5 Health Benefits of Turmeric for Dogs

What if I told you that a pinch of spice may improve your dog’s health and perhaps extend his life? This is a spice that you most likely have in your pantry right now. I know that sounds absurd, but science backs it up. Turmeric (the spice used in curries and mustards) has been the subject of over 6,000 research studies.

Turmeric Versus Pharmaceuticals

Research shows turmeric can trump a lot of expensive drugs including:

• Arthritis drugs
• Steroids
• Chemotherapy
• Inflammatory bowel disease drugs
• Anti-inflammatory drugs

There are numerous benefits to giving turmeric to your dog. So let us take a closer look at this useful spice. In a moment, I’ll explain how much turmeric to administer and which dogs should avoid it.

Benefits of Turmeric For Dogs

Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin, which is essentially its active ingredient.

Curcumin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, wound healing and anticancer activities. It can help fight diseases, including:

• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Liver disease
• Gastrointestinal issues 

One study even called it “Cure-cumin” because of its long list of promising therapeutic and clinical uses.

Turmeric Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties

You might think that inflammation only affects dogs with joint problems, but persistent, hidden inflammation is a silent killer. It’s the source of almost all sickness. Inflammation is the root of cancer, arthritis, allergies, kidney illness, dental disease, and gut disease.

Inflammation in the body isn’t always a harmful thing. If your dog is exposed to viruses or bacteria, acute inflammation will release white blood cells to the body tissues and start the healing process.

The true root of most degenerative and inflammatory health disorders in your dog is chronic inflammation, which is low-grade inflammation that lasts for weeks, months, or even years.

Researchers recently discovered a relationship between heart disease and dental disease. Bladder cancer can be caused by chronic bladder infections. They’ve discovered that low-grade persistent inflammation is a significant cause of arthritis and joint deterioration. In a 2014 study, the active element in turmeric, curcumin, outperformed ibuprofen in adults with arthritis.

Turmeric, on the other hand, doesn’t merely help with joint inflammation. Curcumin (together with resveratrol) was found to be as effective as anti-inflammatory medicines in a 2004 study published in Oncogene. Turmeric was found to be more effective than aspirin and ibuprofen in treating pain.

Turmeric is one of the best natural anti-inflammatories available, whether in nature or pharmaceuticals.

Turmeric For Dogs With Cancer

We already know that persistent inflammation can result in cancer.  We also know that turmeric is a potent antioxidant. Curcumin was found to be effective in preventing precancerous abnormalities from progressing to cancer in a UK study. As a result, turmeric may aid in the prevention of cancer. Turmeric can also be used to naturally fight cancer.

Numerous cancer research studies have been done on turmeric, and the results are very promising. Turmeric has been demonstrated to destroy cancer cells while also inhibiting their growth.

Curcumin inhibits the formation, growth, and spread of cancer. Curcumin has recently gotten a lot of attention because of its ability to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells.

Turmeric may be a good strategy to protect your dog from cancer and the inflammation that causes it, as half of adult dogs today may develop cancer.

Turmeric Can Relieve Arthritis Pain

We all know that arthritis is caused by inflammation. Since turmeric decreases inflammation, it can also help with arthritis pain and stiffness, and it works better than prescription pain relievers.

A study evaluating the effects of curcumin vs. ibuprofen treatment in individuals with knee osteoarthritis was published in 2014 by a group of Thai researchers. They discovered that curcumin reduced pain just as well as ibuprofen, but without the gastrointestinal side effects that ibuprofen patients experienced.

Turmeric for Gastrointestinal Disorders

Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties may be beneficial in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other gastrointestinal conditions. It has been demonstrated to have beneficial effects on intestinal inflammation and permeability in various preclinical studies and uncontrolled clinical trials.

Curcumin’s inhibitory effects on primary inflammatory processes, as well as its unequaled safety profile, imply it offers bright prospects in the treatment of IBD.

