Lemons - Good for Dogs, Many Health Benefits and Uses

 Lemons are amazing - in this article you will find...

  The many Health Benefits of adding lemon to your dog’s diet;

1. How to use Lemon Topically to Treat Skin Conditions;
2. How to use lemon to Prevent Frostbite;
3. How to use lemon to Repel Insects such as Mosquitos;
4. How to use lemon toTreat Urinary Tract Infections (UTI);
5. How to use lemon to make Shampoo/Cleanser/Rinsefor your dog;
6. What Type of Lemon you should use;
7. How toAdd Lemon to Your Dog’s Diet.

1.0  Many Health Benefits Of Lemon For Your Dog

Allergy ReducerLemon helps to reduce the symptoms of allergies... 

• Combine Lemon with Rooibos Tea for an even better allergy reducing aid.
• Also use lemon alone or in combination with other all-natural ingredients for dog friendly household cleaners - to replace chemical based household cleaners and avoid toxic build-up and allergies in your dog.

Arthritis
Lemons are a very alkaline food that helps the body balance PH levels thereby helping to relieve arthritis pain. Adding lemon to your puppies diet early on can help prevent the development of debilitating arthritis later in your dog's life.

Anti-Aging Properties

The high levels of antioxidants present in lemons help the body fight against aging.

Antibacterial 

Juice of a fresh lemon can destroy many forms of bacteria, including those that cause deadly disease.

Brain Health 

Keep your dog’s brain healthy, lemon peel contains the potent phytonutirent tangeretin which has been proven to be effective in treating brain disorders.Cancer Inhibitor.

Cancer Inhibitor 

As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C protects your dog’s cells from free radicals. Free radicals are charged atoms that form when specific molecules interact with oxygen. The free radicals then react with cell membranes and the DNA within cells – the reaction damages the DNA and membranes and thus the cell itself. Damaged cell structure is the first stage in the lead-up to cancer. A diet high in viable high-quality antioxidants plays a significant role in preventing the development of cancer. Lemons contain a grand total of 22 anti-cancer compounds, these include:

Limonene – oil that slows and /or halts the growth of cancer tumours;

Flavonol glycosides - that stop cell division in cancer cells.

Calming
Lemon acts as a sedative for nerves and can be used to help induce calm.

De-Toxifier, Protection against Poisoning

The ancient Egyptians ate lemons and drank lemon juice in order to protect themselves from a variety of poisons. Research has confirmed that the ancients where right. For example - lemons are a natural remedy (as are Garlic and apple cider vinegar) for food poisoning – i.e. salmonella and e-colli. The powerful acids present in lemon juice can kill the harmful microorganisms and toxins in the GI Tract that may be absorbed into the body by ingesting food laced with bacteria, fungi, harsh chemicals (i.e. pesticides) and other biological agents. In addition lemons are high in minerals and vitamins that help loosen toxins in the digestive tract.

Diarrhea and Constipation
Lemon aids in the cleansing of the bowels (killing bad bacteria and dislodging toxins) which helps eliminate both constipation and diarrhea.

Digestive Aid 

If you can get your dog to drink a little lemon juice mixed with an equal part of warm water your dog’s digestive tract will be stimulated which helps maintain the movement of food through your dog’s GI Tract. 

Disease Fighting

Lemons are a rich source of limonoids (phytochemicals), that are vital disease-fighting compounds which when present in sufficient concentration are effective in helping to inhibit certain cancers – for example ovarian cancer and oral-cavity tumours.

Eye Disorders
The symptoms of eye disorders, including diabetic retinopathy can be mitigated with the ingestion of lemon due the rutin present in lemons.

Ear Infections

Using a lemon flush is an effective way to keep your dog’s ears clean and free of infection. Ear infections are one of the most common ailments in dogs.

Heart Health
Lemons contain a relatively high level of potassium – potassium is beneficial to heart-health.

Immune System Health

Lemons are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that supports immune system function.

Intestinal Parasites 

Lemon is a natural de-wormer as is garlic. 

Liver Health
Lemon stimulates the liver, dissolves uric acid and other poisons thereby supporting liver health.

