Apple Cider Vinegar is Good For Your Dog, Cat and You – Health Benefits, Uses, Dosage

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) has been used for centuries for its medical properties and as a dietary supplement. In Greece, around 400 BC the father of modern medicine – Hippocrates prescribed ACV with honey to treat many ailments. By the later part of the 1700s about 70% of all farmers in USA’s New England states owned-operated apple cider milling/pressing equipment.  Due to the many uses and availability of ACV, it became a common currency of exchange – particularly in rural areas where coins were comparatively in short supply.

 

Naturally fermented, unpasteurized, organic ACV contains ‘mother of vinegar’ - a cloudy sediment-filled liquid which contains the healthful properties of ACV.

Distilled, pasteurized, over-processed ACV (the type of ACV that is available at most the grocery stores), lacks the beneficial properties of unpasteurized, organic ACV as the pasteurizing, filtering process destroys the ‘mother of vinegar’.

In this article you will learn about…

• The beneficial properties of ACV;
• Health benefits of ACV;
• The many beneficial ways to use ACV for your dog’s health;
• Dosage (provided for dogs, cats, humans)
• What to look for when buying ACV;
• Cautions, side effects;

 Beneficial Properties In Mother of Vinegar

• Acetic acid (the primary active ingredient);
• Amino, Lactic and Propionic Acid;
• Anti-bacterial – when used topically and ingested, ACV inhibits the growth of bad bacteria;
• Anti-fungal;
• Anti-viral;
• Vitamins and minerals including:
• Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, B2 and B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Pro-vitamin Beta-Carotene, Vitamin P (bioflavonoids);
• Potassium – protects against tooth decay, heart-healthy as it helps to keeps blood pressure in-check – ACV is an excellent source of easily-absorbable potassium;
  Pectin – helps lower LDL (bad cholesterol);
• Potash – source of fibre.

Health Benefits/Uses of Organic ACV

Aids Digestion
ACV helps to stimulate stomach acid. Stomach acid aids the digestion of protein and fats.

De-Toxer ACV helps to clean the blood and liver of toxins. A constant and heavy toxic load forces the liver to work overtime – eventually leading to organ fatigue, toxicity and finally organ failure. A dog can end-up carrying a serious toxic load as he/she may ingest and otherwise absorb multiple toxins in the course of a typical day…for example:

• Many commercially manufactured dog and cat food (dry kibble, wet canned food, treats);
• Fluorinated water;
• Road-salt (very carcinogenic);
• Chemical-based household cleaners (breathing in the vapours, licking surfaces, lying on chemically cleaned surfaces);
• Surface contact and/or ingesting grass treated with fertilizers and pesticides. 

Dietary Supplement

ACV can be used topically and as a dietary supplement. As a dietary supplement ACV can be added directly to your dog’s and cat's fresh drinking water or to one of your dog’s daily meals.

Dosage (human dosage provided at the bottom of the article):

• Small Dogs (and cats) up to 14 lbs - 1 tsp;
• Medium Dogs (and cats) 15 lbs to 34 lbs - 2 ts;
• Large Dogs:
• 35 lbs to 84 lbs - 1 tbs;
• 85 lbs to 134 lbs - 1.5 tbsp;
• 135 lbs to 200 lbs – 2 tbsp.

Ear Care

• ACV can be used to clean your dog’s and cat's ear;
• ACV can be used to treat yeast –based ear infections.

• Combine equal parts of ACV and distilled water, mix the solution; 
• With a syringe or dropper, gently drop about 10 drops of the liquid into your dog’s /cat's ear - make sure that the syringe is located at the entrance to the ear canal - the syringe should never be placed inside of the ear canal. 
• Gently rub/massage the ear in a circular motion, then remove your hand and let your dog/cat shake its head.

Caution – do not use this treatment if you dog’s ear drums are perforated or punctured. To learn more about ear infections, causes and other options for treatments and remedies continue reading here.

If your dog or cat is prone to yeast-based ear infections…

• Most cases of yeast-based ear infections in dogs and cats are a result of Candida (overgrowth of bad bacteria in the GI Tract which causes leaky-gut syndrome and results in yeast infection which may surface in the ears, paws, etc. 
• Grains in a dog's and cat's diet are the number one cause of food sensitivity leading to yeast infections!
• Sugar in a dog’s and cat's diet can cause Candida – many commercially made dog and cat treats/dog food contain both grains and sugar!