Turmeric Can Replace Steroids

Many dogs are given steroids to treat allergies and joint pain, but research shows that curcumin is just as beneficial. Curcumin’s main advantage over corticosteroids, according to the scientists, is its lack of side effects. A study published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology found that mixing curcumin with a steroid minimized the harmful medication’s negative effects.

The key advantage of turmeric is that it not only works as effectively as many prescription and over-the-counter medications, but it also doesn’t have the same negative side effects.

How To Make Turmeric Golden Paste

So if you’re ready to give your dog turmeric, there are a few things you need to know.

Turmeric’s curcumin is difficult for your dog to absorb if given alone. As a result, it’s critical to combine turmeric with a healthy oil such as MCT oil. This has the potential to greatly improve absorption.

Dr. Michael Greger MD discovered that peperine, a phytochemical present in black pepper, can boost curcumin absorption by up to 2,000 percent. 

Here’s a simple recipe you can make that will bring out the medicinal properties of turmeric:

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup organic turmeric powder 
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups filtered or spring water
• 1 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup organic MCT oil or ghee*

Directions

1. Mix the turmeric with 1 cup of water in a pan. Save the remaining water in case you need it to thin your paste a bit. 
2. Stir the liquid on low/medium heat for about 7 to 10 minutes. It should form a thick paste in this time. 
3. If the paste gets too thick, add a little more water.
4. If the paste looks watery, add a little more turmeric and heat it for another couple of minutes. 
5. Once your paste has thickened, add the pepper and oil and stir thoroughly. 
6. Allow the mixture to cool. 
7. Place it in a jar with a lid and store in the fridge. It’ll keep for up to 2 weeks. 

Amount of Turmeric for Dogs

You can add the Golden Paste directly to your dog’s meals by mixing it with some water or kefir. Most dogs don’t mind the taste at all.

Here’s how much turmeric golden paste to give your dog:

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

This is a good starting point, but you can go up to about a Tbsp for larger dogs. However, because curcumin exits the body fast, you’ll want to give turmeric in lower doses a few times a day.

Turmeric is also a binder and can cause constipation, so when you add turmeric to his meals, mix in some water or kefir.

Potential Turmeric Side Effects

The best thing about turmeric is that it works and it’s safe. But not all dogs should get turmeric. 

Turmeric is a “warming” spice, so if your dog is always hot and prefers to rest on cool flooring, turmeric might not be the best choice for him. Some medications, such as anti-inflammatory and diabetic medications, can interact with turmeric.

It also has the potential to interact with several chemotherapy therapies. Check with your holistic vet before adding turmeric to your dog’s diet if he’s on any medications. It’s likely to be beneficial, but it’s always a good idea to double-check. Turmeric is also not recommended for dogs who have a bile duct obstruction or gallstones.

Turmeric Is A Powerful Antioxidant

Turmeric is a potent antioxidant, and antioxidants have been shown to reduce aging, degeneration, and even lengthen life expectancy. Oxidative stress, like rust, builds up in your dog over time. The cells, proteins, and DNA in your dog’s body are all damaged.

Oxidative stress stimulates inflammatory pathways and leads to chronic diseases, including cancer. Curcumin may play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory illnesses.

Read More:

A randomized, double-blind, prospective, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of a diet supplemented with curcuminoids extract, hydrolyzed collagen and green tea extract in owner’s dogs with osteoarthritis

Dog food production using curcumin as antioxidant: effects of intake on animal growth, health and feed conservation

Review of dietary supplements for the management of osteoarthritis in dogs in studies from 2004 to 2014

Tissue distribution of (Lipocurc™) liposomal curcumin and tetrahydrocurcumin following two- and eight-hour infusions in Beagle dogs

Unconventional diets and nutritional supplements are more common in dogs with cancer compared to healthy dogs: An online global survey of 345 dog owners

In vitro and in vivo activity of liposome-encapsulated curcumin for naturally occurring canine cancers