Using vinegar on an everyday level is healthy for humans. If your diet is mainly based on plants, or you love to eat salads every day, your home is probably loaded with vinegar.
Some people love vinegar so much that they even claim how vinegar makes their food more delicious. Moreover, many are ready to list vinegar benefits in no time.
So, vinegar is suitable for your diet. However, is it equally beneficial for your canine as well?
Can Dogs Eat Vinegar?
Long story short, yes. However, there are some parameters that you should take into consideration. First of all, it’s not allowed for dogs to drink it.
Secondly, you will need to find a specific kind of vinegar. Thirdly, it must always be served in minimal amounts. Now, let’s see what the vinegar benefits for your dog are.
Vinegar Benefits For Your Dog
Vinegar can provide some nutritional benefits to your dog. If you add some vinegar in his water or food, it can help boost his appetite. Moreover, it can support his digestion and serve as an aid in stimulating bacterias that foster the breakdown of fats and proteins.
It also brings more minerals and vitamins in the existing dog’s food. Actually, it can extract more of the valuable vitamins and minerals. For example, apple vinegar is great for your dog’s immune system. Furthermore, it can balance your dog’s body PH level.
As you probably know, proper PH balance is essential in dogs, as it’s always linked with your dog’s overall health.
Vinegar also serves as a detoxifying agent, and it helps to cleanse internal organs, such as bladder, kidney, and liver, enabling them to function better.
Finally, as a result, your dog will have an easier time combating environmental toxins, such as grass fertilizer, road salt, and even chemically infused household cleaners.
Vinegar Benefits Listed In A Nutshell:
- Contains potassium
- Contains magnesium
- Contains iron
- Breaks down proteins and fats
- Boost’s dog’s immune system
- Detox internal organs
- Can relieve pain, such as muscle soreness or hot spots
Could Vinegar Be Harmful To Your Dog?
This works just like in humans. If you overeat your favorite food, you will get sick, or experience some stomach trouble. The same goes for dogs.
Even if they eat the safest food for the, but eat in enormous size, they will experience some health issues. Moreover, they will experience diarrhea or any other gastrointestinal disorder. If a dog eats too much of hard food, he may even experience bloody diarrhea.
Basically, just like anything else, vinegar can be harmful if not used properly. This means that vinegar should be used as a dietary supplement for your dog, and not a portion of liquid food.
Once again: never serve your dog plain vinegar.
Further in the article, we will discuss how you should vinegar to your canine. Bear in mind that some canine nutrition claims that vinegar is a poison. So, it can’t harm to talk with your veterinarian about using vinegar as a dietary supplement.
Every dog is different. So, one dog may love watermelon, others may dislike it and prefer french fries instead.
There are no two identical dogs since every dog is an individual. Therefore, some dogs may have an allergic reaction to white vinegar or apple vinegar.
The biggest concern about dog and vinegar is if he will upset his stomach. If this happens, the dog may become gassy, itchy, or experience diarrhea. So, is vinegar, harmful to dogs? It could be.
So, we strongly encourage you to consult with your dog’s veterinarian regarding any changes you blend into his diet. Be sure that whatever your dog eats is appropriate for him, and make sure that vinegar doesn’t interfere with any troublesome medical conditions, including medications.
Safety Tips When Keeping Vinegar Around Dogs
Before we explain how you should serve vinegar to your dog, you should know some things when it comes to safety. That being said, mind these safety tips:
- Store well. Make sure that your dog cannot access vinegar.
- Train your dog to stay away from the forbidden area. Moreover, train your dog to stay away from vinegar area.
- Only use dog-approved vinegar to your dog’s diet.
- Never, never, never free-feed your dog vinegar.
- Plan vinegar usage with your veterinarian.
How Much Vinegar Should My Dog Have?
If you want to incorporate vinegar in your dog’s diet, you should start small. Start by adding 1 tsp to 2 tsp (this may vary depending on the size of your dog) to his water.
From there, you should observe him very carefully. React immediately if you notice any stress or unusual behavior. This small amount of vinegar should boost his immune system and also keep away mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
Bear in mind that you should always keep a separate bowl or clean drinking water. This may come in handy if the scent or even the taste appeal to him. So, how to serve vinegar to your dog?
Serving Ideas
Dogs can enjoy vinegar only when it’s served right. So, to bring the best values to your dog, make sure to serve vinegar:
- In the water bowl. Don’t forget to start small, by adding just a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Always have an extra water bowl of clean water.
- Sprinkle vinegar over dog’s food.
- Use vinegar as a homemade spray. Mix vinegar with water and spray your dog’s fur to keep fleas away. This can be done before hiking or a long walk in the woods. All in, a homemade spray made of vinegar is great as a natural remedy for fleas.
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The Bottom Line
So, if you are still wondering if your dog should try vinegar, the answer is – yes. However, be honest and sure that your dogs don’t have any underlying problem or allergy to vinegar.
The truth is that vinegar is rich in various vitamins and minerals, but it doesn’t mean that your dog will react well to it. However, if your dog likes it, use vinegar in moderation, and always mix with food or water.
You can mix it with dry food, wet food, and even raw food.
Frequently Asked Questions On Vinegar And Dogs
1. Is Vinegar Harmful For Dogs?
Apple cider vinegar is, in general, made just from apples and water. If the manufacturers are true to this formula, you have nothing to worry about. Your dog will be safe if you sprinkle some vinegar over his food or mixed a tablespoon into his water.
When mixed right, vinegar can boost a dog’s immune system, and soothe a dog’s alkalized digestive tract. Start small! Add just one teaspoon to your dog’s water bowl and see if he will drink it.
2. Do Dogs Like Vinegar?
Vinegar comes with a strong smell. Moreover, if you ever tasted plain vinegar, you probably remember how awful the taste was. This is how your canine would react to vinegar.
Therefore, it’s essential to start small, and only use a tablespoon when mixing vinegar with dog food.
3. How Much Apple Cider Vinegar Should I Give My Dog?
There are still pros and cons of introducing vinegar to dogs. However, when it comes to the perfect measure, you should mix one teaspoon or one tablespoon per 50 pounds of body weight.
4. Can I Wash My Dog With Vinegar?
Long story short, yes. You can mix vinegar and water and give your dog a final rinse with this natural solution. This should lead to a soft and shiny coat.
You can even, from time to time, use this mix to clean the dog’s paws or even clean ears. However, this is something that you should talk with your veterinarian about.
5. Does Vinegar Get Rid Of Dog Smell?
It’s proven that vinegar actually neutralizes odors. So, if your pet smells funny, or he steps into something bad, you can use basic household vinegar to remove the smell.
You can even spray your home with vinegar and refresh the area. Even after the bath, you give your dog a great rinse to minimize wet fur smell. In general, vinegar is great to clean stains and odors, safely and quickly.
That’s why so many people use it to clean their home, especially in a mix with lemon.
