Turmeric for Dogs, Everything You Need To Know
Want to learn why you should consider incorporating turmeric into your dog's diet? Let me show you what you need to know about turmeric for dogs and where to find more information.
This post is all about turmeric for dogs.
Keeping up with the research and trying to find ways to improve the lives of my two Labradoodles, Levi and Luna, drives me. Yes, I’m one of those dog moms that questions everything! We have been using turmeric on and off ever since I came upon its health benefits years ago. Below I will share with you things I have learned about turmeric, what turmeric side effects you should be aware of, where to find more information about the use of turmeric on dogs, and the products we have used and love.
In this article:
What is turmeric?
What are the benefits of turmeric?
Is turmeric safe for dogs?
How much turmeric should you give your dog?
How we feed it to our dogs
What is Turmeric?
Turmeric (Curcuma Longa), a ginger relative, is a plant native to Southeast Asia, primarily India, containing numerous positive health benefits both to humans and dogs. A rhizome, turmeric has been used in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine for 4,000 years. Aside from its medicinal uses, turmeric has also been used as a condiment, textile dye, and in perfumes.
Rich yellow in color, and with an earthy taste, turmeric is the common spice in curries. Curcumin, its active component (and what keeps scientists coming back), is what gives turmeric its antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Because turmeric is rapidly metabolized by the liver and intestinal wall researchers have found ways to increase the body’s absorption. Studies have shown that incorporating black pepper helps increase turmeric’s bioavailability. According to Planet Paws Media "a source of fresh ground black pepper and a healthy fat can turn this solo herb, turmeric, into a super powerful rock band!"
The best turmeric supplements contain either piperine, the alkaloid responsible for the pungency of black pepper, or bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme found in the pineapple.
What are the benefits of turmeric for dogs?
Ayurvedic medicine practitioners have used turmeric for a variety of health conditions including inflammation, chronic pain, skin diseases, digestive issues, and liver conditions.
Among its qualities, turmeric has the ability to improve liver function;
improve digestion by stimulating the gallbladder to produce bile;
and has shown some anti-cancer properties.
Mount Sinai reports:
There has been a great deal of research on turmeric's anti-cancer properties, but results are still preliminary. Evidence from test tube and animal studies suggests that curcumin may help prevent or treat several types of cancers, including prostate, breast, skin, and colon cancer. Tumeric's preventive effects may relate to its antioxidant properties, which protect cells from damage.
This is what Cancer Research UK had to say about turmeric:
Several studies have looked into whether curcumin could be a cancer treatment. These have had some promising results.
One of these in 2013 was an international laboratory study on bowel cancer cells. It looked at the effects of combined treatment with curcumin and chemotherapy. The researchers concluded that the combined treatment might be better than chemotherapy alone.
This hits home for us for many reasons, one of which is the passing of two of our dogs due to cancer. But this is not all:
“Turmeric has been traditionally used as an antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, choleretic, and carminative agent in the treatment of wounds and burns, gastrointestinal and liver disorders, respiratory system diseases (e.g., asthma, cough, runny nose, sinusitis), anorexia, and rheumatism.” – National Library of Medicine
Is turmeric safe for dogs?
Turmeric is mostly considered safe, but as for any supplement, some dogs may experience some side effects, and these have been found to be mostly due to high dosage. Reported side effects include upset stomach, dizziness, and nausea.
According to Future You Cambridge “If your dog is prone to kidney stones, turmeric tablets may make this problem worse as it can increase urinary oxalate levels. This makes the formation of kidney stones more likely.”
Other side effects reported have been worsening gallbladder problems, decreased blood sugar, and iron deficiency. Turmeric is a blood thinner after all, and therefore clotting issues may occur.
Another thing to be aware of is contamination. Stanford researchers have found an industrial lead chromate pigment in turmeric used by some processors in Bangladesh to give the spice its bright yellow color. As we know, lead is a potent neurotoxin. Please keep this in mind when sourcing turmeric for you and your dog. If you can’t decide, grow your own!
As always, speak with your veterinarian before introducing turmeric to your dog's diet as there may be possible interactions between turmeric and some kinds of medications.
How much turmeric should you give your dog?
Dogs Naturally Magazine recommends the dose of turmeric for dogs to be 15mg-20mg per pound of body weight.
How we feed it to our dogs
We either add it to frozen treats we make ourselves from raw goat milk or buy it in food toppers already made. We have tried and loved Primal Pet Foods Awesome Squash Topper. Awesome Squash Fresh Topper is formulated with butternut squash, apple cider vinegar, and organic cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger.
Another of our favorites is Kin and Kind Healthy Hip + Joint Supplement for Dogs:
We have also tried making these Turmeric Latte Golden Milk Gummy Dog Treats by Dalmatian DIY and love them!
The last recipe I want to share is how to make Turmeric Paste by Planet Paws:
Want to know more about all the health benefits of turmeric? Take a quick look at this four-minute video by Dr. Karen Becker at Mercola Healthy Pets.
As with everything we share here, please, please do your own research and speak with your vet before adding to or changing your dogs diet.