• So, to cure the problem you have to do two things:  
• Get the intensity of the infection – inflammation, under control = the treatment; 
• Fix your dog’s and cat's diet - this is the long-term maintenance portion of the solution = the remedy.

Fur and Skin Health
ACV helps prevent dry skin, promotes the growth and maintenance of healthy fur and is effective in the treatment of:

• Acne – apply undiluted ACV with a soft cloth or cotton ball;
• Burns (minor) – apply undiluted ACV with a soft cloth or cotton ball;
• Hot Spots;
• Skin Infections.

As a Treatment for Hot Spots and Skin Infections

For hot spots and skin infections:

• Bath your dog or cat in a warm (not hot!) Rooibos Tea, and;
• Then do a second rinse using:
• 1 part ACV to 3 parts water – if the effected spot is small you can use a soft cloth or cotton ball to apply both rinses.
• If the skin is broken dilute the ACV mixture further (1 part ACV to 4 parts water);
• Then be very careful as the acidic nature of ACV can cause stinging/pain; 
• Test a small area first by dabbing the ACV/water solution with a cotton ball onto a tiny test area, do not do a full soak on skin with broken areas without testing first!

Skunk Odour treatment

• Sponge undiluted ACV onto fur and skin – avoiding eyes;
• Allow the ACV to dry;
• Follow with non-toxic, non-carcinogenic Shampoo and Rinse

GI Tract Health - Promotes Growth of Good Flora
ACV is a prebiotic and helps maintain the proper acid/alkaline balance of the digestive tract.

• Prebiotics feed probiotics;
• Probiotics are the healthy microorganisms (good bacteria) that reside in a dog’s GI Tract.
• When the population of good bacteria is depleted bad bacteria can flourish resulting in candida and other health issues. 
• Helps prevent and remedy constipation;
• Helps regularize bowl movements;
• Helps keep the colon clean.

Metabolism Booster, Appetite Reducer

If your dog, cat or yourself have a slow metabolism - adding ACV to the diet can help increase the rate of metabolism. In addition to ACV, turmeric is another excellent metabolism (and immune system) booster. Both can be added to the diet. My dog's get both turmeric and ACV as part of their daily diet.

In addition, ACV can be taken in-between or before meals to stave-off hunger. If you need your dog to loose weight you can also add some fresh fruits and vegetables to his/her diet in between meals. This will help keep the GI tract clean, detox, provide antioxidants and important vitamins and nutrients. But it is important to know which fruits and vegetables are safe for dogs and proper preparation to ensure maximum benefits. You can read about that here.

Treatment, Remedy for Eye Infections

Distilled Water and ACV (room temperature)

Not for use with pink-eye

• Combine;
• 2 tbs distilled water with;
• 4 drops of ACV;
• Stir well;
• Drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears;

If you would like to understand more about eye infections...

• Typical Causes of an Eye Infection;
• Typical Signs that Your Dog's or Cat's Eye May Be Infected;  
• Typical Signs of Pink Eye - Conjunctivitis
• Contagiousness of Eye Infections
• Treating and Curing Eye Infections
• Topical Treatments
• Ingested (Dietary) Remedies 
• Duration of Treatment
• When To Get Your Dog or Cat to Your Veterinarian
• You can read this article.

Insect Repellent – Natural, Safe

Parasites such as fleas, ticks mosquitoes and worms do not do well in an environment that is not supportive of their life and reproductive requirements. Such parasites do not like acidic environments. ACV is acidic and therefore not an attractive substance for these parasites.The following topical treatment kills adult fleas and is soothing on a dog’s skin…

Topical Treatment for Infestation of Fleas   

Natural Shampoo with ACV, Aloe Vera and Tea Tree-Oil
CAUTION - Do not use this recipe on cats - see further below for cat appropriate recipes (and other recipes for dogs)

This treatment kills fleas as they will drown in the soapy water, the after shampoo rinse and spray acidifies the surface of skin and fur making it an inhospitable environment for fleas. Don't over apply this recipe - this recipe includes tea tree oil. Tea tree oil should always be used with restraint. It is a potent substance which should never be over used on a dog and should not be used on cats at all...

You will need:

• An 8 oz bottle;
• Tea Tree Oil (don't use tee tree oil on cats);
• 100% Aloe Vera Juice;
• ACV;
• Fresh, clean water.

