Garlic for animals.

Newsgroups: alt.folklore.herbs
Subject: Re: Garlic and animals
From: wolflishus.aol.com (Wolflishus)
Date: 14 Aug 1995 13:28:53 -0400

>>I've been feeding my cats and dog a little garlic every other day. Is there any bad side effects that could result from this? So far it's helped rid them of tape worms, and slightly cut back on the fleas.
>I have done the same myself on cats, dogs and even horses. The only side effect was to have one horse break out in hives as an allergic result and we discontinued dosing her.
>In Diane Stein's book The Natural Remedy Book for Dogs & Cats, garlic is highly recommended for its many healing properties. she suggests using 1/4 of the adult (human) dose for cats and 3/4 for a medium sized dog; full dose for large dogs. She claims that since this is a >food, an actual overdose is unlikely. She also suggests using as pure a brand as possible and curshing the tablets or opening the capsules and mixing with food.

Being a vet tech, I have heard every possible "old wive's tale" in reference to animals. I have also found many of them to be true, or at least based in truth! Garlic is one of the true ones. My one comment is that rather than using a tablet or capsule form of the garlic, use fresh.
From the garden grown without the use of pesticides is best, of course, but dried cloves from the grocery is good, too. Many of the healthful properites of the garlic are carried in the natural oils, and when you remove the oils, those properties are rendered less effective. Non ineffective, mind you, just *less* so. I have discovered that most carnivores (dogs, cats) really like the taste of garlic, and a little minced garlic on top of the bowl of food is a great treat. The herbivores don't seem to like it as well, at least the small ones like the hampster, but I don't know about the horses. With the animals you don't really have to be concerned about their breath or body odor, so why use dried odorless garlic when you can give the fresh, which is cheaper, better for them, and a great treat? : )