Apple cider vinegar for dogs is like an untapped resource.
For thousands of years, it has played an important role in cooking and as a natural medicine for humans. In humans, it has shown health benefits like improvement in blood sugar levels, reduction in cancer and heart disease risk as well as indigestion relief. However, this staple ingredient has also been shown to have many benefits in dog health.
In this blog post, I will discuss 17 amazing benefits of this natural remedy for dogs. If you are interested to know more about dog care, please subscribe to the blog so that I can send you the latest articles directly in your inbox.
Before you start: apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a kitchen staple, not a medicine. Diluted, it’s fine as a rinse or cleaner and in small amounts in food, but there’s little scientific evidence for most of the health claims below. Never use ACV to treat an ear infection, a urinary tract infection, ticks or a wound. These need your vet. Always dilute it, keep it away from your dog’s eyes, and don’t use it if your dog has kidney disease or broken skin.
Topics covered in this blog post
What is Apple cider vinegar?
As you must have understood from the name, Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting apples along with yeast and sugar. The yeast turns the sugar into alcohol in a process known as fermentation. Bacteria further convert the alcohol into acetic acid. This acetic acid provides the vinegar with a sour taste and a strong smell. It is slightly acidic with a pH of 3.1 to 5. According to the FDA, Apple cider vinegar contains traces amounts of minerals and vitamins except for potassium (about 11 mg of potassium in 1 tablespoon).
Why should you use Apple cider vinegar for dogs?
Just like humans, Apple cider vinegar has shown numerous health benefits in the case of dogs. However, most of these benefits have not been scientifically proven so far. The health benefits mentioned here are a collation of individual experiences of dog guardians who have used Apple cider vinegar for their pups and found it beneficial.
Apple cider vinegar for dogs: benefits
Apple cider vinegar for dog wounds:
Dogs play rough and almost always have scrapes and small wounds to prove it. Don’t put apple cider vinegar on wounds. It stings, and it isn’t a wound disinfectant. Clean minor scrapes with plain water or saline and ask your vet about anything deeper.
Apple cider vinegar for dogs itchy skin:
Apple cider vinegar has been known to reduce itchiness in dogs due to its inherent detoxifying properties. Dogs suffering from seasonal allergies or fleas which lead to itchy skin can get instant relief if apple cider vinegar is used in the conditioner post-bath.
If you decide to use Apple cider vinegar for dogs skin, do a 24-hour spot test before. To conduct this test, spray or apply some diluted Apple cider vinegar to a spot on your dog’s body and leave it for 24 hours. If your dog does not develop irritation, redness, or vomiting within 24 hours, then your dog is not sensitive to Apple cider vinegar and can be used on your dog’s skin.
Apple cider vinegar for a good quality dog coat
You can also use the 50-50 Apple cider vinegar-water mixture before you shampoo your dog to achieve a good coat quality. You can add 2 tablespoons of ACV to a quart of water and apply it to your dog once the shampooing is done. Do not rinse this off. This will provide an added benefit towards long-lasting shine as well as for repelling pests.
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Apple cider vinegar for dogs fleas:
The smell and taste of Apple cider vinegar provide an unpleasant environment that is not favorable as a flea habitat. For this, make a 50:50 solution of Apple cider vinegar: water and spray it on your dog’s fur. Always use it diluted, even on flea hot spots like the tail base, armpits and behind the ears.
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Apple cider vinegar for dogs ticks:
Mix 8 oz of Apple cider vinegar with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp baking soda. Transfer this mixture into a spray bottle. Add 4 oz of warm water slowly to the mixture. Store the bottle in a cool and dry space. Some dog parents spray this on their dog’s coat as an extra deterrent, but it does not replace a proper tick preventive or removing attached ticks.
Note: a vinegar spray won’t reliably keep ticks off, and ticks can spread diseases like Lyme disease. Use a vet-recommended tick preventive year-round, check your dog after walks, and remove any attached tick properly. Here’s how to remove a tick safely.
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Apple cider vinegar for dogs ears:
Apple cider vinegar helps dog’s ears by re-balancing the pH. Apple cider vinegar can be used internally or topically for dog’s ears. Some people use diluted apple cider vinegar to clean healthy ears. It should not be used to treat ear infections.
A lot of dogs suffering from skin allergies tend to develop ear infections. In a healthy ear, a diluted rinse may help with cleaning, but a vet-recommended ear cleaner is the safer choice. If you plan to use Apple cider vinegar on your dog’s ears, never use it on open or raw wounds since it will sting. Always dilute the Apple cider vinegar with water till you achieve a 50-50 ratio before using it on your pup.