Preparation

• Pour the shampoo into the 8 ounce bottle;
• Add 10 drops of tea tree oil;
• Add 1 tablespoon of aloa vera juice;
• Shake well.

 Treatment

• Shampoo Your Dog;
• Wait 6 to 10 minutes.

Rinse Your Dog

• Then rinse with ACV diluted in water – 1 tablespoon ACV for every pint of water.
• Allow your dog to shake the excess water off;

 After-Rinse Spray

• Then follow-up with a spray of equal parts ACV to water;  
• You can also add fresh squeezed lemon juice;
• Do not get the shampoo, rinse or spray in your dog’s eyes;
• The spray can be used on a daily basis and may be used several times a day. 

Natural Spray, Spot-on and Collar Drop Recipes to repel Fleas, Ticks, Mosquitos from Cats and Dogs

• DIY Natural, Herbal, Homeopathic Flea, Tick, Mosquito Repellent Sprays, Rubs, Dips, Rinse for Dogs and Cats- read here.

• DIY Natural, Herbal, Homeopathic Flea, Tick, Mosquito Spot-On and Collar Drops for Dogs and Cats- read here

Body pH Balance - Restore, Maintain Good pH Balance

ACV is an excellent aid to restore pH balance. Poor diet can disrupt the pH balance of your dog’s blood. Acidification of the blood creates a foot-hold for the development of various illnesses.

AVC for Cleaning

Daily exposure to the air born vapors, droplets, and surface residue of chemical based household cleaners are one of the villains a dog’s system must fight to stay healthy. You can help reduce the daily stress on his/her system by making your own dog friendly household cleaners. In addition, many of the chemicals are lethally poisonous to dogs and other animals. You can use ACV as a multipurpose cleaner either on its own or with fresh lemon juice and/or baking soda. I use ACV to clean counters, floors, carpet etc. ACV is an amazing all-purpose house-hold cleaner. To learn about the many ways you can use ACV to replace chemical based household cleaners read on here.

Cautions, Side Effects
If your dog is on insulin or diuretics do not add ACV to his/her diet there may be an interaction between insulin/drugs and the ACV. When ACV is taken with a meal, ACV slows the rise of blood sugar – this suggests that a reduced amount of insulin is required to process the food. The dosage of insulin you give your dog may have to be adjusted to account for lower blood-sugar levels.

Dogs who are suffering from an irritated intestinal tract lining should not take (ingest) ACV.

What to Look for When Buying Organic ACV

Make sure you are purchasing ACV which is:

• Organic;
  Organic ACV has more nutrients than non-organic ACV;
• Organic ACV does not have the high-levels of toxins (pesticides and herbicides) present in ACV made from non-organic apples;
• Unfiltered;
• Unpasteurized – you should be able to see a little sediment floating at the bottom of the bottle.

Additional Information - Pertaining to Human Dosage

1tbsp of organic unpasterized ACV mixed with water can be:

• Consumed prior to meals to stave-off hunger, speed-up the metabolism and as, well provide all of the benefits noted above;
• Consumed after a meal to remedy:
• Heartburn problems;
• Acid reflex.

As ACV is very acidic it is much easier to ingest when it is mixed with another liquid. Mix your dosage of ACV with one of the following:

• 8 oz of water;
• 8 oz of cooled green tea;
• 8 oz of Rooibos tea.

Maximum Dosage for Humans:

2 tbsp three times a day.

Holistic Support

Holistic Wellness Services and Holistic Behaviorist Services 

Do you need holistic advice to support your companion animal's health and well being? Become a client. Book your consultation. My professional holistic nutrition, wellness and behavioral services are available to you:
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For more information go here. 
✅  Maintain Health, and;
✅  Address Health Issues and Conditions:
✓ Treatment and Remedy 
✓ Pre-Surgery holistic support protocols
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For more information go here. 
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Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld 

Lemons - Good for Dogs, Many Health Benefits and Uses

 Lemons are amazing - in this article you will find...

1. The many Health Benefits of adding lemon to your dog’s diet;
2. How to use Lemon Topically to Treat Skin Conditions;
3. How to use lemon to Prevent Frostbite;
4. How to use lemon to aid in Repelling Insects such as Mosquitos;
5. How to use lemon to aid in Treating Urinary Tract Infections (UTI);
6. How to use lemon to make Shampoo/Cleanser/Rinse for your dog;
7. How to use lemon to Treat Eye Infections;
8. What Type of Lemon you should use;
9. How to Add Lemon to Your Dog’s Diet.

