Turmeric For Dogs

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If you cook, you may already be familiar with turmeric, but for first timers, here’s a quick culinary lesson to get us started.

The turmeric herb, a member of the ginger family, is most commonly known for its deep orange color and is used for cooking, herbal medicine and dyes. Native to Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries, it has been a staple in cooking for thousands of years. Today it is a key ingredient in most curry dishes as well as yummy Thai, Indian, and Persian plates.

Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines have long known the benefits of turmeric for the body, inside and out.

“Ay….ur…vedic medicine?”

Quick explanation. An ancient Ayurvedic proverb reads: “When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.” Ayurvedic medicine is the traditional medicine of India, originating over 5000 years ago. How is this relevant today? Because it doesn’t just look at the aspect of treatment, it looks at prevention and using elements like nutrition, exercise and lifestyle factors to re-establish balance in the body. What we eat is a key component of this holistic healing approach.

 

We know that turmeric is a spice. It’s orange. We cook Eastern and Asian food with it. But why is it so good for our pets? The bio-active compound (active ingredient or healing properties) of turmeric is “curcumin” (not to be confused with a different spice called cumin). Curcumin is responsible for its bright orange color as well as a host of health benefits. 

Western medicine is finally catching up with Eastern practice. Turmeric is now being researched extensively for pharmacological use in treating and/or reducing symptoms related to a wide range of health conditions. The National Institute of Health is conducting clinical trials on turmeric and curcumin.

Dr. Horwitz, the medical director of the Arizona Centre for Integrative Medicine and assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine cites a 2006 University of Arizona study that found this potent anti-inflammatory to reduce the symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Clinical studies have shown that curcumin in turmeric is also a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants neutralize rogue molecules that cause painful inflammation and damage joints affected by arthritis.

This is pretty significant for our senior K9 friends that may be suffering from the aches and pains associated with arthritis.

Another concern with our senior pets is heart health. As seen in us, our pets are susceptible to blood clots and high LDL-cholesterol. Turmeric has been found to lower LDL levels.

In addition, turmeric helps to reduce the risk of deadly clots that can lead to strokes and heart attacks.

What about the liver? Yes, turmeric is good for that too.

Our environment is becoming more and more toxic and that not only affects us, it impacts Fido as well. Our pets are susceptible to toxins in the environment and in their food, especially commercially produced kibble and treats.

Think of the liver as the main industrial center for the body. It’s involved in nearly every biochemical process required to manage health. The body's ability to clot blood, to break down harmful toxins and other waste products, and to store energy are all controlled by the liver. It is a major player in your pet’s digestion, storing vitamins and producing bile which is necessary to break down fat. It’s a pretty important piece of machinery for your pet’s overall health.

Turmeric is liver-friendly, boosting the liver's efficiency.

 

Turmeric has joined the fight against cancer!  This powerful spice plays a significant role in preventive medicine.  Worldwide, researchers find an effect on the spread of some cancers, the conversion of precancerous cells into cancer cells, and ability of cancer cells to establish their own blood supply.  Certainly, turmeric is not the only thing you should do to prevent, control, and/or treat cancer; however, it certainly is exciting to know that the active ingredients in turmeric have anti-cancer properties.

 

Here's a really important daily health benefit of turmeric: It is very gut-friendly!

• Reduces gas and bloating
• Helps to heal stomach ailments
• Aids in digestive disorders

 

SO HOW DO YOU FEED TURMERIC PLUS?

The suggested dosage is approximately 15 to 20 mg per pound of body weight in dogs in their dog food.

A simpler way of looking at it is an 1/8 to a 1/4 teaspoon per day, for every 10 lbs of dog weight ( 1/2 – 1 tsp for a 40 pound dog).

Make sure your pet has lots of water to ensure that they don’t get constipated.

Sprinkle it right on top of your pet’s food and mix.

Turmeric Plus is an organic product which is devoid of pesticides and herbicides thus assuring the potency of the product.  For longevity, be sure to store it in a cool, dark place.

According to Dr. Demian Dressler, DVM known as the Dog Cancer Vet "[…] curcumin has some bioavailability problems." This means that turmeric is poorly absorbed into the blood after it is taken by mouth. However, there are ways to eliminate this problem.  Turmeric Plus contains an ingredient, organic black pepper, tested to improve bioavailability by approximately 2,000 fold.

If your dog turns his or her nose up at the smell or taste of Turmeric Plus, mix the powder in lowfat or regular yogurt.  The bowl will be licked clean!  The far in yogurt will help carry the turmeric (turmeric is fat soluable) right where right where it belongs.

Be careful and mix it in well with your pets’ food, or your pets might end up with turmeric mustaches!  *If they do, feel free to post a picture with #OrangePaws

If your pet has a pre-existing condition, is currently on medication, has a planned surgery, or is pregnant , it is advisable to talk to your vet before taking or continuing any supplement.

Spice up the life of your companion animal with Orange Paws Turmeric Plus!

 

*Above information adapted from Dogs Naturally Magazine                                                  

Written by Planet Paws Blogger – Sarah MacKeigan
Sources & Information – Rodney Habib