mi)
12/19/2008

I have used the NZYMES on my black lab and they do work. My Lab was on too many anti-biotics and it distroyed her immune system. Now she has chronic yeast problems. The NZYMES did help clear her up. I still give her the treats but not as regularly as I should. Also, it helped to put her on a raw food diet. That was hard to keep up so I feed her Eagle Pack Holistic Formula and throw in some raw meat sometimes.

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Replied by LeeAnn
(Honolulu, Hawaii)
12/29/2008

Hi Roop from Singapore, I did an allergy test on my dog. I found out she is allergic to beef, duck, lamb, soy & yeast. Environmental allergies black ant, fleas, roaches, dust mite, mosquitoes and house fly. Monitor your dog food; we now go to a special store to purchase dog food without these product inside. It cost a lot more but her fur is growing back. The food allergy test helped a lot.

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Replied by L.
(Baltimore, MD, USA)
12/29/2008

Corn is often an allergen. Our dog was smelling badly when he ate pet store-bought foods. We switched to a food called Flint River Ranch (which has no additives or corn) and now he is smelling less and has a shinier coat.

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Replied by Michele
(North Vancouver, British Columbia)
05/11/2009

I feel for you. You must be so scared and sad for your pet. A raw dog food diet will save your dog. It saved my Lab who had such bad allergies she lost her hair. Many people have similar stories of curing most ailments with raw food diet. It ended up being the pond in our yard. Standing water is a horrible culprit.

She is very healthy now. A dog smells and has allergies because of its diet. It's the fillers in the food. I also am convince the meds the vet gives your pet weaken it further. See holistic vets only. I'm convinced many vets get kickbacks for the food and meds they sell. It has been my experience anyway.

Raw food is only a bit more expensive but it costs way less when you include the vet bills

You can always make it yourself too. She still gets itchy paws when she plays in standing water in the warm weather but I spray with acv and it's gone. Her immune system is very healthy now and doesn't suffer. AVC is amazing as indicated above and pests won't be a problem because they can't thrive in an acidic environment.

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Replied by Dmarie
(Lawrenceville, Ga)
07/15/2010

To Roop: Give youghurt for skin disorders. Also helps fungal infections.

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Replied by Rebecca
(Covington, Ky)
10/21/2010

To Roop from Singapore: Try giving your dog the following food: Science diet prescription - Z/D low allergen. This has helped tremendously w/allergies.

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Replied by Rambo's Mum
(Singapore)
02/19/2013

Hi Roop from Singapore, (if you are still reading this). Watch out on the treats as well that contains corn, soy, wheat. You have to eliminate all the above from your to see an improvement.

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Replied by Mardi
(Australia)
08/01/2014

Its hard to see a pets suffering. There is a lot of good information out there. I might also suggest trying colliodial silver as well. I think coconut oil is also amazing to. I have a 17yr old maltese, silky terrier cross. He has had a mitral valve leakage problem since he was 14 and is on metvedin 2.5mgs. We did nearly lose him then but he pulled through. Got back to his hold self and have probably had him on colliodial silver for about nearly 2 years now. He seems still healthy enough and although he is blind now is still having a happy existence. The CS (colliodial Silver) has prevented infections in the mouth which is I think is the base problem for many older pets and is very good on skin conditions and I use a diluted solution to clean his eyes. I give a dosage of about a capful 3-5mls daily in his water. Also a little coconut oil in their food can only help them and is good for rubbing on skin conditions and warts. Hope this helps, above remedies are from my own experiences with my own boy. Regards Mardi

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Replied by Diamond
(Ma., US)
11/05/2014

Here is another surprise I found and I thought it was for one use only.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/156308-castor-oil-home-remedies/

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Replied by Jen
(Naples, Florida)
01/05/2015

What do you do with the Apple Cider Vinegar do you give it to them internally? Put it in their water?

