Garlic
Garlic is a species in the onion genus Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and Chinese onion. Garlic is native to Central Asia and northeastern Iran and has long been a common seasoning worldwide. It has a history of several thousand years of human consumption and use.
Why we feed?
Raw garlic contains two enzymes: alliin and alliinase. When you crush, mince, or chop garlic, these enzymes combine to create the enzyme allicin. Allicin is the active medicinal ingredient in garlic, giving it antibiotic, anti-cancer, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. Peel the cloves, mince, chop, or crush your fresh garlic, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before use. Allicin degrades quickly, so use the garlic immediately after the 10-minute resting period for maximum benefit.
How to feed?
Always use fresh, organic garlic still in its husk before you peel and feed your dog (no pre-chopped garlic in the jar or already pre-peeled garlic in the bags). Do not go off the clove size, as cloves differ. Use a measuring spoon after you have chopped/minced/crushed the garlic. 5lbs: 1/6 tsp | 10lbs: 1/3 tsp | 15lbs: 1/2 tsp | 20lbs: 2/3 tsp | 30 lbs: 1 tsp | Feed once a day every day during flea season.
Precautions?
Due to its anticoagulating properties, garlic should never be given to dogs with known blood disorders or if they are 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.
Additional info?
There is a lot of misconception about garlic being toxic to dogs! ANYTHING in large amounts can be toxic. Studies found it takes approximately 15 to 30 grams of garlic per kg of body weight to produce harmful changes in a dog’s blood. To put that into perspective, the average clove of supermarket garlic weighs between 3 and 7 grams, so your dog must eat a lot to get really sick. However, some dogs are more sensitive to garlic toxicity than others, so keep that in mind and introduce it very slowly.