Can I put apple cider vinegar in my dog s water

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

Contributions sourced from

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 to Stop Dog Licking Paws

Its very normal for dogs to lick their paws. But when your dogs licking goes overboard, you need to break the habit as it can be bad for them. The good news is theres a home remedy treatment that easily available and simple to use, apple cider vinegar.

Thats right, you might find the solution to your dogs excessive paw licking in your cupboard. Because yes, apple cider vinegar does stop a dog from licking paws. But you need to know how to use it properly.

Ive put together this handy guide on apple cider vinegar as a natural remedy for dogs that persistently lick their paws. It includes what makes ACV effective, how to use it on your dogs paws (and how often to soak), and what to consider before using it.

Using apple cider vinegar to stop a dog licking paws

Heres all you need to know, and lower down the page it explains how you use it on your dog. If you dont have any,you can buy it on Amazon.

How apple cider vinegar prevents excessive paw licking

Apple cider vinegar to stop dogs licking paws gets the stamp of approval for persistent foot lickers. Heres what makes this natural solution quite effective:

1. It has antibacterial and anti-fungal qualities

Apple cider vinegar is pretty much a bacteria or yeast-fighting formula. Its main ingredient (acetic acid) destroys bacteria and yeast.

If your dog has bacterial or yeast overgrowth on their paws, they will be super itchy and want to lick their paws every other time. Applyingapple cider vinegarwill help kill the bacteria or yeast and leave your dog itch-free.

2. It contains anti-inflammatory agents

ACV has natural compounds called flavonoids, which are known to have anti-inflammatory qualities. If your dogs itchy spots on the paws are painful, apple cider vinegar will soothe these spots and offer much-needed pain relief.

3. Its a natural repellant

Youre probably familiar with apple cider vinegars strong scent. Applying apple cider vinegar on your dogs paws will chase away the fleas and other bugs terrorizing your dogs paws. They hate the smell.

When these annoying creatures are gone, your dog wont feel the need to constantly lick their paws. Also, most dogs dont like thesmell of ACV. If your dog gets a whiff of it on their paws, they will likely avoid licking the area.

Before you use apple cider vinegar on your dogs paws

Before you begin using ACV to curb your dogs excessive paw-licking behavior, there are three things you need to keep in mind.

The type of apple cider vinegar to use

If you want your dogs paws to reap all the benefits that ACV offers, purchase the organic type.

Organic apple cider vinegar often has labels like organic, the mother, raw, or unfiltered on the bottle. If you click the image below it will take you to a recommendation on Amazon.

When it comes to AVC, the cloudier the appearance, the better. Thats what the organic version looks like. Organic ACV has all the natural, beneficial enzymes that will resolve your dogs persistent paw-licking problem.

Dilute the product before use

Undiluted apple cider vinegar will be quite harsh on your dogs paws. Its highly acidic PH (because of the acetic acid) will irritate your dogs paws and may even cause mild burns.

So, dont drizzle apple cider vinegar straight from the bottle onto your dogs paws. Dilute it first. The generally recommended ratio is 2: 1. That is, mix two parts of water with 1 part of ACV.

Never use ACV on broken skin

If your dogs paws have open sores, rashes, or a cut, do not apply ACV, as they will experience a burning sensation.

For this reason, you should always inspect their paws before applying this magical solution. If you notice any wounds or cuts, avoid ACV. Instead, speak to your vet for guidance.

How to use apple cider vinegar on your dogs paws

Using ACV on your dogs paws is simple. And for the best outcomes, consider applying it daily for at least a week as you monitor whether your dogs paw-licking habit is slowly getting under control.

Here are three different ways to go about this:

1. Spray bottle method

Mix the diluted apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle and spray generously on your dogs paws (dont forget to spray itbetween their toes).

You dont have to rinse their paws afterwards since the smell will fade away as theapple cider vinegardries up. Plus, the mild ACV scent left behind will act as a repellant.

And because its diluted, you dont have to worry if your dog licks their paws. Diluted ACV wont cause any harm when licked.

Be careful not to spray the mixture into your dogs eyes.

2. Use a cotton ball

Soak a medium-sized cotton ball into a bowl with the diluted apple cider vinegar and dab it gently all over your dogs paws for a few minutes (about five minutes).

Ensure every paw is covered with a generous amount of ACV. No need to rinse it off.

3. Do a paw soak

In this case, add the diluted ACV into a spacious container. Dip your dogs paws in the solution one paw at a time for about five minutes.

The best thing about this soak is that it will drown any bugs or pollen hiding on the paws that make your dog lick a lot.

You could alsobuy paw socks from Amazonto then put over your dogs feet as an extra barrier to licking.

4. Pay attention to how your dog reacts when you apply the ACV

If you realize your dog is whimpering or withdrawing their paw every time, discontinue the process. It could be they have a tiny cut on the paws that you hadnt noticed, and the ACVs burning sensation is making them uncomfortable.

5. Monitor your dog for any improvement

If you notice nothing has changed several days later (your dog is still licking their paws as excessively as they were before you began using ACV), take them to the vet.

They may be having an underlying condition manifesting in form of persistent paw licking. Your vet will determine whether theres a health problem triggering the excessive licking and offer professional treatment.

Can I put apple cider vinegar directly on my dog?

No, you cannot put apple vinegar cider directly on your dog. It should always be diluted to a 50/50 ratio with water.

How often do I soak my dogs paws in apple cider vinegar?

When your dog is excessively licking, you could soak his paws daily for the first week. After that perhaps just twice a week once you see an improvement in the behavior.

Why your dog is licking their paws

If youre beloved dog constantly licks their paws like its their favorite pastime, this habit can be both annoying and a cause for concern.

Theres no fun in listening to the weird sounds dogs make when engaging in their paw-licking spree. And like most dog parents in a similar situation as you, you may wonder why your dog just cant seem to keep their tongue off their paws.

Well, your dogs excessive paw-licking habit could be triggered by many things.

They may be trying to relieve an itch on the paws caused by a minor injury, a bacterial infection, or a yeast infection. Or theyre constantly licking to get rid of irritants like pollen or fleas stuck on their paws.

The trigger could also be something as ordinary as boredom or the simple fact thatlickingtheir paws makes them feel good. In serious cases, excessive paw licking may be a symptom of an underlying medical issue or behavioral problem.

For most of these triggers, apple cider vinegar often made from fermented apples, can be of great help. Theres more to this popular, inexpensive household ingredient than just spicing up salad dressings.

Apple cider vinegar is one of those gifts from nature known to solve several dog problems thanks to its amazing properties.

From curbing excessive paw licking to treating ear problems and digestion issues, apple cider vinegar is a top performer!

FAQs

Are there any alternatives to apple cider vinegar for dogs?

Yes, there are apple cider vinegar alternatives. These includehome remediessuch as diluted lavender oil, raw honey, coconut oil, or baking soda paste, and using green tea to make a paw soak on their feet.

Paw socks also work very well too.

Can I put apple cider vinegar on my dogs paws?

The short answer is, yes, you can. But you must dilute the ACV with water before applying it to your dogs paws. You should also ensure your dog has no open wounds or cuts before covering their paws with ACV.

What can I give my dog to stop licking his paws?

Applying diluted apple cider vinegar to your dogs paws can do wonders. But make sure your dog doesnt have broken skin on the paws before using the diluted ACV.