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Replied by Mandy
(Ar)
07/28/2015

What delivery method did u use, and how much and how many times a day? Thanks


Apple Cider Vinegar Dosages

Posted by Stacey (Phoenix, Arizona) on 06/05/2011

I want to start giving my German Shepard some ACV, but I am not sure how much I should give? Does it go in their water, or on their food, or both? And how much ACV do I mix with the water and food? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks!

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Replied by Debbie
(Orchard Park, Ny)
11/18/2011

I found a link to Organic Pet Digest that lists the amounts and benefits.

http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar.html

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Replied by Anita
(St. Augustine, Fl)
03/19/2017

I have a 90 pound female Akita who gets UTI 's regularly. She has been tested for everything but nothing is wrong. How much apple cider vinegar can I put in her food


Apple Cider Vinegar Dosages
Posted by Cindy (York Haven, Pa) on 02/10/2010

Sorry to ask this here but couldn't find a contact area. Could you tell me how much apple cider vinegar I should use for a 4 lb. poodle? I used about 1/8 tsp. & seems to be helping already. Thanks, Cindy

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Replied by Phyllis
(Brick, Nj/usa)
02/02/2011

My yorkie is 5lb, I am going to use the Apple Cider Vinegar to clear up her eye stains.... What dosage shall I use and how often? also when will I see results? thank you so much!!!


Apple Cider Vinegar for Elderly Dogs

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Ray Watson (Uk) on 09/11/2017
★★★★★

Wonderous in its effectiveness.

Easypeasy.....worked a treat with our elderly (16 years) miniature poodle. Only slight problem was that he hated the taste so I added a little honey to 4 teaspoons of Organic Apple Cyder vinegar in 1 litre of purified water then shook it well until it was combined. We gave it as his normal drinking water which he now drinks without any hesitation whenever he goes to it.

We also tried the topical (neck scruff and paws) with the 50/50 ACV/Water dilution but the smell was too strong and we feared damage to the carpets, furniture and bedding. We now apply it only when he is to be confined to his own area and being totally blind that is his portable child's playpen for his own safety.

Recommend this treatment....CERTAINLY and without reservations.


Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

1 User Review
1 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Merlin (New York, US) on 11/19/2014
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Do NOT use apple cider vinegar rinse if your dog has very irritated skin or ANY sores. We used this on our bichon and the dog screamed in pain. I never heard such a terrible noise from an animal, we immediately rinsed with cool water for 10 minutes before he stopped crying.

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Replied by Di
(Lake City Us)
05/09/2015

Very common reaction that most people dont expect and I am very sorry you and your dog endured this. I to learned the hard way... I talked to my grandfather, my native american friend, and my vet and they agreed that sensitive skin is not always linked to sickness or fleas its most common in white animals from kittens to horses, the whiter the hair the higher the sensitivity.

Try these solutions...

1) Never use Apple Cider Vinegar bath or spray after a shave or short groom ( would u use it as after shave? Nope cause it'd burn)

2) Always start with dilluted mix 1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar to 4 quarts of water and spray, sponge, or wash cloth it on. less or more the solution based on results.

3) If it's safe enough for toddlers it's safe for your dog. Try mixing the vineger and water with tear free baby/toddler bath avoid using sweet or fruity scent.

4) Let your dog choose water temp. What's warm for one might be too hot or to cold for another. This is a trail and error task so be patient. Your dog will tell you. I figured out all four of mine are different by taking them to the river. The larger collie n boxador like to swim when the water is just a tad warmer then my body temp, but my boxers they prefer the water temp much much warmer (spoiled girls).

FYI just because your dog shakes doesnt always mean its cold... Hope I helped.

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Replied by Tammy
(Ashley, Pa)
08/10/2015

I have a 25 lb pit. How much ACV should I use in her bath and how ... Do I shampoo her then rinse with an ACV & water mix, then rinse with plain water? How often can I do this, as I don't want to burn her skin? Thanks Tammy

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Replied by Theresa
(Mpls., Mn)
08/11/2015

Hey Tammy!

