Benefits of Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar for your Dog
- Alleviates itching
- A natural flea repellent
- Relieves or prevents arthritis
- Improves digestion
- Helps improve diarrhea episodes and can fix constipation with regular use
- Reduces hock and elbow calluses
- Acts as a urinary system tonic, clears urinary tract infections, and prevents the formation of kidney and bladder stones
- Balances the pH levels
- Improves the growth and condition of fur and hair
- Clears the skin of bacterial and fungal infections
- Reduces skin flaking and dander
- Makes one less attractive to biting insects
- Helps prevent food poisoning
- Acts as a natural antibiotic by interrupting the development of infectious bacterial and viral diseases
- Relieves muscle fatigue
- Improves ability to adapt to cold temperatures
- When applied diluted to the ears, clears and prevents ear infections
- A natural preservative for your pooches raw veg & fruit food
- Removes some chemicals from fruit & veg (Directions: fill sink or bowl with water and add 1 cup of ACV, soak fruit for 10 mins. Water will be dirty & fruit will sparkle with no wax or dirty film)
Dosage / Application:
- Small-Medium dogs: Add a teaspoon to food or water 2-4 times per week
- Large dogs: Add a tablespoon to food or water 2-4 times per week
- Make up a rinse - dilute with water 50:50 and rinse thoroughly through coat after your dogs normal shampoo & conditioner. The bathing drowns the adult fleas and the AVC rinse removes them as they can’t handle the odour or taste.
Homemade Itchy Yeasty Dog Spray
This body rinse can be useful to restore skin pH, soothe itchy skin, calm rashes and welts, and has some added benefits for keeping biting flies, fleas and gnats at bay.
After bathing, apply a warm water/apple cider vinegar rinse to your animal friend’s coat/skin.
Rinse well or allow the apple cider vinegar mix to air dry for the added benefit of bug relief.
Mix the following ingredients together in an aroma-safe bottle/jar with cap and shake well before use:
- Apple Cider Vinegar: 1/2 cup
- Brewed Green Tea (cooled): 1/2 cup
- Distilled Water: 1 cup
Apply to clean skin and coat, massage, rinse, pat dry.
This blend mixture can also be pre-made and kept in a glass jar or spray bottle in the refrigerator (for approximately one or two weeks – discard if moldy), and used for spot treatments for bug bites and stings.
Double the recipe for a larger dog.
Visual courtesy of Rodney Habib & Dogs Naturally Magazine;
How to use Apple Cider Vinegar for Dogs
- Understand the properties of apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is a product filled with minerals and essential vitamins, including magnesium, potassium and iron; many humans make use of its properties daily to improve digestion, baking, cleaning and general health. The best apple cider vinegar is fermented and unfiltered because it has “the mother” (a stringy substance) which contains the most enzymes and minerals.
- Don’t be concerned with how your dog will see apple cider vinegar. Sure, there is an odour but you won’t be spooning this down the dog’s throat; the remedies suggested here are suitable for adding to food or water.
- Keep your dog healthy with apple cider vinegar. Regular use of apple cider vinegar in your dog’s diet can help prevent skin rashes, skin irritation, tooth decay, infections and tear stains. The best way to give apple cider vinegar is to dilute it well in water or food and to ensure that it is only given when your dog ha eaten already (to avoid a potential for upset). A teaspoon added to water or food 2-3 times a week should suffice as a preventative measure.
- Use ACV to aid yours dog’s digestion. Add a teaspoon to a large bowl of water daily. This will increase your dog’s appetite, as well as balancing the pH levels of your dog’s body. ACV will help improve diarrhea episodes and can fix constipation in a dog with repeated use.
- Use ACV to remove fleas from your dog. Bathe your dog with your normal shampoo and conditioner. Follow with a 50:50 rinse of ACV and water. Make sure to work it through the coat evenly to cover all points. The shampoo or soap suffocates the fleas and the ACV removes them from the dog’s coat, as they can’t handle the odour or taste.
- Improve your dog’s skin and coat. ACV works well for both the skin and coat of your dog. Dry skin and irritated skin both respond well to ACV applied directly. Brush the vinegar through the dog’s coat; not only does this improve the shine but also deodorizes the dog! For skin care improvements, add a teaspoon a day to water or food.