For thousands of years, garlic has been used as a medicine. Hippocrates, the legendary ancient Greek physician, used garlic to combat a variety of illnesses, including ear infections, stomach disorders, and even cancer. Scientific studies continue to elucidate the incredible therapeutic benefits of garlic for people and animals, including dogs.

Due to a faulty study over 20 years ago, veterinarians still tell dog parents that garlic is toxic for their dogs. However, garlic is non-toxic for dogs and has many medicinal benefits when provided at the correct dosage.

Among the many medicinal benefits of garlic, there are specific benefits for dogs with cancer. The two active compounds in garlic are allicin and ajolene. Both compounds are activated when the garlic is diced, minced, or crushed. For a complete guide on the uses of garlic in dogs, read The Truth about Garlic for Dogs. 

Garlic has shown promise in reducing the risks of cancers of the colon, lungs, stomach, and rectum in dogs. Garlic is high in minerals, proteins, and vitamins A, B, and C, all of which help to enhance blood flow and kill microbes and cancer cells. Garlic, when added to your dog's diet, can protect them from various diseases and strengthen their immune system. It boosts the immune system to help kill harmful bacteria and fight against cancer cells. 

Specific medicinal properties of garlic that will benefit your dog with cancer include:

Antioxidant Activity: Allicin and ajolene are known for their antioxidant properties, which help protect your dog's normal cells from oxidative stress and damage caused by free radicals. Oxidative stress is linked to the development and progression of cancer.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Chronic inflammation is associated with an increased risk of cancer. The anti-inflammatory properties of garlic help balance inflammation within your dog’s body, reducing its potential impact on cancer development.

Induction of Apoptosis: Apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, is a natural process that eliminates damaged or unwanted cells. Research has demonstrated that ajoene and allicin can induce apoptosis in specific cancer cells, encouraging self-destruction.

Cell Cycle Regulation: Allicin may influence the cell cycle, the process by which cells divide and replicate. Regulation of the cell cycle is crucial to preventing uncontrolled cell growth, a hallmark of cancer.

 Inhibition of Cancer Cell Growth: Aljolen interferes with the growth of cancer cells by inhibiting processes essential for their proliferation and survival. 

Inhibition of Angiogenesis: Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need for nourishment and growth. Studies revealed that allicin and ajoene inhibit angiogenesis, which could hinder the tumor's ability to grow and spread.

 Immune System Modulation: Ajoene can modulate the immune system's response to cancer cells, enhancing your dog’s ability to recognize and attack cancerous cells.

Anti-Metastatic Effects: Metastasis is the spread of cancer from its original site to other body parts—ajoene and allicin affect cell adhesion and migration, which disrupts the metastatic process.

Avoid feeding garlic if your dog has been diagnosed with any blood disorder that interferes with blood clotting. Due to its anti-coagulating properties, garlic should never be given to dogs with known blood disorders or if on blood-thinning medications. There are several genetic blood disorders in dogs. Von Willebrand's disease (vWD) is an inherited bleeding disorder in dogs caused by a deficiency in the specific protein, the von Willebrand factor, needed to help platelets (the blood cells used in clotting) stick together to form clots required to seal broken blood vessels. 

Puppies have a lower red blood cell mass and hemoglobin concentration than adult dogs due to the transition from fetal to postnatal blood cell development. Because studies have demonstrated that garlic can accelerate red blood cell turnover, it should not be given to puppies under six months of age to avoid any chance of anemia.

The ingredient in garlic that is of interest, allicin, is created when the protective coating of the garlic cloves is cut or chopped. When garlic is chopped or crushed, the alliinase enzyme is activated, producing allicin from alliin in intact garlic cloves. 

The transformation of alliin to allicin is rapid and complete, taking less than 10 seconds at 74 °F when fresh garlic has been cut. The stability of the allicin is short-lived.  References state that garlic should be provided to dogs within an hour of being chopped to receive the full medicinal benefits. However, due to the instability of the allicin, feeding the garlic to the dog within 20 minutes of it being chopped is recommended.

Due to the differences in clove size, the teaspoon measurement of minced garlic is more accurate, especially for smaller dogs.

The garlic can be fed raw or as an aged garlic extract (AGE), which renders garlic odorless and non-irritating by soaking fresh garlic in 15-20% alcohol for up to 2 months at room temperature. The extract from the solution is better at regulating blood sugar and provides more potent antioxidant properties than fresh garlic extract. AGE has also been shown to help prevent many diseases in humans and dogs.

Garlic has many medicinal benefits for dogs that are battling cancer.

Feed your dog the garlic within 20 minutes of dicing, mincing, or chopping to ensure a full therapeutic effect.

Fresh garlic or aged garlic extracts are the most therapeutic forms of garlic.


Hematologic changes associated with the appearance of eccentrocytes after intragastric administration of garlic extract to dogs 

Garlic and onions: Their cancer prevention properties - PMC 

Garlic and its Active Compounds: A Potential Candidate in The Prevention of Cancer by Modulating Various Cell Signalling Pathways 

For thousands of years, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/garlic">garlic</a> has been used as a medicine. Hippocrates, the legendary ancient Greek physician, used garlic to combat a variety of illnesses, including ear infections, stomach disorders, and even cancer. Scientific studies continue to elucidate the incredible therapeutic benefits of garlic for people and animals, including dogs.

Benefits of Garlic for Dogs With Cancer

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