I use 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water. Shampoo and rinse and then use the vinegar rinse last and do not rinse out. You can do this as often as you need.


Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Jennifer (Mooreland, Indiana) on 09/02/2011

I have started putting ACV in my 11 year old dogs water for arthritis and incontinence. Since she has thrown up about 8 times in two days. Is this vomiting linked to the ACV.

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Replied by Helen
(Melbourne, Victoria Australia)
10/31/2011

First dose of this and my dog hasn't stopped throwing up. I am now getting worried about her, what can I do?

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Replied by Timh
(Louisville, Usa)
11/01/2011
2048 posts

Helen, no expert but will add my two cents. The ACV could have caused a herx reaction and she is throwing off the dead pathogens. This should subside after a few hrs, if not call Vet. After the critical phase, discontinue the ACV and use 3% Hydrogen Peroxide as an alternative. Just a few drops in water bowl will prove benficial for cleansing and detoxing.

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Replied by Blklabchow10yr
(Port Charlotte, Florida, United States)
01/03/2012

My outlook is.... Whenever possible, if there's something you're not sure of, always start with a very small amount & give it a day or so, then maybe try a bit more & give it a day or so, then a bit more, till you get where your trying to get, which is the tablespoonful I'm assuming. Just an opinion. That way, if something's going to happen such as a reaction or it doesn't agree with your pet, it's a very small amount at least, better than the full dose all at once.

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Replied by Stan
(Tucson, Az)
03/13/2012

When using hydrogen peroxide make sure you use "Food Grade" hydrogen peroxide.


Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Kelly (Seattle, WA) on 04/13/2007
★★★★★

Re: ACV for allergies: I gave organic ACV to my dog, and she threw up about 5 minutes later. I only gave her a capful, but she still threw up. It was very white bubbly throw up.

EC: Firstly, ACV should always be very well diluted in water and not given on an empty stomach. Secondly, vomiting is not necessarily a bad thing. In some cases of detoxification or food poisoning, vomiting is exactly what you would want to see.

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Replied by Art
(Newhall, CA)
05/07/2008

my two year old wire fox terrier mix has a hot spot and i have been using acv diluted and witch hazel and wonder if he licks it will he get sick? the hot spot is on his right front paw. thank you all , just found this site and love, been telling everyone about it (and iam a la county paramedic)

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Replied by Joyce
(Joelton,, Tn)
05/08/2008
490 posts

The ACV won't hurt your little doggie, but it might heal faster if you make a saturated solution of Epsom salts in apple cider vinegar. To make saturated solution start wotj 4 ounces and add Epsom salts by the 1/2 teaspoonful until no more will dissolve in the ACV. This will not hurt your doggie and the only unwanted side effect you are likely to get is a little diarrhea if he licks too much of the Epsom salts. I used the same stuff on my daughter(about age 6) when she developed deep lesions that certainly resembled what I had seen on a dog (owner told me it was hot spots). The poor thing had them all over her body and I certainly didn't want my daughter to get that bad. She only had 4 or 5 at the back of her head about an inch above the hair line. I swabbed them out 4 times a day with this and it started improving the second day of use and was healed over in a few days.


Arthritis

4 User Reviews
5 star (4) 
  100%

Posted by Suzy (Owensville, MO, USA) on 06/25/2008

My german shepard is very slow lately and acts like arthritis is just killing her. I have read quite a bit of remedies on your site and i love it and i cannot wait to see if it will work for us. The only problem is, I cannot get Princess, my german shepard, to drink the apple cider vinegar in her drinking water or any other way. I was wondering if you all would have any suggestions on how to get her drink the vinegar and also, how much do i need to give her. Would it be better to put the ACV in a syringe and just put it in the back of her mouth? And if so, how much do i put in the syringe?

EC: Try mixing it in with her food. As a warning -- we used to put a teaspoon of ACV in our dogs' food each night, but stopped when each dog started to get an irritated rump (i.e., anal discharge and lots of licking). Make sure to start with a very low dosage and watch to see if Princess starts licking herself more than usual!

