Many herbalists recommend vinegar for pets, especially because it can be poured over garlic and other herbs to make medicinal tinctures. Even without those herbs, cider vinegar is an important ingredient in your pet's diet. Use any raw, unpasteurized, unheated, organic vinegar; apple cider vinegar is the most common but rice and wine vinegars are also available. Do not use a vinegar that is uniformly clear and clean looking, such as cider vinegar sold in supermarkets for pickle making or most of the rice and wine vinegars sold in markets and health food stores. These are "dead" vinegars with none of the enzymes and other live factors that make raw, unpasteurized vinegar so valuable.
Long a folk remedy, cider vinegar has been shown to improve the health of dairy cows, horses, dogs and other animals. It reduces common infections, aids whelping, improves stamina, prevents muscle fatigue after exercise, increases resistance to disease and protects against food poisoning. Cider vinegar is rich in the vitamins, minerals and trace elements found in apples, especially potassium; it normalizes acid levels in the stomach, improves digestion and the assimilation of nutrients, reduces intestinal gas and fecal odors, helps cure constipation, alleviates some of the symptoms of arthritis and helps prevent bladder stones and urinary tract infections.
Add cider vinegar directly to food or drinking water, starting with small amounts and building up to 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per 15 pounds of body weight for dogs and cats (1 teaspoon per day for the average cat, 1 tablespoon for a 50 pound dog or 2 tablespoons for a 90 pound dog). Dip carrot greens in cider vinegar for your rabbit or bird or sprinkle it on other foods that they like. By gradually adding small doses to your pet's food over time, you can help even the most finicky eater to accept this valuable food. |
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