Apple cider vinegar for animals

Apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries for a whole number of things. From cleaning wounds, getting rid of mould, helping improve your gut health and also for benefiting animals!

Used as a folk remedy for both humans and livestock, ACV is known for its beneficial properties. Containing antioxidants and polyphenols, ACV has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, too.

ACV contains healthful substances such as potassium, proteins, acetic acid and vitamins.

Benefits of ACV for animals according to various studies

– May increase egg production in chickens

– Due to the alkalising effect of ACV, it generally improves health in dogs. Apple cider vinegar may also improve fertility and endurance of working dogs.

– As a result of ACV’s anti-inflammatory properties, it may reduce any irritation or itching caused by fleas, ringworms or other skin allergies, when used as a solution in a bath.

– It is thought to help encourage feathering and growth in birds.

Apple cider vinegar may also be used as a treatment for bug bites, cleaning and for disinfecting.

Apple cider vinegar for dogs

In general, ACV has been used for pets to help with weight loss, reduce skin inflammation such as itching and also to try and control fleas.

By giving dogs apple cider vinegar, they may have improved digestion, overall better gut health, shinier coat and less allergies. When consumed, ACV will help reduce any inflammation in the body and will also support the immune system by balancing the pH. We recommend diluting the ACV with 50% water when giving it to animals to consume orally.

If your dog has a relatively processed diet, you may find that they are suffering from allergies, vomiting and diarrhoea etc. This is a result of their pH being out of balance. Try introducing apple cider vinegar into their diet to bring down their pH range. By doing this, you will find that their digestion may have improved due to the increase in their stomach acid enabling them to break-down fats, proteins and any carbs in their food.

How to introduce apple cider vinegar into your dogs diet/ routine

Does your dog suffer with ear problems?

Try using 50% ACV with water and soak a cotton ball. Once soaked, wipe out the ears with the cotton ball until there is nothing more coming out of the ear.

Does your dog suffer from itchy skin or dandruff?

Not only does ACV balance the body’s pH but due to its antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, it can help naturally improve any skin-infections.

We recommend doing a patch test on your dog 24 hours prior to full application of ACV to test whether your dog may be allergic to it. Signs to look out for are:

– Increased irritation

– Redness

– Vomiting

If no reaction is caused by the patch test, we recommend diluting 50% ACV to 50% water and pouring this into a spray bottle. You can then easily distribute the mixture from the spray bottle onto any affected areas. Make sure that you avoid any wounds or sores as this may worsen/ bring pain to the dog. This mixture can also be used all over the coat to improve its health and add more of a shine to it.

You can also use ACV as part of a bathing routine! We suggest adding 2 tbsps of apple cider vinegar to water and apply after shampooing your dog. We recommend not rinsing this off the coat to get a longer lasting effect, to repel any pests and to benefit the coat for longer.