What are the cons of apple cider vinegar for dogs

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.

7 Side Effects of Too Much Apple Cider Vinegar

What is apple cider vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is made by combining apples with yeast.

The yeast converts the sugar in the apples into alcohol. Bacteria are then added to the mixture and ferment the alcohol into acetic acid (1).

Acetic acid makes up 56% of apple cider vinegar. Its classified as a weak acid but still has fairly strong acidic properties when its concentrated.

In addition to acetic acid, vinegar contains water and trace amounts of other acids, vitamins, and minerals (1).

Several studies in animals and humans have found that acetic acid and apple cider vinegar may promote fat-burning and weight loss, decrease blood sugar levels, increase insulin sensitivity, and improve cholesterol levels (2, 3, 4, 5).

Unfortunately, human studies supporting the daily use of apple cider vinegar are lacking, and more research is needed (6).

Summary

Apple cider vinegar is made from acetic acid, which may contribute to weight loss and health benefits such as lower blood sugar and healthier cholesterol levels.

What are the negative effects of apple cider vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar has been reported to cause some side effects. This is particularly true when its consumed in large doses.

Although small amounts are generally fine and healthy, consuming too much can be harmful and even dangerous.

1. Delayed stomach emptying

Small studies in humans have suggested that apple cider vinegar may reduce the rate at which food leaves the stomach and enters the lower digestive tract. This could slow the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream.

However, this effect may worsen symptoms of gastroparesis, a common condition that affects people living with diabetes.

In gastroparesis, the nerves in the stomach dont work properly, so food stays in the stomach too long and is not emptied at a normal rate.

Symptoms of gastroparesis include heartburn, bloating, and nausea. For people who have both type 1 diabetes and gastroparesis, timing insulin with meals is very challenging because its hard to predict how long food will take to be digested and absorbed.

One controlled study looked at 10 patients with type 1 diabetes and gastroparesis.

Drinking water with 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of apple cider vinegar significantly increased the amount of time food stayed in the stomach, compared to drinking plain water (7).

Newer research is needed to better understand apple cider vinegars effect on stomach emptying and blood sugar.

Summary

Research suggests apple cider vinegar may slow the rate at which food leaves the stomach. This may worsen symptoms of gastroparesis and make blood sugar management more difficult for people with type 1 diabetes.

2. Digestive side effects

Apple cider vinegar may cause unpleasant digestive symptoms in some people.

Some research has found that in the short term, acetic acid decreases appetite, but more studies are needed to understand if this effect is sustained in the long term (8, 9).

However, one controlled study suggests that in some cases, appetite and food intake may decrease due to indigestion.

The people who consumed a drink containing 25 grams (0.88 ounces) of apple cider vinegar reported less appetite but also significantly greater feelings of nausea, especially when the vinegar was part of an unpleasant-tasting drink (10).

Summary

Apple cider vinegar may help reduce appetite, but it may also cause feelings of nausea, particularly when consumed as part of a drink with an unpleasant flavor.

3. Low potassium levels and bone loss

There are no controlled studies on apple cider vinegars effects on blood potassium levels and bone health at this time.

However, there is one case report of low blood potassium and bone loss that was attributed to large doses of apple cider vinegar taken over a long period of time.

A 28-year-old woman consumed 8 ounces (1 cup) of apple cider vinegar diluted in water on a daily basis for 6 years.

She was admitted to the hospital with low potassium levels and other abnormalities in blood chemistry (11).

Whats more, the woman was diagnosed with osteoporosis, a condition that causes brittle bones and is rarely seen in young people.

Doctors who treated the woman believe the large daily doses of apple cider vinegar led to minerals being leached from her bones to buffer the acidity of her blood.

They also noted that high acid levels can reduce the formation of new bone.

Of course, the amount of apple cider vinegar in this case was much more than most people would consume in a single day plus, she did this every day for many years.

Summary

There is one case report of low potassium levels and osteoporosis likely caused by drinking too much apple cider vinegar.

4. Erosion of tooth enamel

Acidic foods and beverages have been shown to damage tooth enamel (12).

Soft drinks and fruit juices have been more widely studied, but some research shows the acetic acid in vinegar may also damage tooth enamel.

In one lab study, enamel from wisdom teeth was immersed in different vinegars with pH levels ranging from 2.7 to 3.95. The vinegars led to a 120% loss of minerals from the teeth after 4 hours (13).