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Replied by Deb
(Pleasant Grove, UT)
09/24/2008

My dog gets ACV every day but sometimes she won't drink it in her water. She is picky. Soo... I just take a little piece of candy cane that she loves, let her sniff it and then let her watch me drop in the bowl of ACV and water. She trys to get around it but eventually to get the candy she laps up all the water. Just like a kid sometimes bribery works.

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Replied by Rachael
(Collingswood, NJ)
03/16/2009
★★★★★

This ACV remedy for arthritis is amazing. Yesterday my dog could barely get up and down. I was really starting to worry. (he's currently in natural healing and the arthritis began during this period). I didn't want him in so much pain but didn't want to thwart his healing process with drugs. I tried two of the suggestions on this page...Apple Cider Vinegar (2 tablespoons of ACV with food); and pure celtic sea salt in his water.

After his first dosage last night, he woke up a new dog today. Seriously, I'm amazed. Thank you sooo much.

Rachael Meehan

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Replied by Diana
(Hazel Crest, Illinois)
04/28/2009

Relative to Rachael's (from Collingswood, NJ 3/16/09) email about her remedy, is the celtic sea salt in water a part of the remedy for arthritis, in addition to the 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar? If so, what are the proportions of sea salt to water and I wonder if dogs have a problem drinking it?

Thanks!

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Replied by Liz
(Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa)
01/24/2012

What dosage of apple cider vinegar should I give a 14 year old daxie with real bad arthritis and in food or water? Please help, my poor baby is permanently on cortisone and dgp, but she still has really bad days, when she won't even get up from her bed.

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Replied by Suzanne
(Glace Bay, Nova Scotia (ns), Canada)
02/09/2012

So Sorry to hear about the pain your fur-child is in, I am in cape breton, N. S. Canada & I swear by glucosamine it is a human vitamin easily bought from any drugstore & it will bring her relief, hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis, this horrible pain hits the larger breeds & older breeds as well. Please do some research on your own about glucosamine so you will be better informed & feel better about giving this to her. Good-Luck


Arthritis
Posted by Wendy (Canada)
★★★★★

My Chocolate Lab Sam has arthritis and was recently attacked by a dog. I had started him on ACV before but forgot sometimes. He has been on it faithfully for the past 3 weeks now and is getting better and better. He is on a raw diet and I just mix it in. For those dog owners who have dogs with failing health I recommend you look at the BARF diet. I wouldn't have believed that a dog who I was told would be dead in 3 months from liver problems would completely turn around due to diet and supplements(including ACV). We are what we eat and so are our pets. It has been 11 months and Sammy is doing great!!

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Replied by Margie
(Warren, Michigan)
06/04/2008

I have an 11 year old Lab/retriever mix. She is suffering from constantly itching, hot spots and has raw spots on her skin from knawing all the time. You mentioned about a "raw" diet - I want to know what that is. She is also suffering big time with arthritis. With the ACV - how much do you give - do you feed it to them - mix it in the food. She is also getting very finicky about eating. Any help I would appreciate it as I am on a very strict budget and can't afford vet bills. ACV seems to be a "cure" all. Thanks.

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Replied by Joyce
(Joelton, Tn)
06/05/2008
490 posts

Hi, Hope your doggie is better. I would put the apple cider vinegar in her drinking water. Start with a teaspoon of ACV to the pint of drinking water, and as she gets used to drinking that increase a little every day or two until you get to about a tablespoon per quart of water. According to Dr. Jarvis and his home remedies that work, it also helps arthritis.

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Replied by Rita
(Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
11/18/2009

Re: dog's itching from environmental/food allergies: my dog absolutely will not drink water or eat food with ACV...I understand there are organic based ACV caplets. Could I use those instead? Would they be as effective as liquid ACV? Thankyou for your posts, everyone! Most helpful!

