GARLIC: IS IT SAFE?

Garlic is a valued medicinal and nutritional food that's been used in humans for hundreds of years. It detoxifies, it’s a prebiotic that feeds beneficial gut bacteria, it supports the liver and it’s an antioxidant. Garlic is also a natural antibiotic that fights giardia just as well as prescription antibiotics. And it does this without the harmful side effects of drugs.

Given the established health benefits in humans, why are so many dog owners afraid to give their dogs garlic?

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DOSE

In 2000, a team of researchers did a small study on four dogs for one week. Each dog had 5g of garlic extract per kg of body weight injected into their stomachs.

The goal of the study was to induce Heinz body hemolytic anemia, which damages the red blood cells of the dogs.

The researchers did see changes in the red blood cells, although they didn’t see any overt signs of disease. Yet the researchers warned dog owners about feeding garlic.

The problem with the study is the amount of garlic used. The studied amount is the equivalent of 10.5 oz of garlic extract for a 60 lb dog, which is the same amount of 4 or 5 full heads of garlic.

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

Unperturbed by this research, a new group of researchers looked at the potential health benefits of garlic for dogs. This time they found the dogs eating garlic had a lot more Nrf2 activation, which reduces systemic inflammation. This study used a much more realistic dose of 3g in total, which is equivalent to a single clove for a 75 pound dog.

Another 2006 study established the safe dose of garlic as 0.1 to 0.25 g/kg of body weight per day. They found that 0.5g/kg or higher induced liver damage in rats.

HOW MUCH GARLIC CAN DOGS HAVE?

So it’s perfectly safe to give your dog garlic if you give about a teaspoon of garlic or 1 clove for every 30 lbs of body weight.

There are just a couple of cautions. Young puppies don’t make a lot of red blood cells so it’s best to not to give them garlic. Don't give garlic to pregnant dogs, or some breeds like Shiba Inu and Akitas who are sensitive to substances in garlic. And if your dog is on any meds, check with your vet, because garlic can affect blood clotting.

Rita Hogan