Everything You Need to Know About Turmeric for Dogs

Before there were pharmaceuticals, pills and medications, health was sustained through the use of herbs, spices, oils and plants. Everything needed to treat any kind of ailment and maintain good health can be found in nature.

Our society has become used to quick fixes. Turning to pharmaceuticals to solve the symptoms of our ailments. We’ve let our desire for quick fixes roll over to the way we care for our dogs too.

Often the first port of call whenever a concerning symptom arises is a trip to the vet, resulting in costly bills and pills. Yet pills often don’t solve the root cause, they simply treat the symptom and can sometimes result in nasty side effects too.

We at ProDog are all about fuelling dogs the way nature intended and that includes using food as medicine. Embracing the power of mother nature will make a huge difference to the health and vitality of your pups and we’re here to help! Discover our raw dog food and raw puppy food today.

Let’s get started with the power of Turmeric. It’s such an amazing little spice with so many healthful qualities we can’t wait to share with you and your doggo.

Turmeric is a member of the ginger family. A yellow/orange coloured root which originates in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Widely used in traditional medicine for 1000’s of years on humans, featuring prominently in Ayurvedic medicine and other holistic medicine practices. The great news is there’s now a ton of evidence that this potent spice benefits our best friends too.

The active ingredient in Turmeric is Curcumin. Curcumin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, anti fungal, and anticancer properties.

To put it simply, it’s an absolute gem of a medicinal spice, which has impressive results in treating aliments and also as preventative health support.

1. Helps with joint health and alleviating the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis
2. Lowers cholesterol and reduces the potential for blood clots with its blood thinning properties.
3. Can halt the mutation of cancerous cells
4. Aids the reduction of inflammation associated with gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease.
5. Can be used as an alternative to steroid medications, but without the potentially harmful adverse effects.
6. Supports liver function by helping to break down fat and remove waste.
7. Slows down ageing, degeneration and is believed to even contribute to an increase in lifespan and give pain relief into senior years.

There’s now around 6000 published research studies regarding the health benefits of Turmeric, including this one.

So you’re getting the picture. Turmeric is a wonderful natural medicinal food, which when added to your canine companions food bowl will nourish, heal and protect their health.

Systemic inflammation in the body is the plague of modern society for humans and for our faithful friends. Connections have been found between systemic inflammation and conditions such as:

Eczema
Asthma
Arthritis
Digestive disease
Dental disease
Type 2 diabetes
Obesity
Cancer
Heart disease

Inflammation is a necessary function of the body in order to heal wounds and fight infection.  When inflammation remains after the threat or injury has dissipated the body starts to experience negative impact. “Systemic” inflammation is chronic persistent inflammation and is usually caused by diet, lifestyle and stress.

Turmeric is exceptionally remarkable in its anti-inflammatory effect and as such is a must have addition to any dogs diet. Often the existence of inflammation in the body is not apparent until specific health problems arise.  Using turmeric regularly therefor acts a preventative measure.

If your dog has a diagnosis or is experiencing symptoms associated with any of the conditions mentioned above, then it goes without saying turmeric is a fantastic and simple addition you can make to your beloved companions diet which will help ease symptoms.

When making any changes to your dogs diet be sure to pay attention during the initial stages of introduction.

• Turmeric is binding so in some cases can cause constipation. In this eventuality add kefir to your dog’s diet or call the ProDog team for advice. Always make sure water is freely available
• Although turmeric is an exceptionally health giving remedy, it is still a spice and may not suit dogs who are naturally hot and often seeking cool environments.
• If your dog is on any medications, check with a holistic vet or dog nutritionist before adding turmeric to his diet.

Now you’re on board with the wondrous restorative power of this little yellow spice I guess you’ll be wondering how on earth you actually get your canine companion to down it? Not to worry we have a quick and easy guide

Your dog’s body won’t absorb turmeric if it’s ingested in isolation. It must be combined with a healthy oil such as coconut oil.

Also black pepper is a must ingredient. A phytochemical in black pepper called peperine can increase the absorption of curcumin by up to 2,000%.

Here’s a recipe for turmeric paste designed to achieve optimal absorption.

Ingredients:

• • 60g turmeric powder
  • 250ml water
  • 70ml cold pressed Olive or Coconut oil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

Method:

1. Place the turmeric and water in a pan, stirring over a gentle heat until you have a thick paste.
2. This should take 7 – 10 mins, add more water if required.
3. Add the freshly ground black pepper and oil at the END, whisking to incorporate the oil.
4. Allow to cool
5. Store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 2 months

You can add the paste directly into your dog’s meals. Be careful to mix in well otherwise you could end up with a yellow stained dog face beaming at you.

Recommended guideline for how much turmeric to give a dog:

• Small dogs – start with about 1/4 teaspoon per day
• Medium dogs – start with 1/2 teaspoon per day
• Large dogs – start with 3/4 teaspoon per day
• Giant dogs – start with 1 teaspoon per day

Finding the correct dose of turmeric for dogs, in small amounts, is important to help your best friend reap the anti inflammatory benefits of this powerful  spice.

One final note on turmeric for dogs

Everything in this article also applies to you too. The best thing is that by incorporating turmeric into your treasured companion’s diet you have a prime opportunity to get involved yourself. If you’re wanting to keep up with a dog fuelled by natural whole foods and powerhouse spices trust us you’ll need some plant power too!

If you’re a little put off by the thought of preparing turmeric (golden) paste yourself and you’d love a ready prepared, zero mess option we have the perfect solution for you.

At ProDog we’re obsessed with creating the most cutting edge, natural and organic supplements for our canine friends. We’ve crafted a specific range of super convenient, premium quality nutritional dog supplements designed to take performance, vitality and well-being to the next level.

From our joint supplements for dogs range, Flexx is a perfect turmeric supplement for dogs. It is packed with powerful whole food ingredients, including, yes you’ve guessed it, bundles of high strength and organic turmeric!

Blended together with other key ingredients such as Fish Collagen, MSM, Chollera, Chondroitin, Glucosamine Sulphate, Vitamin C and Hemp Protein, Flexx delivers dynamic anti-inflammatory and joint support protection……fast.

Flexx is super beneficial to ALL dogs as preventative health support. It’s also a robust remedy to ease the symptoms for those dogs who already have arthritis – designed to ease and prevent pain and stiffness.

Key Benefits of Flexx:

• Maintenance of joint structure and function
• Improved mobility and flexibility
• Protection of bone structure and cartilage preservation
• Promotion of glossy coat and optimum skin health
• Immune system booster

For more information and a full list of ingredients, check out our Flexx product page.