The world of animal companions has diversified greatly over the years. However, cats and dogs still remain the quintessential pets. While the nature of both animals is completely different, they need similar basic care: Adequate food, companionship and affection, following the appropriate vaccination guides and regular veterinary checks.
Both dogs and cats are at risk of infestation by parasites - internal and external - which must be spotted as soon as possible and treated properly as it can lead to various complications. Increasingly, owners are seeking natural remedies that can help these situations. For this reason, in this AnimalWised article we will talk about using garlic to deworm dogs and cats.
Is garlic toxic?
Garlic is generally considered as a forbidden food for dogs, and in fact it's also a forbidden food for cats. However, if you've done a bit of research, you'll find that it is one of the most recommended foods to treat a variety of illnesses in our pets.
Which information is correct?
The truth is that garlic contains a toxic component called n-propyl disulphide, which in high concentrations can damage your pet's body cells and end up causing a severe type of anemia.
In 2006, the Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, at the University of Zurich, found that the toxic dose of garlic is 5 grams per kilo of body weight. Given that a garlic clove can weigh 2 to 3 grams, a Pekingese dog breed shouldn't ingest more than 5 cloves of garlic a day as the anemia, caused by the substance mentioned above, could occur.
We can conclude that moderate and rational consumption of garlic is not toxic to your pets.
Properties of garlic to deworm your pets
Garlic is is an excellent medicinal food: Not only does it have many beneficial properties for ourselves, but also for our pets. Garlic is an antibiotic and a platelet aggregation inhibitor, and it protects the cardiovascular system and stimulates the body's defenses.
This article will highlight the use of garlic as an anthelmintic, that is, it acts against intestinal parasites. This is because it provides antibacterial qualities in the gastrointestinal tract. Garlic acts as a digestive tonic, purifies the blood and helps the body to get rid of waste substances. It also helps immune system response and prevents new occurrences of intestinal parasites.
How to use garlic to deworm dogs or cats
The best way is to administer garlic naturally through ingestion, simply by finely chopping the garlic and mixing it with your pet's usual food.
Take into account the recommendation from the Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Zurich: The recommended dose of garlic is 4 grams per day, however, the weight of each animal must always be taken into consideration.
To treat intestinal parasites naturally, mix 1 to 2 garlic cloves with food and continue this treatment for a minimum period of one week.
Deworming as a precaution
It is important to be aware of the various home remedies for deworming your cat or dog; however, it is even more important to prevent this type of condition.
Both the cat and the dog need frequent preventive deworming. This becomes even more important if your pet has frequent contact with the outside. If you want the preventive deworming of your pet to also be done with natural remedies, you should rely on the judgment of a professional and see a holistic vet.
This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to Using Garlic to Deworm Cats and Dogs, we recommend you visit our De-worming category.