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If your dog’s ear is red, smelly, painful or has discharge, skip the vinegar and see your vet. Vinegar can sting and irritate an inflamed ear, and if the eardrum is damaged, things put in the ear can harm hearing. Your vet will check the eardrum and give you the right medicine. Read more in my guide to dog ear infections.
Apple cider vinegar as a preventer and natural remedy for ear infection:
A mix of apple cider vinegar and water-soaked cotton can be used to clean ears and keep infections at bay. If your dog already has an ear infection or ear mites, don’t use vinegar. An inflamed ear needs a vet check and prescribed ear medication.
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Apple cider vinegar-based ear cleaners
This is one of the simplest ear cleaner recipes. Pour half a quantity of purified water and half a quantity of Apple cider vinegar in a bottle. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and wipe your dog’s ears. Continue wiping till there is no more dirt or gunk coming out from the ear. Do not pour the mixture into the ear canal.
If Apple cider vinegar reaches the middle ear, it can cause diseases like exacerbation of the middle ear or vestibular disease. If you notice your dog reacting sensitively towards the Apple cider vinegar solution, do not use it on your dog’s ears and immediately seek veterinary help.
Apple cider vinegar to soothe irritated dog paws:
Walks on rough roads, hot pavement, sandy beaches or even just a long walk can cause abrasions on your puppy’s paws. You can either dip your dog’s paws or spray them with diluted apple cider vinegar.
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Apple cider vinegar for dogs: improves digestion:
According to natural dog health remedies, apple cider vinegar can prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and viruses while maintaining the acidity of the stomach.
Apple cider vinegar is acidic and has a pH of 3.1 to 5. If your dog has a stomach pH that is within this range, he or she may not benefit from the oral ingestion of ACV. The optimal range of pH for a dog should be 6 to 6.5 in urine samples and just a little over 7 in the blood samples.
How to check the dog’s pH?
You can check your dog’s PH by using urine test strips available at human health pharmacy stores. You can either check the pH in order to determine what your pup’s natural body pH is or you can use this test before and after administering Apple cider vinegar to check if your pup is responding positively towards the use of this concoction.
Most dogs are used to high protein diets. However, a lot of commercial dog diets have more grain in them than protein. This causes the dog’s digestive system to become alkaline in which case the pH goes higher than seven. If your dog’s digestive pH goes above the optimal range, it can lead to diseases like allergies, bladder stones, urinary crystals, vomiting, or diarrhea. If your dog has a pH beyond the optimum pH range or if your dog consumes a lot of fiber, Apple cider vinegar can be of definite help to your pooch. ACV will bring down your dog’s pH to a healthy range and will promote digestion by increasing the acid in the stomach which is needed to break down carbohydrates, proteins as well as fats present in the food.
If your dog has digestive issues like excessive burping or gas, using the liquid Apple cider vinegar is best. If you’d like to try it, start with no more than 1 teaspoon, diluted in water or food, once a day for a medium-sized dog (less for small dogs), and always leave a bowl of plain water too. If you decide to add ACV to your dog’s water, make sure there is a clean water bowl available in case your dog finds Apple cider vinegar’s taste uncomfortable. Never give undiluted apple cider vinegar to your dog.
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Apple cider vinegar as a treatment for dog diarrhea:
Apple cider vinegar has the ability to balance the digestive enzymes in your dog’s stomach which makes it a great candidate for healing an upset tummy.
As per natural dog health remedies, apple cider vinegar is in the running as the go-to remedy for intestinal gas, constipation as well as food poisoning. It has also been observed to cause a reduction in fecal odors.
Apple cider vinegar for UTI relief in dogs:
See your vet first if you think your dog has a UTI (peeing often, straining, accidents, blood in the urine). Your vet will test the urine and may prescribe antibiotics. A dog straining with little or no urine coming out may have a blockage and needs a vet immediately.
Apple cider vinegar for dog’s healthy joints:
There’s no good evidence that apple cider vinegar helps hip dysplasia or arthritis. Talk to your vet about proven options.
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Apple cider vinegar to relieve muscle ache and soreness:
Apple cider vinegar has anti-inflammatory properties which promote the reduction in muscle pain as well as inflammation. The cooling effect of the same helps to soothe and relax the muscles.
In case of muscle strain or sore muscles, apply an apple cider vinegar compress to the affected region for 5 minutes. Do this 2 to 3 times a day. You can warm the solution a little bit for added benefit.
