Can I put apple cider vinegar in my dog s food

Apple cider vinegar for dogs: benefits vs. risks

Is apple cider vinegar safe for dogs?

Yes, ACV is safe for dogs in small doses, just make sure to dilute your apple cider vinegar the right amount, generally 50/50 with water for topical uses and mixing it with drinking water or food for dietary uses. Follow the recommended oral dosage based on your pups weight.

Are there any risks or side effects?

Some dogs can have an allergic reaction to apple cider vinegar, so its important to watch for signs of irritation on their skin. A sudden intake of the acidic ACV can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or other digestion problems. When taken internally, start with small amounts and monitor your dog for signs that they cant tolerate it.

What kind of apple cider vinegar should you buy?

When buying apple cider vinegar for yourself or your dog, its best to look for raw, organic, and undiluted apple cider vinegar with the mother included. This ensures that what you get is free of pesticides that can be harmful when ingested or used topically.

How much apple cider vinegar can I give my dog?

Oftentimes, vets base an ACV dosage recommendation on the dogs weight. Review our recommended dosage chart above for guidelines on whats a safe amount to offer your dog according to their size.

Can Pets Have Apple Cider Vinegar?

By Vanessa Voltolina

Over the past few years, applecidervinegar has been touted for its health benefits in people featured in everything from morning tonics to elaborate salad dressings and quickly positioning itself among the superfoods. In pets, it has been noted for its flea-fighting ability (the smell and taste provides an unpleasant environment that will make fleas want to move on). But is it safe for them to eat? The short answer is yes, but it comes with some caveats.

IsAppleCiderVinegar Good for Pets?

A teaspoon or two of apple cider vinegar, diluted, for a normal-sized canine (less for a cat) is unlikely to have a negative effect on a healthy pet, said Dr. Cailin Heinze, VMD, MS, DACVN and assistant professor of nutrition at Tufts Universitys Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. However, more than this amount, or providing it undiluted, could cause issues, particularly in pets who arent one hundred percent healthy.

For cats or canines with kidney disease (who dont process acid well as a result of the disease) its likely not a good idea, as the acidity of the apple cider vinegar could be harmful, Heinze said. In fact, in a situation such as this, the food recommended to these pets is more alkaline in nature, and is an important conversation to have with a trusted veterinarian to determine what your animal should and shouldnt have as a result of this diagnosis.

Despite all of the health-centered hype, said Heinze, there really isnt a lot of data on the health claims of apple cider vinegar, which can make it difficult for pet owners to confidently make an informed decision on whether or not to give it to their pets. Plus, so much of the information that is out there isnt put into perspective, she said.

You may have heard declarations that apple cider vinegar contains loads of potassium an essential nutrient that can assist with muscle and heart contraction or even that it contains muscle-building amino acids. As a concerned pet parent, you want your pet to reap the healthy benefits! The claim that apple cider vinegar has amino acids (which can assist in muscle recovery after a long walk or jog with Fido) is unfortunately incorrect, as the content is zero. Even if there are trace amounts, said Heinze, they dont provide enough of the nutrient significant for recovery.

What about the high potassium content? Although there is potassium in apple cider vinegar (according to the USDA Food Products Database, there are 15mg of potassium in one tablespoon), you or your pet would have to drink ten bottles of apple cider vinegar to see any kind of health impact, which would likely cause gastric ulcers due to the acid, Heinze said.

AddingAppleCiderVinegar to Your Pets Diet

I have a number of clients who attempt to add apple cider vinegar to their pets diets, but their pet wont eat it, Heinze said. Watch closely for your pets cues. If your pet dislikes foods or treats containing apple cider vinegar, or seems to have an upset stomach, simply dont feed it to them, she advised. Also remember that apple cider vinegar should never be consumed undiluted, she added. While we really dont know how appropriate the use of apple cider vinegar is in our pets products, a small amount mixed into homemade dog treats, a large bowl of water or a meal (one teaspoon or less), should be safe for those who feel the need to use it, she said.

However, keep in mind the fact that the vinegar is an acid that can burn the delicate mucus membranes of the digestive tract.While we can eat it as part of our favorite salad dressings, I dont believe there is anything to support it [for improved health in pets], said Heinze. It can often have a laxative effect, or cause stomach upset, so I usually discourage the use of apple cider vinegar.

If you have questions about your dogs diet, be sure to talk to your veterinarian, who can help you determine the best options for your dog.