1.0  Many Health Benefits Of Lemon For Your Dog

Allergy Reducer Lemon helps to reduce the symptoms of allergies... 

• Combine Lemon with Rooibos Tea for an even better allergy reducing aid.
• Also use lemon alone or in combination with other all-natural ingredients for dog friendly household cleaners - to replace chemical based household cleaners and avoid toxic build-up and allergies in your dog.

Arthritis
Lemons are a very alkaline food when ingested. Lemons on their own are acidic however when ingested lemons have an alkalizing effect in the body - the citric acid does not create acidity in the body once metabolized, instead the lemon has an alkalizing effect that helps the body balance PH levels thereby helping to relieve arthritis pain. Adding lemon to your puppies diet early on can help prevent the development of debilitating arthritis later in your dog's life.

Anti-Aging Properties

The high levels of antioxidants present in lemons help the body fight against aging.

Antibacterial 

Juice of a fresh lemon can destroy many forms of bacteria, including those that cause deadly disease.

Cancer Inhibitor 

As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C protects your dog’s cells from free radicals. Free radicals are charged atoms that form when specific molecules interact with oxygen. The free radicals then react with cell membranes and the DNA within cells – the reaction damages the DNA and membranes and thus the cell itself. Damaged cell structure is the first stage in the lead-up to cancer. A diet high in viable high-quality antioxidants plays a significant role in preventing the development of cancer. Lemons contain a grand total of 22 anti-cancer compounds, these include:

Limonene – oil that slows and /or halts the growth of cancer tumours;

Flavonol glycosides - that stop cell division in cancer cells.

Calming
Lemon acts as a sedative for nerves and can be used to help induce calm.

De-Toxifier, Protection against Poisoning

The ancient Egyptians ate lemons and drank lemon juice in order to protect themselves from a variety of poisons. Research has confirmed that the ancients where right. For example - lemons are a natural remedy (as are Garlic and apple cider vinegar) for food poisoning – i.e. salmonella and e-colli. The powerful acids present in lemon juice can kill the harmful microorganisms and toxins in the GI Tract that may be absorbed into the body by ingesting food laced with bacteria, fungi, harsh chemicals (i.e. pesticides) and other biological agents. In addition lemons are high in minerals and vitamins that help loosen toxins in the digestive tract.

Diarrhea and Constipation
Lemon aids in the cleansing of the bowels (killing bad bacteria and dislodging toxins) which helps eliminate both constipation and diarrhea.

Digestive Aid 

If you can get your dog to drink a little lemon juice mixed with an equal part of warm water your dog’s digestive tract will be stimulated which helps maintain the movement of food through your dog’s GI Tract. 

Disease Fighting

Lemons are a rich source of limonoids (phytochemicals), that are vital disease-fighting compounds which when present in sufficient concentration are effective in helping to inhibit certain cancers – for example ovarian cancer and oral-cavity tumours.

Eye Disorders
The symptoms of eye disorders, including diabetic retinopathy can be mitigated with the ingestion of lemon due the rutin present in lemons.

Ear Infections

Using a lemon flush is an effective way to keep your dog’s ears clean and free of infection. Ear infections are one of the most common ailments in dogs.

Heart Health
Lemons contain a relatively high level of potassium – potassium is beneficial to heart-health.

Immune System Health

Lemons are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that supports immune system function.

Intestinal Parasites 

Lemon is a natural de-wormer as is garlic. 

Liver Health
Lemon stimulates the liver, dissolves uric acid and other poisons thereby supporting liver health.

Nutrient Absorption 

Vitamin C helps the body absorb calcium, Vitamin C, Vitamin B3, Selenium and Glutathione work in tandem with Vitamin E to avoid liver and gall bladder problems – also a host of other long-term benefits i.e. aids in preventing/alleviating digestive problems, especially mal-absorption of nutrients. The following provides a list of vitamins and Minerals that are found in lemons...lemons are:

• Very high in vitamin C;
• Nature’s top source of citric acid;
• One of nature’s top seven sources of potassium!