Importantly, this study was done in a lab and not in the mouth, where saliva helps buffer acidity and a person would not hold vinegar in their mouth for 4 hours. Nevertheless, theres some evidence that large amounts of vinegar may cause dental erosion.

A case study also concluded that a 15-year-old girls severe dental decay was caused by consuming 1 cup (237 mL) of undiluted apple cider vinegar per day as a weight loss aid (14).

Summary

The acetic acid in vinegar may weaken dental enamel and lead to loss of minerals and tooth decay.

5. Throat burns

Apple cider vinegar has the potential to cause esophageal (throat) burns.

A review of harmful liquids accidentally swallowed by children found that acetic acid from vinegar was the most common acid that caused throat burns.

Researchers recommended that vinegar be considered a potent caustic substance and kept in childproof containers (15).

Case reports of people drinking large volumes of vinegar beverages for a prolonged period of time found that they needed medical attention for their throat burns (16).

Summary

The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar has caused throat burns in children. One woman experienced throat burns after an apple cider vinegar tablet became lodged in her esophagus.

6. Skin burns

Due to its strongly acidic nature, apple cider vinegar may also cause burns when applied to the skin.

In one case, a 14-year-old girl developed erosions on her nose after applying several drops of apple cider vinegar to remove two moles, based on a protocol shed seen on the internet (17).

In another, an 8-year-old boy with multiple health problems developed leg burns after his mother treated his leg infection with apple cider vinegar (18).

There are also several anecdotal reports online of burns caused by applying apple cider vinegar to the skin.

Summary

There have been reports of skin burns occurring in response to attempts to treat moles and infections with apple cider vinegar.

7. Drug interactions

A few medications may interact with apple cider vinegar:

• Diabetes medication. People who take insulin or insulin-stimulating medications and consume vinegar may experience dangerously low blood sugar or potassium levels.
• Digoxin (Lanoxin). This medication lowers your blood potassium levels. Taking digoxin in combination with apple cider vinegar could lower your potassium too much.
• Certain diuretic drugs. Some diuretic medications cause your body to excrete potassium. To prevent potassium levels from dropping too low, do not consume these drugs with large amounts of vinegar.

Summary

Some medications, including insulin, digoxin, and certain diuretics, may interact with apple cider vinegar.

Apple Cider Vinegar For Dogs Does It Really Work?

Are you wondering about using apple cider vinegar for dogs? This type of vinegar, made from fermented apple cider, is commonly used as a home remedy for humans. It is employed in a number of different situations. So many believe that it must also be useful in treating the same problems in dogs. Lets discuss it in more detail.

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar For Dogs?

You may have already been using it in salad dressings for years, but have you ever really thought about where apple cider vinegar comes from or how its made?

Apple cider vinegar is brewed using yeast and bacteria to turn the sugars in apple juice into alcohol, and then into acetic acid. Acetic acid is the pungent sour taste we think of as vinegary. Then, the vinegar goes in one of two directions. Either the vinegar is filtered and pasteurized (this is the stuff we usually find in grocery stores), or its left raw, or unfiltered and unpasteurized.

Raw cider vinegar is often advertised as still containing the mother. Mother of vinegar is a cobweb-like substance formed of yeast and bacteria from the fermentation process, and small quantities of cellulose and proteins. It gives vinegar a cloudy appearance, and according to manufacturers who promote apple cider vinegar as a health supplement, its the best bit.

Apple cider vinegar is used to improve digestion, quicken metabolism, and aid those with diabetes, among other things. Conceivably, those same benefits could apply in the case of a dog.

Apple Cider Vinegar For Dogs: Quick Links

Follow the links below to jump to more information about these common questions.

The Science Behind Apple Cider Vinegar For Dogs

Weve been finding new uses for vinegar since at least 400 BC, but not many uses for apple cider vinegar have been backed up by science. However, in humans, we know that apple cider vinegar can improve insulin sensitivity after a meal. A study from Arizona State University is just one in recent years exploring the parameters of how apple cider vinegar could help people with diabetes.

Theres also a small amount of evidence that consuming apple cider vinegar with meals makes us feel fuller for longer, which could help people lose weight. And moving outside humans, researchers in Japan have found that acetic acid reduces blood pressure in rats.

