Did you know that dogs can benefit substantially from adding turmeric to their daily diet? Turmeric Powder, the vibrant yellow spice, is known to many as a natural wonder. Dogs can experience a significant reduction in inflammation, particularly with respect to arthritis, itchy skin, irritable bowel disease and general improvement in health. And lets not forget, a daily doggy dose of turmeric can reduce the frequency of those deadly dog farts that labs are infamous for. Always discuss any changes in your dog’s diet with your vet and monitor carefully for adverse reactions. So how do you use tumeric for dogs?
Which dogs benefit from turmeric in their diets?
Dogs with any of the these issues can benefit from tumeric in their diet:
- Inflamed joints and arthritis
- Chronic pain
- Digestive issues including those legendary lab farts
- Age-related progressive illnesses
- Heart or liver conditions
- Fungal and bacterial infections (including ear issues)
- Cancer support
Dosage Matters
Too much turmeric can lead to blood thinning, gallbladder issues and tummy upsets. Generally, the dose is about 1/4 of a teaspoon per 10kgs of body weight but if you have any concerns, talk to your vet first.
Turmeric Dog Paste Recipe
Mixing Turmeric with black pepper and either coconut, linseed or olive oil makes it more bioavailable. Turmeric has blood-thinning properties, so it’s advisable to check with a vet for those animals already on medication.
Here is a recipe for simple Turmeric paste, which can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks and added in small amounts to dog’s meals or mixed up with natural yogurt for a treat.
½ cup organic turmeric powder (Make sure it’s organic turmeric powder to be sure it contains lots of curcumin)
1 to 1 ½ cups filtered water
1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper (Grind organic black peppercorns in a coffee grinder or magic bullet)
¼ cup organic cold pressed virgin olive or coconut oil (Coconut oil is a great choice because it also has great health benefits)
Mix the turmeric with water in a pan, starting with 1 cup water and adding more only if needed. Stir the liquid on medium/low heat and in about 7 to 10 minutes, it should form a thick paste.Once you’ve got a paste, add the pepper and oil, then stir it very well. Store cooled mixture in a fridge.