It is bad for dogs to have garlic to rid fleas.?

Question

I was told that garlic is bad for dogs, can cause liver damage and much worse it can kill the dog. Does anyone know about this and what is the max of garlic a dog can have. Any help would be really great.
Kind Regards. Rose.

Answer 1

i used to (when I had spaniels) always add garlic when cooking their meals and never had any bad effect, I have never heard of it being bad for them

Answer 2

Hi garlic is good for many ailments but it doesn't cure flea problems really...I have used garlic flea products & it never works but worth a try as are other things that are not going to cause a pet any problems...
The use of garlic is good in the condition of pets though...
Regards Jake

Answer 3

As I stated in another post, I use garlic powder daily - but I do not use the "human" seasoning powder ... I buy the garlic powder in pet stores that is specifically formulated for pets.

Below are examples of products I would buy:

http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/product1.asp?pf_id=10575301&affiliateCode=PF012803&cm_ven=Performics&cm_cat=Yahoo%20Search%20Submit%20(SMX)&cm_ite=DDI%20Link

http://springtimeinc.com/product/35/2?r=garlictoxDs


Here is an article that explains the health benefits of garlic:

http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/garlic_for_dogs.html

The following article, while indicating that garlic *can* be toxic, also ends stating that the small amounts found in some dog foods have not been shown to cause any problems:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&articleid=1350

Although I have rushed a dog to the ER after he'd swiped some food that had onion in it, I have never had any garlic related health problems with any of my dogs.

For my pets, garlic has worked in keeping fleas at bay.

I hope this info helps. Good luck!

Answer 4

Yes, garlic IS bad for dogs.

Like onions, garlic contains a toxin called thiosulphate. In large enough quantities, it causes gastroenteritis (vomiting & diarrhoea) and haemolytic anaemia. This basically means that the animal's red blood cells burst whilst in circulation, and because the body's ability to transport oxygen is reduced the animal becomes tired and lethargic. They can also end up with bloody urine due to the haemoglobin from the burst cells.

Onion is more dangerous than garlic. I don't know what sort of quantity of garlic you'd need to feed your dog to poison it, but about 600g of onion in one go, or amounts as small as 100g a day over a few days is likely to be dangerous to a medium sized dog.

It's unlikely to work anyway...go with Frontline or Advantage from your vet.

And in response to the post by 'badgirl41', which is simply copied and pasted from a website...I have seen cases of GARLIC TOXICITY for myself in recent months.

Answer 5

I think Frontline is the best product out there. It may be more expensive than other conventional flea and tick sprays/products, but it works and keeps working for quite some time. Besides you can buy it online. Flea collars only really protect the head area so are not much use. As for the garlic, I have little faith in its effectiveness. Trust me on the Frontline.

Answer 6

Here is some scientific evidence from the veterinary literature in regards to the effects of garlic in dogs so people can judge for themselves. Just because a dog is not clinical does not mean the garlic does not have an effect within the dog. It is a fact that in dogs who have had garlic given long term are likely to have a lower red blood cell count. In many cases it is not usually low enough to cause problems in a normal healthy dog. Where garlic use in dogs really becomes a problem is when their red blood cell count is compromised for other reasons such as immune mediated causes, infectious diseases, blood loss, Kidney disease and certain types of cancer like leukemia.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=11108195&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=4&itool=pubmed_docsum
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15634869&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=4&itool=pubmed_docsum
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=11853480&query_hl=8&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=12872937

Answer 7

Garlic has long been heralded with repelling bloodsuckers. Vampires and fleas beware! By keeping garlic in your dog's diet, he'll stay free of evil bloodsuckers that are out to make a meal out of him. A word of caution however, although garlic, in small amounts, is beneficial to a dog, too much has a toxic effect. If you're concerned about the amount your dog may be recieving, please do not hesitate to contact a homeopathic veterinarian for the correct amount for your dog's weight.
Brewer's yeast is another food additive that naturally repels fleas. It should be noted, however, that neither of these natural additives will get rid of already-established fleas, but they do help prevent them from infesting.

Puppies under twelve weeks should only be combed with a proper flea comb, designed to remove critters and eggs, from the skin out, every inch of the puppy's body. Keep two bowls of water beside you, one with mild dish detergent (soap), one with plain water. Once you comb a flea out, dip the comb in the soapy water to get the flea off, and rinse in the clean water bowl.

Answer 8

Sorry...garlic does not work. We have had good success with Sentinal. It is good for us because it is heartworm prevention and flea prevention all in one. We are in the South so we keep our dogs on this year round.

Answer 9

Not at all in fact you can go to your local pet store and buy vitamins with garlic for your dog. And yes they do work for fleas you can also ask for HeartGuard from your vet this works great for fleas and other illnesses. Good Luck

Answer 10

No, garlic is not bad for dogs health at any amount. It will change his breath & might be odoriferous depending on the amount injested. But garlic does Not kill or prevent dogs for getting or having fleas.

Answer 11

You should really becareful when it comes to giving animals fruits and vegtables. Their systems can't always digest them the way ours can and they can sometime cause them to get sick or even pass away. There are a bunch of flea products that work really well. Like Frontline or Advantage. Some of them have heartworm treatments in them so becareful. You need to check if your dog has heartworms before you can give them medication to get rid of them.