Nutrient Absorption 

Vitamin C helps the body absorb calcium, Vitamin C, Vitamin B3, Selenium and Glutathione work in tandem with Vitamin E to avoid liver and gall bladder problems – also a host of other long-term benefits i.e. aids in preventing/alleviating digestive problems, especially mal-absorption of nutrients. When I feed my dogs meat, cottage cheese, yogurt, cheese I sprinkle grated lemon on top to enhance the body’s ability to absorb these important nutrients. The following provides a list of vitamins and Minerals that are found in lemons...lemons are:

• Very high in vitamin C;
• Nature’s top source of citric acid;
• One of nature’s top seven sources of potassium!

Minerals in Lemons		Vitamins in Lemons
Potassium - 116 mg		Vitamin C - 44.5 mg
Calcium - 22 mg		Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.034 mg
Phosphorus - 13 mg		Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.017 mg
Magnesium - 7 mg		Vitamin A - 18 IU
Sodium - 2 mg Iron - 0.5 mg Selenium 0.3 mcg Manganese - 0.025 mg Copper - 0.031 mg Zinc - 0.05 mg Also contains small amounts of other minerals.		Niacin - 0.084 mg Folate - 9 mcg Pantothenic Acid - 0.16 mg Vitamin B6 - 0.067 mg Vitamin E - 0.13 mg Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.

Stimulate Appetite

For most dogs this is not an issue, but a dog that is stressed, grieving etc. or suffering from certain medical conditions may not eat enough. The high potassium content of lemons can help to stimulate appetite.

Strengthen Blood Vessels
Lemon contains bioflavoniods (vitamin P) that strengthen blood vessels and prevent internal hemorrhaging.

Teeth and Bones 

The high vitamin C content of lemons helps the body absorb/metabolize calcium. A diet that is rich in vitamin C creates an environment in which bacteria does not thrive. These foods also increase saliva production which helps to wash away bacteria and plaque. To understand more about the other benefits of vitamin C in dog dental read more here.

Weight LossLemon are high in pectin fiber which helps to stop huger pains. Additionally a more alkaline diet promotes weight loss. So if your dog is overweight add some lemon to his/her diet. Turmeric is excellent as an aid to weight loss as well. Adding a little fruit and vegetables to your dog’s diet can also help your dog lose weight.

2.0 Treat Skin Conditions

Acne – Puppy Dermititus (Impetigo and Acne), Skin-Fold Pyoderma

Acne, often located on the chin or lips - can occur in puppies 3 months of age or older and is most common in Boxers, Bulldogs, Dobermans and Rottweillers, but can also occur in other breeds of dogs. Skin-Fold Pyoderma occurs when inflammation results from skin constantly rubbing together. To treat these conditions you use a cotton ball to apply:

• Undiluted lemon juice (do not use undiluted lemon juice if the skin is broken as the undiluted lemon will sting);
• Green tea and lemon -  steep a bag of green tea, let it cool to warn temperature, add the juice of half a lemon and using a cotton ball apply the resulting lemon-tea to the affected area – do not rinse;
• You can also mix 1 part lemon juice with an equal portion of rose or manuka honey water – apply with a cotton ball and leave the mixture on the skin for a minimum of half an hour, then rinse with water.
• You can also bath the puppy in the treatments noted above.

These treatments work best if applied twice a day.

3.0 Avoid Frostbite – Vascular Damage

Lemon juice (like ginger) increases circulation which can help avoid vascular damage leading to frostbite. Dogs with short fur such as my Boxer are prone to frostbite of the ears in cold weather. 

4.0 Repel insects such as Mosquitos;

Lemon when applied topically can be used to repel insects and parasites. Mosquitos do not like the scent of citrus…read here to find out  how to use lemon to repel insects from your dog.

 

5.0 Treatment for Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

If you catch the UTI in its early stages and/or the infection is not extremely severe you can use lemon to treat the infection…

Topical Treatment

Use the cleanser as described in 6.0 below to bath your dog – this will help to flush out bacteria that might otherwise invade your dog’s urinary tract.

Ingested Treatment
Mix the following together in a bowl:

• Fresh lemon juice – you can also add some minced lemon;
• Use an equal part of warm water;
• And some fresh or frozen crushed cranberries to the lemon juice/warm water mixture and pour the resulting mixture into a food bowl.
• You can also add a few slices of orange (cut it up, don’t use whole uncut sections) and;
• 1 tsp to 1 tbs of organic unfiltered, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar.

Give this treatment to your dog twice a day until the infection clears. If the infection does not clear-up in the space of a day or two get your dog to a veterinarian.