However, remedies that work well for humans dont necessarily translate to dogs. There are many reasons why this could be. Perhaps theres something fundamentally different in the way their body works. Other remedies dont work across different species because the difference in their diet interferes with the chemistry. So that said, is there any scientific research specifically endorsing apple cider vinegar for dogs?

Is Apple Cider Vinegar Safe For Dogs?

I cant find any scientific studies that either prove or disprove benefits of apple cider vinegar for dogs. Lack of scientific backing doesnt necessarily mean that remedies dont work. But research published in scientific journals gives us a quantifiable way of describing how well something works.

Most importantly, it rules out the element of fluke, and proves the causal link between a remedy and the effect. It also gives us valuable information about things like dosage, how long treatment should last, side effects, and when not to use something.

Much of the information about apple cider vinegar for dogs is provided by pet parents, rather than scientific studies. While experience is important, its even more important to stress the following point.

Always consult with your vet before using an apple cider vinegar remedy on your dog. Because all of these remedies are anecdotal, theres no information sheet that comes with the bottle to tell us how to use them safely. Your vet can advise if something in our dogs make up or medical history has the potential to take apple cider vinegar from beneficial (or at least benign) to dangerous.

Is Apple Cider Vinegar Bad For Dogs?

Apple cider vinegar should not be toxic or poisonous to your dog. But can it have other ill effects, such as upsetting their stomach? As with many things, a small amount isnt likely to cause any stomach upset. But dogs should definitely not be drinking a significant amount of apple cider vinegar.

Remember, it isnt recommended for humans to use more than two tablespoons per day. And we are meant to dilute the vinegar in water. So it should be less for a dog, as they are smaller than we are.

Can You Give Apple Cider Vinegar To Dogs?

Advocates of apple cider vinegar believe that apple cider vinegar in dog water repels fleas. They also believe it gives their dog a glossier coat, and even protects against dehydration by masking the taste of unfamiliar drinking water if you travel with a pooch whos fussy about such things. But as Ive said, theres no veterinary medical evidence to prove any of these benefits really exist.

For many dogs, a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a bowlful of water, or licking residue from their coat is unlikely to cause any harm. However, consuming too much could lead to stomach upsets. How much is too much depends on the size of your dog, and their general constitution.

So, yes, you can give apple cider vinegar to dogs. Its best only to start with a small amount and make sure that your dog has no bad reaction to the vinegar. Additionally, its always best to check with your vet before you use any home remedy on your pet. Apple cider vinegar has many of the same potential benefits for dogs as it does for humans. Well look at some of these further on in this article.

Can You Use Apple Cider Vinegar On Dogs?

What about topical use of apple cider vinegar for dogs? Many believe that a topical application of apple cider vinegar can help dogs with painful, itchy, or irritated skin. It is also often used as a cleansing agent. However, it should be remembered that apple cider vinegar is vinegar. If you apply it to a broken patch of skin, it will hurt!

So be very cautious when using apple cider vinegar as a topical agent. Make sure that your dog doesnt have patchy or broken skin in the area youre working with.

Using Apple Cider Vinegar For Fleas On Dogs

What Are Fleas?

Fleas are tiny insects that seem to love living on our beloved pets. They can be a persistent and irritating problem for a dog and for his owner. They may lead a dog to scratch and bite himself, losing fur and even damaging skin in the process. There are many types of medicinal treatment for a flea infestation, and its always best to check with your vet if fleas are persistent and resistant to medication.

Apple Cider Vinegar For Fleas

One of the most popular uses of apple cider vinegar for dogs is as a low-tech home remedy for fleas.

Its true that the apple cider vinegar solution will probably repel fleas. Who wouldnt move on if they were doused in vinegar? But there are lots of caveats to this approach. For instance, apple cider vinegar wont kill the fleas. Itll only make them jump off your dog. Which, of course, means theyll still be looking for any opportunity to jump back on again, or onto you.

Even diluted apple cider vinegar can irritate your dogs skin and eyes. Be especially careful using home brew vinegar, since the concentration of acetic acid can be variable. Youll need to soak your dog to the skin with apple cider vinegar solution. If your dog has a thick double coat, you probably already know that this can be a mammoth effort.