Minerals in Lemons		Vitamins in Lemons
Potassium - 116 mg		Vitamin C - 44.5 mg
Calcium - 22 mg		Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.034 mg
Phosphorus - 13 mg		Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.017 mg
Magnesium - 7 mg		Vitamin A - 18 IU
Sodium - 2 mg Iron - 0.5 mg Selenium 0.3 mcg Manganese - 0.025 mg Copper - 0.031 mg Zinc - 0.05 mg Also contains small amounts of other minerals.		Niacin - 0.084 mg Folate - 9 mcg Pantothenic Acid - 0.16 mg Vitamin B6 - 0.067 mg Vitamin E - 0.13 mg Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.

Stimulate Appetite

For most dogs this is not an issue, but a dog that is stressed, grieving etc. or suffering from certain medical conditions may not eat enough. The high potassium content of lemons can help to stimulate appetite.

Strengthen Blood Vessels
Lemon contains bioflavoniods (vitamin P) that strengthen blood vessels and prevent internal hemorrhaging.

Teeth and Bones 

The high vitamin C content of lemons helps the body absorb/metabolize calcium. A diet that is rich in vitamin C creates an environment in which bacteria does not thrive. These foods also increase saliva production which helps to wash away bacteria and plaque. To understand more about the other benefits of vitamin C in dog dental read more here.

Weight Loss
 Lemon are high in pectin fiber which helps to stop huger pains. Additionally a more alkaline diet promotes weight loss. So if your dog is overweight add some lemon to his/her diet. Turmeric is excellent as an aid to weight loss as well. Adding a little fruit and vegetables to your dog’s diet can also help your dog lose weight.

 

2.0 Treat Skin Conditions

Acne – Puppy Dermititus (Impetigo and Acne), Skin-Fold Pyoderma

Acne, often located on the chin or lips - can occur in puppies 3 months of age or older and is most common in Boxers, Bulldogs, Dobermans and Rottweillers, but can also occur in other breeds of dogs. Skin-Fold Pyoderma occurs when inflammation results from skin constantly rubbing together. To treat these conditions you use a cotton ball to apply:

• Undiluted lemon juice (do not use undiluted lemon juice if the skin is broken as the undiluted lemon will sting);
• Green tea and lemon -  steep a bag of green tea, let it cool to warn temperature, add the juice of half a lemon and using a cotton ball apply the resulting lemon-tea to the affected area – do not rinse;
• You can also mix 1 part lemon juice with an equal portion of rose or manuka honey water – apply with a cotton ball and leave the mixture on the skin for a minimum of half an hour, then rinse with water.
• You can also bath the puppy in the treatments noted above.

These treatments work best if applied twice a day.

3.0 Avoid Frostbite – Vascular Damage

Lemon juice (like ginger) increases circulation which can help avoid vascular damage leading to frostbite. Dogs with short fur such as my Boxer are prone to frostbite of the ears in cold weather. 

4.0 An Aid to Repelling insects such as Mosquito;

Lemon when applied topically can be used to repel insects and parasites. Mosquitoes do not like the scent of citrus…read here to find out  how to use lemon to repel insects from your dog.

 

5.0 Treatment aid for Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

If you catch the UTI in its early stages and/or the infection is not extremely severe you can use lemon to treat the infection…

Topical Treatment

Use the cleanser as described in 6.0 below to bath your dog – this will help to flush out bacteria that might otherwise invade your dog’s urinary tract.

Ingested Treatment
Mix the following together in a bowl:

• Fresh lemon juice – you can also add some minced lemon;
• Use an equal part of warm water;
• And some fresh or frozen crushed cranberries to the lemon juice/warm water mixture and pour the resulting mixture into a food bowl.
• You can also add a few slices of orange (cut it up, don’t use whole uncut sections) and;
• 1 tsp to 1 tbs of organic unfiltered, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar.

Give this treatment to your dog twice a day until the infection clears. If the infection does not clear-up in the space of a day its time to get some professional help. You can read more about UTI's here.

6.0 Safe, Effective Shampoo/Cleanser/Rinse

Lemon can be used in combination with greet tea and apple cider vinegar as a highly effective cleansing and disinfecting rinse. An excellent alternative to commercially made pet shampoos which can be full of toxins and carcinogens. Just as you would with commercially made shampoos - make sure you avoid getting the lemon juice cleansing rinse in your dog’s eyes. 