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Replied by Manny
(Seattle, Wa)
10/01/2010

If your dog won't drink the Apple Cider Vinegar in drinking water, try adding the Apple Cider Vinegar to broth water instead. I make my dogs food (chicken or turkey) and as a result I always have broth available. I freeze it. You can use use store bought but its better to use home cooked without added spices. This is also effective for a dog who gets dehydrated and won't drink water. I also use this broth to cook any of the vegetables or other foods that I give him. I went to home made dog food when our other dog was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Broth water solved a lot of issues for trying to get liquids into my dogs.

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Replied by Airbmac
(Spokane, Wa)
02/10/2011

Hey I found a great way to give my dog ACV, I poured the ACV into a cup and filled a straw with the ACV and measured how many strawfulls made a teaspoon. Then I held her mouth open and poured the strawfull right down her throat. She was not very happy with me, but I know she will be feeling better soon. Also I had tried everything to get her to take the ACV before I had even tried cooking a little bit of bacon to cover the smell and mixing it in with her food.

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Replied by Bld6957
(Sullivan, Illinois, Usa)
07/27/2011

How much do you actually give your dog each day?

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Replied by Tj
(Va)
04/12/2017

Re: Airbmac in Spokane, WA on 02/10/2011: I know this is an old post but if anyone comes across that post they need to know to NOT GIVE THIER PET STRAIGHT APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. Seriously, try that yourself. It's good for you but when you drink it straight IT HURTS because IT BURNS. It can also eat away the lining of the esophagus, which causes immediate acute problems of its own. This is why you are supposed to - and why every direction says to - DILUTE IT. I cannot emphasize enough how much pain you will put your pet in if you are cruel enough to force undiluted ACV down their throat.

Which brings us to another issue. "She was not happy with me" is the understatement of the century and your pet's unhappiness and pain could have been completely avoided. If you give your pet something new you need to research it; find out what it does and how, how to give it, what side effects it can cause, what the right dose is for your pet's weight, age, and even gender. If you do your due diligence, you sometimes find out that something would be bad for your pet in particular, or the side effects are worse than the original problem. In the case of ACV, you'd find out that it hurts when given or taken straight. So obviously no due diligence was done, and this pet owner just decided to give their pet something they heard about on the internet that they didn't research first. Always, ALWAYS do your own research - on everything.

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Replied by Kathleen
(Phoenix AZ)
01/22/2023

Our lab mix is 14 and has been going down hill for the past few months .She's blind now. We haShe still eats etc She's eating mostly like she used to and drinks her water. She can't even walk and has lost at least 50% of her weight.I think she's ying. I hold her 24/7 I'm going RIGHT NOW to get her ACV and will report the results It may be too late.


Arthritis
Posted by Sandi (Rehoboth MA)
★★★★★

I personally use it several times day, it works for different problems. All the dogs (7) are on it, from a disabled dachsie to three young healthy dachsies. It helps with arthritis, ear problems, wounds, itching. Adjust ph levels, prevents uti's. Gives them a healthy skin and also cleans out the bodies, like it does for humans

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Replied by Alice
(Corpus Christi, TX)
11/03/2008

13 year old standard poodle is falling over from arthritis. Also has bad ears. Has gone from 70 to 50 lbs. I don't want to lose him. Please help.

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Replied by Heleen
(Eastbourne, Uk)
01/12/2010

Re arthritis, our black lab Max (11) was diagnosed with severe osteo arthritis and prescribed permanent anti inflammatories. We changed over to raw food diet, which he loves, he gets a homemade cooked vegetable mix with garlic (flea deterrent) ginger (anti inflammatory) and stinging nettles (joint health), cod liver oil and some seaweed. Within 2 weeks he was off the pain killers and when he started his acupucture I felt a bit of fraud for taking him. He has now been signed off for that as well. We are now 8 months on and he is able to run, almost keep up with our whippet pup and is brighter than ever and not a drug in sight. We put him back on ACV after reading this blog (I give it regularly to my chickens as an anti bacterial), just for general health. Mine take it in their drinking water and I have noticed they appear to be drinking more.

