Apple Cider Vinegar for your pets

Or ACV as you will see it called on holistic and natural remedy sites. Apple Cider Vinegar sounds like a miracle drug once you do your research. It contains all the nutrients of an apple, including Beta carotene, Vitamins C & E, B vitamins, Tannins, calcium, iron, magnesium...well, you get the picture.

The most important thing to remember is that you are doing your pet no good at all unless you are using organic, unfiltered, non-pasteurized, naturally fermented ACV.   It should be a gold color with the fine sandy sediment at the bottom.  When the vinegar is mature, it contains a dark, cloudy, web-like bacterial foam called mother, which becomes visible when the rich brownish liquid is held to the light. The mother can be used to add to other vinegar to hasten maturity for making more Apple Cider Vinegar. Natural vinegars that contain the mother have enzymes and minerals that other vinegars in grocery stores may not have due to over-processing, over-heating, and filtration. For this reason, it is recommended that you purchase only Natural Apple Cider Vinegar, with an ideal acidity (pH) level of 5 to 7.

The three big holistic uses of ACV for your pet are as a detoxifier, a flea repellent spray and to use on skin issues.  It can also be used as a digestive aid to increase your pets appetite and balance the pH in its system to help stabilize the elimination system. 

As a detoxifier, start by adding small amounts of ACV to your dog's drinking water and slowly build up to 1 teaspoon of ACV per 15 pounds of body weight.  It can also be added to the food if your dog doesn't like the taste.  Over time, your dog will become more and more resistant to infections.

A 50/50 mix of ACV and distilled water makes a great flea spray. It makes your dog's skin taste acidic, which fleas don't like.  And finally, for skin problems such as allergies and itching, add 2 tablespoons of ACV to a quart of water.  Use it once a week as an after-shampoo rinse. Just towel your dog dry and don't worry about rinsing the mixture off.

ACV should not be fed however, to a pet who is sensitive or allergic to yeast. In these cases it is believed that the vinegar can feed or exacerbate the problem. A great number of dogs with skin allergies have been shown to be yeast-sensitive.

Additional Information:

Get free samples of Bragg ACV here.

Book about the benefits of ACV for both people and animals.

More uses for  ACV:

For ringworm, sponge affected areas twice a day with one third water and two thirds ACV.

Adding ACV to your pet's water also helps alleviate arthritis pain.

Spray in the barn to keep flies away.

Spray ACV on horses hooves to dry up thrush.

Spray your pet's bedding every few days to keep fleas from moving in and to keep it smelling nice.