6.0 Safe, Effective Shampoo/Cleanser/Rinse

Lemon can be used in combination with greet tea and apple cider vinegar as a highly effective cleansing and disinfecting rinse. An excellent alternative to commercially made pet shampoos which can be full of toxins and carcinogens. Just as you would with commercially made shampoos - make sure you avoid getting the lemon juice cleansing rinse in your dog’s eyes. 

To make the rinse:

• Steep a bag or two of green tea;
• Allow the tea to cool to room temperature;
• Add the juice of a fresh lemon, and;
• Use the resulting liquid to bath your dog.
• You can also add a few tbs of organic, unfiltered, apple cider vinegar to the tea and lemon mixture.

7.0 What Type of Lemon Should You Use?

Don’t use bottled, processed/pasteurized lemon juice – this type of lemon juice loses its beneficial properties during pasteurization and processing. Use fresh lemons and fresh squeezed lemon juice.

How to Choose a Good Lemon

The heavier and fresher the lemon the better the health properties of the lemon!

8.0 How to Add the Lemon to Your dog’s Diet

• Freeze a whole lemon and grate a little over your dog’s food;
• Add fresh lemon juice to your dog’s water bowl – remember to change the lemon water on a daily basis.
• Add fresh-grated/minced lemon to your dog’s food.

• I use a food processor to finely chop/mince fresh lemon.
• I sprinkle the finely minced lemon on top of my dogs’ food once a day;
• Then store any remaining minced lemon in an air tight glass container (in the refrigerator) for several days.
• 1 tsp/day of minced lemon for small dogs;
• 1 tbs/day for medium size dogs, and;
• 1.5 to 2 tbs/day for large dogs

Turmeric and Curcumin - Good for Your Dog’s Health

 

Adding Turmeric (Curcuma longa) to your dog’s daily diet can provide your dog with a vast array of health benefits.

Turmeric, a spice is derived from the root of the Curcuma longa (also known as Indian Saffron), a perennial plant of the ginger family. The exact genesis of the plant is not known as the plant’s original origins are lost in the history of ancient trade; however it is likely that the plant originated in South East Asia or South Asia. 

The Curcuma longa’s root system includes oblong tubers - similar to those of the ginger plant. The tubers are boiled or steamed, dried, and then ground. The resulting powder has a pungent slightly bitter flavour.   

Although dogs have a much better sense of smell than humans - a dog’s noise has a minimum of 300 million olfactory sensors to our paltry 3 million, the dog’s sense of taste is less than ours (a dog averages 1700 taste buds whereas a human has 9000 taste buds). This means that the slightly bitter taste of turmeric is not off-putting for the majority of dogs.

The scent of turmeric is reminiscent of oranges and ginger. Once it is dried and ground into a powder the scent is slightly bitter and medicinal.

Turmeric is a deep, warm yellow-orange color. The rich colour of turmeric comes from a naturally occurring pigment in the Curcuma longa tuber – the pigment is called Curcumin. Curry gets its colour from curcumin and some of its flavour from turmeric. Turmeric is a mainstay of India dishes and is also used as a substitute for saffron. 

This revered spice has been used as a dye, flavouring and medicine since 600 BC. Turmeric is a very important spice in India – its use dates back 4000 years to the Vedic culture. India is the main source of the world’s supply of Turmeric, China and Indonesia also grow and produce the spice.

Health Benefits of Turmeric

Curcumin is thought to be the principal pharmacological agent in turmeric. As an ancient medication turmeric was used in traditional Asian medicine as a blood purifier, liver ailment mediator, for the healing of skin diseases and sores and wounds and as a stomach tonic. In Thailand turmeric was used as an astringent, anti-diarrheal agent, appetite stimulant, as a carminative, to treat dizziness, gonorrhoea, peptic ulcers and as a topical treatment to stop bleeding, treat insect bites, treat teeth and gums, eradicate ringworms and heal wounds.

