Today I’d like to tell you about a natural remedy that I’ve been giving to ‘the boys’ (my 2 Parson Terriers) for years that has helped keep them in tip top condition.

I also recommended this natural remedy to my human clients when I had a complementary therapy practice and they had amazing results too.

This is something that has powerful healing properties, is cheap to buy and something you may already have in your home…

So what it is, you may ask!

Apple Cider Vinegar.

Yes, good ole apple cider vinegar, not any other type of vinegar it must be apple cider vinegar.

So what’s so good about apple cider vinegar?

I’ll tell you…

Apple cider vinegar contains minerals and essential vitamins, including magnesium, potassium and iron and is great for healing so many ailments.

Adding apple cider vinegar to your dog’s food is a very good way to keep their body in good acid/alkaline balance. Since apple cider vinegar makes the skin more acidic but has an alkalizing effect inside the body, it’s the perfect treatment for pets.
It’s also good for:

• Digestion.
• Allergies – such as watery eyes, a runny nose or a wet cough.
• Repelling parasites – such as fleas, ticks, bacteria, ringworm, fungus and mange.
• Easing muscle fatigue.
• Improving the quality of their coat.
• Cleaning ears – the anti-bacterial properties are great for clearing out unwanted visitors!
• Arthritis.

Treating arthritis in humans and dogs was the number one condition I used to recommend apple cider vinegar for in my complementary therapy practice.

The common cause of pain with arthritis is the build-up of calcium deposits around the joints which causes stiffness and discomfort. Apple cider vinegar helps to wear down these build-ups leaving joints noticeably easier to move and free of pain.

You’re probably wondering how much to give your dog…

Here’s what to do:

Topically

• Make up a 50:50 mix of vinegar and water and gently put on scratches or grazes that are scabbed over with a cotton pad. This solution is also good for cleaning out dog’s ears but do not put this on any open wound as it will sting.

• You can also use this mixture as a final rinse after bathing your dog, make sure to work it through the coat evenly so that you cover all areas. This is particularly good to do if your dog has fleas as the shampoo suffocates them and the apple cider vinegar removes them from the dog’s coat – fleas don’t like the smell or taste of cider vinegar!

• You can also spray your dog with apple cider vinegar before going out for a walk, in order to repel fleas and ticks naturally.

• Additionally you can also apply cider vinegar topically to yeast infected areas.

Internally

• For a 50 lb dog (there’s 2.2 lbs to a kilo) add one-teaspoon to their food twice a day, this can be increased up to 1 tablespoon for the same sized dog if necessary. Adjust the above dosage according to the weight of your dog.

• You can also add the vinegar to their drinking water although it’s harder to tell how much they are taking a day so I’d only use this method if all else fails!

As you can see there are lots of really good reasons to give cider vinegar to your dog. The best apple cider vinegar is that which is fermented and unfiltered because it has “the mother” (a stringy substance) which contains the most enzymes and minerals.

Cider vinegar is also really good for baking and cleaning and is a great natural remedy for humans too.