Apple cider vinegar to clean your dog’s regular use stuff:
Diluted apple cider vinegar (1 part vinegar to 1 part water) can be used to wipe down your dog’s crate and hard surfaces. Use it on its own, never mixed with other cleaners, and rinse and dry before your dog uses them again.
Important: never mix vinegar with hydrogen peroxide (or with bleach) in the same bottle. Vinegar plus hydrogen peroxide forms peracetic acid, which is corrosive and irritates skin, eyes and lungs. Vinegar plus bleach releases chlorine gas. Use one cleaner at a time, rinse, and let your dog’s bedding dry fully before they use it.
Apple cider vinegar to sanitize your dog’s laundry and toys:
Add a small amount of Apple cider vinegar to your detergent when doing your dog’s laundry. It will sanitize as well as freshen up the clothing and sweaters.
Bonus tip: Every toy your dog owns goes into his mouth. Wipe down the toys with Apple cider vinegar to remove the germs and keep them squeaky clean.
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Long-term benefits of Apple cider vinegar for dogs:
There’s no good evidence that apple cider vinegar prevents kidney infections, bladder stones or UTIs.
Effect on cancer and diabetes:
There’s no evidence that apple cider vinegar treats cancer or diabetes in dogs. If your dog has either, follow your vet’s treatment plan.
Is Apple cider vinegar bad for dogs?
As per Dr Cailin Heinze (Assistant professor of nutrition at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University), one or 2 teaspoons of Apple cider vinegar diluted with water is unlikely to have any negative effect on the health of your pup. In case more than 2 teaspoons or if undiluted Apple cider vinegar is fed, it may cause problems in dogs who are not completely healthy.
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Precaution when using Apple cider vinegar
Precautions to take when using Apple cider vinegar topically:
- When using Apple cider vinegar, be very careful to not spray or bring the vinegar in contact with your dog’s nose, mouth, or eyes.
- It’s preferable to use a sponge when applying topically so that you can avoid the aforementioned high-risk regions.
- Never use apple cider vinegar on open wounds. This will put your pup in an incredible amount of pain.
- Consider talking to your vet before applying Apple cider vinegar on your dog if he/she has broken skin.
Precautions to take when feeding Apple cider vinegar:
Never feed undiluted apple cider vinegar to your pup. It can burn his/her oesophagus and stomach.
An undiluted version of Apple cider vinegar can cause harmful effects on the tooth enamel of your pooch.
When to not use Apple cider vinegar?
The use of Apple cider vinegar is not recommended for canines suffering from kidney disease. This is because the acid of the Apple cider vinegar could be harmful. Also, if your pooch does not seem inclined towards treats or foods containing Apple cider vinegar or is suffering from an upset stomach, don’t provide him/her with Apple cider vinegar.
Which Apple cider vinegar to use for my dog?
Organic raw or unfiltered apple cider vinegar is the best one to use for your pooch. Unfiltered apple cider vinegar generally comes with the mother i.e. the cloud of bacteria and yeast which played a role in the fermentation process. This ‘mother’ adds to the probiotic factor of apple cider vinegar which increases its healthy quotient for your dog.
Apple cider vinegar is available in many forms which range from the liquid version all the way to topical sprays, capsules as well as wipes. If you decide to use apple cider vinegar for dogs, go for either the homemade sprays or the liquid version depending on your need. Do not go for the capsules or human wipes since they may contain ingredients that might be toxic to your pup like xylitol.
Alternatives for Apple cider vinegar in dogs:
If your dog has an allergic reaction towards apple cider vinegar or vomits after ingesting apple cider vinegar, discontinue its use immediately. There are other natural alternatives to apple cider vinegar like coconut oil. Read about the benefits of coconut oil for your dog (topical as well as dietary) here.
Caution:
Before adding apple cider vinegar to your dog’s diet, consult your vet. As all remedies mentioned here are on an observation basis, there is no scientific information sheet about the risks and benefits of the same.
Conclusion:
Apple cider vinegar has some handy uses for dogs, from coat rinses to cleaning. However, before you add any new ingredient to your dog’s diet or water, make sure to consult your vet.
Have you given your pup apple cider vinegar? If yes, then for what purpose? And how was the experience? Let me know in the comment section. Also, if you have any specific questions about dog care, drop them in the comments and I will be sure to address them soon.
I would like to thank you for taking the time off and reading this blog post and also for taking such amazing care of your dog.
See you in my next blog post
Shruti