To make the rinse:

• Steep a bag or two of green tea;
• Allow the tea to cool to room temperature;
• Add the juice of a fresh lemon, and;
• Use the resulting liquid to bath your dog.
• You can also add a few tbs of organic, unfiltered, apple cider vinegar to the tea and lemon mixture.

 

7.0 Treatment for Eye Infections

Distilled Water and Fresh Lemon Juice (room temperature)

Not for use with pink-eye

• Combine;
• 2 tbs distilled water with;
• 4 drops of fresh squeezed lemon juice;
• Stir well;
• Drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears;

If you would like to understand more about eye infections...

• Typical Causes of an Eye Infection;
• Typical Signs that Your Dog's or Cat's Eye May Be Infected;  
• Typical Signs of Pink Eye - Conjunctivitis
• Contagiousness of Eye Infections
• Treating and Curing Eye Infections
• Topical Treatments
• Ingested (Dietary) Remedies 
• Duration of Treatment
• When To Get Your Dog or Cat to Your Veterinarian
• You can read this article.

 

8.0 What Type of Lemon Should You Use?

Don’t use bottled, processed/pasteurized lemon juice – this type of lemon juice loses its beneficial properties during pasteurization and processing. Use fresh lemons and fresh squeezed lemon juice.

How to Choose a Good Lemon

The heavier and fresher the lemon the better the health properties of the lemon!

9.0 How to Add the Lemon to Your dog’s Diet

Preparing the Lemon

• Freeze a whole lemon and grate a little over your dog’s food;
• Add fresh lemon juice to your dog’s water bowl – remember to change the lemon water on a daily basis.
• Add fresh-finely minced lemon to your dog’s food.

• Peel the lemon and slice it into 4 to 6 pieces;
• Remove the seeds;
• Finely chop/mince the sections of lemon - I use a food processor to do this;
• Add the finely minced lemon to your dogs’ food once a day;
• Store any remaining minced lemon in an air tight glass container (in the refrigerator) for several days.  

Adding The Lemon to The Daily Diet

• Start by using the half the recommended lowest dosage in your dog's size range - see 'Daily Dosage' below;
• Over the space of a week to 10 days gradually increase the amount of lemon to the lowest recommended dosage for your dog's size range;
• You can then increase to the higher dosage in your dog's range if you would like to do so.

Daily Dosage (non-therapeutic)

• X-Small dogs - 1/16 to 1/4 tsp/day
• Small dogs - 1/4 to 1 tsp/day
• Medium dogs - 1 to 2 tsp/day
• Large dogs - 2  to 3 tsp/day
• X-Large dogs 3 to 4 tsp/day

10.0 Lemon and Citrus 'Not Safe' says the ASPCA and
        HSUS... 

'Really' says me, well ASPCA and HSUS you are wrong - your condemnation of lemon and citrus as poisonous for dogs is completely out of context. Many foods are poisonous and health threatening in many ways if consumed in unreasonable quantities. Both organizations (but primarily the ASPCA) also condemns other beneficial foods as 'unsafe' for dogs. The reason for the condemnation is allopathic  rather than logic based... 

So I will set the record straight here and now...

There are many foods that when provided in moderation (to a dog) have many health benefits...the following provides some examples of such items that can contribute much to your dogs health when used properly and with common sense...

• Lemon as noted above; 
• Dairy;
• Garlic;
  Fats - while some fats are extremely bad for dogs and other fats are 100% essential for dogs;
• Tea - specifically some herbal teas like green tea, camomile tea and rooibos tea provide many health benefits to a dog, yet these are listed as dangerous. There are teas that are dangerous for dogs and other teas that are beneficial.
• Fish, eggs, organ meats, etc. are all good for dogs when included in moderation, but when that threshold is exceeded each of these foods can become health threatening to a dog:
• Cranberries;

The key is to provide these foods within a threshold where the food retains its healthful contributions - just as we would approach foods in the human diet. All of the above foods are part of my dogs' daily diet. According to the ASPCA's guidelines they should all be quite ill. My dogs are all very healthy - how can that be? I mean the ASPCA must right, right? Actually they are wrong. 

When fresh lemon or other fresh citrus is added to the daily diet in reasonable amounts toxicity is not normally an issue. If instead your dog drinks a couple of tablespoons of lemon oil - I would say get your dog to the veterinarian ASAP. 