Image: Tatiana Dyuvbanova via Shutterstock

Apple Cider Vinegar For Cats: Can Help With Infections (Ear, Respiratory, UTI)

A better question than Should you give apple cider vinegar to cats? is Apple cider vinegar for cats, is it safe? The mental image is the end of the Tom and Jerry short Baby Puss where Tom is force fed a spoonful of castor oil. And real cats aren't as passive as Tom! (Who really was never all that passive to begin with.)

Some people take apple cider vinegar for the same reason they took castor oil. Both are diuretics that taste awful. If you look up whether or not castor oil is safe for cats (for the record, Tom was violently sick afterwards) you may be directed towards other oils.

What about apple cider vinegar?

Jump To:

How safe is it to use with cats? (1 minute read)

Are there any particular health benefits? (1 minute read)

Internal applications of vinegar (2.5 minutes read)

External applications of vinegar (2 minutes read)

The side effects (2 minutes read)

Apple Cider Vinegar For Cats: Is it safe?

Well, the answer is yes, if in very small doses.

Apple cider vinegar is generally dilute enough to be safe for healthy adult cats to drink. But that should be the key words. Healthy. Adult cat. And a small dose is no more than one or two teaspoons. Anything more is toxic.

While apple cider vinegar can be effective for topical use on a cat, sickly cats and young kittens should probably not have much if any exposure to it.

Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar For Cats

So what's in it for kitty?

Some people think giving their cat apple cider vinegar will increase their potassium intake. The amount of potassium in apple cider vinegar is trace. You'd be better off feeding your cat a banana or unsweetened yogurt.

But there are some reasons why it may be a good idea to mix a little apple cider vinegar into your cat's food or water.

It should be noted that undiluted apple cider vinegar can hurt your cat's esophagus.

Considering how strongly apple cider vinegar tastes and smells, this may be the only way to get Kitty to take it without getting your arms shredded.

Internal Apple Cider Vinegar Use For Cats

As apple cider vinegar is highly acidic, it can burn the mucous membranes inside your furry friends digestive tract. This can cause your cat to have ulcers, an upset stomach and be running for the litter box. (Let's hope she makes it.)

Even though the potency of apple cider vinegar is greatly diminished when blended with water, the issues that should be concerning to a pet owner still apply. Always talk with your vet before making any change to your cat's diet.

Respiratory Infections

Utilizing apple cider vinegar in order to rein in the symptoms of COPD has become ubiquitous. Along with providing antioxidants, apple cider vinegar guards cells from free radicals and so making breathing easier.

The use of apple cider vinegar to ameliorate this concern is one of the vinegars most widely celebrated claims, however, there is dubious proof that it is in any way effective.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Some people use organic apple cider vinegar to treat urinary tract infections, also known as UTI. Apple cider vinegar is effective at reducing or eliminating the microorganisms that can cause the initial infection.

Apple cider vinegar creates an alkaline environment that makes it unmanageable for microorganisms to survive and thrive. Dosing cats with apple cider vinegar in order to treat UTI can be helpful if the infection is minor.

Bladder Stones

Due to the fact that apple cider vinegar makes for an acidic environment inside the digestive tract, it has the potential to break up the crystals that sometimes form in the bladder and destroy bacteria. Mixing up a little apple cider vinegar in your cats food or water can be beneficial if your cat has been diagnosed with bladder stones.

Even though your vet will most likely administer a specific medication (or a cocktail of medicines) to solve the problem, apple cider vinegar can be utilized as a home remedy if your vet approves.

It must be noted that the use of apple cider vinegar to treat bladder stones must be exercised with extreme caution. The same acidity that gives apple cider vinegar the ability to remove bladder stones can also lead to stomach irritation.

Follow the dosage guidelines precisely and bring your cat in to your vet for a follow-up examination.

External Apple Cider Vinegar Use For Cats

If you practice moderation, ingestion of a little apple cider may not harm your cat. Is it safe for topical use? Just remember, that cats like to groom themselves so anything you put on a cat may eventually wind up inside a cat.

Flea Treatment

Using apple cider vinegar to treat fleas is a promising solution. Any type of vinegar repels fleas. All you have to do is dilute the apple cider vinegar with water inside a spray bottle. You can spritz your cat with this mixture and use a towel to rub it into the fur.

Is it Safe if She Ingests it?

Even if Kitty grooms herself and consumes a little apple cider vinegar it will be too diluted to do anything harmful. Take care not to get any apple cider vinegar in your cat's nose or eyes. (Or yours, for that matter.)