Apple Cider Vinegar Dosages For Dogs With Fleas

Apple cider vinegar fans often recommend using a 50:50 mix of apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle, and squirting it into your dogs coat to fight off fleas. Alternatively, you could give your dog an apple cider vinegar dog bath, by splashing some into their bath water. This approach would need to be done regularly. It would likely need to be much more frequently than the amount you would normally bathe your dog.

Using Apple Cider Vinegar For Dog Itching Remedies

Why Do Dogs Itch?

Dogs can get itchy for any number of reasons. It could be anything from an allergic reaction to something, to an internal issue, to particularly dry weather. Itchy skin is a common reaction to many problems, for dogs. Does apple cider vinegar help?

Apple Cider Vinegar For Itchiness

Apple cider for dogs itchy skin is another frequently-listed use. Like all vinegars, apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial properties. Which is to say, it can kill some of the microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. These cause the itchy skin conditions that cause our dogs so much misery. But its not to say that it can kill all types of microbe, in any number.

Apple Cider Vinegar Dosages For Dogs With Itchiness

To treat an itchy spot with apple cider vinegar, bathe your dog with a 50:50 solution of apple cider vinegar and water. It is up to you whether you want to completely bathe your dog in the solution, or simply the problem area.

Using Apple Cider Vinegar For Hot Spots On Dogs

What Are Hot Spots?

Hot spots are painful lesions on dogs skin. They begin with a small break in the skin, caused by a bite from a flea or mite, an allergic reaction, or a scratch. When bacteria (which otherwise might have existed harmlessly on the surface of the skin) get into the break, they begin to explode in numbers, causing inflammation and itching.

Hot spots are quickly made worse by dogs natural reflex to scratch and chew the itchy infected area.

Apple Cider Vinegar For Hot Spots

Since hot spots = bacterial infection and vinegar is antimicrobial, does apple cider vinegar cure hot spots? As you can probably imagine, putting vinegar, even dilute vinegar, onto broken skin is going to sting like a thousand burning needles. So no, we definitely do not recommend putting apple cider vinegar on hot spots!

Using Apple Cider Vinegar For Dogs Ear Infections

What Are Ear Infections?

Ear infections can be triggered by a number of issues. These range from illness and environmental factors to parasites or even just inadequate cleaning.

Apple Cider Vinegar For Dogs Ears

So can apple cider vinegar be used to treat ear infections? It seems reasonable, since vinegar can be used effectively against bacteria. The big problem here is that the ear is a complex and minute structure. Therefore, even if apple cider vinegar is effective against the type of bacteria present, and could take out that many bacteria, getting it to all of the infected area may be nigh-on impossible.

Meanwhile, the infection is getting worse, and as anyone whos ever had an ear infection can tell you, theyre very painful and completely miserable.

The Merck Veterinary Manual advises against using any vinegar solution in the ears. So if your dog has any discharge, odor, redness or swelling around his ears, or hes scratching them more than usual, take him to a vet.

Using Apple Cider Vinegar For UTI Treatment In Dogs

What Is A UTI?

A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is basically what it sounds like. They are very common in both humans and animals. Like most infections, they can be triggered by a number of factors, and need to be treated in order to go away. UTIs are uncomfortable and unpleasant. Though they often are not detected right away, they can be treated quickly and effectively once they are diagnosed.

Apple Cider Vinegar For Dog UTIs

Can apple cider vinegar help with dog UTIs? Needless to say, without any evidence to back it up, we dont recommend using apple cider vinegar as a first resort when your dog has a UTI. Some owners also report using apple cider vinegar as a daily supplement to protect their dogs against recurring UTIs. If this is something youre interested in, talk it over with your vet first.

Using Apple Cider Vinegar For Tear Stains On Dogs

What Are Tear Stains?

Tear stains are deposits of a compound called porphyrin, which slowly turn the fur at inner corner of a dogs eyes a rusty red color. They are most visible on dogs with pale-colored coats.

Porphyrin is a waste product of digesting food with iron in it. Most is gotten rid of via your dogs bile and feces, but some is excreted in the tears and saliva as well.

Apple Cider Vinegar For Tear Stains

If your dog has heavy tear stains, they need to see their vet before you attempt any home treatments. Heavy tear stains can be a symptom of ingrown eyelashes, structural problems with the tear duct, poor diet, or infection, amongs other causes. If tear stains are a symptom of something more sinister, that thing needs to be found and treated before the tear stains (which may clear up of their own accord afterwards!)