Today, turmeric is one of the most extensively researched herb-spices for pharmacological use. It is favored for its potentially beneficial use in treating and/or reducing symptoms linked to an extensive range of health conditions due to its excellent qualities as an:

• Analgesic (pain fighting);
• Antibacterial;
• Anti-inflammatory;
• Anti-oxidant;
• Antiseptic;
•  Anti-tumour agent (anti-carcinogen);

Turmeric has been shown to be effective in preventing and/or treating:

• Aids in fat metabolism and weight management;
• Allergic respiratory disorders - Ashthma;
• Arthritis;
• Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties relieves aches and pains associated with arthritis (see additional information under curcumin below);
• Beneficial for trauma from accidents as it helps lower serum levels which would otherwise cause massive inflammation leading to the shutdown of the heart and other organs;
• Artherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries – heart disease) by lowering bad LDL cholesterol;
• Bacterial infections – the volatile oil is an external broad spectrum antibiotic which acts to prevent bacterial infection in wounds;
• Blood purifier – beneficial in the treatment of skin disorders;
• Cancer inhibitor;
• Cardiovascular conditions;
• Chemotherapy – reduces the negative side-effects of chemotherapy;
• Detoxifier – turmeric is a natural liver detoxifier;
• Disinfectant for wounds and burns (antiseptic and antibacterial);
• Digestive disorders;
• Turmeric induces the flow of bile which acts to breakdown fat;
• Protects against injuries caused by some medications;
• Helps prevent gas/bloating;
• Inflammation (turmeric’s anti-inflammatory quality has been compared to topical hydrocortisone);
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD;
• Memory disorders;
• Neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve)
• Peptic ulcers;
• Skin disorders;
• Strengthens ligaments.

Other Health Benefits of Turmeric

• High in fiber;
• Rich in vitamins (high in vitamin B6 and potassium) and minerals (high in iron and manganese);
• Excellent for metabolism health and a natural weight-loss aid.
• Turmeric is even more powerful as a cancer inhibitor when teamed up with cauliflower…of particular importance to prevent prostate cancer. 
• This dog-food recipe includes both turmeric and cauliflower.

Health Benefits of Curcumin

• Anti-oxidant (anti-aging);
• Anti-Angiogenic (tumour preventing);
• Anti-Carcinogenic;
• Anti-Diabetic;
• Anti-Inflammatory;
• Anti-Apoptotic (preventing cell death i.e. from radiation);
• Anti-Metastatic (inhibits the over-growth of cells);
• Cardiovascular Protection;
• Lower LDL (bad) Cholesterol;
• Detoxer;
• Imuno-modulatory (immune system enhancing);
• Neuro-Protective (protects the Central Nervous System – CNS).

Anti-Inflammatory - curcumin has been shown in numerous studies, to be comparable to the potent conventional medicines hydrocortisone, phenylbutazone as well as over-the counter anti-inflammatory agents. But unlike these conventional mendicants curcumin does not have toxic side-effects.

Cancer Inhibitor - due to its powerful antioxidant properties. Curcumin is effective in protecting colon cells from free radicals that can cause damage to healthy cell DNA – of particular importance as cell growth in the colon is particularly rapid. Curcumin also helps the body destroy mutated cancer cells thereby stopping the spread of cancer throughout the body. Curcumin enhances liver function – the liver is a primary toxin filter for the body, so enhancing its function supports health in many ways. Curcumin is also considered to inhibit the growth of the protein that is thought to be instrumental in triggering tumour formation. Curcumin has been shown to inhibit transcription factors (the ‘master switch’ that regulates genes required for tumor formulation).

Lower Bad Cholesterol and support Heart Health – Curcumin is a messaging molecule that communicates with genes in live cells. This active agent of turmeric directs cells to increase the production of messenger proteins that in turn direct the creation of receptors for LDL (Bad) cholesterol. An increase of LDL-receptors enables the liver to clear more LDL from the body.

Preventing Toxic Loading and Liver Damage – The liver plays a huge role in detoxifying the body. As dogs are exposed to ever increasing amounts of toxins in their diet (i.e. as found in many commercially produced dog foods and treats, dental care products – dental chews and toothpaste) and their environment (i.e. household cleaners, road salt, grass, shampoo etc.) the incidence of liver damage and liver failure is exponentially increasing. Turmeric boosts the ability of the liver to de-toxify.

Rheumatoid Arthritis - clinical studies have proven that curcumin provides highly powerful antioxidant effects as its ability to neutralize free radicals is substantial. Free radicals cause the painful inflammation and eventual damage to joints.

Defence Against Neurological Diseases of Old-Age – as curcumin is able to turn on gene codes for the production of antioxidant proteins it provides enhanced protection against some neurological diseases brought on by old age.