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Replied by Katnco
(Palisade, Co)
08/03/2011
★★★★★

My dog is 10 yrs old and has bad hips, I put him on glucosamine and chondroitin a couple months back and that made a big difference, but three days ago I added a cap (not a cup, a cap) of ACV to his water and he didn't seem interested to drink it, so I literally hand fed him some water and he took it. Now for the last two days when he drinks his water, he drinks long. This morning we went for our usual walk by the river and he actually ran! He has not been able to run for 6 months. ACV is working wonders and I did not give him a large dose, just a cap full which is about a teaspoon. Fyi - he is 72 lbs - a big guy. THANK YOU EARTH CLINIC!!!

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Replied by Cindy
(San Francisco, California)
08/28/2011

Hi Heleen,

Good job on giving your dog healthy supplements, the only thing I would change would be replacing the cod liver oil with a whole fish oil. As you know, the job of the liver is to rid the body of toxins. Giving cod liver oil increases the risk of toxins in your dogs diet, depending on the toxins in the liver of the fish. And maybe give a probiotic. If the dog has ever been on an anti-biotic (or a human for that matter), they kill ALL the bacteria in the stamache, the bad ones AND the good ones. They DO NOT "grow" back on their own, they need to be replaced. These are found in milk, yoghurt & cheese products. By giving probiotics, you are promoting a healthy flora in the digestive system, and there by promoting a healthier system in general. Up to 80 per cent of our immune systems are based on our digestive tracts. I have worked for 4 years in the healthy food industry, and off and on for nearly 20 years for a reputable, proffesional dog groomer.

Keep up the good work!

Good luck!

Cindy (San Francisco, Ca.)

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Replied by Alicia Crow
(Cheney, Wa)
05/20/2014

My dog has calcium deposits in her spine. She is on Rimadyl. Little Sadie is a 3 year old Doxie. I don't want to keep her on meds and vet says only other option is surgery. I was curious if apple cider vinegar would benefit her and if so how much do I give her. Thanks, Alicia

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Replied by Theresa
(Mpls., Mn)
05/20/2014

Hey Alicia!

EC's page on arthritis suggests this:

Apple Cider Vinegar Treatment for Arthritis

Home Remedy Ingredients

  • Apple Cider Vinegar - 2 teaspoons up to 1/4 cup
  • Filtered Water - 32 Oz
  • Honey (optional)

Mix as much as a quarter-cup of unpasteurized apple cider vinegar into 32oz of water (start with a tablespoon of ACV, then increase slowly day by day). Optionally, add a natural sweetener. Try sipping this ACV tonic throughout the day for a constant alkalizing effect.

Source: https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/arthritis.html

You may also benefit from reading up on dealing with arthritis in your doxie:

**Lots of info here**:http://www.2ndchance.info/arthritis2.htm

You might also consider a synovi supplement - google for sources "SynoviG3".

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Replied by Jody
(Atlanta, Georgia)
09/05/2016

I give mine filtered water, chilled. I started with 1 teaspoon in a gallon and worked up to 1 tablespoon. I have a 7 month old GSD with hip dysplasia.I love AVC for so many things.

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Replied by Richard
(Utica Ny)
04/27/2017

How is your pup doing now? How long can you do this dosage and frequency length of time also. Thank you - any help would be appreciated.

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Replied by Christine
(Florida)
08/03/2018

What type of glucosamine is best for dogs, liquid or pills, and what brand?


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Replied by Debi
(Irvine)
07/19/2013

Hello. I wondered of you could tell me exactly what you did for your dog's allergies. I feel my dogs are also over vaccinated and one of them is on Atopica for his allergies. I know that will destroy his liver. He never stops scratching unless he is on this pill every day. Yorkie dog 6 lbs. Thanks


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