Ive found that peoples rationale and regimes for using apple cider to treat dog tear stains vary massively and are often contradictory. And as youve probably guessed, there is no evidence to back up any of them, so theyre not getting my endorsement here.

Side Effects Of Apple Cider Vinegar For Dogs

While it sounds ideal to use a natural home remedy to take care of any problems that pop up, its best to keep in mind that there are potential side effects to everything. Simply because something is natural does not mean that there wont be effects in addition to the intended result. For example, using too much or too strong a concentration of apple cider vinegar can dry out a dogs skin, taking away the benefit of using it as a remedy for itchy skin. And allowing your dog to drink too much or too strong a concentration of apple cider vinegar can cause stomach upset.

Though there arent many clinical studies on the ill effects of dogs and apple cider vinegar, the section on vinegar on the Poison Control website includes real life examples of what the misuse or overuse of vinegar has caused for humans.

Alternatives To Apple Cider Vinegar For Dogs

Many may have read about the possible benefits of apple cider vinegar for dogs, but be leery of using it. After all, there isnt a lot of scientific research to back up the claims. What other options are there for attaining those benefits?

Its always a good idea, as weve mentioned, to speak to your vet about any problems that your dog is having. A trained veterinarian who knows your dog well is in the best position to advise you on health and treatment options. Here are some articles that cover treatment options for some of the problems mentioned in this article.

Apple Cider Benefits For Dogs

So, theres no scientific evidence that apple cider vinegar is good for dogs. But plenty of dog owners will testify that apple cider has helped their dogs. Are they right or wrong? Well, they could be right. Just because apple cider vinegar cures arent backed up by science yet, doesnt mean they dont work. But theres another interesting possibility too, and thats the placebo effect. The placebo effect is when we believe a treatment is working, even though the treatment is demonstrably doing nothing.

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Surely when we treat our pets, were capable of being totally objective about whether theyre working? Not so! In 2009 researchers at North Carolina State University found the owners of epileptic dogs taking part in a trial for an anti-seizure drugs reported fewer seizures even if their dog was receiving the placebo treatment. And in 2012, vets at the University of Minnesota found that nearly half of 58 dog owners given a placebo to treat their dogs osteoarthritis reported that their lameness improved.

We still dont understand exactly how the placebo effect happens, but its entirely possible that many advocates of apple cider vinegar are also seeing results that havent really happened.

Giving Apple Cider Vinegar To Your Dog

Proponents recommend apple cider vinegar for dogs on everything from treating fleas to UTIs, but none of these uses have been tested under controlled laboratory conditions yet. For many dogs, apple cider vinegar will be, if not beneficial, then at least benign.

We never recommend giving your dog apple cider vinegar without chatting it over with your vet first. You should never use it in place of prescribed veterinary treatment, as you risk causing your dog to suffer a condition for longer than they would have otherwise had to.

Have you tried giving your dog apple cider vinegar? Wed love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.

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References and Further Reading

• Apple Cider Vinegar Dosage, Healthline
• Fleas In Dogs And Cats, Merck Vet Manual
• Ear Infection In Dogs, Merck Vet Manual
• Vinegar, Poison Control
• Munana, K, et al. 2010. Placebo Effect in Canine Epilepsy Trials. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
• Conzemius, M, et al. 2012. Caregiver Placebo Effect For Dogs With Lameness. AVMA
• Ostman, E, et al. 2005. Vinegar supplementation lowers glucose and insulin responses and increases satiety after a bread meal in healthy subjects. European Journal Of Nutrition
• Kondo, S, et al. 2001. Antihypertensive effects of acetic acid and vinegar on spontaneously hypertensive rats
• Johnston, C, et al. 2004. Vinegar Improves Insulin Sensitivity to a High-Carbohydrate Meal in Subjects With Insulin Resistance or Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care

This article has been extensively revised and updated for 2019.

The Labrador Site Founder

Pippa Mattinson is the best selling author of The Happy Puppy Handbook, the Labrador Handbook, Choosing The Perfect Puppy, and Total Recall.

She is also the founder of the Gundog Trust and the Dogsnet Online Training Program

Pippa's online training courses were launched in 2019 and you can find the latest course dates on the Dogsnet website