Healthy Natural Dog Food: Part 3 Garlic and Your Dog
by Dr. Janice Elenbaas, founder of Lucky Dog Cuisine
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Ah,
garlic! As a woman who loves to cook and to eat, I am thrilled to
learn about all the wonderful health benefits of my favorite
seasoning. I cook for all the members of my family and that includes
our furry babies. My dogs eat a healthy, cooked, natural human grade
dog food that I prepare.
Garlic has been used for centuries as a
blood tonic. There has recently been controversy over feeding dogs
garlic. Too much can cause a disease called hemolytic anemia. Too
much means 50 cloves at one time – that is too much for anyone!
Conservative use of one or 2 cloves per 50lb dog a few times a week has
so many benefits. Now even the AAFCO (American Association of Feed
Control Officials) recognizes garlic as safe. The AAFCO is responsible
for monitoring the safety of animal feed products and gathers
information from professional toxicologists from all over the United
States.
Let’s look at some of the amazing natural health
benefits of garlic. It has effects on many organ systems. For the skin,
it makes its way through sweat glands and pores. Insects are 10,000
times more sensitive to its smell, making garlic an effective natural
deterrent against ticks, fleas and mosquitoes. Imagine, no fleas for
your dog just by feeding human grade dog food containing garlic. For
the stomach, garlic triggers gastric juices for better digestion and
promotes the growth of friendly bacteria in the digestive tract. It
also has the ability to help regulate blood sugar and reduces
cholesterol and triglycerides while purifying the liver by helping with
detoxification. Garlic also contains the powerful antioxidant,
selenium. Selenium activates enzymes, which protect against cancer.
Cancer is the leading cause of non-accidental deaths in dogs. The
National Cancer Institute has found garlic to be effective in slowing
the growth of cancer cells.
In summary, we can see that garlic
stimulates immunity. It has antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic
and antiviral properties. It also aids in digestion and detoxification
The
power of nature is seen again in the wonderful effects of garlic. The
best way to receive these benefits is through eating a diet rich in
whole, natural, unprocessed foods. Dogs, like people live longer when
fed human grade dog foods that contain vitamins, minerals and real
ingredients like natural garlic. It is a simple thing to do to add to
the health and vitality of your canine family! And it tastes great too!
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Dr. Janice Elenbaas DC has had a long and successful career as a
Chiropractor to both humans and animals. As the first woman recognized
to adjust animals in Canada and a founding member of the first Ontario
Veterinarian Chiropractic Association she is passionate about our
animals’ health. With four years of Nutritional Studies coupled with a
natural approach to health care and a lifelong love of animals it was
only natural that Dr. Elenbaas founded Lucky Dog Cuisine Inc. A company
dedicated to providing All American, all natural, “Human Grade”, cooked
meals for dogs.
Read more about Dr. Elenbaas and Lucky Dog Cuisine.