Ear Infections

Minor ear infections can be treated with apple cider vinegar. If you mix it with rubbing alcohol, you can create a solution for most minor ear problems. Use a cotton ball to gently apply this mixture to your cats ear twice a day.

Take care to avoid areas that are deep inside the ear canal and be careful with your movements.

If you rub too hard that can cause irritation and damage to the skin. This can not only hurt your little friend but it may make an already existing infection worse.

Ringworm and Itchy Skin

Apple cider vinegar can be utilized in treating broken or dry skin, ringworm, and many other dermatological conditions.

Just as with the ear infection treatment, blend diluted apple cider vinegar with water and apply it with a soft cloth.

The Side Effects of ACV for Cats

The orally consuming apple cider vinegar can have some side effects. This is especially true if your cat has an internal ailment to start with or the correct dosage is not followed carefully enough. Apple cider vinegar can cause extensive internal issues, causing pain within the mouth and esophagus.

Stomach Problems

Using apple cider vinegar for the purpose of treating existing stomach problems can only worsen the situation. Do not attempt to give apple cider vinegar to a cat with digestive issues such as ulcers, vomiting and the like.

The acidity of apple cider vinegar will not provide relief but rather the antithesis. Cats, much like people, need soothing remedies to fix minor stomach ailments.

Diarrhea

Apple cider vinegar is a natural laxative. If your cat is constipated, you may think of trying a dose of apple cider vinegar, but you might want to rethink that.

For kittens and senior cats, diarrhea resulting from apple cider vinegar can lead to severe dehydration. Because these cats lack the ideal immune health needed to cope with the side effects, the dosage can lead to disorientation and lethargy.

Orally feeding this substance to your cat in order to treat an illness is not a good idea as you may not know what is wrong with your cat and how she will react to apple cider vinegar.

Kidney Disease

Apple cider vinegar should in no way be administered to cats with kidney disease. This is quite possibly the strictest of all warnings.

Apple cider vinegar can be harmful or even deadly to cats with kidney problems.

Are There Any Nutrition Benefits?

While apple cider vinegar has some health benefits for humans, it has none at all for cats. The potassium and magnesium found in apple cider vinegar are just far too low to be of use.

Your pet would have to drink gallons of vinegar before any of these minerals would have an effect on her system.

And what's more, thehighly acidic solution would do irreparable damage to your pet long before she would get anything nutritious from the vinegar.

To put it very simply, adding this to your cats diet for nutritional purposes is not a wise decision. There are other benefits to the use of apple cider vinegar, but this is not one of them.

Conclusion

Apple cider vinegar. They call it apple cider vinegar. And there's a million things it's used to cure, but just you wait. Just you wait. (The Hamiltrash will get it.) While there is little to no nutritional value in feeding your cat apple cider vinegar and the jury is still out on its effectiveness on respiratory infections, it can be used to clear up urinary tract infections and bladder stones.

As a topical ointment, apple cider vinegar can be beneficial for repelling fleas and to treat infections of the ears and skin. It is not the best choice for clearing up digestive problems and should be avoided by cats with kidney disease.

If you would like to try a little apple cider vinegar to clear up one of the mentioned ailments, be sure to clear it with your vet first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I give my cat apple cider vinegar?

Applying a hearty apple cider vinegar mixture to your cat topically can kill fleas, mites, and ringworm. Please note that the acid in apple cider vinegar can be abrasive to a cat's tender skin, so be sure to dilute it. Young or sensitive cats may need a more diluted mix.

Is apple cider vinegar toxic to cats?

No. When ingested, apple cider vinegar helps to create an acidic environment in the digestive tract. This breaks up bladder crystals and kills harmful bacteria. Along with using apple cider vinegar, cats which normally eat dry food should be switched to wet food and up their moisture intake.

What does vinegar do to cats?

Vinegar can help dogs and cats that suffer from urinary tract infections. If the pH is above 7, then apple cider vinegar is your best friend. The vinegar will lower the pH and dissolve the crystals. If the pH is lower than 7, then using vinegar isn't recommended.

Can vinegar kill cat fleas?

While it's not effective at killing the bugs, apple cider vinegar can cause fleas to jump from your cat's body so that you can better tackle the issue, making it a great first attack in your personal war against fleas. Try mixing the apple cider vinegar with water in a 2 is to 1 ratio and spraying it onto your cat's coat.