Weight and Metabolism Management –If your dog is overweight you might want to try adding either turmeric or curcumin to his/her daily diet...new research by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that curcumin helps to speed up metabolism.

The Dog Food Industry and Turmeric

Many commercial dog food manufacturers are now putting turmeric in their dog kibble. But please don’t be fooled by advertising - the inclusion of turmeric in commercially prepared dog kibble is not an indication that the kibble is a nutritionally balanced quality product. 

The quantity and quality of the turmeric included in the food may be insufficient to have any positive effect on your dog’s health and worse – the turmeric may be of poor quality (i.e. grown with pesticides). 

Turmeric is becoming a ‘hot word’ in the pet food manufacturing sector, just as ‘omega’ and ‘probiotic’. As the pet food industry – at least in North America) is unregulated pertaining to their use of terms vs. factual substantiation of actual quality/ratio of ingredient. 

Manufactures rely on the ignorance of the consumer – profit before ethics. I have yet to see a commercially prepared dog kibble that includes the appropriate ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids. Adding ‘probiotics’ to commercially prepared dog kibble is a ridiculous conceit as the heat required during processing of the kibble kills the probiotic microorganisms, thus rendering them useless. 

So just as with omega fatty acids and probiotics – your best bet is to add turmeric directly to your dog’s diet – do not expect the trace amounts included in some dog foods to benefit your dog’s health.

Adding Turmeric (or Curcumin) to Your Dog’s Daily Diet is Simple…

 

• Sprinkle it on top of your dog’s dry or wet food, and/or;
• If you home-cook your dog’s food you can add turmeric to your dog-food recipe;
• You can also try this dog food recipe that I use which contains turmeric.
• My dogs get turmeric on a daily basis in their homemade dog food and also sprinkled on top of their daily ration of fresh food along with other herbs and spices.
• You can also add turmeric to homemade dog treats.

What Type of Turmeric (or Curcumin) is Best…

You can use powder (most commonly available), crushed or fresh root. I use the powder form (ground turmeric). The quality of turmeric varies vastly. Turmeric sold is in the typical grocery store and bulk food store is mass produced, grown with pesticides and herbicides and is, as a result low in beneficial potency. For maximum benefit it is best to purchase turmeric from a reputable supplier of high-quality organic turmeric.

How To Store Turmeric (or Curcumin)

Fresh turmeric rhizome should be kept in the refrigerator;

Turmeric and/or curcumin powder should be stored in a tightly sealed, container and kept in a cool, dark, dry location.

Turmeric and Curcumin is a Natural Dye

 
When feeding your dog turmeric powder on top of food, just make sure you don’t place your dog’s food bowl on a surface such as a cherished carpet as the deep yellow-gold colour of the spice can stain the surface it falls on.

Additional Information on Herbs and Spices for Dogs

You can read this article for:

• A list of Herbs and Spices that Are Good for Dogs;
• Benefits and Uses of many Herbs and Spices for Dogs;
• List of Herbs and Spices that Are NotGood for Dogs; 
• When Should Herbs & Spices Not be Introduced to Your Dog’s Diet;

Daily Herbal Intake Based on Dog’s Weight
The table below provides a general guideline for herbs/spices based on your dog’s weight. The information provided in the table is an extract from Dr. Kidd’s Guide to Herbal Dogs Care.
 

Dog’s Weight	Sprinkles (on dog's food once/day)	Teas	Capsules/Tablets	Tinctures
1-10 lbs	a small pinch	less than 1/4 cup, 1-3 times/day	1/2 capsule, 1-3 times/day	1-3 drops, 2-3 times/day
10-20 lbs	a bigger pinch about	1/4 cup, 1-3 times/day	1/2-1 capsule/tablet, 1-3 times/day	3-5 drops, 2-3 times/day
20-50 lbs	2 pinches-1 teaspoon	1/4-1/2 cup, 1-3 times/day	1-2 capsules/tablets, 2-3 times/day	5-10 drops, 2-3 times/day
50-100 lbs 10-	2 pinches-2 teaspoons	1/2-1 cup, 1-3 times/day	1-2 capsules/tablets, 3-4 times/day	20 drops, 2-3 times/day
Over 100 lbs,	up to 1 tablespoon	up to 1 cup 3 times/day	adult human dose	adult human dose