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Apple Cider Vinegar: Benefits and Recipes


Are you considering using Apple Cider Vinegar for your furbaby? 

Apple Cider Vinegar is made from just apples and water and left to naturally ferment, making it completely safe for them. It is believed to be a wonder food and people have been using it for years to improve their overall health. 

So just how does Apple Cider Vinegar benefit our fur friends and how can it be used?  

12 Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar 

How much can apple cider vinegar benefit your dog? If the strong antioxidant and antibacterial qualities of apple cider vinegar aren’t enough reason to consider including it in your dog’s care regimen then here are 12 ways Apple Cider Vinegar may help your dog: 

  1. Itchy, flaking skin and dull coats
  2. Relief from hot spots
  3. Repelling fleas
  4. Keeping a dog’s ears clean, lessening the chance of infection (refer to our blog on Ear Infections and Natural Remedies)
  5. Improving digestion by balancing pH levels in a dog’s body
  6. Ridding itchy paws and skin of bacteria
  7. Relieving muscle soreness in older or active dogs
  8. Rinsing soap residue or offensive odours from your dog’s coat
  9. Preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  10. Helping relieve bladder stones in dogs
  11. Fighting yeast infections on dogs’ paws
  12. Diluting pet stains and odours in the home

What Kind of Vinegar is Best for Dogs?

For health uses, choose raw, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, preferably in a glass bottle. 

“Raw” or “unfiltered” apple cider has the “mother” in it, which is the name of the brown stuff at the bottom of the bottle. These are fermentation leftovers, and they include all the good live bacteria and enzymes that give the product its health benefits. Of course, if you’re using this vinegar for cleaning, you might want to strain this out before you use it. 

“Unpasteurised” is recommended because the process of pasteurisation – a heat process – can kill the good bacteria you want. If possible choose an organic apple cider vinegar to avoid pesticides when you can, especially if your dog is going to eat the product.

How Much To Use

Work up to 1 tablespoon per 22kg for dogs, in water or food.  When starting on Apple Cider Vinegar many dog owners add it to the dog’s water bowl, but start with a small amount and watch to make sure their dog still drinks the water before increasing the amount. It is a good idea when you add anything to the water to have a second bowl of plain water available, too so your dog is still able to get their daily water intake.

NOTE: When using Apple Cider Vinegar internally or topically, remember to monitor your dog for any adverse reactions. Some dogs may need a lesser dose and some dogs may be too acidic already, in which case, Apple Cider Vinegar might not be the answer.

Itchy or Broken Skin  

Apple Cider Vinegar can help relieve itchy skin and rashes.

The best way to apply is by making a 50/50 solution of Apple Cider Vinegar and water in a spray bottle and applying directly onto itchy spots, but NOT open wounds – the vinegar will sting if the wound is raw. 

Recipe – Apple Cider Vinegar Tea Body Rinse

This body rinse can be useful to restore skin pH, soothe itchy skin, calm rashes and welts, and has some added benefits for keeping biting flies, fleas and gnats at bay.

Mix the following ingredients together in an aroma-safe bottle/jar with cap and shake well before use:

  • Apple Cider Vinegar: 1/2 cup
  • Brewed Green Tea (cooled): 1/2 cup
  • Distilled Water: 1 cup

After bathing, apply this warm water/Apple Cider Vinegar rinse to your animal friend’s coat/skin and massage in. Rinse well and pat dry, or allow the Apple Cider Vinegar mix to air dry for the added benefit of bug relief.

This blended mixture can also be pre-made and kept in a glass jar in the refrigerator (for approximately one or two weeks – discard if mouldy), and used for spot treatments for bug bites and stings.

(Recipe courtesy of Dogs Naturally Magazine https://bit.ly/3htpTVb)

You can also check out our Bone Broth Recipe made with an Apple Cider Vinegar jelly that we recommend making once a month to help:

  • Maintain a healthy gut, especially for dogs with digestive issues
  • Supports your dog’s immune system and detoxes his liver
  • Protect your dog’s joints

Instincto

At Instincto, we have Apple Cider Vinegar made locally from Stanthorpe Organic Apples, specially created to complement your dog’s raw food diet. Human-friendly too, every bottle contains the ‘mother’ and is 

  • Naturally Fermented
  • Raw
  • Unpasteurised
  • Unfiltered
  • Organic

Visit our website to find out more about our great range of products and order your Apple Cider Vinegar.

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