Apple Cider Vinegar

United States
February 21, 2009 5:23pm CST
My dog is 12 years old. He has hip dysplacea as well as a host of skin problems mostly caused by allergies. I give him about a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed in with some yogurt as a snack every afternoon. He loves it! I noticed a major improvement especially with his skin problems and itching almost immediately once I began doing this. I also keep some in a spray bottle by my front door. Sometimes, when returning for a walk in the woods, I'll spray him down once to make sure there are no crawlies on him. Works like a charm! ACV does wonders for your pets health! (It's excellent for you as well)
2 people like this
8 responses
• United States
22 Feb 09
Does the apple cider vinegar help with his hips as well or is it only for his skin? Either way I will try it, my retriever has dry skin, adding flax seed oil helps a lot, but he is still itchy in the winter. (so am I, lol)
• United States
22 Feb 09
ACV IS very good for hip dysplacea. It strengthens the bones. You can take a chicken bone and soak it in acv and it will become like rubber over time. Also, it is worth mentioning that the ACV I use is organic. It must have the mother in it. Most vinegar you'll find in supermarkets have the mother removed for shelf appeal. It has to be raw unfiltered ACV, you'll see the cloudiness of the mother in there. I've heard of people putting acv in dogs water bowls. Frodo doesn't go for that, I think he can smell it in there. A yogurt snack in the afternoon is how he gets it. The yogurt (lowfat, plain)has a host of benefits itself! Flax seed oil is excellent as well!
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 09
Can you get the organic stuff at a supermarket? Or do you have to find it at a health food store?
• United States
22 Feb 09
I usually buy Braggs from a health food store. I looked at in the supermarket and couldn't find any raw vinegar.
@lucy02 (5016)
• United States
22 Feb 09
I will have to try this on my dog. I have a 16 y/o dog that has allergies and possibly yeast on her skin. I have a book about the uses for vinegar that my husband use to sell. He sells books and gift. It has thousands of uses for vinegar.
@lucy02 (5016)
• United States
22 Feb 09
She has an awful smell but I haven't noticed yellow discharge yet. The vet gave me something for the yeast awhile back but it may be back again. She doesn't scratch as much though. I feed her kibbles and bits now. I use to give her alot of table scraps along with dog food.
• United States
22 Feb 09
16 wow! yes, the vinegar will help adjust his ph which will help with the yeast infections. Sounds like you go through what I go through with the allergies and all. ACV is not a cure all, but, as I'm sure you know, it has to be a combination of things for your friend to help relieve his itching. What kind of food are you feeding? Most allergies are a result of the dogs diet. Do you see yellowish flakey kind of stuff that smeels like a dirty dog? Probably by the base of the tail or under his chin or in the ears? This is yeast a yeast infection and it is a direct result of your dogs immune system being compromised by the allergies. I love vinegar, I've read that the Romans main cure-alls were vinegar and honey.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Feb 09
This does sound like a great idea. Here would be my concern. My husband bought some acv tablets at the health food store. He took them for awhile then gave them to me and I took them for awhile. We both had sneezing fits all day long during the time we were taking the tablets. So I would just suggest that anyone giving acv to their dog internally keep an eye out for sneezing or any other changed behavior like excessive scratching that they weren't doing before and if you notice anything like this, stop giving it to them. I am totally for all natural cures, in both humans and animals.
• United States
24 Feb 09
I have never heard of any reactions like these, but, obviously it is possible to be allergic to anything. I definitely recommend keeping an eye on your dog while giving them anything new. Thanks!
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
22 Feb 09
That sounds very interesting, thank you for the information!
• United States
24 Feb 09
Your welcome, anytime!
@gracypure (529)
• Philippines
20 Mar 09
I dont have a dog in my house but i know apple cider venigar have many uses like: human skin allergies / skin itchiness, on my personal experienced i had once a ringworm that was very ithching then just dub venigar on the affected area, then the itch slowly gone until it was totally healed. I tried few cream and ointment for that problem but nothing's work. Thanks for your discussion i now know that apple cider is also good for dog skin allergies.
@playapal (894)
• United States
22 Feb 09
Well I never heard of that before. I know that apple cider vinegar is good for many things. I do give my dogs garlic mixed in with their food as well as a little olive oil. Guess I'll try this next, thanks for the hint.
• United States
22 Feb 09
I make my dogs food and I add garlic and olive oil as well. It goes into his veggie slop. You must be careful with garlic as too much of it can be dangerous.
@sammy009 (259)
• United States
24 Feb 09
HI. Yes I agree with the apple cider vinegar, I heard about it a while ago, and its works great. My mom knows a friends of her, she takes a tables spoon of it each morning.
@dlr297 (5409)
• United States
22 Feb 09
thank you so much for the information, Ill have to try that on my harley, she has some problems with skin problems, Have you tried adding a little colloidal silver to your dogs drinking water it will help him be more active.