Dogs have, for 1000's of years eaten 'people' food including dairy products such as kefir and yogurt, hard cheese, cottage cheese. My dogs eat (in reasonable beneficial quantities) yogurt hard cheese and cottage cheese every day, as do many of my client's dogs. My dogs are very healthy. 

For the most part with some exceptions, the same food that is bad for people is also bad for dogs - highly processed food! Fresh whole foods of many kinds are excellent for dogs as are many herbs and spices.

The ASPCA also lists raw meat as dangerous for dogs - funny that raw meat is a species appropriate/biologically appropriate food for dogs. It is not that raw meat id bad for dogs, it is that when the raw meat is not stored and handled properly it can BECOME a source of e-coli, etc.

Prior to the 1950's when most dog's ate 'people' food dog's lived twice the life span that they live now.

I find it ironic that the ASPCA does not include on their list of foods that are bad for dogs  highly toxic, carcinogenic ingredients that are in many commercially made processed dog foods, items such as...
Ethoxyquin;

Corn;

Soy; 

The many ingredients listed in this article, and;

The many ingredients (approved by the FDA and AFCO) listed in this article, and;

The health threatening toxic preservatives discussed in this article...

all commonly found in dry and wet processed commercially manufactured dog and cat food.

In my opinion a proper list of dangerous foods for dogs should be based on common sense, logic and a proper explanation such as this list.

As well the ASPCA fails to mention all of the toxins commonly included in dog care products such as dental chews, toothpaste and dog shampoo.

So is lemon bad for dogs? Only if you feed it to your dog in unreasonable quantities, and why would anyone want to do that?

Does lemon provide great benefits for your dog when provided in reasonable quantities, as evidenced by my own dogs - I would have to conclude yes, lemon when used properly, is beneficial, just as garlic, dairy, specific herbal teas are. The ASPCA's fear mongering (regarding many wonderful food stuffs that can provide health benefits to our dogs) is ill conceived.

11.0 Holistic Support

Holistic Wellness Services and Holistic Behaviorist Services 

Holistic Wellness and Behaviorist Services

Do you need holistic advice to support your companion animal's health and well being? Become a client. Book your consultation. My professional holistic nutrition, wellness and behavioral services are available to you:
🌿 Holistic Wellness Services for Dogs and Cats 🐕 🐈
🌿 Holistic Behaviorist Services for Dogs 🐕

My Holistic Client Services are Available Worldwide:
🇺🇸 USA
🇨🇦 Canada
🇬🇧 UK and other European countires
🇦🇺 Australia and other Oceania countires
🇭🇰 Hong Kong and other Asian countries
🇨🇷 Costa Rica and other Central American countries 
🇪🇺 European countries
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago and other South America countries
🇿🇦 South Africa and other African countries
🇸🇪 Sweden and other european countries
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Available Holistic Consultations and Sessions:
📱 FaceTime
📱 Facebook video or voice calling
💻 Skype
📞 Phone
📧 Email 
🚶🏻‍♀️ In-Person

Menu of Holistic Wellness Services for Dogs and Cats 🐕🐈
For more information go here. 
✅  Maintain Health, and;
✅  Address Health Issues and Conditions:
✓ Treatment and Remedy 
✓ Pre-Surgery holistic support protocols
✓ Post-Surgery holistic healing protocols
✓ Pre-Vaccine holistic support protocols 
✓ Post-Vaccine holistic support protocols
✓ Natural Insect and Parasite Prevention
✓ Natural Treatment for Insect, Parasite Infestation, Co-Infection, Disease
✅  Custom Designed Whole Food Diets - raw or gently cooked, and;
✅  Advice and Recommendation: 
✓ Premade Diets - raw, dehydrated, freeze dried 
✓ Supplemental Fresh Foods - raw, gently cooked
✓ Super foods
✓ Treats - raw, dehydrated, freeze dried, gently cooked
✓ Herbs 
✓ Alternative Medicines

Menu of Holistic Behaviorist Services for Dogs 🐕
For more information go here. 
In-person Sessions - available locally
Voice and Video Sessions - available worldwide 
✓   Obedience Training
✓   Behavior Modification
✓   Psychological Rehabilitation

Affiliations to Companies
✓ None.
✓ I don't sell food or supplements.
✓ I'm not aligned with any companies.
✓ I choose to maintain my objectivity in selecting best-solutions for my individual client's needs.

Contact me
karen@ottawavalleydogwhisperer.ca

Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld